4.New Beginning

Max had stayed in the underground facility for almost four years. Nearly everyone in sectors D and C knew him, not just by name but by the quiet kindness he offered. Max's parents had died from cold and hunger, sacrificing everything so he could survive. This sacrifice shaped Max's entire being; he never had any complaints. He lived a fulfilling life to honor his parents' memory, always trying to help others as much as possible.

Most of the credits he earned from various jobs were given to those in need, keeping only enough for himself to get by. His selflessness made him a figure of silent admiration among the other survivors.

Today marked exactly five years since the apocalypse began on Alfa. Max had just returned from a grueling job that left him covered in dirt and exhaustion. His muscles ached with the familiar soreness of a day's hard labor, but his mind was already easing into the comforting routine he had developed over the years.

After cooking a simple but nourishing meal and eating it in silence, the clock on the wall ticked its way to 11:55 p.m.—just five minutes away from the start of a new day. Like every day, Max took a hot bath after his meal, the steam easing the tension in his shoulders. The water washed away the grime and fatigue, and he felt a fleeting sense of peace as he prepared to sleep.

Suddenly, the world around him began to tremble. It was subtle at first, a familiar sensation that didn't raise alarm. Max had grown accustomed to occasional earthquakes, a natural consequence of the unstable world they now lived in. But this time, it was different. The trembling intensified, the ground beneath him vibrating violently. His body tensed, and the soothing warmth of the bath was forgotten. Even after ten minutes, the shaking did not stop; instead, it grew stronger, more urgent. A primal instinct kicked in, telling Max that something was terribly wrong.

Heart pounding, Max hurriedly dressed and dashed out of his small, worn-down house. The sight that greeted him was chaotic. Buildings that had withstood the trials of the past years were now crumbling, their foundations giving way as stones and debris fell from the ceiling of the underground cavern that housed their shelter. People were screaming, their voices rising in panic as they fled from their homes, searching desperately for safety. Max dodged multiple falling stones, his movements swift and calculated, a result of years spent navigating dangerous situations. He found cover behind a large boulder, shielding himself as the earthquake raged on.

After what felt like an eternity, the trembling finally ceased. The silence that followed was eerie, broken only by the sounds of rubble settling and the distant cries of the injured. Max emerged from his hiding place, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The world around him was unrecognizable, reduced to ruins. The houses that once stood strong were now piles of rubble. Dust hung in the air, thick and suffocating, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. Max felt a strange shift in the atmosphere, a change that was almost imperceptible but undeniable. The air itself seemed different, charged with an energy he couldn't quite place.

As he was about to return to his house, a loud, booming voice suddenly echoed in his mind, causing him to flinch in shock. He looked around frantically, his eyes wide with disbelief. He wasn't alone in his reaction. All around him, people were frozen in place, their expressions mirroring his own shock and confusion. It was clear that everyone had heard the voice, not just in their ears, but deep within their minds.

"Attention everyone, congratulations! Your planet has evolved successfully."

Max's heart skipped a beat. He exchanged bewildered glances with a nearby woman who had dropped the bundle she was carrying. The voice was surreal, its tone both cold and authoritative, devoid of any emotion.

"And welcome to Zero Dimension."

The voice paused, leaving a heavy silence in its wake. Max could hear his own heartbeat thudding in his ears. The weight of the words began to settle in his mind, but their meaning eluded him.

"The people who survived the first evolution of your planet will be granted access to the Omega System."

"Every populated area will be granted access to the Beast Realm."

"For more information, please check your system interface."

As the voice faded, the silence that followed was filled with a tense, uncertain energy. People began to murmur, their voices low and anxious, as if speaking too loudly might invite further disaster.

Max's mind raced, trying to comprehend the enormity of what he had just heard. *Evolved? Omega System? Beast Realm?* The terms were foreign, frightening in their implications. His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Max, did you hear that?" The voice belonged to Isaac, one of Max's closest friends, who had stuck by him since they first took shelter in this underground facility. Isaac's face was pale, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a look of sheer panic.

Max nodded slowly, but his attention was elsewhere. In front of him, hovering in the air, was a transparent screen—an interface that resembled something out of a video game.

---

**Host:** Max Travor

**Level:** 0 (0/100)

**Power Stage:** None

**Standard Body Fitness:** 8 (10 points for regular people)

**Ability:** Wind Element

**Skill:** None

**Weapon:** None

**Help**

**Newbie Information:**

---

The status screen was simple, almost too simple given the magnitude of what was happening. Max's eyes scanned the information, but he didn't linger. His instincts pushed him to access the "Newbie Information" tab.

---

**Newbie Information:** The planet known as Alfa has successfully evolved into a Level 1 planet and has been transferred to Zero Dimension.

The survivors of this planet will be given support in the form of a system to become strong enough to protect themselves and their planet.

The Beast Realm will be open in every crowded area, allowing you to hunt beasts and grow stronger. Technological weapons will be useless from now on. Dying in the Beast Realm means real death.

Planet Alfa has undergone a massive transformation and is now 20 times larger than before. There are many changes that the host will learn about in time.

A year later, a Planet War will be held in the neutral zone. The winner will become the ruler of the defeated world.

---

As Max read through the information, his emotions surged from shock to disbelief, and then to a deep, gnawing worry. The scope of what had happened was incomprehensible. The world he had known was gone, replaced by something far more dangerous and alien. He felt a cold sweat on his brow and swallowed hard, trying to steady his nerves. His hands trembled slightly, the gravity of the situation pressing down on him like a weight.

Isaac's voice broke through his thoughts, his tone trembling with fear. "Max, is this really true? Now what do we do?" Isaac's eyes were wide, his usual confidence shattered. Like Max, he was alone, and he had always depended on Max for guidance. Now, he looked at his friend, hoping for some reassurance, something to hold onto in this sea of uncertainty.

Max opened his mouth to speak, to say something comforting, but the words caught in his throat. Before he could gather his thoughts, a loud siren blared throughout the underground facility. The sound was deafening, cutting through the chaos and demanding immediate attention. It was the call for an emergency meeting, a sound that sent a chill down Max's spine.

Max and Isaac exchanged a quick, anxious glance. There was no time to waste. They both knew the drill. Without another word, they began making their way towards Sector S, where all important meetings were held. The corridors were packed with people moving in the same direction, their faces etched with fear and confusion. Conversations buzzed around them, snippets of panic and speculation filling the air. Max walked with purpose, his mind racing to process the information he had just received. He needed answers, and he needed them now.

While Max and Isaac made their way to the meeting, in another part of Alfa, a completely different scene was unfolding.

In Country C, Professor Douglas stood at the massive gate of an underground facility, flanked by four military personnel. The professor was an older man, his graying hair and stern expression a testament to the years he had spent navigating the complexities of the world before the apocalypse. Now, he was faced with a reality he could hardly believe.

He had heard the same voice, felt the same shock, and had quickly scanned the information on his own system interface. After a hurried conversation with his superiors, permission had been granted for him to venture outside. The iron door in front of him creaked open with a loud noise, the sound echoing through the corridors behind him. As the door slowly swung open, a blinding white light flooded the entrance, causing Douglas and the soldiers to shield their eyes momentarily.

When Douglas opened his eyes again, what he saw left him speechless. He blinked several times, convinced that his eyes were playing tricks on him. The underground facility had been built in the Hangzhou Mountains, surrounded by dense forests and towering peaks. But now, in front of his eyes, there was only sand. Endless stretches of golden sand dunes rolled out as far as the eye could see. The once familiar landscape had vanished entirely, replaced by an arid desert that defied all logic.

But that wasn't the only thing that caught his attention. In the middle of this vast desert stood a massive round structure. It loomed ominously in the distance, its surface smooth and reflective, as if made of some unknown, otherworldly material. Professor Douglas knew immediately what it was—a portal to the Beast Realm.

***

At the core of Alfa, instead of magma, there was a big blob of golden liquid floating in midair as if it were in space. Suddenly, the golden liquid transformed into a huge face, but from its expression, it seemed lost and confused.