God-Tier Extraction Talent: Reincarnated in a Game-like World! Chapter 1: God-Tier Talent: Rebirth [1]

"Why is he this strong?" A icy chill flickered in Gabriel's gaze as he stared at the colossal figure towering over him. In the giant's hands swung a enormous double-edged axe, his stare crackling like bolts under the pitch-black heavens.

Overhead loomed a fearsome tempest, dark clouds blotting out the clear blue expanse. An intense wave of dread washed over all those gathered, sending chillsweat streaming down faces and hands clenching weapons harder.

Flames ravaged the battlefield, ruined buildings and broken rocks scattered amid coiling violet shadows erupting from the immense giant. Innumerable brave soldiers in armor lay lifeless, strewn across the dirt.

Mere steps away from the God of Destruction who crashed upon Earth, Gabriel felt the desperate stares of his followers boring into his back like darts. He and his team had known of the God of Destruction's coming for over two years, running countless drills and plotting tactics. Yet despite every preparation, they failed against this horrifying behemoth who had razed countless worlds.

"Damn, we put our faith in him..." Gabriel whispered through gritted teeth. This wasn't the moment to dwell on the betrayer.

"I commend your attempts, Humans." Surtr's tone rumbled like crashing thunder. Devoid of any life's warmth or feeling, it rang utterly neutral. His blazing, sphere-shaped eyes burned as keenly as his axe's edges.

Now those dread-inducing eyes fixed on Gabriel, sending an involuntary quake through the fighter's legs. Unsure if it was illusion, Gabriel caught a hint of respect in those blazing spheres.

"Yet ultimately, you remain mere insects. Every resistance will crumble to cinders within my Divine Flames' grasp! Vanish, you frail beings!"

Surtr's words reverberated over the field once more—this time carrying absolute doom, akin to a heavenly arbiter's ultimate sentence upon humanity—as his gigantic axe arced downward.

All eyes widened in terror, yet before anyone could move...

FWISH! BOOM!

Impact unleashed a colossal blast, followed instantly by a dazzling radiance scorching the entire planet, like a stellar flashbang exploding right in their faces. The blast's shockwave surged outward, annihilating all in existence, devouring every trace! Peaks crumbled flat, seas tore apart to atomic dust, metropolises vaporized in a blink!

—89,999,999! —60,345,000! —999,999 (Critical)!

Right to the last, Gabriel clung to his blade through pure willpower, his barriers barely enduring. His sight shifted to the stunning ebony beauty beside him. She met his look with a pained grin, then faded into golden motes.

One tear fell from Gabriel's eye—vaporized in moments by the inferno around. "Mother, Father, Leon... forgive me."

While shadows slowly engulfed him, Gabriel recalled the origins of it all.

"No warning came. No blaring siren... It simply struck."

Decades prior, the Game Realm of Ascendency debuted—a virtual world letting players indulge wild dreams: battling beasts, tackling thrilling missions, venturing and dominating endless species across the cosmos.

"It should've stayed a mere game. Accessed via VR gear and headsets. A harmless retreat from life. Yet none anticipated the catastrophe ahead. It seeped into our reality, crumbling walls between game and truth. We never dreamed it would reveal our spot to the stars... to every intelligent lifeform."

"To him. The God of Destruction."

A heavy, remorse-laden breath slipped from Gabriel's mouth. "If I could only reverse it. If I could return and correct my errors... perhaps, just perhaps..."

Lightning-quick ideas raced in Gabriel's head, picturing alternate paths. At last, his thoughts quieted, pulse ceased, fingers slackened on the hilt as oblivion took hold.

Yet right as nothingness seized him, a gentle but authoritative voice rang through the void.

"Do you want it to finish like this, Gabriel? Will you surrender so easily?"

Gabriel's fading mind sparked like embers, his eyes snapping wide!

In the quiet void, a presence started to awaken.

Then...

Ding!

[Hidden Prerequisites: ??? ——> Hidden Rebirth condition fulfilled. Endured Surtr, God of Destruction's Divine Flames for 2 minutes — Complete!]

"What the fu—" Gabriel's words cut short as his shields crumbled against Surtr's blazing Divine Flame's fury, his form burned to nothing in a flash, not a speck of dust left.

Meanwhile elsewhere, a youth materialized inside a grand edifice mimicking an old shrine, encircled solely by mist—placing it high in the clouds.

"Am I in the afterlife now?" Gabriel wondered aloud, scanning the area and spotting just one route: a lengthy corridor to another chamber.

Inside that chamber stood a humanoid shape, on its knees.

Gabriel's brow furrowed seeing the figure dwarf human scale even from afar. Moreover, massive chains shackled its limbs and fists, head bowed low.

He advanced toward the bound entity. Nearing, he confirmed his vision true: gleaming chains held it fast, glowing faintly.

Midway down the passage, details sharpened: it was female—a colossal titaness, towering tenfold over normal folk.

Her aura dominated utterly. An elegant emerald robe draped her voluptuous form, blending grace with allure.

Bronze skin shimmered warmly, while torrents of scarlet hair tumbled wildly down her spine, radiating savage beauty.

Gabriel inhaled sharply, mesmerized—she outshone any woman he'd known, mesmerizing and daunting. Even Realm of Ascendency succubi paled beside her splendor.

Detecting him, she lifted her face to meet his. This enchantress, who could melt men's resolve with one look, possessed striking eyes framed by lush lashes—one azure, the other ruby.

"Answering my summons shows your survival drive is immense." Her voice rang pure, if faintly frail.

"Y-you're the voice I heard?" Gabriel questioned. Though her aura could compel mortals to kneel, he stayed composed and sharp.

"Yes, that was mine." A tender, lovely smile graced her lips. "I brought you here."

"Why?" Gabriel pressed swiftly.

She paused before murmuring lowly, "Your fierce will to endure pulled me to you, granting a fresh shot at existence."

Gabriel's face brightened at once. Her vibe mirrored Surtr's, her stature screaming divinity—so she truly could deliver.

But prior to his reply, the stunning colossus intoned gravely, "It demands a cost. Will you bear it?"

* * *