Day: 0

Time: 07:35:29 PDT

Location: First Universe, The capital planet of the Arcanis Empire

Infuriating, that was the only way I could describe the annoyance, anger, and downright frustration I felt. I lost one of my incarnations to that nut case of a god. I've been stuck at that level for an entire century, and now I just lost five levels because of that bastard. Why are all powerful beings nut jobs?

Sighing, I looked around my office, where my main incarnation resides—the only plus side to having an incarnation skill. Besides potent soul magic, I don't need to worry about being an actual danger. Not like there are many dangers a powerful A rank one...six levels till reaching godhood like myself can face. Crushing the armrest of my favorite chair was another loss to add to this terrible day.

Even though I am the branch leader of a multiverse comprehensive media company, I consider my office modest in size with a bland red color. I'm not too fond of the color because it reminded me of blood which I've seen a lot of. To get away from the bland red color of my office mostly, I left the office to head to the main branch of this Universe to report my findings since I'm just the branch leader of the planet. It was so boring.

I was born on this planet, and it's grown boring since I've seen worlds far beyond this measly planet. The only reason why it's the capital of the Arcanis Empire is that nut job was born here and since he was the emperor when he was actually interested in things besides uncovering the secrets of magic and finding a successor. Arcane Sovereign, my ass. He probably wants to find a successor so he can steal his body or something.

Walking out of my office, I saw at least fifty other people walking around in a cubicle area. Everyone in the room was at least B rank or even low A rank. Which was expected for a high rarity planet and the only saving grace of this planet. Being on the 98th floor of a skyscraper in a prominent city does help as well. Outside the window, I could see a bustling metropolis beyond the sky, more than likely reaching space. Even though it was daytime, I could see the streams of colors so beautiful that I could forget that the colors were attacks from primordial beasts the size of planets. The planet-wide runic defensive network stops those types of attacks with ease. Most gods would have trouble destroying the network.

Leaving the 98th floor was as easy as channeling mana into the runic teleportation platform in the center of the entire floor. I was on the other side of the planet with only a second delay inside an identical skyscraper where the main branch was located. I smiled as I greeted the guards guarding the teleportation platform. I wish my branch were important enough to require guards, but all I get is a defense formation. I kept my face utterly neutral as I went to the main branch head's office. His office was on the 100th floor, and I wish it were as simple as a teleportation platform, but, no, he is super important, so his security is the top priority. He a literally god, one of twenty in the whole company. I was predicted to be the twenty-first by someone who had to mess that up. God, I hate some gods. They think they are the center of the world and destroy anything that doesn't fit in their image. The main branch head was, well, I'm not sure what type of god he is. He was most definitely insane like most, but to call him controlling wasn't a word I would use.

At that moment, I finally got to his office. I straightened my skirt and adjusted my blouse so I could at least try to look imposing to him. I let out a heavy breath. I didn't even realize I was holding. Knocking on the door to the god's office. I stilled. Nothing happened after a few moments, but I didn't even think of moving a single inch. My heart raced as I wanted.

Calm down. He wouldn't hurt you. Caila, You are strong. A few centuries ago, you were considered the blood demon of celestial war. You killed many, but he killed more. He reached godhood, a feat you have yet even to attempt. I need to-. My thoughts were interpreted by the door is suddenly opened. Even for my A rank senses, I couldn't even react to it being opened.

" Caila, Why the long face? You seem weaker since the last time. Did one of these incarnations of yours die? I hope it didn't set you back too far."

The main branch head, Lucas Stoll, stood in the doorway where the door stood moments ago. He was of average height and didn't seem muscular through his dress suit. Only three things give it away that he wasn't normal. His eyes, skin, and presence. His eyes seem to be looking through you as if he was looking at your soul. Which he was, and he also probably was looking into the future. He is well known for his divination skills. His skin was probably the normalist of all of these, but it was purple goes to show that he wasn't human. He was half dark elf before reaching godhood, but I'm not sure about that since I can't inspect a god. His presence was terrifying compared to the nut job, whose aura seemed controlled but wise and somewhat ancient. His aura was completely different, it was dangerous like any god, but it felt like it was going through me and strangling my soul. I could never get used to that feeling, but I had to get through this meeting.

I bowed as I began, " Sadly while speaking to a Great Celestial, the Arcane Sovereign, to make it more specific. He destroyed my incarnation, as you have suspected. It shouldn't be a problem in the future since I'm still alive, and he could destroy my entire existence with a wave of his hand. But I have received information about the Universe Integration from the aforementioned incarnation and others. May we please sit?"

"Sure, Anything for my favorite mortal. You may sit." As he motioned for me to sit at the seat across from his own with a desk in between.

I smiled and nodded as I walked and sat in the seat. His office was much more luxurious compared to my own. The room was at least three times larger than my own. He had a small waiting area in the corner where no one was sitting with a viewing crystal to watch something on a coffee table. One side of his office was an entire window looking down on the city below. Before I could finish looking around, he sat down from across the desk with a smile.

" Do you like the office?" He said while playing with his pen by swinging it like a pendulum with what looked like wind magic as he waved his finger around and looked at me with that stupid look like he was the only one in on the joke.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice. I was trying to ignore my own nervousness. The view must be amazing during nighttime. With all the lights and everything is going on down there."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Yeah, the view is stunning during the night. Seeing all the ants live is truly something. Now please, tell me what you know about the Universe Integration. Isn't this the start of a new era after all? Why the frown? You are living in a new era. You weren't even alive when the last era started, and if everything goes right. You are going to be able to see the one after this. So smile." Something in his tone told me it wasn't a request to smile. Forcing a smile wasn't hard exactly, but keeping my cool was. He was most definitely insane.

Clearing my voice, I began. " It has been two hours since Universe Integon has begun. According to my incarnation monitoring the Universe's membrane, the Universe itself finished integration about an hour ago. However, that's the similarity between this integration and the ones before ends there. It seems that the System has removed tutorials altogether to get the sentient races to introduction into them into their new reality. Instead, the System seems to be just dropping them right back where they were; however, the area is change appears to appear to b-"

" Dungeons. What is that old man planning? What did that incarnation of yours get out of him?" He said, with a manic glee in his eyes.

I hesitated because that story could be my big break; however, the look in his eyes after he saw my hesitation was one of emptiness. It was something I was thoroughly familiar with because I had that same expression on my face when someone of a lower rank dared to question me and the same look that the old man most likely had when he killed my incarnation.

" He said that Fairy Sovereign divined that his successor was in the Universe. I don't get why that's relevant to what the System chooses to do with sentient races, and also, some are not dropped inside dungeons. Only those with ten other people in the surrounding area are transported to a dungeon." I blathered out as fast as possible, so my head could stand attached.

" Of course, someone like you doesn't know. Do you understand what the Paton of a Universe is?" Lucas said, slamming his hand on the table, crushing it in an instant with that same manic glee returning to his eyes.

----------------------------------------

Day: 0

Time: 07:03:59 AM PDT

Location: Unknown

*PLOP*...*PLOP*...*PLOP*

"...huh"

In a daze, I woke to the sound of what I thought was water. A large groan exited my lips as I tried to get up from the libra-. That's not carpet. I looked around in a panic trying to orient myself. I was inside what looked like a large hallway. The ground was packed with dirt, and the walls were made of stone brick. The stone bricks looked like...books inside bookshelves. The only thing inside the hallway beside myself seem to be a wooden staff besides my feet, and I grabbed the staff inspecting it. It looked like multiple branches were twisted together to me it and poorly. I could only describe it as something of a wizard from the hobbit would use. I was also sure I wasn't wearing this earlier. I wore what looked like a robe you would see peasants in films and video games wear, and my shoes were bags the size of my feet. A crystal glowing a soft white light spreading for about 15 meters that seem to be the only light source in slight was attached to a rope tied around me, keeping the robe together. Surprisingly the light wasn't distracting at all. Beyond the 15 meters was complete darkness.

"Where the fuck am I?" I said, trying to stay calm. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. That's when I noticed a blue box with an exclamation point inside my vision's right corner. My eyes shot open, and I started looking around frantically. No matter where I looked, the blue box was still there. The only thing that came to mind, well, two things while I freaked out, was that weird dream and that blue screen that appeared in front of me before I blacked out.

System update! 2.0.1

Universe Integration has begun. While the Universe is being integrated, all beings will be undergoing alterations.

May you all grow powerful.

That really doesn't help me. Did the universe change somehow? And what does that have to do with the blue box in my vision? Think....Ray...Think... In the dream, I could select options if I concentrated on them. Maybe that will work here.

*GROWL*

Before I could even concentrate, I heard a low but audible growl. It was wrong, so how? I looked around and saw a black gooey claw step into the sphere of light emitted by the crystal. I tightened my grip on the staff as I got in a guarded stance with the staff in front of my body. The growling only grew louder as I started walking backward slowly. By this point, only the back hind legs of the creature weren't viewable through the hall's darkness. The beast was at least two times my size and resembled a bear if a bear was made of a black gooey substance with patches of fur sticking out of the ooze. My instincts told me to run, but my brain told me to...RUN. So, you can bet on one thing, I listened. I ran in the complete opposite direction of the ooze bear.

I just kept running, I didn't look behind, but the growling turned straight-up into roaring that seemed to be getting closer told me one thing. It was getting closer. And I had to find a way out of here. The only thing I could see was the hallway and nothing more. The ground didn't have a stone or anything just a hallway with no sign of stopping. I needed a solution and fast. I thought back to the end of the dream, where I selected a skill.

[Inferior Mana Bolt]

(Rarity - Lowest)

You haven't even touched on the bare minimum to consider the spell a [Mana Bolt]. A spell that sends massive amounts of destructive power at your foes through a single bolt. Maybe you can truly touch upon the essence of this spell or even change the spell to your own desire.

You gain an inferior understanding of the spell [Mana Bolt].

Drains an inferior amount of mana when casted.

+1 to INT and WIS

The details of the skill just appeared in my mind with just a straight thought. I had to wonder about the implications of that later if, I wanted to survive now. I didn't even know how to activate the skill, but I knew I had one shot. It was me or the creature and if I had anything to do with it, I was going to choose myself. To survive like I've been doing my whole life. My breath grew heavy and shorter with every second of the sprint away from that thing. But it wasn't slowing. In fact, it was gaining ground on me. It was only a matter of time before it caught up and killed me. Then, one crazy idea came to my mind. One shot, that's all I had. An uncontrollable grin covered my face as I ran, then suddenly I fell into a roll as the creature was just about to strike me from behind, rolling straight under it.

The creature swiped with bone crushing force at the air where I should have been. However, it didn't expect that I would be 10 meters behind it. Aiming the staff at the beast as soon as I stopped rolling and going into a knee. Something in my mind just clicked as my desire to cast the spell birthed the simplest understanding of how to cast [Mana Bolt]. I channeled mana I didn't even know I had into weird patterns into the wooden staff. The staff seemed to hum in approval as blueish streaks of what I think is mana pooled at the top of the staff. Mana felt warm. It wasn't quite the same warmth in the dream but close enough. The streaks of mana ran up and down the staff as the ball of crackling mana only grew. It only stopped when it was the size of a palm, and now the spell was ready.

The whole process took under a second, only enough time for the creature to look in my direction with what seemed to be dark red eyes. My heart was racing; I couldn't ever think properly. The only thing I could think of was to cast the spell. This was my first spell and the spell that would set me on the path of a great mage. Some would say the greatest. A spell cast out of desperation and need. A simple spell to survive.

"MANA BOLT" Yelling with everything I had, body, mind, and soul, as I released the spell. And if I could see my eyes instead of the bland brown I would expect, they would be glowing a brilliant blue.