It had been over a decade since dimensional Gates opened on Earth.
The Awakened had now become "Hunters," people in an entirely different social class who earned hundreds of millions from a single Gate raid.
But...
"Huh?"
That had nothing to do with an ordinary person like me.
No, that was what I had thought.
But then.
[Dawn of Civilization]
Achievement Unlocked: First Ruler
→ Planet DIE-25 assignment complete
Perk: Planetary Ruler authority granted
― A unique planet will form inside your body.
― You may select and develop a species on the planet.
― The species' growth will become your strength.
[Accept] / [Decline]
"I... Awakened."
It seemed I was entering their world too.
***
There was a game called Dawn of the Races.
The game had existed before dimensional Gates or the Awakened ever appeared.
In all that time, no one had cleared the fiendishly difficult "Extinction" difficulty.
After abandoning every fantasy race and trying for over a decade, I had finally cleared the game with the "Primitive Humans."
When I cleared it, a message appeared before my eyes in a form I had seen somewhere before.
I felt around in the air, but my fingertips passed straight through it.
Awakening. The phenomenon people experienced when they became Hunters—now?
'Does that make any sense?'
No matter how impressive my achievement was, it had granted me an Awakening ability? That miraculous power among miraculous powers?
"It's exactly like the game?"
Thump, thump.
The format of the System window, its typeface, even the designation "Planet DIE-25."
'They said Awakening was a greater stroke of luck than winning the lottery.'
Becoming Awakened changed your life. It could free me from the life I had now, scraping by as a convenience-store clerk after losing my family in a Gate incident.
A gold spoon, a diamond spoon—no.
Right. I had acquired the Awakening spoon.
Swoosh.
I raised my hand. My trembling fingertip stopped in front of the [Accept] button.
'Let's do this.'
The moment I pressed the button.
"Urgh!"
Something expanded deep inside my heart, pushing against my flesh and muscles.
"Ghk!"
THUD—
Strength left my legs. My knees slammed into the floor first.
Convulsions began, and my jaw chattered.
'Am I going to die?'
I couldn't breathe.
Black spots spread across the edges of my vision.
Just before I lost consciousness.
"...Haa."
The pain vanished completely.
"Hoo. Haa. Shit."
Sprawled facedown on the floor, I gasped roughly. How bad had the pain been? My T-shirt clung to my back.
DING—
[Planet Creation Complete]
Planet DIE-25 has formed inside your body.
Location: Dimensional space within the heart
Environment: Primitive planet (ecosystem formation complete)
But there was no time to change clothes. Another message drew my attention.
"Living creatures?"
I placed a trembling hand against my chest.
―Thump, thump.
My heartbeat felt the same as always. But something was different. A presence could be felt between each beat. It felt as though another space existed somewhere inside my heart.
'Something's moving.'
Living beings breathed within it. Creatures that ran, flew, and hunted.
Goosebumps rose across my skin.
[Species Selection]
Select the dominant species to place on the planet.
Caution: The selected species will compete with the existing ecosystem for territory.
Warning: Choose your species carefully. This decision cannot be changed.
A list unfolded before my eyes.
[Available Species]
― Wolf Pack (Combat Power: B / Adaptability: D / Development Potential: C)
― Bearfolk (Combat Power: A / Adaptability: B / Development Potential: D)
― Dragon Whelp (Combat Power: S / Adaptability: F / Development Potential: S) ⚠ Grows very slowly and is highly affected by its environment
︙
― ✦ Primitive Humans (Combat Power: F / Adaptability: S / Development Potential: SSS)
* Growth Potential: Infinite
* Initial Difficulty: Extreme
* Unlocked by a Special Achievement: "Special" Evolution
⚠ Early survival difficult without the ruler's intervention
There were many species.
I had raised every one of them at least once.
"......."
But my gaze went straight to the bottom.
'Primitive Humans.'
When I touched the name marked with a golden star, detailed information unfolded.
Primitive Humans
Core Traits:
― Rapid Adaptation / Skill Acquisition / Rapid Evolution / Civilizational Development
Advantages:
― Absorb abilities from other species
― Can grow into the strongest species over the long term
Disadvantages:
― Extremely weak initial combat power
― Extremely difficult early survival
I had raised this species hundreds of times in the game too. The early game was hell, but once it gained momentum, it grew terrifyingly fast.
'But if I fail this time.'
Anxiety washed over me. This was the first chance at Awakening I had ever received. If the human species went extinct, I would never escape my current life.
"Hm?"
Then one word caught my eye.
* Unlocked by a Special Achievement: "Special" Evolution
"'Special'?"
That feature had never existed in the game, even when I cleared it.
My finger moved on its own and touched "Special."
["Special" Evolution: Additional Information]
→ "Awakened" individuals can now emerge among Primitive Humans.
The Awakened use supernatural powers such as magic and aura.
Important: The Awakened are dozens of times stronger than ordinary individuals
Appearance Rate:
― Early Era (1st Generation): 0.1%
― Middle Era (10th Generation): 1%
― Late Era (50th Generation): 5%
― Civilized Era (100th Generation onward): 10% or higher
This trait is a special bonus exclusive to the real-world System and did not exist in the game.
"What?"
My mouth fell open on its own.
The Awakened.
This game was an old classic that predated the appearance of the Awakened.
There was no reason for an element like this to exist in the game.
The intended strategy for Primitive Humans had been to develop them to a modern level.
If something like this had existed? Frankly, it would never have become a game no one could clear.
That was how overpowered this ability was.
Thump, thump.
My hands began to tremble.
No, my whole body trembled.
"Magic? Aura? Superpowers?"
Primitive Humans were human. No amount of training could make them as strong as bears.
Yet humans still had an SSS in Development Potential.
That was because a human civilization that reached the science-fiction stage could crush every other species without superpowers.
But some of those humans would also be born Awakened?
'That changes everything.'
A magic Awakened could create fire from their hands and call down lightning. An aura Awakened could rip a bear apart barehanded. A psychic Awakened could let an entire tribe communicate instantly.
'And the probability.'
Once they entered the Civilized Era, the whole tribe could become a group of Awakened.
The other species? A bear was still a bear no matter how much you raised it. Dragons had F-rank Adaptability.
But Primitive Humans had S-rank Adaptability and SSS-rank Development Potential.
That alone made them the highest-tier species by my standards.
And now they could even become Awakened.
"That's insane."
A laugh escaped me.
'Of course, that means the early game is just as difficult.'
The red warning text caught my eye. Initial Combat Power: F. Early Survival Difficulty: Extreme.
'It's dangerous.'
But I had the knowledge gained from 3,000 playthroughs. I knew how to keep them alive and how to evolve them.
'I can manage the risks.'
"This is it."
I reached out.
[Primitive Humans.]
I selected the Primitive Humans. Now that I had cleared the worst difficulty with them, no other species even entered my consideration.
And they could even produce special individuals known as Awakened?
I couldn't resist. No, I wouldn't.
DING-DING!
[Species Creation Complete]
All 100 members of the Primitive Humans have been placed on Planet DIE-25.
Tribal Composition:
― 70 Adults / 15 Adolescents / 15 Children
― Tribal Chief: 1
Current Status:
― Hunger 60% / Cold 40% / Fear 80%
Threat: Northern predator pack
I could feel them.
Somewhere beyond my heart, 100 living beings were breathing.
I could sense every individual breath. The pure vitality of the children. The hardy vitality of the adults.
And fear. Roars in the night. Hunger. Cold. Death.
'You're scared.'
My chest grew warm.
'But you'll survive.'
I placed a hand against my chest.
"And evolve."
One hundred Primitive Humans. Weak beings living together in a vast cave.
But they would evolve. Awakened would emerge among them.
Until the beings who scavenged carcasses became hunters, produced Awakened, and rose to rule.
I would be with them.
[Tutorial Starting]
Just as I made that decision.
"Huh?"
Another message appeared.
[Planetary Ruler Tutorial]
Moving to the location where your species has been placed.
You will experience the Planetary Ruler's authority firsthand.
Forced transfer in: 3 seconds
That went in a direction I had never expected.
"Wait, what?"
I waved my hand, but the message did not disappear. There was not even a button to cancel the tutorial.
In other words...
[3]
"Uh, uh. C-crazy!"
It meant I was about to be transferred by force.
THUMP!
My heart pounded again, harder than before.
"Ghk!"
My entire body vibrated. The tremor burrowed into my bones.
My vision warped. The view of my room bled like watercolors.
DING—
[Dimensional Transfer Starting]
Destination: Planet DIE-25
Estimated Duration: 10 seconds
HUM!
My body floated into the air. Gravity vanished.
Light poured down. Even with my eyes closed, white light pierced my eyelids.
My awareness steadily faded, and my thoughts grew hazy.
Eventually, my thoughts stopped.
And then.
[Dimensional Transfer Complete.]
My consciousness cut out.