Chapter 3 - Planning

Chapter 3 - Planning

As I was lost in thought, trying to piece together a strategy for surviving—no, thriving—in this new world, another ping echoed in my ears. It snapped me out of my reverie. The panel flashed open once again, and this time, a new tab appeared: Mail. 

There was a blinking (!) symbol next to it, practically begging for attention. Curiosity got the better of me, so I clicked on it. A single message popped up, with nothing more than the title: Gift. My heart raced a little as I selected it. The system responded immediately:

"Congratulations! You've received the following items:

1. Astronexus Vessel

2. Aether Morphosis

3. 5000 Worship Points"

My eyes widened as I read through the list. Each item seemed... well, monumental. But what really caught my attention were the descriptions that followed:

1. Astronexus Vessel: The body of an ancient and extinct race known as Void Dwellers. They were renowned for their extraordinary talents, adaptability, and otherworldly beauty.

2. Aether Morphosis: An ability derived from a predator that roamed the void. It grants the power to transform into any being you observe, gaining access to all their abilities. The more knowledge you have of the being, the closer the replication of their powers.

3. 5000 Worship Points: You have been awarded Worship Points. With this, the Shop is now open to you.

I couldn't believe it. It felt like I'd hit the jackpot. The moment I read through the description of the Aether Morphosis, I almost couldn't contain my excitement. The ability to transform and use abilities of any being I encountered? This was like something straight out of a fantasy RPG—but in real life.

But then, the Astronexus Vessel caught my attention more deeply. A vessel? For an ancient, extinct race? It sounded incredible, but… why would I need a body in the first place? The excitement cooled, replaced by confusion. The realization dawned on me, and I hesitantly asked the system, "Wait… why do I need a body?"

Without missing a beat, the system responded:

"You are currently a soul, existing without a physical form."

That sent a cold shiver down my spine. My gaze immediately darted down to my hands, which I hadn't really bothered to observe closely since waking up. Now that I looked carefully, I could see it—my hands, my arms—they weren't solid. They had a faint translucence to them, almost like I was some sort of ghost.

"Well, damn..." I muttered under my breath. So I'd been walking around as a soul this whole time? That explained why I felt a bit… disconnected. 

The system then asked:

"Would you like to transfer your soul to the Astronexus Vessel?"

I didn't even hesitate. "Yes."

As soon as I confirmed, a pulse of energy surged through me. The fields of golden grass around me seemed to blur and stretch, and for a moment, the world itself twisted as if I were being sucked into something. I felt my entire being shift, almost as if I were sliding into a new layer of existence. It wasn't painful, but it was… disorienting.

And then, just as quickly, everything snapped back into focus.

I blinked, taking a deep breath. For the first time, I could feel the cool air properly. My body felt… solid. Real. I clenched my fists, marveling at the sensation of muscle and bone. I looked down at myself and immediately noticed the change. My reflection in the translucent panel still hovering in front of me showed a figure that looked nothing like the old Adam. 

I wasn't just some ordinary guy anymore. I was taller, leaner, my features sharper. My skin had a faint silver hue to it, and my eyes… I could see the glow in them, like twin stars burning in their sockets. I ran a hand through my hair, which had turned a shimmering white, cascading down to my shoulders. 

The system was right. This body—this Astronexus Vessel—was something else entirely. I could *feel* its power, its adaptability. It was as if every cell in my body hummed with potential. I felt… unstoppable.

A small smile crept onto my face. I couldn't help but admire the beauty of this new form. It wasn't just physically impressive, but it felt like it was made for something far greater. For the first time since leaving the void, I felt truly alive again. 

The system pinged again, but this time it was a softer sound, almost as if acknowledging the completion of the transfer.

"Soul successfully transferred to Astronexus Vessel."

I flexed my fingers, testing out the new form. Everything felt smooth, natural. More than just an upgrade—it felt like I had truly *become* something more. 

But before I could get lost in the euphoria of having a powerful new body, my mind went back to the big picture. The system, the Worship Points, the Shop... Everything was open to me now. I had a powerful body and a game-changing ability in Aether Morphosis. But the question remained—what was my next step?

"Alright," I said, running my hands through the shimmering grass, "time to figure out how to actually use all of this."

The idea of gaining worshippers still lingered in the back of my mind. It was clear that the system thrived on belief, on people putting their faith in me. But the cons of starting a cult still loomed large in my thoughts. Being a soul stuck in the void wasn't an option, but rushing into something reckless would be equally foolish.

Now, with a powerful new body, I'd have to figure out how to gather believers without drawing the wrong kind of attention. It wasn't just about survival anymore—it was about how far I could go with this system. And I needed to play it smart.

"Would you like to learn how to use Aether Morphosis?" the system asked, its voice echoing in my head.

"Yes!" I responded immediately, not even pausing to think. Big mistake.

The moment I accepted, I felt an all-encompassing pain shoot through my body. It was as if every organ, every tissue, every cell was being twisted, torn apart, and rebuilt simultaneously. My muscles tensed, spasming uncontrollably, and I collapsed face-first into the dirt. The pain was unbearable, and I could barely breathe. My whole body burned as though it was being dissected from the inside out. 

"Wh-what the hell?!" I tried to scream, but it came out as a strangled groan. My vision blurred, and darkness clawed at the edges of my consciousness. I blacked out before I could even process what was happening.

Just before I lost all sense of the world around me, a guttural, animalistic howl escaped my lips, an unconscious reaction to the agony coursing through my veins. "If I end up back in that damn void because of this," I hissed through clenched teeth, "I'll do something you'll regret, system!"

System : .....

---

When I finally came to, the moon was high in the sky, casting a soft silver glow over the landscape. I groaned, my entire body sore as if I'd been crushed under a boulder and then put through a blender. My head throbbed, and I instinctively rubbed my temples. 

I blinked a few times, taking in my surroundings. I was lying next to a lake, with a river gently flowing nearby. The cool night breeze brushed against my skin, and I noticed, uncomfortably, that I was sticky with sweat. Or at least, I hoped it was sweat. Everything felt… disgusting. 

With a sigh, I hauled myself up and trudged to the water's edge. Kneeling by the lake, I splashed some water on my face, trying to wash away the grime. As the cool liquid touched my skin, I glanced down at my reflection in the water—and froze.

Gone were my old features, the ones I had grown so familiar with. In their place was a face that could only be described as… sculpted. Like a masterpiece crafted by the hands of a master artist. My hair, once a boring mess, was now silvery white, cascading over my shoulders. My eyes... Whoa. One of them was a deep, blood-red crimson, while the other was a striking blue, the kind of clear sky you only see on a perfect day. 

I stood up, stretching, and felt my body—my new body. I wasn't just taller; I was taller. Easily 6'2" now, and my physique had completely transformed. Gone was the average, somewhat lanky frame I once had. Now, I had the body of an athlete—no, of a Greek god. Lean, muscular, but not overly bulky, like a swimmer who had spent years perfecting their form. Every muscle seemed to be carved perfectly, with just the right amount of definition. 

And then I noticed… well, that. Let's just say my new form left nothing to be desired. There was a moment of stunned silence as I processed it, before I coughed awkwardly.

"Ahem, well, whoever ends up as my wife is going to be very happy," I mused under my breath, shaking my head.

I could only imagine what I looked like now—probably some sort of model or mythical hero.

After getting over the initial shock, I splashed more water on myself, cleaning off the sweat and grime. I inspected myself thoroughly, trying to come to terms with my transformation. This was no ordinary upgrade; I wasn't just enhanced—I was reborn. And it felt... powerful.

As I finished up and stretched my arms over my head, I remembered the ability—Aether Morphosis. The pain I went through had better be worth it. I focused and brought up the system panel, scrolling through the ability details again. 

Change form. Replicate abilities of those observed. The more I know about a subject, the better I can replicate them.

Suddenly, a thought struck me. My knowledge of mythology—gods. I had spent years diving deep into the lore, the stories, the personalities of gods from various pantheons. I wasn't just a fan of mythology—I was obsessed with it. I knew how to act like them, how they carried themselves, their personalities, their followers.

Then, the idea hit me like lightning. "Why can't I just masquerade as the gods themselves?"

Think about it—these gods already had established followings, with believers spread out all over the world. I wouldn't need to build a following from scratch. All I had to do was slip into the role of a god, let the existing worship roll in, and slowly redirect that faith towards myself. Not in a way that would outright replace the gods, but more like… updating their faith. If I could embody them well enough, their believers would practically hand me their worship without realizing they were empowering me.

Of course, the governments wouldn't dare interfere. They'd risk rioting and chaos if they challenged people's deeply held religious beliefs. And with my knowledge of mythology, I could seamlessly become these gods—transform into them, act like them, and gain their followers' trust.

I couldn't help but grin. This plan had potential. Real, world-changing potential.

"Well," I said, a smirk tugging at the corners of my lips, "let's just say, with all this mythology knowledge I've got, I know exactly how to play this game."