The Omnipotent System

HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSS…

The pods unlocked with their usual mechanical sigh, cool mist curling around the edges as the lids slid open. One by one, the group stirred back to consciousness.

Jack sat up first, stretching his arms above his head with a lazy grin. His hair was messy, sticking up in odd angles from the friction inside the pod. He rubbed his eyes and blinked against the neon lights of the gaming lounge.

"Man… I missed this place already," he muttered, sliding out of the pod with practiced ease.

Arianna rolled out of hers, hair tied up in a messy ponytail that somehow made her look even younger than usual. She yawned, long and exaggerated, before smacking her lips. "I want iced coffee… and cake… lots of cake."

Jameson climbed out next, silent as always, dark eyes half-lidded with sleep. He rolled his wrists and neck, checking for stiffness before calmly beginning his routine stretches. His movements were quiet and smooth, like a blade being oiled before battle.

Erren sat up, rubbing her temples, her dark bangs falling over her eyes. "Ugh. Headache. Remind me not to pull an eight-hour raid with you crazy people again."

"You say that every time," Jack teased, ruffling her hair as he passed.

Elamenor was last. He stepped out without a word, his imposing frame making the small pod look like it belonged to a child. He cracked his knuckles one by one, expression blank except for the faintest glimmer of anticipation in his golden eyes.

They didn't say much to each other as they gathered their belongings from the locker room. This was routine by now—wake up, eat, nap, log back in. Reality was just a place to rest their bodies. Their real lives were in Eclipse Online.

They headed down the quiet neon-lit corridors of the lounge, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Outside, the city was alive with hovering traffic and glowing billboards advertising the Nova Glide and Edge. People crowded around store displays to watch the test footage again and again.

Erren was the first to break the silence. "Did you see the news? NovaCorp's releasing the Edge next month. Actual flying boards. I swear, this world is turning into an anime."

"We are gods, less you forget." Jack said, reminding them.

"I want one," Arianna said instantly, brightening up. "Imagine skating over the city lights at night. It'll feel like Eclipse."

Jameson gave a noncommittal hum, adjusting his sleek black jacket as they stepped into the elevator. The chrome doors slid shut, sealing them in with the hum of electricity.

Jack leaned against the wall, eyes flicking lazily between the floor display and his friends. "So, game plan for today?"

"Elamenor needs his new spirit weapon," Arianna said. "And we still need to clear the Sovereign's Trial before reset."

Erren exhaled, crossing her arms. "And Kieran said he'd help us today. He wants to try the Trial too."

Jameson spoke up, his voice low and calm. "He's improving fast."

Elamenor glanced sideways, his eyes half-lidded with disinterest but his words honest. "He's strong. Just unrefined."

Jack smirked. "Bet he'll catch up faster than most. He has that look in his eyes."

They didn't know, of course.

They didn't know that Kieran was something else entirely.

They didn't know he was a regressor.

They walked through the quiet dawn streets to the lounge entrance, past flickering holo-ads showing Anderson's defeat. Arianna skipped ahead, spinning with her arms out, ponytail whipping behind her. The morning sun caught her hair, highlighting the silver strands she shared with her brother, Adams.

"Come on, slowpokes!" she called back, her voice echoing off the silent glass towers. "Let's go log back in already!"

Jack chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "She's too damn energetic in the mornings."

Elamenor shrugged. "She's his sister after all."

Jameson spoke quietly. "Yeah. Blood ties."

Arianna turned back, sticking out her tongue. "Stop whispering about me!"

Jack laughed. "Sorry, princess."

They reached their pods again. One by one, they climbed inside. The hiss of sealing chambers echoed through the room, followed by the soft, synthetic voice of the system welcoming them back.

—

Kieran – Apartment

Kieran sat alone in his apartment, legs crossed on his narrow futon as he scrolled through Eclipse forums on his tablet. Neon lights from the city beyond his window painted his walls in shades of electric blue and violet. Rain pattered softly against the glass.

His tea had gone cold beside him, untouched.

He read another comment about Anderson's defeat in the hidden boss event, about Jack's lightning, Arianna's near-limitless mana, Elamenor's monstrous strength. Everyone was in awe, as they should be.

Kieran set the tablet down and stared at his reflection in the dark window. His expression was calm, almost indifferent. But his mind was racing.

He knew this timeline inside out. He had lived it once already. Eclipse Online was supposed to be a game—just a game. Even when it became more, even when magic started bleeding into reality, even when the end came… he had thought he knew how it would unfold.

But then came ChaosGod. Then came them.

Jack, Arianna, Elamenor, Jameson, Erren.

Players who didn't exist in his first life. Players whose power exceeded anything he had seen, even at the peak. They weren't just anomalies. They were unknown variables, rewriting the future he thought he owned.

He sighed, rubbing his eyes with thumb and forefinger.

"I wanted to do this quietly," he whispered to himself, voice calm despite the frustration simmering underneath. "But… looks like I don't have that luxury anymore."

His gaze flicked to the corner of his screen. Notifications blinked softly—party invites, raid schedules, system messages about new updates.

Among them was one from Jack:

> [Hey genius, logging in soon. Don't be late. We're clearing the Trial today. You better show up.]

Kieran let out a small, tired chuckle. Jack's messages were always casual, almost mocking, but Kieran had come to understand it was just his way of accepting someone.

He closed the tablet and stood, stretching his stiff arms over his head. The city lights bathed him in violet, making his dark hair look almost blue.

He stepped over to the pod, sliding his fingers along its sleek white surface. The interface flickered on, scanning his biometrics, welcoming him with a soft mechanical chime.

He sat inside, pulled the lid down, and exhaled deeply, letting his eyes flutter shut.

He didn't know what today would bring. He didn't know if the timeline would collapse entirely under these new changes. He didn't know if ChaosGod was the true threat or just another pawn in Adams' twisted game.

But he did know one thing.

He was done watching.

—

HISSSSSSSSSSS…

The pod sealed around him. Darkness enveloped his senses. The soft synthetic voice echoed through the chamber.

> [Full dive commencing. Welcome back, Kieran.]

—

Light swallowed him.

And then he was there.

—

Eclipse Online – The Crossroad Plains

He stood under the blazing orange sky, wind rustling the tall golden grass around him. In the distance, the ancient spires of the Sovereign's Trial towered into the heavens.

Ahead, the others waited.

Jack leaned against a stone marker, arms folded, smirk firmly in place. Arianna was hopping from foot to foot, spinning her staff around in circles out of boredom. Elamenor sat cross-legged on a boulder, eyes closed in silent focus. Jameson sharpened his dagger with slow, deliberate strokes. Erren fiddled with her interface, checking buffs and cooldowns for the fifth time.

Jack's eyes flicked up as Kieran approached. His grin widened.

"Took you long enough," he drawled. "Thought you chickened out."

Kieran gave him a blank look. "Don't waste time."

Jack chuckled, pushing off the stone. "That's what I like to hear."

Arianna waved brightly. "Welcome back, Kieran! Let's crush this boss today, yeah?"

He nodded once.

Elamenor cracked one golden eye open, regarding him silently before giving a small nod of approval. Jameson didn't look up but his lips twitched into the barest hint of a smile.

Erren raised an eyebrow. "You good to go?"

Kieran looked out across the plains at the Trial gates.

The wind picked up, scattering golden grass into the orange sky.

His eyes narrowed, violet irises reflecting the glow of the setting sun.

"Yeah," he said softly.

And together, they stepped forward.