March 21, 2024—on a pnet called Earth.
Marklester Perez was sleeping soundly in his home when, suddenly, a strange sensation jolted him awake. His heart pounded as he sat up, feeling an unshakable sense that something was off.
Then, it happened.
A soft ding echoed in his ears, and a glowing blue screen materialized before his eyes.
---
> Ding!
The system is now connected.
---
Marklester’s breath hitched. His eyes darted around his home—his mom was still washing dishes, the electric fan hummed zily in the corner, and his siblings remained glued to their phones, their faces illuminated by the glow of their screens.
No one else seemed to hear it.
'What the hell? Am I still dreaming?'
---
> Ding!
No, Host. I exist.
---
His blood ran cold.
Marklester shot up from his bed so abruptly that his siblings gnced at him with puzzled expressions. He ignored them, taking a deep breath to steady himself.
'Is this the start of an apocalypse? Like those in novels? Is the world about to end—'
---
> Ding!
Host, there is no need to worry. I am your system. There is no world-ending event or apocalypse like in fiction.
The calm, mechanical voice sent a shiver down his spine.
I understand that you don't trust me, but know this—I am the one and only system. I am connected to you, and if you cease to exist, so will I. Who created me is irrelevant. What matters is that I exist only in your present.
---
Marklester swallowed. His mind spun with questions, but one thing stood out among them all.
It can read my thoughts.
A nervous chuckle escaped his lips. 'F***… this is good,' he muttered under his breath. 'It can even hear me think, and now it’s warning me that if I delete it, it won’t come back. Damn, this is straight out of a novel.'
He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. 'Alright, fine. What can you even do?'
---
> Ding!
I collect energy. It is the source of power for the system.
---
'Energy? And how do I use it?'
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> Ding!
Dispying system panel…
---
A translucent screen expanded before his eyes.
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[Name: Marklester Perez]
[Age: 23]
[Attributes:]
- Strength: 3
- Agility: 4
- Physique: 4
(Average human attributes: 10)
[Energy: 0]
[Item: - ]
---
Marklester blinked. He stared at his attributes, then at his own hands. '...The hell? Am I even an adult? What kind of stats are these?'
---
> Ding!
Host, the system’s evaluation is 99% accurate.
---
He frowned. 'So, I'm actually that weak, huh? Damn… I really need to work out.'
Shaking off the self-pity, he focused back on the system. 'Alright, so how do I accumute energy? And what’s this "Item" section for?'
---
> Ding!
Energy is the raw power that fuels the system’s functions. As for items, they are things you create using the system. Currently, you cannot store external objects.
---
Marklester absorbed the information, then paused when another notification popped up.
---
> Ding!
The host has not cimed the gift package. Would you like to receive it? Note: Accepting this package will fully connect us, making separation impossible unless you cease to exist.
---
His eyes narrowed.
'System, you’re good at marketing. You didn’t just ask me to accept—you made it feel like there's a price.'
A smirk tugged at his lips. 'Fine, I accept.'
---
> Ding!
You have received a [Transmigration Package] and a skill: [Heat Converter].
---
Marklester’s curiosity peaked. 'What’s [Heat Converter]? And what’s in the [Transmigration Package]?'
---
> Ding!
Energy +5
Host, [Heat Converter] allows you to transform heat into energy, letting you accumute points from any heat source. The [Transmigration Package] enables travel to another world—one better suited for the system’s growth.
Energy +5
Energy +5
Energy +5
---
Marklester clenched his jaw. The constant notifications were already getting on his nerves.
'Can you stop spamming me with those?'
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> Ding!
Command added.
---
He let out a sigh of relief as the notifications stopped. 'Finally… Anyway, you said this world isn't suitable, huh? Yeah, I guess you're right… It does feel pretty empty.'
He hesitated, gncing around his familiar surroundings. 'If I go there, can I come back?'
---
> Ding!
Host, you can return to your world. However, using the [Transmigration Package] will send you to a world outside your universe—at a time before your universe even existed. It is akin to traveling to the past.
However, if you die there, the saved version of Earth—your original world—will be erased as a result of failure. You will then be reborn in another world, but Earth’s universe will still exist… just much harder to find.
---
Marklester sucked in a breath.
'…So, it's a gamble, huh?'
The blue screen flickered, awaiting his decision.
