PLAYER SYSTEM C1 JACK

The city of Aredan pulsed with energy, alive with the hum of floating vehicles and the rhythmic steps of commuters along the sidewalks. Flying cars glided just inches above the roads, their engines roaring softly as they drifted past towering skyscrapers. Though there wasn’t a tree in sight, the air remained fresh—thanks to high-tech oxygen containers stationed at every bus stop. Inside each container, a vibrant green liquid bubbled, steadily releasing purified air into the streets.

Brrrrrrr...

A sharp roar echoed from a floating motorcycle cutting through traffic. Riding it was a young man—Jack. He had a striking, boyish face, high cheekbones, and piercing blue eyes that mirrored the neon reflections of the passing vehicles.

His tousled blond hair was tucked beneath his helmet, strands fluttering slightly in the breeze. His posture was effortlessly graceful, a perfect balance between control and confidence as he rode.

A faint smile played on his lips as he weaved past cars and motorcycles. But his expression changed the moment he spotted police hovercars up ahead. Instantly, he eased off the throttle and adjusted his riding—now the image of a law-abiding citizen.

One of the officers, rugged-faced and stern, squinted at Jack through his tinted window. He said nothing, continuing to munch on a donut and sip his steaming cup of coffee.

Jack let out a quiet sigh of relief once he passed them. “Whew. Dodged a ticket.”

As he approached a massive complex, his eyes were drawn to the glowing letters towering above: Super Shopping Mall. He smoothly turned into the parking area, slowed his bike, and parked it near the entrance.

He removed his helmet, hooking it onto the handlebar, and quickly fixed his hair using the side mirror. Hands in his pockets, he strolled toward the entrance.

A green laser scanned his body from head to toe as he passed through the security gate.

[Scan complete. Status: Harmless.]
A cold, mechanical female voice echoed from the scanner.

Inside, cool air from the mall’s powerful air conditioning brushed against his skin. The place was massive—hundreds of stores lined the floors, packed with tens of thousands of visitors. Jack glanced around and let out a small breath of wonder.

“Yep… still the biggest mall I’ve seen,” he muttered.

No matter how many times he came here, the scale never failed to impress him. He made his way to the high-speed elevator. As it shot upward, the internal mechanism briefly counteracted gravity—causing Jack and the others to float weightlessly, suspended in a surreal, space-like drift—before gently settling them down as it halted at the 10th floor.

Jack stepped out eagerly and headed straight to the video game store.

Today was special—the grand release of ‹The War of Eve›, a cutting-edge online virtual reality game from one of the most reputable game studios.

Inside the store, a crowd had already gathered around the display section. Excitement buzzed in the air.

“This game looks insane,” someone nearby whispered. “The mechanics feel super balanced—at least from the beta testers’ reviews.”

“Yeah, and it was developed by Shinro Suzuki himself. That guy’s a legend. No one comes close to his level.”

“I’m telling you, Blackstar is gonna crush the charts again.”

Blackstar—renowned for their top-tier multiplayer VR games—had built a legacy, and this release was poised to raise the bar even higher. Jack grinned as he stepped past the buzzing group and grabbed a boxed copy of the game. With a swipe of his digital credit points, the transaction was complete.

“Thank you for your support!” the cashier said, bowing politely.

Jack walked out of the store, the new game in hand and a thrill bubbling in his chest.

He immediately hopped onto his motorcycle and took off, his excitement simmering beneath the surface. He quietly picked up speed, eager to get home and dive into his new game. But just as he turned onto the main road—

Traffic.

No, not just traffic—something was off.

Vehicles ahead had come to a complete stop, and police hovercars surrounded the area with blinking lights. Jack frowned, his instincts prickling. He leaned slightly, trying to see what was going on up ahead.

In the distance, two figures clashed violently, their battle shaking the street and shattering the walls of nearby buildings. The chaos was like something out of a superhero movie.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Who is that hero? Damn, he fights so cool… never seen him before.”

“You don’t know? That’s Yellow Claw—he’s new. Just registered as a D-Class hero last month.”

“Seriously? What’s his ability?”

“He awakened something called Strong Claws. His hands mutated—those claws can rip through concrete like paper.”

“And that villain… he’s spitting fire out of his mouth. What the hell…”

Jack hovered silently, watching. His expression shifted—his smile from earlier was long gone. His brows furrowed as the fight escalated, debris flying in every direction.

After ten tense minutes, reinforcements finally arrived. More heroes and enforcement drones subdued the villain and locked him in a containment cage. The crowd erupted in cheers and claps.

Yellow Claw, a towering man in a full yellow suit with clawed gloves protruding like weapons, gave a casual wave to the crowd before stepping aside.

The road soon cleared. Life returned to normal.

Jack slowly resumed his route, the cityscape blurring past him once more. Eventually, he pulled into the basement parking of a tall skyscraper—the condo tower where his family lived.

Inside the high-speed elevator, he leaned against the glass wall, gazing down at the sprawling city below. His thoughts drifted.

“Eighteen years… It’s been eighteen years since I reincarnated into this world.”

“Even now, I still think this world is better than my last one… even if it’s so different.”

Some people awakened powers. Others didn’t. Jack belonged to the latter.

“I’m one of the unlucky ones. No power. No talent. Nothing.”

He sighed, the disappointment heavy in his chest.
“Still… at least the tech here’s fun. The games are more realistic than anything back on Earth. Except…”

His gaze darkened slightly as the elevator neared the top floor—the penthouse.

“…except for this family.”

His family was wealthy—absurdly wealthy. His father owned Lite Group, a multi-billion-dollar corporation that dominated the market in distributing Energy Cores, the backbone of modern technology. On the surface, everything should have been perfect. But things were rarely that simple. Jack’s parents had high expectations, and with his siblings already blessed with talents and awakened powers, comparisons were inevitable—and constant.

The entrance door scanned him and opened automatically.

The interior was as luxurious as ever—marble floors, minimalist furniture, sleek design. He stepped into the living room.

His father, Ivan, was in the middle of his daily workout—tall, broad-shouldered, with sharp blue eyes that mirrored Jack’s. Sweat ran down his chiseled jawline and cheekbones. His chestnut hair was neatly combed even during exercise.

His mother, Emmy, elegant as ever, was doing yoga while following a hologram instructor. Slender, fair-skinned, with a heart-shaped face and wavy honey-blonde hair—she looked more like an actress than a middle-aged woman.

“I’m home,” Jack announced.

Ivan didn’t even glance at him. “Let me guess—you bought another one of those useless video games?”

Jack scratched the back of his neck, awkwardly. “Uh… yeah.”

“Hmph,” Ivan finally turned toward him, eyes narrowed. “Why can’t you focus on something important for once? You think wasting time on games will help you awaken your ability? You need discipline, Jack. Passion. Maybe then—maybe—you’d have a chance.”

Emmy chimed in gently, “Your twin brother, Ian, awakened his ability because he focused. He devoted himself to programming—and now look at him. He’s already an executive in the company, with an ability called Hacker.”

Jack clenched his jaw. He didn’t reply. He just nodded quietly.

Ivan’s voice grew sharper. “You need to understand something, Jack. There are no powerless children in this family. Emmy and I are both awakened. You? You’re a disgrace.”

“Honey…” Emmy tried to ease him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m just telling the truth,” Ivan said coldly. “If he doesn’t awaken anything in the next few months, he’s out. Let him live on his own. Maybe struggle will trigger something.”

Jack lowered his head, staring at the floor. He didn’t say a word. He just stood there, letting the words soak into him like cold rain.

After a while, he turned and silently walked toward his room, carrying the weight of disappointment on his back.

“My senior reincarnators would laugh if they saw me now,” he muttered under his breath, thinking of the countless novels, anime, and manga he'd once admired. “I’m the worst reincarnator in history.”