Chapter 1 – The Hero Has Returned
The sky was cloaked in thick, heavy clouds, a dull gray ceiling stretching endlessly above the city. It was as if the heavens themselves mourned some ancient sorrow, pressing down on the bustling world below. On the streets, people rushed by like tiny pawns in a game whose outcome had long been decided. Horns blared incessantly, tires screeched against asphalt, and the endless tide of humanity pressed forward with tired, blank faces. Their eyes held no spark of hope, no fire of rebellion—only the cold resignation of routine.
Amidst this indifferent crowd, one figure moved with a calm that set him apart. A young man, no older than twenty or so, walked slowly but steadily, as if carrying centuries worth of wisdom in his gaze. His dark hair fluttered lightly in the breeze. His eyes, though serene, were deep and knowing, as if he had witnessed epochs pass and empires rise and fall. The dazzling shop windows, the garish neon lights, and the towering glass-and-steel skyscrapers failed to impress or intimidate him. None of it seemed grand anymore.
He had stared into the eyes of dragons and made them bow.
He had conquered vast continents, claiming them as his own.
He had slain gods and walked among the divine.
This world—his birthplace—now seemed like a mere shadow of the adventures he had left behind.
Without a word, he paused in the middle of a crowded street. No one stopped to look at him. No one noticed. The city swallowed him up like a ghost.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he was standing atop an abandoned skyscraper, far above the chaotic hum below. The wind tugged at his coat and tousled his dark hair. He lifted his right hand toward the dull sky, and an intricate pattern of glowing runes bloomed across his skin like ancient tattoos awakening from slumber. The air crackled with raw energy. The very ground beneath the city trembled as if the world itself had taken a breath.
And then — the heavy clouds split apart, tearing like parchment in the wind.
Across every capital, town, and village on the planet, impossible sights unfolded. Golden, circular portals appeared in the skies — shimmering screens floating in midair, glowing like mystical gates to another realm. Smartphones shut off simultaneously. Giant digital billboards went black. Every broadcast was overridden.
Every screen, every floating portal, showed only one thing:
His face.
A young man with dark hair and calm eyes that seemed to look through the viewer's very soul. Behind him hovered a throne unlike any other — forged from stone, flames, and shimmering stars, wrapped in ancient glowing runes that pulsed with power.
And then he spoke. His voice was calm but carried the weight of a thousand battles.
"I am one of you," he said softly.
"Born in this world, just like you. I worked in supermarkets. Slept on crowded buses. I lived on autopilot, chasing a life that felt empty. Dreaming? That was a luxury I couldn't afford."
The world fell silent, holding onto his words like a desperate prayer.
"But one day…" he continued, eyes glinting with distant memories, "I was summoned to another world. An isekai — just like the manga, the anime, and the comics many of you love. There, I fought. I suffered. I endured. And I became something more than human. I became legend."
Behind him, the screen flickered and showed bursts of another world — a place of endless war between armies of magic, castles that floated above clouds, monstrous beasts that towered like mountains, and gods that fell to their knees before him.
"Now, I have returned. Not to start over as an ordinary man. But to give you something I never had — a real chance to change."
The golden portals expanded, showing scenes from forests, deserts, oceans, and mountains all across the globe. From each, massive dungeons erupted — towering, mysterious, and filled with secrets.
"From today onward, dungeons will appear everywhere on Earth. Some small, some vast beyond imagination. Inside these dungeons, you will face monsters, puzzles, and trials. But you will also find power. Treasure. Evolution. Anyone can enter. But only the brave will come out changed."
He lowered his voice to a near whisper, but it thundered in every heart listening.
"At the end of this journey, there will be one final door. One dungeon above all others: the Supreme Dungeon."
He stared directly into the camera, as if staring into the soul of every person on Earth.
"Whoever conquers it will be granted a wish. Anything at all. Bring back someone you lost. Command an entire living planet. Become immortal."
The world froze in awe and terror.
Global Reactions
Brazil: People in the streets stopped mid-step. Some collapsed to their knees, overwhelmed with disbelief and hope. Others screamed or cried. A group of teenagers laughed nervously — until a nearby favela was swallowed by a swirling violet light and replaced by a massive tower, rising higher than the city itself.
United States: Government officials immediately went into high alert. Satellites detected unknown energies far beyond any known technology. Generals barked orders with urgency, while the president, sweating and pale, tried desperately to remain calm.
Japan: Thousands gathered in the streets, gazing up at the sky in shock. Whispers floated: "Is this a movie?" — until an entire island suddenly appeared in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was no illusion. It was real.
Russia, China, India, Germany, France, Nigeria, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Egypt… Every nation watched in stunned silence. Governments scrambled for answers. Military forces mobilized. But no one could stop what had begun.
The End of Weapons
The man raised his hand once more, his eyes blazing with determination.
"To make this competition fair," he declared, "the weapons you worship… will be silenced."
In orbit, satellites exploded like brilliant fireworks, scattering into pieces. Underground military bases went dark. Submarines lost contact. All nuclear weapons vanished without a trace.
"This is the era of magic. Of will. Of merit," he said firmly.
And then, for the first time since his return, he smiled.
"I was a failure in this world once. But now, I am your new beginning. Welcome to Earth's rebirth."
The transmission ended abruptly.
And with it, the world was forever changed.