Chapter 179 Starting As The Youngest General In Astral Dominion
After reviewing the five simulation talents he'd drawn, the choice was obvious—he selected the Veil of Invisibility (Gold) talent without hesitation.
-Ding!
[The host has chosen the following talent: Veil of Invisibility (Gold)]
[The host has inherited the following talents: Martial Arts Grandmaster (Purple), Space Storage (Purple), Social Distancing (Purple), Top Hat Hacker (Purple), Photographic Memory (Purple), Soul Contract (Purple), Faith Divine Power (Purple), Lawless (Gold), Physical Immortality (Gold), Universal Key (Gold)]
-Ding!
[Starting the immersive simulation in {Diviner World}…]
-Ding!
As soon as he heard the notification, Linsley felt his surroundings black out, as if he had passed out.
When he opened his eyes, the air was cool and crisp, tinged with a faint scent of antiseptic and freshly cleaned surfaces.
The atmosphere was starkly different from the musty rooms he had experienced in previous god simulation, with a sense of order and sterility permeating the space.
He could tell he was in a modern, well-maintained building—likely an apartment or small residential suite. The walls were smooth, painted in a neutral, pale gray, and the floor beneath him was polished, reflecting the soft glow from recessed ceiling lights.
Linsley found himself lying on a neatly made bed with crisp white sheets, surrounded by minimalist furniture.
A narrow desk sat against one wall, holding a closed laptop and a stack of neatly arranged notebooks. Across from him, a tall window framed the view of a bustling cityscape, skyscrapers gleaming in the morning sun.
The hum of distant traffic drifted faintly into the room, adding a sense of life to the otherwise quiet, orderly surroundings.
Linsley glanced around the room, taking in the clean, organized space. His gaze fell on a mirror across from the bed, and he rose to inspect his reflection.
Standing before the mirror, he examined his lean, muscular build, his neck-length purple hair, and his piercing purple eyes. He wore a simple outfit—a fitted black t-shirt and dark jeans, casual yet well-suited to his frame. Continue your journey on empire
Notably, unlike the previous god simulation, he hadn't become younger; his appearance remained mature and unchanged.
As he studied his reflection, a sudden surge of memories flooded his mind—the life his simulated self had lived prior to this God Simulation.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
From what he could recall, he was now two years older than usual, making him 20 years old instead of 18. His identity in this world was impressive: he was one of the youngest generals in the Astral Dominion.
The Astral Dominion was a formidable empire on the Valora Continent, one of the five human continents in this world. Known as the mightiest of these continents, Valora boasted two known Level 9.8 Overlords, solidifying its dominance over the other continents.
Linsley's position as a young general in such a powerful empire was all thanks to his simulated self's revealed gift—the SSS-rank Unlimited Gun Works, which had granted him a public power level of 9.4.
However, Unlimited Gun Works was a fabricated gift, designed to conceal his true ability, the SSS-rank Real Fantasy gift. His actual power level was even greater, reaching Level 9.9.
Unlike his previous simulations, this time he had inherited all the strength he had gained before, sparing him the need to start from scratch.
Linsley pondered, "It seems my start is even better than I'd expected. I'd planned to go to the Valora Continent because of its potential link to the secrets of the Diviner World, given that it's the strongest human continent. The Diviner World holds countless mysteries, so much so that even the Outer God, who overturned worlds, was destroyed when he brought about the Diviner World's collapse."
"I'm not certain if there are existences above Level 9.9 who've suppressed their level to stay under the radar, but at least I know I'm among the strongest in this world. Unless beings above Level 9.9 have somehow descended here, even the powerhouses and generals of the Astral Dominion would find it impossible to defeat me."
Remembering that his simulated self hadn't even revealed his true gift, Linsley felt a sense of satisfaction. His caution had paid off. The mere display of Level 9.4 power combined with an SSS-rank gift had already earned him a high status without exposing his full strength.
As he recalled his simulated self's past experiences, Linsley thought of Ted and Lucy from his previous god simulation.
He knew that Ted hadn't awakened memories from that simulation. Lucy, on the other hand, had awakened her memory, but he had no idea how she'd lived her life without his influence.
If Lucy's memory awakened at the start of this god simulation, that would mean she, like him, was twenty years old. But how she'd lived up to this point without his presence remained a mystery.
"I hope Lucy is doing well," Linsley thought, his mind briefly wandering. "If she's aware, she might try to find me. But for now, my priority has to be uncovering the secrets of the Diviner World. I can't risk using faith power like I did with the Sinclair Order in the last simulation; that would only draw the Outer God's attention again."
His focus sharpened. Fortunately, this time, he didn't need to build his foundation from the ground up.
Already positioned as a three-star general in the upper ranks of the Astral Dominion, he had access to the resources and authority he needed. It was a strategic advantage he wouldn't squander.
Glancing at the time, Linsley soon recalled he needed to prepare for the day, so with a snap of his fingers, he invoked his Real Fantasy gift.
Instantly, he felt as if he had just finished a refreshing bath; his skin was clean, and a pleasant, subtle scent hung in the air. He had bypassed the whole routine, achieving the desired effect without the hassle of a single drop of water.
Standing up, he crossed to his wardrobe and opened it, revealing his three-star general uniform.
The deep navy jacket bore silver insignias on the shoulder, where three stars glinted in polished metal, marking his rank. Gold-edged cuffs and a medallion fastened on the chest added a touch of regality to the practical design, a uniform that commanded respect without sacrificing the streamlined functionality expected in the military.
He slipped into the uniform, securing each button, feeling the familiar weight of the fabric settle into place. With a brief glance in the mirror, he adjusted his collar, then nodded to himself, satisfied.
To avoid the unnecessary wait of travel, Linsley activated his teleportation by stomping his right foot, instantly relocating himself to just outside the Dominion headquarters.
His sudden appearance didn't raise any eyebrows; it was common for Diviners to utilize their gifts for convenience.
However, he respected the regulations—no powers were allowed inside the headquarters itself, as any use of Gifts within its walls would trigger a defense response, marking it as an invasion attempt.
As Linsley appeared near the entrance, military officers nearby noticed him and immediately halted, offering sharp salutes. He returned a brief nod of acknowledgment and strode past them, his steps purposeful as he headed to his office.
Upon entering his office, he took in the space. The room was spacious but reserved, its design echoing the efficiency expected at his rank.
A large mahogany desk sat at the center, its surface almost bare except for a meticulously organized stack of documents and a streamlined communication terminal.
To his left, tall windows stretched from floor to ceiling, letting in natural light that highlighted the warm tones of the dark wood and gleaming metal accents.
Shelves lined one wall, housing binders filled with classified reports and critical reference materials, while a single, understated painting added a note of solemnity to the room's otherwise functional decor.
He moved to his desk, the surface nearly empty save for a neat stack of documents awaiting his attention.
Taking a seat, Linsley adjusted himself and prepared to immerse in the reports on Astral Dominion matters.
Each document was marked with varying levels of importance, detailing military activities, security updates, and classified assessments. Some of them, he suspected, might hold the hints he was looking for—the subtle pieces of information that could lead him closer to the Diviner World's hidden secrets.
Linsley scanned each report carefully, marking relevant information and mentally cataloging details that could prove useful.
The military structure and process were orderly, and he found himself settling into it with a surprising ease. The novelty of serving in a structured military environment as a general felt oddly refreshing.
His experience as a powerful, independent force in previous worlds had rarely given him a reason to report to anyone, let alone follow regulations. But here, it was different.
'So this is what it's like to play general,' he mused as he moved through another classified update, 'to serve within ranks rather than commanding from above.'
Two hours passed smoothly, filled with meticulous review and sign-offs on intelligence reports, budget requests, and strategic recommendations for operations across the Dominion's territories.
The pace was efficient and focused, the clock ticking by without pause.
Just as he set down his pen, a knock came at his door.
"Enter," he said, his tone sharp but neutral.