Chapter 1: Ethan Hunt

Blue Star – Year 2050

Base City 5, Central High School

Class 10

The early afternoon sun spilled golden light through the reinforced glass windows of Central High School, casting long, warm streaks across the pristine desks of Class 10. But the glow did little to lift the heavy silence that had settled like a blanket over the room.

At the front stood Mr. Arnold, tall and composed, his gaze solemn as it swept over the young faces before him. Behind him, the digital blackboard gleamed with cold precision, displaying the words: The Great Calamity of 2000.

Fifty years ago..." Arnold began, his voice measured but filled with unshakable weight. "The sky split open on July 5th. A rift—unseen and unimaginable—tore through our atmosphere. From it descended a strange, luminous gas, blanketing the Earth in mere hours. And with that gas, our world changed forever."

A hush hung over the classroom. The tale was familiar, drilled into them since childhood, but the magnitude of it never truly dulled.

"The gas mutated everything it touched. Plants, animals... even us. While nature adapted swiftly, human evolution stumbled forward at a crawl. But that wasn’t all. The very continents themselves began to shift, converging into a single supercontinent. Though 70% of the planet remained ocean, Earth was no longer the place our ancestors knew."

A soft hum filled the air as a holographic globe hovered mid-air, rotating slowly to display the reshaped planet.

"One billion people died in the first six months."

A gasp cut through the stillness. The statistic never failed to chill the bones, no matter how often it was repeated.

"And then came the Beast Tide."

Arnold tapped his screen, and images of grotesquely mutated creatures flickered into view—towering, snarling abominations of flesh and power.

Humanity was struggling with all it’s might but couldn’t do anything to the monsters. Tank, fighter jet, gun, sniper,grande nothing could do any harm to this beasts. So they had to resort to it’s last option. The nuclear bomb.

"The nuclear response was immediate... and catastrophic. It was like a mutual destruction.

Entire regions turned to radioactive wastelands.

People died like ants.Humanity’s last hope was to cluster into fortified zones—what we now call Base Cities."

He paused, letting the enormity settle before continuing, this time with a hint of reverence in his voice.

"But amid the ashes, hope emerged. A strange island surfaced near the new supercontinent—shrouded in alien atmosphere. The world leaders were searching for a ray of hope everywhere.Risking everything, humanity sent an expedition. What they found changed the course of history."

The image changed to a massive wreck: a half-buried alien spaceship, its hull scarred but humming faintly with dormant power.

"Inside the ruins was knowledge... far beyond our comprehension. And more importantly—a path to martial arts. One that allowed humans to absorb cosmic energy."

The students straightened in their seats. This was the part that lit sparks in their eyes every time.

"A year later, the first martial artist was born."

After that many martial artists emerged in various base cities. Beside scientists invented laser guns from the alien technology, the base city was fortified.

Martial artists began fighting with the monsters and started pushing them away. They started investigation thoughout the supercontinent.

Many other alien ruins were found out.

New technology, new techniques were also discovered.

Humanity again was started thriving.

"But our pride blinded us."

Just after 30 years of development, we thought we could take back our lands from the monsters and we started a decisive battle against the monsters.

But we miscalculated something entirely.

The sea.

The most mysterious place on earth. After the catastrophe, humanity didn’t venture around the sea very much. So they had no idea what was lurking in the depth of the sea.

The images shifted to the oceans—towering waves, nightmarish sea creatures rising from the abyss. Shark at the size of submarine or even bigger, whale was like an aircraft carrier. Lobsters with pinchers so powerful that can destroy steel like hot knife cutting butter.

"We underestimated the 70% of the world we couldn’t see. And then... came the Ocean Emperor."

The classroom dimmed. A massive octopus, the size of an island, rose from the water, its eyes glowing with malice. Each of its tentacles radiated death.

"No technology could stop it. Cities were drowned. Martial artists—heroes—fell."

Arnold’s tone became hushed.

"And then... he arrived, "Dragon". The strongest human to ever walk on Blue Star. Armed with a blade from the alien ruins, he challenged the Emperor in a battle that shook the Earth."

The room watched, spellbound, as the scene played out—energy storms, crashing waves, and a lone warrior standing against the apocalypse.

"For three days and nights, they clashed. Neither won. But a pact was formed: Dragon would not intrude into the ocean, and the Ocean Emperor would stay away from humanity’s struggle on land."

The lights returned. Silence reigned.

"That was twenty years ago. Since then, we have rebuilt. Base Cities now flourish. Martial arts has evolved. And Dragon... still watches us, a silent protector in the shadows."

He turned to face the students, eyes gleaming.

"In one month, your college entrance exams begin. If you perform well in both written and martial assessments, you could be accepted into Aurora Martial University,the best university in the entire planet. But even if you can’t admit there,there are other top class universities.

But first... you must become a Quasi-Warrior. In fifteen days, you will all take your certification test at the Alliance Branch Hall."

He paused, letting his words sink in.

"The future of humanity may rest in your hands. Train hard. Dismissed."

As the door slid shut behind Mr. Arnold, the tension shattered like glass. Conversations erupted.

"Dude, that speech again? I swear I could recite it in my sleep!"

Laughter broke out. But at the back of the class, Ethan sat frozen. His face was pale, his breathing uneven. Sweat glistened on his brow.

Ryan, his broad-shouldered childhood best friend frowned and nudged him. "Ethan? You alright, bro? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

Ethan didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

His thoughts were a jumbled storm. Where... am I? What just happened?

He remembered... He was minding his own business in a park,but suddenly a bastard truck came out of nowhere and hit him. Then he didn’t remember anything.

I died. Didn’t I?

Am I in the hell?

His pulse quickened. Everything felt wrong—the language, the classroom, the tech, the talk of martial arts and alien spaceships...

This wasn’t Earth.

A sharp pain exploded behind his eyes, and Ethan gasped. Memories flooded his mind—fragments not his own. Faces, names, school schedules, battle rankings, gene locks.

His head throbbed. His stomach churned.

He collapsed.

The world went dark.

---

When he awoke, he was in the infirmary. Sterile white lights buzzed overhead. His limbs trembled as if the fever of a thousand dreams had just passed.

"Ethan! You awake?"

Ryan’s face swam into view, eyes full of worry. "Damn, man, you scared the hell out of us."

Ethan sat up slowly, still reeling.

"I’m... Ethan Hunt," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "Blue Star... Base City 5..."

The name felt foreign in his mouth, yet familiar. He was no longer the same Ethan who had lived on Earth. That Ethan had died. And in he was now someone who reborn into a new world. A brutal, wondrous, terrifying world of beasts, martial might, and alien legacy.

Somehow, against all odds... his wish had come true.

He had always dreamed of a second chance. A world where strength ruled. Where he could rise. Fight. Live with purpose.

Now it was real.

He closed his eyes.

Then, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in the depths of his mind.

> "Ding! The Infinite System has been successfully activated."

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***