The Kade family estate sprawled across nearly 1,000 square meters of prime real estate in Coastal City's most exclusive district. In this world, properties like this cost upward of 300,000 credits per square meter—a fortune by any standard.
The villa itself was worth over 30 million credits, and that didn't include the renovations.
Atlas stepped through the front doors, and the first thing he saw was the spacious living room. Two housekeepers were quietly cleaning, moving with practiced efficiency.
The scent of cooking wafted from the kitchen.
Atlas paused.
His mother—his new mother—Cassiel Kade, was in there preparing dinner.
By the time the car had pulled into the estate, Atlas had fully absorbed the memories of his new life. They weren't foreign anymore. They were his. Every birthday, every argument, every family dinner—it all felt as real as his memories from Earth.
And now, standing in this unfamiliar-but-familiar house, he felt something twist in his chest.
Cassiel Kade wasn't like the original Atlas's mother from his memories alone. She was real now. A brilliant woman who'd graduated top of her class from Ironspire Academy, one of the most prestigious universities on Astryx. She'd been a rising star in martial economics before she married into the Kade family.
Despite her accomplishments, she loved cooking. She said it kept her grounded.
Atlas walked toward the kitchen and stood at the doorway, watching her work. She moved with the same efficiency she probably brought to everything else—precise, elegant, unbothered by the heat.
"Mom," Atlas said quietly. "I'm back."
Cassiel turned, her sharp features softening into a warm smile. "You're back! Good timing. Your father should be home soon. We'll eat together once he arrives."
"Okay. I'll… wash up," Atlas said, then headed upstairs.
Cassiel watched him go, tilting her head slightly. "That boy's been acting strange today."
In the bathroom, Atlas turned on the tap and splashed cold water on his face.
He stared at his reflection in the mirror.
Same face. Same body. But completely different circumstances.
On Earth, he'd been an orphan. No family. No money. No future.
Here?
Here, he had everything.
A family that was still alive. Wealth. Opportunity.
He wasn't going to waste it.
Atlas dried his face and walked to his bedroom, guided by memories that now felt like they'd always been his.
The room was large and well-decorated. Posters of famous martial artists hung on the walls—legends who'd made their names in the dimensional rifts. Shelves were lined with training manuals, novels, and even some old music albums. His desk sat beneath a large window, a sleek computer resting on top.
The computer caught his attention immediately.
It wasn't anything like the clunky desktops from Earth. This was a Nexion LX-9, a cutting-edge model with a holographic interface and processing power that would make Earth's best supercomputers look like calculators.
Atlas sat down and powered it on.
The system booted instantly—no lag, no loading screen. Just smooth, seamless operation.
He leaned back in his chair, thinking.
This world's technology is insane.
It made sense, though. According to the memories he'd absorbed, this world had advanced far beyond Earth—not because they were smarter, but because they had Force energy.
Force wasn't just used for martial cultivation. It was everything.
The car he'd ridden in earlier? Powered by a Force engine. No gasoline, no emissions—just clean, endless energy drawn from refined beast cores.
Buildings were reinforced with Force-conductive materials, making skyscrapers that would've been impossible on Earth.
Medical technology had leapt forward. Diseases that would've been terminal on Earth were treatable here with Force-infused medicine.
Even entertainment was different. Holofilms, VR arenas, Force-enhanced sports—it was like living in a sci-fi utopia.
Atlas opened the browser and searched: "Kardashev Scale."
A flood of articles appeared.
He skimmed through them, nodding to himself.
Back on Earth, humanity had barely scratched the surface of a Type I civilization—still reliant on fossil fuels, struggling with energy shortages, limited by the laws of physics.
Here?
Astryx was racing toward Type I, maybe even beyond. Force energy provided near-limitless power. Theoretical concepts that Earth's scientists could only dream about—fusion reactors, spatial compression, gravity manipulation—were real here.
All because of Force.
"No wonder this world feels like it's fifty years ahead," Atlas muttered.
He closed the browser and leaned back, processing everything.
Force energy had changed everything.
Thirty years ago, dimensional rifts had torn open across Astryx, connecting it to the Blackreach Continent—a savage, ancient world where Force existed naturally and everyone could cultivate martial power.
At first, people panicked. Monsters poured through the rifts. Cities were attacked. Thousands died.
But humanity adapted.
Governments around the world banded together and formed the Global Rift Coalition. They didn't try to close the rifts—they couldn't. Instead, they explored them.
Pioneers ventured into Blackreach, made contact with the locals, and learned their secrets.
They brought back cultivation techniques.
They brought back Force cores from slain beasts.
They brought back knowledge.
And humanity exploded.
Within a decade, martial cultivation became mainstream. People grew stronger. Faster. Tougher. Lifespans increased. Old people who should've been dead were still walking around, looking healthier than ever.
But it wasn't just humans.
Animals mutated. Plants grew massive. The entire ecosystem shifted.
Earth—Astryx—became something new.
A hybrid world, caught between the mundane and the extraordinary.
Atlas scrolled through more articles, piecing together the current state of things.
The cultivation system was simple enough:
Martial Apprentice had three tiers: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
At this stage, people trained their bodies, building a foundation strong enough to absorb Force. They were stronger and faster than normal humans, but they couldn't use Force yet.
Once someone's body was strong enough, they could break through and become a Martial Warrior—a true cultivator who could absorb and store Force in their body.
That's when things got serious.
A single Martial Warrior could take on ten Advanced Tier Martial Apprentices without breaking a sweat.
Beyond that were higher realms—Martial Master, Martial Grandmaster, and even Martial Saint—but those were rare. Legends.
Still, even at the Martial Warrior level, cultivators were terrifyingly strong.
They could shatter boulders with their fists. Move faster than the eye could follow. Fight dimensional beasts head-on.
And the original Atlas?
He had zero talent.
Despite coming from a wealthy family with access to the best resources, the original Atlas couldn't even break through to Advanced Tier Martial Apprentice. He was stuck at Intermediate Tier, spinning his wheels.
Atlas clenched his fists.
That's going to change.
He didn't know how yet, but he refused to stay weak.
A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Atlas! Your father's home! Come down for dinner!"
Cassiel's voice echoed up the stairs.
Atlas stood and stretched.
Time to meet the family.
Downstairs, the dining room was already set. A long table was covered with dishes—roasted meat from some kind of beast, steamed vegetables that looked too vibrant to be normal, and a soup that smelled incredible.
At the head of the table sat Davros Kade, Atlas's father.
He was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his early forties, with sharp eyes and a neatly trimmed beard. He wore a tailored suit that screamed wealth and power.
Davros ran the Kade Trading Union, one of the largest merchant empires in Coastal City. They traded everything—Force cores, beast materials, cultivation resources, even weapons and armor.
If you needed something in this world, the Kade family could get it for you.
For a price.
"Atlas." Davros nodded as Atlas sat down. "How was school?"
"Fine," Atlas said. "Nothing special."
Davros raised an eyebrow. "I heard there was an incident at the school gates. Some thugs harassing a student."
Atlas blinked. "How'd you already know about that?"
"I have my sources." Davros smirked. "Lyra Ashford, wasn't it? Advanced Tier Martial Apprentice. Impressive for her age."
"She beat them up pretty badly," Atlas admitted.
"Good. People like that need to learn their place." Davros cut into his meat. "Still, it's a reminder. This world runs on strength, Atlas. Talent, power, influence—those are what matter."
Atlas said nothing.
Cassiel glanced between them, then sighed. "Davros, don't start. Let the boy eat."
"I'm not starting anything. I'm just reminding him." Davros looked at Atlas. "You're at Intermediate Tier, correct?"
"Yeah," Atlas said quietly.
"Hmm." Davros didn't say anything else, but the disappointment was obvious.
Atlas's jaw tightened.
The original Atlas had been a disappointment. Spoiled, lazy, coasting on his family's reputation.
But that wasn't him anymore.
I'll prove it, Atlas thought. I'll get strong. No matter what it takes.
Dinner continued in relative silence.
But Atlas's mind was already racing.
He didn't know how yet, but something told him things were about to change.
He just had to be ready when they did.