Chapter 1: System Start-Up

[1%]

'Oh? I guess this is how I'm going to die… All I've ever done is blindly help everyone I could…. Though I have no regrets about my actions, it is sad that I only served others and not myself…'

This was Asriel's final thought before everything faded into a black void. Death had truly come for him, and completely out of nowhere at that.

It was a Friday, about 11AM. I was walking down the side-walk and out of nowhere a motorcycle slammed straight into me. It hurt like hell.

*BANG*

*CRASH*

[10%]

Then I just felt cold, I couldn't even open my eyes because it felt like hundreds of elephants were sitting on them. Pain was everywhere, it felt like I was just hit by hundreds of bricks and thrown into a pit of spikes.

All I could think about is what I never could do anymore. What I never had done before. I was never a selfish person so I've always given things away, I always helped people in need and I always did whatever I could do for others. I've never really done much of anything for myself. And now that I've actually thought about it, thats my one regret.

So if I were to get a second chance, Im gonna worry only about myself instead of others.

[25%]

Suddenly for an unknown reason I could could suddenly see again, everything was white though so it didn't help me much. But it was better than the infinite void of darkness I was just in. Suddenly some numbers appeared in front of me.

[50%]

'It says.. 50%? But why?' I thought to myself.

[80%]

A few minutes later it jumped to 80% and thats when I started to noticed changes in the white space I was in. Suddenly there was a faint silhouette in front of me.

[100%]

[Initializing…]

Then the faint silhouette started to get easier to see, it looked like a person but at the same time it looked like an AI hologram you'd see in movies.

[Set-Up Required]

It suddenly started to speak after those words appeared where the percentage used to be. On the screen in-front of me.

[Please Say 'Set-Up' To Begin.]

"Set-Up." I said nervously.

[Hello, Host, we thank you for purchasing one of our products-]

Suddenly the AI was interrupted by a crack in space. Soon enough, hands were see stretching open the crack and the figure of a man stepped out, he said.

"Whoops, looks like I forgot to set this thing up before sending it here. That could've become a big problem, I'll just take it away for a moment." The man said while looking over at me for a response.

"U-uh o-okay I guess." I stuttered.

Soon enough he came back, empty handed. Although his right hand was glowing some sort of strange light with symbols floating around in it.

He suddenly appeared before me and said.

"Hey this might sting a little so don't say I never warned you."

Then he placed his right hand on my forehead. My mind went blank.

'Didn't this bastard say it would only sting a little?!?! ARRRGH' I yelled in my mind.

It hurt so much I couldn't even speak in my own head properly. It felt as if thousands of needles were stabbing into every inch of my body.

This pain went on for at least an hour… I think, I could barely even tell the time due to how much pain I was in. But what I do know is that when I woke up that man was gone, additionally I heard a voice, similar to Cortana but on the inside of my head.

[Integration Complete! Welcome to the Sword System, Host!]

"S-Sword System? System like the ones in those novels I read sometimes? Could you please explain?" I asked politely, mostly because if it was like the ones I read about, It would give me insanely hard missions if I was rude to it.

[Sure! The Sword System is all about mastering swords. The System's goal is to turn you into a master swordsman that can wield any sword or sword-like object to defeat your enemies. The system has been equipped with the knowledge of swordsmanship from every universe that could possibly exist from the beginning of time. Of course, this is all to help the Host be the best, be warned that the System is very strict and you must train diligently. Or the System will punish you.]

I blanked out for a second.

I didn't want to believe what it just said…

"I heard incorrectly, right system? You didn't say p-punishment, did you?" I asked

[You are correct Host, System indeed said punishment would be given if Host fails to learn properly or slacks off.]

"I- But- I-" I couldn't even believe this, this System wasn't going to let me live the lavish selfish life I wanted to.

[By the way, you should stop talking out loud while looking so shocked. People are staring at you.]

"Huh? People? What are you talking abou-"

I never noticed until now, I was so in my head that I never even noticed my surroundings. I was standing in line with a group of people. From the previous owner's memories I found out who they were and what they were doing.

Apparently, in this world the continents never split so there were no separated countries. It was all still a pangea and it was called 'Ceptus' (Sep • Tuss) there were no wars and technology in this world was extremely advanced.

It was the year 3047 and a new VR game had just been released, it was called 'Law Of The Jungle'. Despite the name it was actually a Cultivation game, and the point of the game is basically to do whatever you want. You can cultivate to become stronger and kill other players, or you can even take quests and become an adventurer at a guild.

The only rule is not to cheat or hack, everything else is allowed no matter what it is.

The game was instantly popular because of its lax restrictions. Everyone was talking about it and when the original heard about it he and his friends went to buy it.

'Interesting, so this game is pretty much skill based hm?'

[Host this is a good opportunity for you, you'll be able to train in life or death battles here and won't actually have to be near death.]

'That's true I suppose, but won't training there be useless since my physical body won't be able to keep up?'

[Who said you were never going in with your physical body?]

'But it's virtual reality… Its your consciousness that goes in, not your body you dumb system.'

You know thats the first time I've purposefully insulted someone. I could feel there was a slight change in my personality but I didn't mind it much since this was my new life. I wanted to live how I wanted without serving others and constantly being nice.

Now that I thought about it being nice to all people just for their sake was too much. Looking back I cant even fathom how I was able to do that my entire life and stay sane.

[Heh, you underestimate my power Host, you have no idea what you've done.]

'Huh?'

"Oi, Asriel we're up next! Stop daydreaming and get over here!" Jacob, one of the original friends said to me.

I decided to act like the original usually would, I purchased the game and quickly slipped away. My body moving on its own led me back to my loft apartment which was surprisingly bigger than I thought, contrary to my expectations.

I ran upstairs and into the bathroom but the second I saw my face in the mirror I froze.

The reason is because….

"Im fucking hot! My skin texture and toning, my jawline, my eyelashes, my eye color. It's all perfect, and not to mention my body was perfectly built as if sculpted to be a greek god look-a-like. Size and length were perfect as well, it's all ideal and perfect." I said out loud, I was elated at the physical growth of this person who's body I now have.

[Host you are very narcissistic, it's quite creepy. And you're even drooling over yourself, that's a bit much.]

'Says the one that doesn't even have a body to appreciate, HMPH.' I snorted in my mind hoping it could not hear me.

"Oh? I am? Thats an interesting assumption." I said aloud on purpose.

[…. Host you know I can read your thoughts right? It seems I must educate the Host on how to be respectful.]

"What-" Before I could even say anything else everything turned black and I woke up in a completely different place.

It was a forest as far as I could tell, then suddenly a man appeared in front of me. He spoke.

[So Host, are you prepared for your punishment?]

The man- no System said while grinning.

"What the fu-" Again, I was interrupted by the black void of losing my consciousness.

And again I woke up, but this time I was on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask.

This happened again and again, I woke up and lost consciousness over and over. Again and again, sometimes on different planets and universes.

Different body types, genders, even species.

Then I was finally back inside my bathroom staring at my own reflection.

[So Host? Do you dare to insult this system now? Everything this system does has a purpose.]

"I- I apologize system." I said nervously with cold sweat rolling down my forehead. It may have seemed like an illusion but I could tell it was real. The system gave me this body on purpose since it was easier to train this way, at least that's what I assumed.

[Hmph, don't call me system, you are not worthy anymore. Call me Dadd- *COUGH* Call me Master.]

"Yes master, I apologize." I said. honestly this system is extremely scary, it could just move my soul to a different body with a mere thought. It may not sound like much but he could easily put me in bad situations like that.

For example what if it put me inside the body of a person being tortured, or even a person actively being attacked. Or worse, a brothel maiden that was currently working.

I don't even want to think about it anymore, I got shivers from even imagining it.

[Now that you know your place Host, it is time to start your training.]