#ACTION #ROMANCE #ADVENTURE #SYSTEM #MAGIC #WEAKTOSTRONG #HAREM #CULTIVATION #SUPERPOWERS #OVERPOWERED

Hands of God

In the years following the Cataclysm, the world had become unrecognizable. The event that tore through the fabric of society, eradicating one-fifth of the global population, had left a scar so profound that the remnants of humanity could only gaze upon the new Earth with awe and horror. The planet expanded, continents drifted and reshaped like pieces of a colossal puzzle thrown asunder, and from the ocean's depths, new lands rose, teeming with unforeseen dangers and mysteries. The Cataclysm had unleashed chaos upon the world. Earthquakes shattered cities, volcanoes blanketed the skies with ash, and tsunamis erased coastlines. In the aftermath, as the dust settled and the earth stilled, the survivors faced a reality where the rules of existence had been rewritten. The exploration of the newly emerged lands by world governments unveiled a truth more terrifying than the destruction itself. The fauna of the planet had evolved, or rather, mutated into beings of immense strength, size, and peculiar abilities that defied the laws of nature. The first teams sent to delve into these uncharted territories met with fates so grim that the tales of their end served as dire warnings to those who dared to follow. Yet, amid this desolation, a glimmer of hope shone through the younger generation, those untouched by the cruel hand of puberty at the time of the Cataclysm. They emerged from the chaos changed, endowed with unique powers and abilities that manifested as they stepped into adolescence. Governments, in their desperation to reclaim some semblance of order and safety, saw in these gifted youths the key to confronting the new perils that now roamed the Earth and lurked within the mysterious dungeons that led to realms unknown. Whether these portals opened to different dimensions or distant planets remained a mystery, a puzzle that the brightest minds endeavored to solve. Among these young prodigies was our protagonist, a late bloomer named Eli. Unlike his peers, Eli had not shown any signs of the extraordinary powers that had become common among the post-Cataclysm generation. This made him the subject of ridicule and isolation, a boy on the fringes of a society that valued strength and supernatural abilities above all else. Eli's days were a monotonous blend of longing and despair, watching from the sidelines as his classmates showcased their abilities with pride and arrogance. The sting of exclusion was a constant companion, a reminder of his inadequacy. Yet, Eli harbored a quiet hope, a belief that his time would come, that he too would awaken to the powers that seemed his birthright. And then, on a day that seemed no different from the rest, fate decided to turn the pages of Eli's life. It was a day that began with the same taunts and jeers, the laughter of his peers echoing in his ears as he made his way through the school corridors. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and red, a strange sensation began to stir within him. It started as a whisper, a faint murmur in the depths of his being, growing in intensity until it was a roar that consumed his every thought. Eli doubled over, clutching at his chest as an indescribable power surged through him, a force so overwhelming that it threatened to tear him apart. The world around him faded to black, and in that moment of terrifying darkness, Eli was reborn. When he awoke, the world had not changed, but he had. Eli stood, a newfound strength coursing through his veins, and with it, a sense of purpose. He was no longer the boy who watched from the shadows, but a beacon of hope in a world that desperately needed it. The journey ahead would be fraught with dangers, but Eli knew that he was no longer facing it alone. His powers, a gift from the Cataclysm, were his to wield in the fight to reclaim their planet and unravel the mysteries of the dungeons that beckoned with promises of untold adventures.

Lynneage · Urban

Not enough ratings

21 Chs

Chapter 7: The Unlikely Victor

As Eli emerged from the dungeon, the full moon was casting long shadows across the ground, the guards stationed at the entrance looked at him with evident surprise. Their expressions mixed skepticism with relief, having grown accustomed to the grim outcomes that befell many solo adventurers.

"Kid, you've been in there for ages! We were starting to think you didn't make it," one of the guards remarked, his tone carrying an undercurrent of genuine concern.

Eli, masking the depth of his exhaustion and the exhilaration of his victory, shrugged nonchalantly. "I just took my time, wanted to be thorough, you know? Tried to kill as many spiders as I could safely. Had to take a few breaks though; got tired after killing just a few."

He didn't wait for their response, instead calling a taxi with a quick wave of his hand, eager to leave the scene and the weight of his achievements behind him, if only for a moment.

As the taxi pulled away, the guards' attention was drawn back to the dungeon entrance, where the once red-hued portal had turned a serene blue—a universal sign that the dungeon had been cleared. Their jaws dropped in disbelief, their earlier skepticism shattered by the undeniable truth before them. "A few, my ass," one guard muttered, both impressed and incredulous, as they watched the taxi disappear into the distance.

Fifteen minutes later, Eli arrived home, his parents rushing towards him, a maelstrom of worry and relief evident in their eyes. Given Eli's age, just 16, the idea of him being out so late was cause for concern.

"Where have you been, Eli? You had us worried sick!" his mother exclaimed, her relief palpable as she enveloped him in a tight hug.

Eli, maintaining his composure, replied with a rehearsed ease, "I was just out with some friends, lost track of time is all." He hoped the simplicity of his lie would allay any further questioning.

His parents exchanged glances, a mixture of happiness and mild frustration coloring their features. "Next time, just call us, okay? We'll talk more about this in the morning," his father said, the concern in his voice softening.

As Eli headed towards his room, his sister Lily emerged, her curiosity piqued. "Out with friends, huh? Or is there a girlfriend you're not telling us about?" she teased, a playful smirk on her face.

Eli chuckled, the weight of his secret achievements lending him a newfound confidence. "Let's just say I've got a surprise for everyone in the morning. You might have some competition in the favorite child department soon."

Lily laughed, brushing off his comment with a wave of her hand. "Mom and Dad don't have favorites. But even if they did, it would still be me."

"We'll see about that," Eli replied cryptically, his smile widening as he continued to his room. Upon entering, he glanced back at his sister, a subtle demonstration of his new abilities manifesting as the door slowly closed behind him without him laying a hand on it.

Lily paused, her playful demeanor giving way to intrigue. "Interesting," she murmured before retreating to her own room, her mind swirling with questions about her brother's cryptic behavior.

After the day's extraordinary events, Eli finally found a moment of quiet in the sanctuary of his room to reflect on the fruits of his daring venture into the Spider Nest. He opened the system interface to review the inventory, a digital tally of his achievements and spoils from the battle. The numbers that greeted him were staggering, far beyond what he had anticipated when he set out on this journey.

"Let's see what we've got here," Eli muttered to himself, scrolling through the list of items collected by the system during his dungeon exploration. The figures were astonishing: over 500 spider corpses, more than 500 poison sacks, and almost 200 pounds of spider silk. The sheer volume of resources he had gathered was almost unfathomable.

He leaned back, a grin spreading across his face as he did the mental math. "I'm rich!" he exclaimed, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. The entry fee to the dungeon, a sum that had once seemed significant, now paled in comparison to the wealth he had amassed through his efforts. The spider silk alone, highly valued for its strength and versatility, could fetch a small fortune on the market. And the poison sacks, sought after by alchemists and potion makers, would only add to his windfall.

"This... this is incredible. I've earned back what I spent to enter the dungeon tenfold, maybe even more," Eli mused, his mind racing with the possibilities that this newfound wealth opened up. He could invest in better equipment, save for future expeditions, or even explore new dungeons with higher stakes and greater rewards.

As the adrenaline of the day's battles and victories began to ebb, Eli felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. "Tomorrow's going to be interesting," he whispered to himself, the prospect of revealing his success to his family and seeing their reactions playing out in his mind. With a future now brimming with potential, Eli allowed himself to drift off to sleep, his dreams filled with visions of dungeons yet to be explored and treasures yet to be discovered.

The Spider Nest had been his proving ground, a place where he had tested his limits and emerged not just victorious but transformed. As he slept, the system quietly cataloged his inventory, a digital testament to a day that would forever mark the beginning of Eli's ascent in the world of dungeon explorers.

Eli's victories within the dungeon and his newfound powers were his alone for now, but the promise of the morning held the potential to shift the dynamics of his family in ways he had only begun to imagine. As he lay in bed, the events of the day replaying in his mind, Eli couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement for what was to come. The journey had been long and fraught with danger, but the rewards, it seemed, were just beginning to unfold.

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