The bus was loud.
Someone was laughing in the back. Someone else was complaining about the heat. Lin Kade sat by the window, earphones in, staring at the blur of trees rushing past the glass.
He wasn't asleep.
He just didn't care enough to pay attention.
That was when the world ended.
No impact.
No crash.
No warning.
The scenery outside the window folded inward like a page being turned, and the bus stopped existing in motion.
Gravity vanished.
Sound vanished.
Then
The bus slammed onto cold stone.
Students screamed.
Lin blinked.
They were no longer on a road.
They were inside a massive circular hall, its ceiling lost in darkness. Symbols floated in the air like glowing scars carved into reality itself. Torches burned with flame that wasn't fire.
A woman stood before them.
She wore a red dress that flowed like petals in the wind. Her eyes were sharp, artificial like she was looking at data, not people.
"Welcome, chosen heroes," she said calmly.
I am Red Rose, Administrator of the Midlayer Worlds.
The students panicked.
What is this place.
Send us back!"
This has to be a dream.
Red Rose raised a hand.
Silence snapped into place.
You have been summoned to save a world threatened by Demon Gods and Outer Beings, she said. Each of you has been granted a System to grow stronger."
Golden light burst around the students.
Screens appeared before their eyes.
Name: Hayden
Class: Wind Adept
Skill Acquired: Low Tier Air Magic
Name: Sarah
Class: Healer
Skill Acquired: Minor Restoration
Gasps filled the hall.
Some students cheered.
Some cried in relief.
Then someone shouted.
What about him.
Red Rose's gaze shifted.
To Lin.
For the first time, she frowned.
Lin looked down.
A screen floated in front of him too.
But it was… empty.
No stats.
No class.
No level.
Just one line of text.
Status: Authority Detected
Designation: Final Termination (Passive)
Note: Observation Restricted
Red Rose's hand trembled.
That wasn't supposed to happen.
Interesting," she said quietly.
Lin raised an eyebrow. "So do I get, like a sword or something.
The hall went cold.
Red Rose looked at him really looked at him and for the first time since summoning them, fear leaked through her perfect expression.
No,she said quickly. "You will remain here. The others will be transported to the combat zone.
A magic circle ignited beneath the students.
Hayden turned. Lin What about you.
Lin opened his mouth to answer
The circle activated.
They vanished.
The hall was empty now.
Just Lin.
And Red Rose.
She took a step back.
Do you know what you are she asked carefully.
Lin shrugged. A student
Her fingers clenched.
She was an Administrator. A being who rewrote worlds. She had erased gods before.
And yet.
She did not think about killing him.
She didn't even let the idea form.
Because something deep inside her screamed that if she did.
There would be nothing left of her to regret it.
Stay here," Red Rose said. "Do not move."
She disappeared in a flash of crimson light.
Lin stood alone.
The system screen flickered once more.
Warning:
Multiple hostile observations detected.
Intent based threats will be neutralized.
Lin sighed.
Man. This field trip sucks.
Far above the world
A god looked down.
And thought
That thing must not be allowed to exist.
The thought never finished.
The god didn't die.
The god didn't scream.
The god simply
Was no longer there.
And somewhere deep in the structure of reality, the concept of intent began to be feared.