Chapter 4: Awakening and System
"In death, I expected nothing. Instead, I was given a second chance. A new world, a new system, and a purpose I never had before. If this is fate's way of restarting my story, then I'll make sure to play the game right this time." – Mysterious Isekai Character
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
"Y'know, I never thought I'd die this way."
Those were my last words as the truck sped towards me. The thing about dying is that you never really know what's going to happen next, right?
There was no pain, no final words of regret—just an overwhelming brightness, followed by... nothing.
For a moment, I thought that was it. Just emptiness.
Then—
I woke up.
Well, turns out, I found myself in a dimly lit room, feeling like I'd just been hit by a...wait, did I get hit by a truck?
A dimly lit room. The scent of disinfectant hung in the air. My head throbbed, my body felt strangely light, and an old alarm clock ticked softly beside me.
I wasn't on the streets anymore.
Sitting up, I rubbed my head. Ow.
My memories were hazy, fragmented, like pieces of a puzzle I couldn't quite put together.
"Ow," I muttered, rubbing my head.
My life had been pretty dull up until this point - gaming all day, feeling like a failure, and now, well, this. Whatever this was.
"Where am I?" I asked aloud, hoping for an answer from someone, anyone. No one responded. Of course not.
So much for an exciting afterlife.
I pushed myself off the ground and took a few unsteady steps forward. If this was some kind of purgatory, it wasn't exactly what I'd imagined. It looked more like a storage closet than anything else.
"Hello?" I tried again, my voice echoing slightly.
"Ugh, maybe I should just go back to sleep," I grumbled, running a hand through my jet-black hair. My gray eyes scanned the room, searching for any clues about where I was or why I was there.
"So, this is a new world, hah," I sighed, resigned to the fact that I might be stuck here for a while. But then again, who knew what awaited me outside of this dimly lit room? Maybe this new world held the answers I'd been seeking all along...or maybe it would just lead to more questions.
"Alright, Belial, time to figure this out," I told myself, determination coursing through me. I had no idea what lay ahead, but I couldn't let fear hold me back.
This was my chance to find a purpose, to prove that I could be more than just a gamer who'd given up on everything else.
As I took my first steps into the unknown, I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement.
A new world awaited me, and for the first time in a long time, I felt truly alive.
The air shimmered, and a holographic grid materialized before him, a shimmering network of icons and data streams that pulsed with an ethereal light.
A dazzling rainbow of colors bursts to life before my eyes, momentarily blinding me. As I blink furiously, trying to make sense of what's happening, a holographic interface appears in front of me.
Suddenly, a message materialized before him, glowing with an ethereal light:
『Ding! Transferring host consciousness to nearest compatible player in this world』
『Random World No#153 : Unknown Realm』
『Installing Sub-system to the player!』
『1%...26%...56%...100% Installation Complete!』
『Status, Scan, Storage function, is online
Map, Task and Store function is offline』
『Status』
『Name: Belial Scarlet
Age: 10
Height: 148cm (4'10 ft)
Weight: 38kg (84 lbs)
Blessing: Gamer System
Class: Omni-Gamer
Subclass: Player』
『HP: 20/20 | SP: 10/10』
『Attributes:』
『STR: 1』
『AGI: 2』
『DEX: 3』
『PHY: 2』
『END: 1』
『INT: 3』
『WIS: 2』
『PER: 1』
『SPI: 4』
『CHA: 1』
『LUK: 1』
『Items: None』
『Talents: None』
『Evaluation: A fledgling newcomer who don't even know nothing about basketball but has extraordinary talent』
But the system also revealed a harsh truth: he was now a ten-year-old boy, frail and weak.
'Hmm... Basketball, huh? I see.'
He had also dreamed of playing basketball, but his body had never been strong enough.
He had watched countless games, mesmerized by the athleticism and skill of the players, but he had never dared to dream of being one of them.
Now, he had a chance to experience the game in a way he never thought possible.
He could feel a surge of excitement, a feeling he hadn't experienced in years.
He had a chance to pursue his passion, to prove himself, to finally find his place in the world.
Then a new message popped up:
[System]
『Congratulations to you for successfully reincarnating inside a universe that I made, the [Newbie Package] has been successfully delivered to your storage. Do you want to open your [Newbie Package]』
『[Yes/No?]』
The message assured him that he could open the package at any time, but Belial hesitated. It felt like opening a Pandora's box, and he wasn't ready to face the consequences. His priority was understanding his new surroundings.
"I don't want to open the package yet. I'm not paying for this. Anyway, first things first, I need to figure out where I am," Belial muttered, determined to gather information.
Taking a moment to adjust to his unfamiliar surroundings, Belial's eyes fell upon a glowing [!] in the corner of his eyes.
Fueled by curiosity, he cautiously approached it with his finger and he reached out, the [!] pulsed with light, then it split open, revealing a holographic interface that shimmered with energy.
[System]
『Welcome, Belial Scarlet, to the Otherworld, Please enjoy your stay in the new world』
A robotic voice announces. My eyebrows shoot up in surprise – this is definitely not something I'd ever seen back in my old world.
"Uh, hi?" I say hesitantly, unsure if I should be talking to this...thing. "What exactly is the Gamer System?"
[System]
『Think of it as your golden finger in this new world, The Gamer System will grant you special abilities and provide assistance as needed』
The voice replied.
"Golden finger, huh?" I smirk, feeling a mix of curiosity and excitement. Maybe this new world wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Okay then, Gamer System, let's get started! What's the first order of business?"
[System]
『A Direct Message from God has arrived!』
『[Do you Accept to Open]』
『[Yes/No?]』
The voice echoed.
A glowing prompt hovers before me, the text crisp and clear. My heartbeat quickens, but curiosity overrides hesitation.
"Sounds simple enough," I murmur, reaching out and selecting [Yes] without a second thought.
[System]『Message Opened.』
『[ Sender: God
As a result of your sincere wish, you were selected.
Congratulations!
Clap, clap, clap!
Your wish has been heard, and you have been chosen. Isn't that wonderful?
However, the world you find yourself in is not the game world you love.
No, this is a world under my management—an entirely different reality.
From now on, you will live here.
Of course, I wouldn't just throw you in without a fighting chance.
As a special gift, I've granted you a System—your very own power.
There are also other surprises waiting for you.
Good luck!]』
The message faded.
The air felt different now—charged with something unseen. A warmth settled in my chest, like a hidden energy waiting to be unlocked.
Then—
『Initializing…』
A surge of power flooded my veins.
I stumbled, gripping my chest as an unfamiliar sensation coursed through me.
It wasn't pain— it was something else.
Something awakening.
I exhaled, steadying myself.
Alright…
I clenched my fist.
"Gamer System," I said, my voice firm. "Guide me through this brave new world."
『Affirmative.』
The robotic voice responded. Was that... amusement in its tone?
Shrugging, I turned toward the door.
The robotic voice responds, almost… amused?
I shake off the thought as I take my first step into the unknown.
"Sounds simple enough." Shrugging, I head for the door, cautiously easing it open.
The sunlight filters through the trees outside, casting the world in a dappled shade.
The unknown awaited me.
It's strangely peaceful, and I can't help but feel a little more at ease.
But for the first time in a long time, I wasn't afraid.
I felt truly alive.
And this time, I wasn't going to waste my second chance.
I stepped forward.
A new game had just begun.