Chapter 1: The Fallen
Plains of Vabos
Dax awoke to the thick, metallic tang of blood coating his nose — familiar, bitter, and far from new.
The world was a slaughterhouse. Torn flesh lay scattered across churned earth. Viscera smeared grotesque patterns into the dirt. A warm, fetid breeze brushed his skin, carrying the faint rot of death. Still kneeling, he lifted trembling hands and wiped them across his face.
Warm blood coated his fingers, streaking his face red.
Where am I?
The question came with absurd calm.
"Inerous…!"
He called to his AI assistant, but only silence answered. His eyes flickered.
What is going on?
Rising to his feet, he closed his eyes and reached for his last memories. His hand pressed to his belly. "It worked… I don't feel hungry."
A flicker of elation stirred, but his face stayed blank. He tried to summon his strength, but nothing answered.
How strange.
Softly, he extended an arm toward a severed limb nearby, calling on the technique he knew best.
"Telekinesis."
His voice held no panic. The limb shot forward with astonishing speed, slapping into his palm.
Good. My realm remains… but this doesn't make sense. A refined body doesn't lose strength so easily.
Unless…
Before he could speculate further, a surge of memories blasted through his mind. Pain spiraled; he clutched his head, forcing himself to digest the sudden surge.
This isn't my body.
That explained the inaccessible power. And Inerous's absence.
Dax's tone turned colder. No joy greeted this rebirth.
The only flicker of satisfaction came from one fact: he had returned to the fragmented family he once possessed.
You have been treated unfairly in this world. Your talent was stolen, leaving you as a broken soul.
All his life, he had watched as an observer — never able to shape his fate. A life ruined by another's hand.
Rage boiled in his chest.
Even in another reality… I was born to suffer.
As the words formed, a translucent figure appeared before him — his own form, replicated perfectly.
Dax froze.
What… what are you?
He had visited countless planets, yet nothing like this had ever appeared.
"I tried my best," the figure said, voice calm but edged with fleeting regret. "I've seen everything, Dax… your memories. How I wish I was strong like you."
A faint smile touched its lips. "At least in one lifetime I was extremely powerful. I also saw your pain… and what you did to Mother."
Dax's eyes, previously emotionless, trembled faintly, but he listened.
"Why don't you redeem yourself? You can save her… and quell the guilt in our souls."
The figure began to crumble, as if those words were its only purpose.
"Paint our name in this world… like you did as the Black Doctor from the stars."
The voice lingered as the figure dissolved into Dax.
"Farewell."
Particles drifted into his body, and a quiet sadness settled over his heart. I never imagined bidding farewell to myself in any lifetime. Dax lifted his gaze to the dark skies. Notifications flooded his vision.
Welcome to Epoch.
A feminine, almost robotic voice echoed in his mind.
"Inerous?"
For the first time, a demonic smile curved his lips.
Don't worry. This body will feel strength it never imagined, he said to his vanished counterpart.
Epoch System Booting…
1%… 10%… 30%… 70%… 99%… 100%
Name: Dax Godfall
Race: Human
Bloodline: None
Realm: Trait Emperor
Rank: 0
Title: The Mad Scientist
Traits: Synthesis, Insatiable Hunger
Attributes: None
Skills: Telekinesis
Strength: 30
Agility: 6
Physique: 3
Mana: 0
Aura: 0
Luck: -1
System Restoring…
10%… 30%… 70%… 100%
Gene Palace: Restored
Mutant Soul: Acquired
Personal World: Gene Palace (Sealed)
Epoch Storage: Restored
+1 Cil
+1 Annihilation Horn
Star Farm: Restored (Sealed)
Dax stood speechless for a moment. They even stole my luck… how? Is it some ability like Synthesis?
Old tales from his past life surfaced — witches who stole people's stars, their talents. It seemed those stories weren't fabricated.
With my items restored, my true power will return in no time.
I haven't lost much… but why is my lab sealed?
Dax pondered.
Suddenly, immense danger prickled his senses from the left. In one fluid motion, Dax unfolded his arms.
A shadowy figure appeared in a blink, dual blades spinning with insane momentum, aimed for his neck.
Before the blades could connect, the attacker was blasted backward, crashing into a massive tree in the distance.
From that spot, a bulky man in red robes emerged, clutching a book like a priest. He drew a serrated cleaver from his sleeve and plunged it into the fallen man's flesh, bathing him in blood.
With every movement he hummed in worship. Then he twisted with unnatural speed.
"Vos des, Vos vos, no no."
A hollow, broken voice rasped from lips split by a gaping wound from forehead to chin. The man who'd been blasted into the tree pulled himself out as if possessed.
What is this?
Dax watched the strange presence in their bodies without panic.
"Hey, Kakarai, be careful. They said that guy was just a regular human, but the bastard bested me."
"No no, no no, Vos?"
The priest's voice pitched high as he moved. His arm swelled massively, punching toward Dax with terrifying speed.
"Trifling."
Dax's voice was low. He raised a finger, halting the priest mid-strike, then walked around the strange man with curiosity.
"Is that disgusting thing someone's face?"
Very interesting — this is truly interesting. A broken man with a face on his arm, and the other revived by a bone. Should I also be expecting a snake in human flesh?
He walked past the priest, who struggled to move but could only follow Dax's small frame with his eyes.
"Aren't you their leader?" Dax asked, peering into the dark, empty gaps between the trees.
From the shadows behind the large trees stepped a young man with long dark hair, wearing the same crimson robes. His silky locks blended seamlessly with his garment.
His eyes narrowed with genuine curiosity.
"I sense no mana or aura from you — indeed, you are very useless, the bottom of the barrel. Oh, you must be that one, the child whose talent was stolen by our lord apostle."
"If you tell me, I might just let you leave here in one piece… or two."
A genuine smile spread across his face.
"Who are you?"
"You don't know? I thought my words would have given me away. Don't you know who stole your talent and kidnapped your lovely mother?" He pressed fingers to his lips, inclining his head in a mocking bow.
"We are cultists of the Blood River. I am Vabon. Are you prepared to die?"
He raised his head, smile widening.
Blood River?
Dax's eyes went hollow.
"I see you have come to serve yourselves as sacrificial lambs. How wonderful — this world already favors me."
Dax smiled back. The blood staining his face made him look demonic.
This boy is mad… how adorable. Though he spoke lightly, deep unease flickered in Vabon's eyes.
"Why don't we begin," Dax said, voice dropping deadly.
"Kneel."
Raw power pulsed outward.
The two who had attacked Dax earlier dropped to all fours, kneecaps shattering on impact. Blood burst from their joints.
Their faces twisted.
Unable to speak, the dual-blade-wielding cultist screamed, face contorted in agony and disbelief. "Vos! Vos! Vos!" The maddened one writhed, trembling between torment and ecstatic delirium.
Vabon's calm mask cracked.
This is very bad.
Instinct overrode his pride. Without a word, he melted into the earth like liquid, fleeing without honor.
Kakarai, Mike — you're on your own now.
Dax smiled, watching the fleeing figure. He didn't give chase. Instead, he turned to face the two who'd been abandoned.
"You were left to die. What am I going to do with you now?"
Dax smiled at the two remaining cultists. He raised one arm forward, seizing the bladed cultist and hurling him skyward like a broken kite. His scream echoed as he reached meters high.
Just at the peak, Dax released him, accelerating his fall by a ton, cratering the earth deeply.
Yet ragged breaths still rasped from his chest.
With gentle steps, Dax appeared before him and pulled him up by the ankle.
The mad man was gone the next instant, reappearing as he smashed a malformed fist into Dax's side, sending him flying into a crater. Dax's mind went blank as pain surged; he coughed a mouthful of blood, his vision blurring.