Chapter no.2 System

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[ Task Initiated: Creating New Character in Timeline ]

[ Verifying: Access Area Control Connection ]

[ Alert: Connection Errors Detected ]

[ Adjusting: Reconfiguration Based on Player's Memory ]

[ Status: Loading... ]

[ Confirmation: Character Creation Now Complete. ]

Nie Li felt something poking at him, dragging him back from the abyss of unconsciousness. His body felt heavy, as if the weight of his past clung to every muscle. Slowly, he opened his eyes, his vision blurry, and found himself staring at a little red-haired girl, no more than six years old, prodding him with a tiny finger.

"Big brother, wake up!" 

For a moment, Nie Li couldn't make sense of what was happening. Everything felt… wrong. He blinked a few times, his brain sluggishly trying to catch up with the scene in front of him. A soft smile tugged at his lips before he even knew what he was saying. "Hey… looks like you're in the afterlife with me," he muttered, the words slipping out before he fully grasped them. In his head, he was still reconciling with the memory of his own death. The final moments, that darkness—it had all seemed so real.

Afterlife… yeah, that makes sense, Nie Li thought, clinging to the idea like a lifeline. Maybe it's not so bad if Yu and the others are here. At least we're together, right? He looked at her, trying to find some comfort in that thought. "Don't worry, Yu, even if we're dead, we're safe now."

But Nie Yu just stared at him, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Mom! Aunty! Brother Nie Li is saying scary things!" she yelled suddenly, darting out of the room, her small feet thumping against the wooden floor.

"Not so loud…" Nie Li groaned, his head pounding with every sound. The room spun as he sat up, and he rubbed his temples, trying to focus. It was then that he noticed where he was—this shabby, musty room that smelled of old wood and worn cloth. 

Wait… this is… Nie Li looked around, heart thudding in his chest. The walls, the little cracks in the ceiling, even the faint smell of dust—it was all the same. This is my room. I'm… home? His thoughts stumbled over themselves, tripping in their attempt to make sense of everything. But… I died. Didn't I?

Nie Li rubbed his eyes, half-expecting the scene to change, to wake up in some strange afterlife or to be thrown back into the hell he had just escaped. Instead, the door creaked open, and in walked his mother, her soft footsteps the only sound in the room.

"Nie Li, why are you scaring Yu?" 

"M-Mom?" Nie Li stammered, the word catching in his throat. He stood up, his legs shaky, and before he knew it, he was rushing to her, wrapping his arms around her like he hadn't seen her in years. His heart hammered against his ribs, emotions flooding him, overwhelming him. He had thought… he had accepted that he would never see her again. That he would never feel her warmth or hear her voice.

But she was here. She was here.

Tears stung Nie Li's eyes as he buried his face in her shoulder, the familiar scent of her clothing grounding him in the moment. 

His mom stroked his hair, her hand gentle, though he could feel her confusion. "Nie Li, it's okay. You're just nervous about today, aren't you?"

They stayed like that for a moment—just holding onto each other—before a small tug at their legs broke the silence. Nie Li looked down to see Nie Yu giggling, her arms wrapped around them like she didn't want to be left out. Despite everything, he found himself smiling at her. She had no idea what had just happened, no idea how much it meant to him to see her happy and safe.

"Nie Li," she said softly, pulling him out of his thoughts. "It's alright. It's going to be okay. It doesn't matter what your soul realm is. Mama will still love you no matter what."

Her words struck Nie Li like a thunderbolt. Soul realm? What was she talking about? What was today? His mind raced, but he could only manage a weak, "Huh?"

She smiled at him, that same warm, loving smile she always gave when she thought he was being silly. Then she kissed his forehead, her lips soft against his skin, and told him to wash up and come downstairs to eat. There was something about a ceremony—something he should be getting ready for.

Nie Li nodded dumbly, still too stunned to respond properly. He watched as she walked out of the room, Nie Yu bouncing after her, calling out, "Aunty, hug!" His mom hugged her, and they both disappeared down the hallway, leaving Nie Li standing there, alone with his racing thoughts.

Did… did she not see it? Nie Li muttered to himself, feeling a strange unease settle in his chest. He glanced around, his eyes darting nervously. That's when he saw it. The system window. It hovered in the corner of his vision, flickering slightly, as if it didn't belong in this world, like it was some mistake in reality.

What the hell is going on? Nie Li thought, his heart pounding all over again. He was dead. He knew he had died. He could still feel it in his bones, that final moment before everything had gone dark. But now… he was here.

Alive.

The room seemed too small, the air too thick. Is this real? Am I real? Nie Li clenched his fists, trying to hold onto something tangible, something that would anchor him to this moment. But the more he thought about it, the more the doubt gnawed at him.

Was this a second chance? Or was it just another cruel twist of fate?

The system window blinked again, and text appeared before his eyes.

[ Simulation System Activation Confirmed ]

[ Current Location: Glory City ]

[ Memory Assimilation Completed Successfully ]

[ Action Required: Please Choose Among the Following System Types ]

[ Option 1: "Passive Observer" - System provides only passive benefits without direct interference in the world or player actions. Not recommended. ]

[ Option 2: "Autonomous Architect" - System offers full interference, achieving player's goals via AI control. Not recommended. ]

[ Option 3: "Guided Catalyst" - System intervenes partially, aligning with the player's interests for optimal simulation system utilization. Highly Recommended. ]

[ Please Make Your Choice ]

He stared at the floating system window in front of him, utterly dumbfounded. What… what is this? He blinked, half-expecting the strange screen to vanish, but it remained, hovering in the air, its cold, glowing text staring back at him.

Memories flooded his mind, flashing in chaotic bursts—memories of what should have been his death. The image of the monsters, the pain, and then… this. This system. Could it have something to do with his return to the past? It had to, right? Nothing else made sense.

He pursed his lips, feeling a strange swirl of emotions he couldn't quite name. Gratitude? Yeah, sure, he was grateful—who wouldn't be, given the chance to rewrite their life, to fix their mistakes? But there was something else, something darker, gnawing at the back of his mind. Unease. No, that wasn't it. It was more than that. It was fear. This thing, whatever it was, had power. Real power. Enough to drag him back from death and through time itself. 

What should he choose? The options on the screen felt absurd, like some kind of game, but he knew better than to underestimate it. 

His eyes scanned the options again, his gut churning with indecision. The third one, "Guided Catalyst," seemed to stand out. It wasn't as overbearing as the first two, didn't seem like it would dictate his every move or leave him completely in the dark. It was a middle ground, a way to get guidance without losing control.

But how did he even select it? He felt a little ridiculous, like a kid trying to figure out how to use a new toy. His hand reached out instinctively to touch the screen, only to pass right through it. Of course, it wouldn't be that simple. Nothing about this situation was simple.

So, it's only visible to him, huh? He couldn't touch it, but it was powerful enough to mess with time and pull him back from the dead. He couldn't help but feel a cold shiver run down his spine. This thing was beyond anything he'd ever known. If it could do that, what else could it do? Could it be trusted? Was it even on his side?

He swallowed, his throat dry as he stood there, heart pounding. He couldn't ignore it, though. This system, whatever it was, was his ticket to something bigger. He needed to use it. And he needed to be smart about it.

Maybe he didn't need to touch it, he thought, an idea slowly taking form. Maybe he could control it with his mind. It sounded insane, but nothing about this was normal. He had to try something.

"Option 3. I select option 3," he thought, focusing every ounce of willpower into the command, mentally reaching out toward the choice on the screen.

[ Selection Confirmed: Option 3 - "Guided Catalyst" Framework Initiated ]

[ Registration Complete: Player Nie Li ]

[ Objective Integration: Player Nie Li's Desires Identified as End Goal for Simulation ]

[ Commencing Overworld Simulation Process ]

[ Name: Nie Li ]

[ Status: Peasant ]

[ Cultivation Level: White Soul Realm ]

[ Physique Level: None ]

[ Class: None ]

[ Race: Human ]

[ Health Points: 10 ]

[ Soul Force: 5 ]

[ Battle Power: 21 ]

[ Class Features: None ]

[ Allies: None ]

[ Equipment: ]

- [ Worn Torn Clothing ]

[ Description: Born to a farmer in the Heavenly Marks Family, a young boy harbors ambitions far greater than his humble origins suggest, along with a deep secret. He carries the burden of memories from a past life, where he witnessed the destruction of Glory City. Faced with the daunting task of altering destiny, he must navigate his new life's challenges. Will he succeed in preventing the catastrophe he once saw, or is history doomed to repeat itself? ]

Nie Li stared at the strange text floating in front of him, his eyes narrowing as he took in every detail. Lines of information scrolled endlessly, filled with symbols and words that looked both foreign and familiar. His heart raced, but not out of confusion—he knew what most of it meant. Hell, he probably understood this stuff better than most people would. It's just how his mind worked. Absorbing knowledge, putting the pieces together—it always came naturally to him. Not cultivation, unfortunately. That's where he was supposed to be talented, but life had a different plan. Instead, he ended up with this "useless" knack for picking up information like a sponge. Guess that paid off today.

So, why was he standing there, asking this system for answers he mostly already had?

He glanced up at the blinking prompt, his mouth twitching into a half-smile. It wasn't that he needed clarification. No, that wasn't it at all. What he really wanted was to see what the system could really do. What else could it offer him? How far could he push it? What kind of power was hidden behind those lines of text?

"Can you tell me what all of this is?"

[ Name: This term refers to how non-player characters (NPCs) in the world address the player. ]

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[ Status: This represents the player's standing or rank within the game world. A higher status unlocks more opportunities and benefits. ]

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[ Cultivation Level: This indicates the player's level of spiritual power, achieved through the practice of cultivation. ]

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[ Physique Level: This signifies the level of the player's physical prowess. ]

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[ Class: This term describes the player's chosen role or profession, each with its own unique abilities and play style. ]

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[ Race: This refers to the player's species or ethnic group, each with its own set of natural abilities and characteristics. ]

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[ Health Points: This number represents the player's vitality. If it drops to zero, the player is considered dead or incapacitated. ]

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[ Soul Force: This measures the quantity of spiritual energy accumulated in the player's dantian. ]

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[ Battle Power: This number quantifies the player's overall strength or combat effectiveness. ]

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[ Class Features: These are the unique abilities and advantages that a player gains by choosing a particular class. ]

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[ Allies: This term refers to companions or friendly characters that assist the player in their journey or quests. ]

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[ Equipment: This encompasses the gear, weapons, armor, and other items that a player carries or wears to enhance their abilities and protect themselves. ]

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Nie Li's eyes scanned the flickering information on the system window, feeling a surge of excitement bubbling up in his chest. It was like discovering a hidden treasure, each line of data revealing something new. Hmm, that's useful, he thought, his eyebrows lifting in surprise as he absorbed the details. But even as he understood the basics of this system's power, doubt crept in, swirling around in his mind. How was he supposed to use this? What was his next move? He needed to figure out how to make this system work for him, how to turn this knowledge into real power.

Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, his mother's voice cut through his concentration. "Nie Li! Come down for breakfast."

With a sigh, Nie Li tore his gaze from the system window and made his way toward the stairs. As he placed his foot on the first step, the wood creaked beneath him—a familiar sound that always felt like home. Each step he took brought a wave of sensations: the slightly worn-out edges of the stairs, the cool morning air drifting in through the open windows, and the comforting scent of aged wood mingled with the delicious aroma of breakfast wafting up from the kitchen.

This house—modest and unassuming as it was—held a warmth that wrapped around him like a soft blanket. The faded tapestries hanging on the walls had seen better days, their colors dulled by time, but they carried a history that he knew by heart. Every crack in the plaster, every scratch on the floorboards, held a memory. It wasn't much, but it was home.

As Nie Li reached the bottom of the stairs, he paused in the doorway to the dining room, letting the scene wash over him. There they were—his family. His father, Nie Ming, sat at the head of the table, his back straight and his posture as solid as a mountain. His burnt orange hair stood out against the weathered tan of his skin, a reminder of all the years he'd spent working under the sun. His hands, calloused and rough, cradled a bowl with a gentleness that seemed almost out of place. The small beard on his chin gave him a look of wisdom, the kind that only comes from experience, and his eyes held a warmth that always made Nie Li feel safe.

Across from Nie Ming sat his uncle, Nie Kai, laughing loudly at something. His laugh—it was the kind of laugh that filled a room, full of life and energy. It was impossible not to smile when he was around, no matter how dark the day had been. Beside him, his aunt, Miao Ling, was in the middle of an animated conversation with his cousin, Nie Yu.

Nie Li's eyes drifted to the breakfast laid out on the table. Bowls of warm congee sat steaming, its subtle aroma filling the room with a sense of comfort. A platter of youtiao—crispy, golden dough sticks—sat next to it, practically begging to be dipped into the soy milk beside them. Plates of steamed buns were spread out, some filled with savory pork, others with sweet red bean paste, their soft surfaces inviting him to grab one. And then there was the pot of green tea, its steam rising in delicate tendrils, dancing in the morning light.

Nie Li sat down at the table, like his body was moving on autopilot. He wasn't really here, not fully. Just minutes ago, he had been dying—a crushing, suffocating death. The chaos, the screams, the destruction of Glory City... and now here he was, sitting at this familiar table, surrounded by people he had lost. His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, he felt dizzy with the strangeness of it all.

He looked at his family, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for a steamed bun. It felt surreal, like he was watching his life through a pane of glass. The last time he had seen them, it was the end of everything. He was sure they had all died during the attack. And now, somehow, he had been pulled back in time, granted this second chance. A second chance he wasn't sure he deserved.

Nie Li locked eyes with his father. His warm, steady gaze grounded him, pulling him back from the whirlwind of confusion in his mind. A soft smile crossed his lips, though inside he felt like he was barely holding himself together.

"Don't worry about the soul realm ceremony," his father said gently, his voice wrapping around Nie Li like a blanket. His calm demeanor brought a strange comfort to the chaos inside him. "You didn't get to choose it. Some things are just out of our hands, and it's better not to stress over them."

Nie Li nodded slowly, feeling the weight of his father's words, but knowing he didn't understand the full scope of what he was dealing with. His father thought he was just worried about the soul realm ceremony. If only it were that simple.

The soul realm ceremony. The words stirred up memories of that day—his first ceremony, the humiliation, the whispers behind his back, the looks of pity from those who had already written him off. It had felt like the world was caving in on him back then, but now? Now that memory felt so... distant. Like a minor inconvenience in the face of everything he had been through.

But as Nie Li sat there, listening to his father's comforting words, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe this time, things could be different. He had knowledge now, knowledge he shouldn't have. He glanced at the system window that hovered just at the edge of his vision, visible only to him. Would it be enough? Would he be able to change things, to make sure none of this happened again?

Just as Nie Li was starting to lose himself in thought, a sudden ringing sound filled his ears. It was loud, sharp, and completely out of place. He jumped, startled, but the sound didn't come from the dining room. It was like it came from somewhere far off... or maybe it was coming from the system itself.

Before Nie Li could fully process it, the world around him began to shift. The warm, comforting ambiance of the room faded, the colors draining away until everything was washed in shades of grey. It was like time had frozen in place. His breath caught in his throat as he looked around. Everything—everyone—was still. The droplets of tea hanging in the air mid-pour, his father's smile paused halfway, Nie Yu's hair frozen in the air from her last playful twirl. Even the steam rising from the pot of tea had stopped.

Nie Li's heart pounded in his chest, and his skin prickled with unease. What was happening? Was this the system?

A glowing window appeared before him, its bluish-black light flickering like a ghost in the dim, frozen room. The text was clear, hovering in the air, waiting for him to read it.

[ Narrative Point Detected ]

[ Path Selection Required ]

[ Option 1: "I will be the most talented in the Heavenly Marks Family." ]

[ Option 2: "Don't worry, I know I am talented." ]

[ Option 3: "It doesn't matter what my soul realm is." ]

A sudden ticking sound shattered the quiet, and Nie Li's eyes snapped to the corner of the window where a countdown had started.

What the—? Confusion tightened in his chest, and curiosity clawed at his mind. What was this? Why now? His breath hitched, and he whispered under his breath, "What is this? What's going on?" But the room stayed stubbornly silent, like it was holding its secrets close, refusing to let him in.

9, 8...

Each tick felt like a hammer strike to his nerves. What was happening? What did this countdown mean? His mind raced with a thousand questions, each more frantic than the last. Was this some kind of test? Some new trick of the system? His palms started to sweat, and he could feel his heartbeat drumming louder in his ears. Every second that passed seemed to press down on him, heavier and heavier, like the whole world was balancing on this one choice.

5...

Panic surged through Nie Li, hot and wild, drowning out all rational thought. He couldn't think straight, couldn't breathe. What if he made the wrong decision? What if this choice could change everything? He had to act—he had to do something, anything! His finger shot out, trembling, and he tapped on the first option he saw without even reading it fully.

[ Option 1. I will be the most talented in the Heavenly Marks Family. ]

As soon as Nie Li made the choice, the screen vanished, like it had never been there at all, like it was nothing more than a trick of the light. Time snapped back into place, the world around him bursting back into life. The gray haze that had held everything still melted away, replaced by the warmth of the room's familiar colors. The hum of his family's chatter, the clinking of dishes, the scrape of chairs—all of it flooded back, washing over him like a tidal wave.

He blinked, disoriented, trying to ground himself in the chaos of the moment. Did he just imagine that? Did that really just happen?

"My boy, always so confident! Declaring you'll be the most talented in our family? You truly have your father's guts," Nie Ming said with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling with that familiar mix of pride and amusement.

Wait—did he say that out loud?