A hundred years ago, a devastating earthquake reshaped the earth, causing hundreds of millions of human deaths. Nuclear reactors exploded, leading to unprecedented pollution, but that was actually a blessing.

Despite the millions of other deaths that struck humanity due to nuclear contamination and infection, they managed to pull themselves together after a while, even after a great winter era settled in.

A large-scale demonic invasion was supposed to begin at that time, but it turned out that nuclear radiation was lethal to them. It posed a greater threat to them than it did to humans. Gates to the demons' realm opened, but they did not come out due to fear of the radiation. However, the energy of consciousness seeped out and spread across the earth.

This energy, originating from the consciousness of all living beings in this universe, was called Zen. People discovered this energy and quickly found ways to use it.

Humans' bodies evolved significantly due to exposure to this energy, and they found a way to treat those affected by nuclear radiation. They even developed a vaccine for children, and soon things began to stabilize.

If there’s one thing humans excel at over other races, it's adaptation.

Adapting to any situation, no matter how difficult or impossible it may seem to live in. Advanced technology and new weapons were developed, and humans' bodies adapted to the consciousness energy, and even the planet itself became more resilient.

This was the time when people began to receive genetic skills they were supposed to have had from birth.

Since then, 90% of humans have gained the ability to use Zen, while the remaining 10% were considered disabled. As the planet neared the end of its recovery from nuclear radiation, the demons and some hostile races dared to finally emerge from their gates.

Although they wiped out 20% of humanity at that time and took control of 60% of the land, the result would have been worse if not for their delay due to nuclear contamination. Around seven races competed for the highest amount of land.

Humans and demons stood out significantly, but the cooperation of the remaining races posed a severe threat as well.

Seventy years have passed since the demons and other races emerged, and now I am in The Fortress, a place meant to prepare me to become another pillar supporting humanity.

Either a warrior to push other races out of our lands or an expert in other professions that distinguish humans from the rest.

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After all, what distinguishes humans is their technology and exclusive professions. Since my skill is only useful in direct confrontations, it’s clear I will be trained as a soldier. Really bad news for me...

Before the strange events that happened to me a short while ago, my goals were very different and very peaceful.

All I wanted to do was reach level 40 and lead my father's mercenary group, make it a little better than it is, and pass it on to my children after me.

I wanted to spend the rest of my life in continuous laziness, leaving the hard work to the combat-addicted soldiers, and the thinking to the geniuses who are not in short supply. Live off the money I saved all my life, slowly and steadily gain weight, spend my time sleeping or with some friends.

The first thing is to move my home to the center of the human nation where I wouldn't face any dangers. That would be extremely expensive, but the money I was supposed to earn would be enough.

Achieve not only my dream but my parents’ dream as well.

We all live a long life, long enough to witness humanity's final triumph over other races and live in peace. And if my demands were not too many, I wanted to meet some grandchildren and show them to my father.

Although all this requires a massive amount of money, I had already calculated everything.

If I graduated from The Fortress successfully, no field of work would refuse our mercenary group at all; having a member who graduated successfully in a mercenary group is a certification in itself.

Also, I wouldn't have to pay the mercenary tax of 23%, it would decrease significantly to only 3%.

All these are the benefits of graduating from The Fortress; my father and I calculated everything to the end.

Words are easy but actions are harder; graduating from The Fortress is much harder than graduating from anywhere else. It's harder than going through military training for four years, by miles!

Given my lazy nature, I didn’t want to put in all this effort for a long time, but I realized that being lazy for the rest of my life comes at a price.

I would earn a lot of money and rest for a long time…

That dream flew far away without return, I felt disgusted just thinking about it.

"My father is made of zeros and ones… my mother is made of zeros and ones… my dreams, my struggles, and my efforts! All of it isn’t real!"

I trembled while on the bed, thinking I had finally calmed down but I hadn’t. Why should I go through all this…? Why did I get these memories?

If I didn’t do something about what I saw, I might end up hanging myself in this room in a few days, and I didn’t want that.

"I know I’m not real, but I’m still afraid of dying…"

My world is an illusion, but it's a very real illusion, and it never stops... The harsh truth hit me like a hammer and completely shattered my mind.

To make this illusion a reality, I have to disrupt the course of events imposed on this world and restore the meaning of life, at least to myself!

And to disrupt the course of events, I have to intervene, whether I want to or not.

I refuse to let my life end without meaning, but to give it meaning, I have to intervene, whether I want to or not. And the bitter truth is that whether I want to or not, without these memories, I cannot give meaning to life.

The thing that destroyed the meaning of life is the only way to restore it, how ironic.

I finally made my decision, and my heart calmed down...

I calmed down now, and I must become stronger to keep it that way...