Transcending Paragon (New)

Leaning against the railing, Caelum Mercer gazed down at the world below. The city pulsed with life—cars honking, people hurrying, voices merging into an endless hum. Some chased dreams, hoping to leave a mark, while others struggled just to survive. 

Both fates described him perfectly. 

Caelum was young, short in stature, with black hair and slightly tanned skin. His build was unremarkable—below average in muscle—but his eyes carried an intensity that defied his appearance. 

He had no time for dreams. His life revolved around two things: his sister's education and his mother's medical bills. She had been on life support for two years, bedridden by a relentless disease. His father had died a year or two before that. 

Sighing, Caelum pulled out a cigarette and lit it. The familiar burn did little to ease his stress. His little sister was probably out on a trip with her friends right now, enjoying a life he never had the luxury of. 

'Man, I feel like I've been here before. Three times now…' 

He took a long drag, exhaled, and let the smoke drift into the night air. His shift had ended, but the weight of exhaustion clung to him. He wasn't just tired—he was trapped. 

Caelum had always felt he was meant for something more. Something greater than cleaning floors and scraping by. 

That thought barely settled before a sharp pain shot through his skull. His vision blurred, his head spun, and his chest pounded as if his heart was trying to escape. He staggered, gripping the railing, but his body refused to obey. 

Then— 

'Clank!' 

His eyes widened. 

The next thing he knew, he was falling. 

Wind roared in his ears as the ground rushed toward him, yet everything felt slow. 

'Is… is this it? Am I going to die here?' 

His mind raced. There was still so much he wanted to do—watch new anime, read more novels. Love. Lust. A future. 

'No!' 

A fire ignited within him. He clenched his teeth, refusing the cruel hand of fate. 

'I refuse to die!' 

His sister. His mother. His family. 

He couldn't die. 

He wouldn't die. 

In that moment, time seemed to stop, and Caelum somehow felt like the world had flipped. If time hadn't frozen, he might have fallen upward instead of downward. 

He could still move his eyes, scanning his surroundings, trying to make sense of what was happening. Then, in the void of suspended time, a soft glow shimmered in the darkness. 

His breath hitched. 

Floating before him was a woman unlike any he had ever seen. Her long, flowing hair radiated a silvery-white light, strands drifting as if caught in an unseen current. Stars glimmered around her like a celestial halo, accentuating her ethereal beauty. She wore an off-shoulder gown, delicate and weightless, as if woven from stardust itself. 

Her expression was distant yet alluring, her slightly parted lips and half-lidded gaze holding an enigmatic depth. There was an otherworldly elegance in the way she looked at him—calm, unbothered, almost expectant. 

[ Image here ]

Was she an angel? A goddess? Or something beyond human comprehension? 

Caelum's mind raced with questions, but the overwhelming sensation in his chest told him one undeniable truth. 

This was no ordinary being. 

And she was here for him. 

Caelum stood frozen as the radiant woman approached. Her movements were slow, hesitant, her expression carrying a sorrowful weight. There was something deeply melancholic about her presence, as if she were bound by emotions too vast for words. 

His mind reeled. This was something straight out of an anime, a surreal event that had no place in reality. And yet, here she was—real, luminous, and standing before him. 

She said nothing. 

When she finally reached him, she lifted a delicate hand, her fingers grazing his cheek. Her touch was impossibly warm and soft, like the embodiment of a lucid dream made flesh. 

Caelum's breath hitched. 

The woman gazed at him, her celestial eyes holding something he couldn't decipher—longing, recognition, sadness? He tried to etch every detail of her face into his memory, afraid that if he blinked, she would vanish. 

Then, without warning, she leaned in. 

Her lips met his in a kiss that defied reason. 

It wasn't just a kiss—it was something far beyond physical. A warmth flooded through him, dissolving the weight of his burdens in an instant. His exhaustion, his stress, his despair… all of it faded as if it had never existed. 

For the first time in years, his mind felt clear. 

And then, just as suddenly, she pulled away. A faint shimmer trailed between them as she stepped back. 

Her voice was a whisper, carried by the void. 

"Enjoy…Yc1&£&@-...I'll be watching…[16#:3-+…get 1@-£-£+.... Find… me…" 

Before Caelum could react, her body dissolved into a cascade of glowing particles, each drifting away like embers in the wind. She gave him one last, bittersweet smile before vanishing completely. 

Then, without warning— 

Gravity reclaimed him. 

He plunged downward, the sensation of falling returning in full force. But before he could brace for impact, his body collided with something solid. 

Dazed, he lifted his gaze. 

Everything around him was stark white. A vast, endless space devoid of features, stretching infinitely in all directions. 

Then, a mechanical voice echoed through the void. 

Caelum's eyes widened. 

Something impossible was standing before him.

[ Caelum Mercer has been selected. ] 

[ System: Transcendent successfully integrated. ] 

[ Error detected… Processing… ] 

[ Shop function removed. Initiating compensation… Compensation granted. ] 

[ You have been awarded three wishes. ] 

[ Warning: Wishes cannot grant omnipotence or exceed the limits of your current potential. ] 

[ Please state your wishes. ]

Caelum stared at the glowing panel before him, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. A system interface. Just like in those fanfics he used to read. 

He knew he should be panicking, but strangely, he felt calm—perhaps a lingering effect of that mysterious kiss. It was as if his path had already been set before him, waiting for him to walk it. 

Taking a deep breath, he spoke. 

"Can I ask a question before making my wishes?" 

There were too many things he needed to understand first. 

[ You may. ] 

[ I am System: Transcendent. My purpose is to assist you in your endeavors and provide guidance within my capabilities. ] 

"Alright… am I dead? And… will I ever be able to return to my sister and mother?" 

That was his greatest concern. He couldn't just abandon them. 

A brief pause. Then, the system responded. 

[ You are not dead. Host may return upon completing the primary mission in their first assigned world. ] 

[ However, be advised—host cannot remain in their original world for an extended period. ] 

Caelum's expression darkened. 

So, even if he managed to return, he wouldn't be able to stay. And if he wanted to bring his family with him, they would have to leave behind everything—their friends, their home, their entire lives on Earth. 

It was an inconvenient truth. 

But if things played out the way he suspected… he'd deal with it when the time came. 

"For how long can I stay?" Caelum asked, bracing himself for the answer. 

[ You may remain for one year. However, further extensions are beyond my capabilities. Returning will still be possible—but only upon completing the mission. ] 

Caelum blinked in surprise. He had assumed he'd only get one chance to return, but this meant he wasn't completely cut off. Letting out a relieved sigh, he moved on. 

"Wait, does time on earth stop or slow down?" He asked worried that by the time he finished then it would be too late.

[ Time shall be halted and resumed when the host returns. ] 

He nodded, thankful that he won't miss anything. Though, he wishes to have seen his mother and sister before leaving but that's fine. 

"Alright then, let's talk about your functions." 

The system responded immediately. 

[ System: Transcendent Functions ] 

- Status – Displays name, race, rank, abilities, and more. 

- World Mission – A primary task the host must complete before returning. Rewards will be granted upon completion. 

- Sub Missions – Randomly generated and triggered by unexpected events. 

[ Note: Failure carries no penalties. ] 

Caelum whistled. No penalties? That was rare for systems like this. Still, he figured it was best to complete missions rather than miss out on potential rewards. 

"Nice. Will I get a starter pack upon arriving?" He asked since it would be nice to have. 

[ Yes. Once you arrive, you will be given tools to help you in your endeavors. ]

Caelum satisfied meaning might get convenient powers. 

"Now, what's my first world going to be?" 

He could only hope it wasn't something nightmarish—like Warhammer 40K or Shadow Slave. 

[ World selection is random. However, worlds of the type you fear will not be among them. ] 

Caelum sighed in relief. Thank God… 

"Then can you at least give me an example of the kind of world I might end up in? And… will it be fictional?" 

[ Yes. You will be sent to a fictional world you love and enjoy. ] 

A smirk tugged at Caelum's lips. That's good to hear. At least he wouldn't be thrown into something completely unfamiliar. 

"Alright, what about my starting age? Will I begin as an adult?" 

[ Depending on the world you will land in. ] 

Caelum frowned but ultimately shrugged. He already planned on what to do with his wish order to find the perfect start. 

Then, suddenly a thought struck him. 

"Wait… will I really be able to save my mother after all this?" 

[ That will depend on the host. However, it is possible. ] 

Caelum clenched his fists. 

Possible, huh? 

That was all he needed to hear.

"Okay, I think I'm done asking questions. Time to make my wishes…" 

Caelum took a deep breath, carefully considering what would benefit him the most. If he was going to survive in a new world, he needed something that would guarantee his growth and give him an edge. 

Suddenly, a thought struck him. 

"Wait—can I combine two of my wishes to create something even more powerful? Or at least ensure I get the wish I want?" 

[ Depends on the wish. ] 

A smirk formed on Caelum's lips. Then in that case… 

"I want… [Essence of Transcending Self.]" 

If he had this, then rising above his limits would be far easier than ever before. No more stagnation, no more barriers to his growth. With this, he could continually push past his limits without the usual restrictions holding him back. It was the perfect foundation for becoming the strongest. 

[ Wish granted. ] 

[ However, your starter pack will be reduced as compensation. You will still receive one, but it will be less than originally intended. Do you accept? ] 

Caelum didn't hesitate. 

"Fine by me." 

Whatever the starter pack had, it wouldn't compare to the long-term benefits of his wish. 

[ State your final wish. ] 

Caelum paused, running through possible choices. The first world he entered would shape his growth, so it needed to be one that wasn't overwhelmingly dangerous while still providing enough opportunities for power. 

Fairy Tail? Naruto? Bleach? 

Too chaotic. He wasn't mentally prepared to jump into a battlefield right away. He needed something that would let him grow at his own pace. 

Then, the answer became clear. 

"I want my first world to be Arifureta as one of the summoned students." 

The world of Tortus had massive potential. Not only could he obtain a powerful job, but the Ancient Magic left behind by the Liberators was something he could exploit to become absurdly strong. 

[ Wish granted. ] 

[ Preparing for transfer. ] 

Before Caelum could react, an overwhelming force pulled him in. The space around him distorted, his vision blurring as fragmented memories flooded his mind—memories of a life that was never real. 

The system had crafted an identity for him. 

His mind reeled from the influx of information, and for a moment, he struggled to regain his bearings. 

Then—he felt a hand on his shoulder. 

Blinking, he turned to see a young girl with waist-length black hair tied in a ponytail, fiery red eyes staring at him with curiosity. 

She had a trained yet curvy physique, her presence radiating both grace and strength. 

[ Image here ]

Caelum's heart pounded. 

This was it—his new life had begun.