System: Daily login!!, jackpot on the first day!!!

The system's voice echoed in Taufik's mind.

[Master, what is displayed in the status window is not everything. There are other factors beyond what has been recorded]

At that, Taufik raised an eyebrow.

"…Really? So this System Replica isn't omniscient?"

[No, Master. The System Replica only displays what has been recorded. However, given enough time, it has the potential to become omniscient]

"I see. Interesting… Then, what are these 'others' you mentioned earlier?"

[Apart from the three anomalies caused by the System's appearance, there are additional disturbances. The first, which I believe Master has already realized, is the reappearance of the Cracks… or perhaps similar occurrences have already taken place elsewhere in the world]

Taufik nodded. He had anticipated this.

The seal that once protected Earth had been broken shortly after he destroyed the Earth's Core. But with the birth of a new Core, the Rift Beasts drawn by its pure energy would inevitably return to Earth once again.

This outcome had already been within his expectations.

"Let me guess… Another consequence must be the explosive surge of Pure Earth Energy. Did it attract other entities in the universe to Earth?"

[Yes, Master. Earth is now on the radar of numerous civilizations beyond this world. How will you respond? Do you intend to restore the protective seal, as Gaia once did?]

Hearing that, Taufik paused, considering the question. Then, he shook his head.

"…No. We must not pamper humanity too much. If they are to grow, they must face adversity. The Replica System alone will be sufficient"

[Understood]

Then with a nod, Taufik prepared to leave.

"…Alright, let's go back"

But just as he was about to depart, he halted mid-air. His gaze turned downward, sweeping across the vast expanse of Earth.

"…I was going to say that, but… This world has changed far more than I expected"

This was the first time since the Great Catastrophe that Taufik truly observed the Earth's surface, and it no longer resembled the world he once knew.

Thousands of islands now dotted the ocean, remnants of a shattered landmass.

Some were linked by massive, natural bridges of twisted rock and glowing crystalline veins.

The continents had been reshaped beyond recognition, with massive ravines and canyons carved into their surfaces, scars left by the destruction and rebirth of the Earth's Core.

And even the sky was no longer a simple blue. Instead, it was a swirling blend of deep indigo and gold, streaked with ethereal auroras that shimmered even in broad daylight.

Some regions were trapped in an eerie, unchanging twilight, while others were illuminated by floating orbs of light, manifestations of chaotic energy still lingering in the atmosphere.

Taufik's eyes roamed over.

In certain areas, towering black spires of obsidian jutted from the ground, remnants of unknown structures that had seemingly emerged from beneath the earth.

Some of these spires pulsed faintly, suggesting the presence of an active force within.

Even the oceans were no longer the same. Some parts shimmered with bioluminescent life, while others churned with unnatural, almost sentient currents. Dark, massive forms moved beneath the waves, Rift Beasts already returning to claim their hunting grounds.

Seeing all of this, Taufik exhaled slowly.

"…Im indeed expected some change, but this is beyond anything I imagined"

[Master, this is the result of the unstable energy released during the transition. Parts of Earth have merged with other dimensions, and some regions are no longer bound by the planet's original laws]

A slight frown creased Taufik's face.

"So… Some of these islands aren't even from Earth?"

[Correct. Some originated from other realms and have fused with Earth's landscape due to the disruption. Additionally, new species have begun to appear, some from those foreign lands, and others born from Earth's transformation]

At this, Taufik's gaze darkened.

"This isn't just a new era… This is an entirely new world"

Taufik said, clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the challenges ahead.

The Earth was no longer an isolated planet, sheltered from the greater forces of the universe. It had become an open battlefield, a proving ground for entities beyond human comprehension.

"…Let's go"

With that, he vanished into the sky, leaving behind a world forever changed.

--------

- In Saranjana Kingdom.

With the birth of Lavanya, the fifth daughter of the first King of Saranjana, Taufik.

Aksara, The Oldest son of Taufik and The Second King Of Saranjana hosted a welcoming party; despite the phenomenon of the emergence of the System, the welcoming party for the birth of Lavanya went very smoothly and magnificently.

But Then.

Almost all of the guests.

All the high-ranking officials of Saranjana Kingdom.

All department heads.

And all of The Saranjana Royal Family.

Felt it.

They felt it, the sudden shift in the atmosphere.

Instantly, the sounds of jokes and laughter stopped, replaced by silence.

Everyone felt it, and a tense atmosphere filled the room.

*Crack!*

And then right in the middle of the Hall where's the party taking place.

A Crack appeared.

The atmosphere in the grand hall of the Saranjana Kingdom was thick with tension.

The once lively celebration had turned into an eerie silence, broken only by the faint crackling sound that echoed through the chamber.

All eyes were fixed on the center of the hall, where an ominous, jagged Crack had split the very fabric of space.

Aksara, standing at the head of the royal table, instinctively tightened his grip on his Ninjato, his senses screaming of an overwhelming presence emerging from the distortion.

The high-ranking officials of the kingdom exchanged uneasy glances, their bodies rigid as they braced for the unknown.

Then, from within the depths of the Crack, a figure slowly stepped forward.

Disheveled, his once-pristine clothes tattered and worn, his hair unkempt and slightly covering his eyes.

Taufik, the First King of Saranjana, emerged.

The entire hall gasped in unison.

Taufik's presence was undeniable. Despite his ragged appearance, an aura of immense power radiated from his being, so oppressive that even the most hardened warriors in the room felt their knees tremble involuntarily.

The energy around him fluctuated wildly as if the very laws of nature struggled to accommodate his return.

Aksara's breath hitched as his gaze met Taufik's.

His father's usually sharp and composed expression held something different, an exhaustion that ran far deeper than physical fatigue.

Yet, beneath that weariness, there was something else.

An understanding.

A realization.

The world they knew was gone.

Taufik's lips curled into a faint smile as he exhaled softly. Then, his voice, steady yet laced with an indescribable weight, broke the silence.

"... I'm home"

Those two words sent a ripple of emotion through the gathered crowd. Some dropped to their knees instinctively, overwhelmed by the return of their long-absent ruler.

Others remained standing, too stunned to react. Aksara, however, remained still, his grip on his sword loosening as a slow exhale escaped him.

"…Father"

Taufik's gaze lingered on Aksara for a moment before he turned his attention to the rest of the hall, his eyes scanning the familiar yet unfamiliar faces.

He could feel it, the shift in their world, the new energies that lingered even within the walls of his kingdom.

The Earth had changed.

And so had he.

"…We have much to discu-"

Taufik stopped; he didn't have time to finish his sentence. Taufik didn't expect it; there was no warm hug, there were no tears of joy, or anything like that. Taufik did not expect it at all; what greeted him was fist-covered in a golden aura, aimed right at his face.

Taufik's smile immediately disappeared, replaced by an expression of horror at what was about to happen, he could avoid it, but if he did, a bigger problem would befall him.

So, Taufik closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, prepared for what was to come.

Then-

*Boom!*

Taufik was thrown backward, hitting the wall of the hall very hard, causing a loud noise and soaring dust.

"..."

The hall remained frozen in shock. The once-celebratory atmosphere had turned into a battlefield of emotions.

Taufik lay amid the rubble, a deep dent marking the stone wall where he had crashed. Dust swirled in the air, and silence hung heavy as everyone processed what had just happened.

No one spoke. No one dared to move.

Aksara's grip on his sword tightened once more, his mind racing.

What just happened? His father, Taufik had returned, radiating the presence of something beyond human comprehension. And yet, in an instant, he had been sent flying by a single strike.

All eyes turned toward Rani.

She stood at the center of the hall, her knuckles still glowing faintly with golden energy. Her face was unreadable, but the tension in her stance spoke volumes.

She hadn't hesitated. She hadn't faltered.

She had punched the First King of Saranjana with everything she had.

"S-Sis R-Rani…?"

Kaela broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aksara exhaled sharply, shifting his focus back to Taufik. He watched as the dust settled, revealing his father slowly rising from the wreckage. His movements were steady, calculated.

Not because he was injured.

But because he had expected this.

Taufik's blue eyes locked onto Rani, his expression unreadable. He raised a hand to his jaw, rolling it slightly. Then, with a low chuckle, he dusted off his tattered cloak.

"Well…"

Taufik said, his voice was calm, but the weight of it sent a shiver down the spines of those present.

"That was quite the greeting"

....

...

..

.