Lost Mind

Jophiel believed he had lost his mind.

He hurdled himself up on the ground, shaking and mumbling incoherently.

*Ding*

'System analysing host's state'

'Host unstable'

'Initiating Fail-Safe'

After these string of commands, Jophiel felt a wave of electricity rush through his body.

It started from some tingling in his palms, but before he could make sense of it all, like a current, the tingling transformed into a shockwave, passed through his arms and legs and simultaneously electrocuted him from his muscle to his veins.

Finally, he felt an abrupt shock in his brain. The pain was agonizing, but he was kept conscious by the system. It was only three seconds, but it felt like he had been in pain for three years. When it was over, he didn't feel tired or weary. He felt energized! His mind was clear, and his body was active. He knew he had experienced great pain but couldn't remember how it felt.

(A/N: Like how women don't remember the pain of childbearing but just know it was agonizing)

Thankfully Jophiel had regained rational thought and took some time to himself to analyse the situation.

'I'm not on earth anymore. Period. Mum, dad, sister, they're all gone.'

Jophiel looked to his left and noticed that the strange things he dropped while in shock were gone.

'Where am I?'

Jophiel stood up and walked to the edge of the cave.

What he saw? What he saw was a scene right out of a movie. To his left, he saw an endless mountain range filled to the brim with forests. That's right, forests! Each group of trees forms an ecosystem on its own, each at least 6,000,000 sqr. Kilometres, bigger than the Amazon Forest. The biggest forest he could see was made up of towering trees that looked coniferous. These trees towered up to the sky, almost as tall as the mountains. Oh, and did I mention that Mount Everest would be a hill compared to these mountains? Now imagine the height of those trees.

Jophiel had never felt so small! He couldn't even see the top of those mountains and trees. For that, he was glad because, in those clouds, he saw creatures the size of castles suspended in the air for some seconds before appearing near another mountain in the blink of an eye. That was scary until he saw what he once claimed to be a mountain move to a different forest also in the blink of an eye. It would take a human a thousand days (approximately three years) to walk through any of these forests. Yet it took the creature a single step.

This sent a shiver down his spine because he believed he was on a mountain.

Thankfully, all these were on his far left. With human sight capabilities, he wouldn't have noticed these phenomena if the creatures weren't so big. As for the things he couldn't see, the thought of them sent a shiver down his spine.

'What about the smaller creatures down there? How frightful would they be?'

Where Jophiel was, the trees were smaller, and that bird, the size of a house, was nothing special anymore. He also realised that what he once thought was a mountain was even less than a hillock compared to those giants on the left. To his right, everything was only two times the size of a forest on Earth. He could also see a clearing, so a human encampment may be there.

Jophiel didn't know what to think. From what he had experienced with that bird, even if this forest was smaller, he would still be killed instantly if he stepped out. In conclusion, he was dead meat.

Jophiel didn't even have the energy to despair anymore, so he thought to himself.

'Mother, father and sister should be out there somewhere. If this world exists, earth must exist somewhere so I must go to earth'

*Ding*

The cold voice suddenly sounded,

'Host cannot go to earth'

"What? Why?!"

Jophiel was enraged and confused. This stupid voice had only caused him trouble. Driving him crazy one sentence after another. If there was anything he wanted badly at present, it was to get rid of this system.

*Ding*

'Requirement to leave world: Reach the top.'

Finally, everything gradually made sense to Jophiel. He suddenly remembered his last wishes before he left Earth.

At once, he despaired again.

'Why isn't it possible to go back to the past and give your younger, naive self, a good resounding, holy slap, that contained raaage from the bottom of your heart.'

'Anyways there's no pill for regret.'

'I think I understand whats going on. But that doesn't matter now.'

'The first thing I have to do is get out of here.'

'I'm grateful that back on earth I was a well rounded citizen. How many people can make that boast. I read manga, I read novels, I watched anime, I gamed and I even watched K-dramas. I know, I know, my awesomeness is unprecedented. At least, I have an idea of how I can survive.'

'Unfortunately it all depends on this system. From my vast knowledge, most systems are pieces of sh*t. Extremely rude to their owners, and never giving them what they want or need. If it isn't a system, it's an old man. If it isn't an old man, it's a guiding spirit. Regardless, they are all self-important and frustrating characters to deal with. I finally understand the woe of those characters when they had to depend on these unreliable guides in life threatening situations. Alas what can I, a mere mortal do in this situation? I can only depend on my systems unreliability. I just hope that my system can be as OP* and reliable as Solo Leveling*. Now, how do I call this thing out.'

'Systeeeem' Jophiel said in a sickeningly sweet voice. It sounded cringe even in his own ears.

'come out pleease'

An interface came out showing his present stats.

*Ding*

'Host: Jophiel'

'Lvl: 0'

'Race: Human (Mortal)'

'Exp(experience): 0'

'Cultivation:N/A'

'Skills: Identification (B-Bronze) (Lvl 0-Elementary)'

'Inventory: Bronze ticket, Introductory guide (50 words)'

'World: Ancient'

'Setting: Cultivation'

'Requirement to leave world: Reach the top'

After reading his stats, Jophiel started planning

'Hmmm, In that case let me use the ticket, it seems to be my only shot'

Following his train of thought, the bronze wheel appeared in front of him and began to spin.

The circular wheel contained two circles, like an inner and outer ring. The inner ring was divided into four categories. The first category was 'common', which occupied 45% of the space on the wheel. The second category was 'useful' and occupied 35% of the wheel, 10% was 'special', and 10% was 'trash'.

The outer ring of the wheel was divided according to the inner ring of the wheel, but within the four divisions, it was divided into three parts, consumable, permanent, and consumable. For example, in the common division, above it on the left was written consumable, a small part in the middle was written permanent, and at the right of that was written consumable. This was all above the common category. The same applied to the useful, special and trash categories. This meant it was easier to get a consumable Item from a category than it was to get a permanent item.

The wheel spun and stopped at 'useful consumable'.

A familiar voice echoed

*Ding*

'Stealth potion gained. Duration 5 minutes, special first time bonus (will be applied at the first time use of each wheel) 12 hours. Can be cancelled at will.'

Jophiel was ecstatic. This system had finally done him right. With this potion, he would be able to leave this mountain...,*cough**cough*, sorry hillock, with minimal dangers. Jophiel looked at the red potion fervently.

*Ding*

'Identification activated: Stealth potion(B-Bronze), ability; makes host invisible and hides hosts smell.'

'note: Host can still be touched, Host leaves foot prints and Host aura remains'

'System Evaluation - Trash like host'

'Ha, ha, ha'

Jophiel was ecstatic. He ignored the system's chiding and began to make plans.

Jophiel could finally see the light. As long as he drank the potion, he could enter stealth mode, get down the mountain, and pass through the forest unharmed. The crucial element for this plan to succeed was, of course, that lady luck was on his side. If luck wasn't on his side, a single misstep would mean death!

Jophiel could hardly think of any precautions.

'Oh right!'

'System, Introductory guide'

*Ding*

The interface reappeared.

'Introductory guide...'

'Welcome to your first world 'Ilamund (The Ancient Lands). The currency used is spirit stones and coins. The world contains magical beasts of all sorts. Gain strength through cultivation and earn money through occupations. The system is here as a boost and to guide you through the worlds.

Note: Death is real and permanent. Good Luck!'

*Ding*

'Bonus: To learn about....

Magic beasts - Introductory guide = 50 SS(Spirit Stones)

Occupations - Introductory guide = 50 SS(Spirit Stones)

Cultivation - Introductory guide = 50 SS(Spirit Stones)

Skills - Pre-elementary guide = 50 SS(Spirit Stones)

World - Elementary guide = 150 SS(Spirit Stones)

(PS - The following Items may be obtained in the store)

Jophiel was stunned

"PS? PS your **s I don't even know how much money I have"

*Ding*

'Do you wish to add currency stats to main menu?'

Jophiel replied immediately, excited at the thought that he may already have some money on him.

*Ding*

'Host: Jophiel'

'Spirit Stones: 0'

'Coins: 0'

'Lvl: 0'

'Race: Human (Mortal)'

'Exp(experience): 0'

'Cultivation:N/A'

'Skills: Identification (B-Bronze) (Lvl 0-Elementary)'

'Inventory: Empty'

'World: Ancient'

'Setting: Cultivation'

'Requirement to leave world: Reach the top'

Jophiel was dumbfounded. As he looked at the rows of zeros and empty's he only had one thing to say

'Your Sister*'

Why would you show me options I can't afford!!!!

'Fine, fine, it's fine. At least I now know I have a store. I wonder what's inside. There's definitely some legendary OP items. Hahhh and they are all for I Jophiel's use. I will definitely reach the top of this world. This system is magnificent after all. Who ever said this system is trash is even less than a fool.'

With fantasies running wild in his head, feeling satisfied with his new discoveries, Jophiel gave out his command.

'System open store'

*Ding*

'Store Locked'

...

Jophiel was immediately enraged

'What? Why?!!!'

*Ding*

'Host needs 50 SS to unlock store'

Jophiel was Livid. He took back all he said. This system was most definitely. Indubitably TRASH!!!!!

"WTF how much more shameless can this system get. Forget it! Let me get out of here first. I'll find a way to deal with it later."

(A/N: Your sister is a cuss word, much like your mother or your father.)