Freya looked through the viewing orb as her companion enter the portal, which would take their plans to an entirely new level. Galactic domination is not an easy thing. From the very beginning, they knew that this would be a long process. Planet by planet, step-by-step, all to achieve their goals. To have a united system of all beings connected underneath one umbrella, and all knowledge amassed in one library.

For that, they had spent countless hours in research from spell formation to spell formation. Researching and combining their many fields of magic together. Space, time, nature, fire, water, earth, air, etc, all into one System. With the start of this invasion souls will be chosen to venture forth throughout the galaxy, no the universe. Like viruses spreading constantly to every single life form.

To put this universe underneath the umbrella no, shield, for the outside holds the unknown terrors of man, beast, elf, dwarf, Titan, Gods, and all of the myriad races underneath our stars. As the portal expanded, it opened up a gateway to the planet her companion originated from, Earth. It was here her companion stated.

[Because of its numerous inhabitants with broad minds, and suppressed souls. Once we release them upon the galactic scale we wouldn’t have to lift a finger. They will do it themselves. For too long have they been suppressed to the views of their governments. They have forgotten what matters most. Strength. Money can take you far but on a cosmic scale, money means nothing. With your magic and my System, we have a chance to stop our doom path and create a road in which, with those of strength no matter if they have a righteous heart or the blackest soul. They will rise and answer our call. For we all have nightmares even those well adapt to the dark.]

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Today was supposed to be another regular cycle in A.K.’s life, yet whatever all-powerful being in charge had other ideas. A.K. started off the morning as usual. Wake up, turn on the tv, go brush his teeth and get something to eat before getting ready to go to class then work. Everything was going as usual until he finished his classes and made it home. He was still undecided and had just turned 20 not too long ago. He had almost knocked out all his gen eds, yet he still didn’t know what he wanted to do in life. It all seemed so pointless to him almost. His mother and father as well as the rest of his siblings and family were all very supportive. College isn’t for some they said, try other things. Yet no matter what he did none of it really drew him in. There were four things for sure that had A.K.s interest. One was video games/anime the other was music/reading. But that’s unimportant right now what’s important is how A.K.s life changed and all it took was one step.

A.K. had just finished eating lunch when the entire world rumbled, but to his knowledge, it was just his house and immediate surroundings. He stumbled outside struggling to keep balance. As he got outside of the house hoping that the building wouldn’t collapse he froze. Thousands of meters above him he saw what looked like an eye? Yes, an eye was looking through a crack that appeared directly in space. A giant shadow was cast covering his surroundings in pitch blackness with only the glow of the golden pupil to shine upon his area of the world. His mind froze barely able to process what was going on. He heard a tearing sound as the crack expanded and more than just an eye became visible. Scales the color of ash grey surrounded the eye as more and more of the body became visible.

[ Hmph ]

The sound broke through the quiet night or was it a day? AK didn’t know which one it was anymore. More of his neighborhood came out onto the street all looking up in terror at the being that was invading their world.

[It's been a long time since I’ve been home. I had forgotten how rancid the air here is. Listen, mortals, for I see you as such since I am no longer your Kin. I am here to deliver you an opportunity that you have no choice but to accept. Many of you will be sent out into the vastness of our universe to deliver this opportunity to the rest of the intelligent races. Welcome to the System, Harbingers.}

A.K. had little time to process what the being said in his mind before a completely new voice entered his head.

Initializing… Scanning through subjects body and soul… Recent memories acquired… Welcome A.K. I am System, and you are subject 98,124. Congratulations! On being the 98,124th being to acquire access to me. You have been chosen as a representative of the first hundred thousand to become a Harbinger. Your mission no matter if you choose to accept, is to reincarnate into a world of our choosing to spread me to others. The Gods or beings of power in that world will see you as a target to eradicate with extreme prejudice in body and soul. You will have 24 hours to talk to any loved ones or beings of recognition before your body will be consumed in this world and your soul transferred elsewhere.

By this point A.K. had started to hyperventilate, his mind could no longer process what was going on. All he felt was fear. Fear and terror. He had 24 hours before he would die? That's all that rang through his head as the being with its enormous eye disappeared and platforms started to fly out from the crack in space. His phone exploded as he received multiple calls and text messages. Family, friends, social media, and news all trying to get through at once. He turned his phone off immediately. The shaking had long since stopped, and whatever was coming out of the portal in space no longer concerned A.K.

He returned to his parent's house and entered his room closing and locking the door behind him. What is going to happen to his mom was among the first thoughts that ran through his head as he took a seat at his desk. Although he loved his dad he was by far a mommas boy. His older brothers and younger siblings all agreed on the fact. Maybe it was because he was the middle child and had complications with his birth, but he was always closer to his mother than any other family member.

As an avid reader, he’d always imagine what would happen if he got isekaied into another world. He originally thought he be away at a four-year college and truck-kun would greet him as he rushed to class late one morning. Or maybe he’d see a lady get robbed and chase after the robber only to get stabbed and bleed out, but this was not a Chinese or Japanese or even Korean web novel turned anime.

This was something else new entirely. What is he supposed to tell his mom? Tears started forming at his nasolacrimal duct (tear duct) before slowly being released in a steady stream. His father always told him men don’t cry, yet his mother said to cry and release the pent-up emotion and stress. It always makes you feel better she said.

So he cried, and throughout the process, he never once felt like less of a man.

“System, is there no way for me to give up this chance to someone else?” That was the first thing he said to this strange new entity that inhabited his head.

Unfortunately A.K. there isn’t [[email protected]&(*!^*] has spoken, and as the Creator of System. The system is inclined to listen. However, you have been given 24 hours on this planet to say goodbye. Currently, there are 23 hours 42 minutes, and 38 seconds remaining before your timely demise on Origin 0 or as the inhabitants of it call it. Earth.

Even if his heads spun, and his thoughts became cloudy, muddled from all that has taken place in the last 20 minutes of his life. A grim resolution has started to take shape, and form in A.K.s mind. He wasn't coming to terms with his death, but to terms with the situation. There was no government to protect him now, nor any law that would hold whatever being that had come to his planet accountable. So with this newfound resolution, he did as advised. First, he picks up his phone and called his mother.

Ring, ring, ring.

“Sweetie, please tell me your ok.” Was the first thing his mother said when she answered the phone. Her voice was shaking and he could hear the frantic almost on the verge of panic tone that had taken hold of her voice.

He took a deep breath before responding, “I’m fine mom, but something important is happening. How far are you from home?” A.K. asked. He had, although panicked and stressed from the revelation of his timely death, managed to keep his voice calm and steady, even if he was anything but that internally.

“I’ve already talked to your dad, and younger brother and sister. They’re fine and together but a little shaky.” Her voice took a calmer tone after she realized her precious star was safe.

“We all should be home in a little under an hour. Stay home and don’t go outside, I’m sure we’ll hear the government's response soon enough. I love you A.K. please stay safe” She said

“Yes mom and I love you too” was his response voice cracking a bit at the end as he realized this would be one of the last times he got to say that to his mother, or any of his family even.

As he hung up the phone, he took a look around his room at all the action figures he collected throughout the years and the posters of famous superheroes that he admires. He turned back to his desk and did one of the things that calmed him the most. He had always love to assemble action figures and right now he decided to finish his latest project a Gundam from an anime that had just picked up about iron-blooded orphans who struggle to survive in places they don't belong with people who want to take advantage of them.

Piece by piece he methodically put the figure together, and much of the stress and tension that had unknowingly built up throughout his body had suddenly released, his shoulders and body relaxed from its tensed upstate.

Time passed and he soon heard a noise coming from the entrance of his house. His parents had arrived home with both his younger siblings in tow and were beginning to make their way inside. He rose from the seated position, body crackling as he stood up from the release of all his stress earlier.

Soon he was at the entrance barely pausing to see who had come in first before rushing forth and hugging them. It was his mother, and right then and there it all came out. He spilled everything not even able to hold himself together. Telling his family everything the System had said to him. His mother shook and his father trembled wide-eyed as the revelation came upon them as two younger siblings held their breath as shock appeared in their eyes.

Eventually, as time passed, roughly an hour or so and their minds settled. Rage overtook them as they started to call to the System, which they've all received and they berated with questions that would mostly remain unanswered or ignored entirely.

From the knowledge that was amassed so far. Around 100,000 people were chosen as Harbingers. Harbingers those set to venture forth on the quest that they had neither ask for nor were they given the request to deny. What they had learned though, was that the beings who came from the sky after the golden eye had disappeared were sort of diplomats sent to help the government keep their people alleviated with the entire situation of being acclimated to the System.

From watching what they could from the news, and seeing dubious sources such as someone's cousin uncle wife’s sister's boyfriend, who works with the government, disclose that much bigger drastic changes would come. Their planet, they found out was less. Not even enough to be considered a lesser world as these diplomats stated. What was special about them was their mindset, which had set the being they call [ Beyond ] as they could not state their true name without consequences, to its path of Godhood and further beyond.

From what they knew of it. The [ Beyond ] had originated from this ‘less’ and became the strongest being from their high world to ever exist. The diplomats were human although they looked nothing of the sort. With their bright hair colors of reds, greens, yellows, and more. Had gone to every capital of the world to help instruct and inform what changes would be brought with the System.

The System would bring about a change much as it had done to their high world and show the inhabitants of Earth a proper path forth to gain power. Power enough to even rival [ Beyond ] yet not without cost as the [ Beyond ] had stated on their path to power. That was a story for another time and another place.

Right now what matter was A.K. after a few hours of going through every source of information they could get their hands on. They had begone to acknowledge that nothing could be done for the ‘unfortunate’ middle child. The one title [ Beyond ] had set off to bring a change and order to the countless worlds and realms of their universe. Its first stop being Earth knowing the inhabitants of the planet were some of the best to become its Harbingers.

Time left 11 hours 12 minutes and 28 seconds. It is advised that you take this remaining time to come to terms with your timely death, and use the remaining amount of time to rest. It is not recommended to die awake as the process of dematerializing your body may cause further unwanted and avoidable shock to your fledgling soul. The process of reincarnation is not one the mortal soul can handle.

The voice of the system certainly sounded in A.K.s head. He alongside his family had done all they could, yet time was slowly dwindling away. When the System finally informed A.K. it only brought further confirmation that they really couldn’t do anything to be released from the position of Harbinger. It didn't matter how rich, or what's your social position as if you were selected, there is no getting out of it.

A.K. rallied his family to him. Their eyes all red from the crying, and bags underneath heavy from the stress. They too had come to the realization that nothing could be done. So with little consolation to be given to the fortunate recipient of the [ Beyond ] favor, they did the only thing they could do. A.K.s family gathered around him and gave him a tight hug. Knowing that no matter where or who or even what was to become of him, he had their love and affection.

His mother took it the worst, not letting him go for another two hours. When she finally did she turned away quickly not wanting A.K. to see the pain of what losing her little star did to her internally. Knowing her state A.K. got up and left on his own accord. Choosing to return to his room. He spent the next few hours organizing his stuff and cleaning his room. Not wanting to leave that burden to his family. He also sent goodbye texts to his distant family and close friends. Before once again turning his phone off because of the slew of messages and calls he received. Finally, he laid on his bed all the while checking the external clock that hovered in his vision the entire time.

6 hours 1 minute 30 seconds.

5 hours 32 minutes 19 seconds

2 hours 5 minutes 24 seconds

1 hour 30 minutes 30 seconds

By now his mind finally grew tired enough. He had spent a little over 24 hours already awake and his body could no longer hold on as sleep embraced him.

58 minutes 32 seconds

10 minutes 58 seconds

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Initializing… starting transfer… breakdown of the body starting… cocooning soul… searching for new world… high world found… searching for compatible body… compatible body found… disconnecting from the main server to infiltrate high world… connection severed… transferring host consciousness and soul to new body… time until born… 8 months 3 days 7 hours 4 minutes 10 seconds…