System Initialization

chapter 1:

System Initialization

Wan Jie slowly opened his eyes, feeling a wave of disorientation wash over him. One moment he had been in his dark bedroom, eyes glued to his computer screen as he grinded for hours on the new Dragon Realm Online expansion pack. The next, he found himself lying in the middle of a sunny forest, the cries of strange birds and insects resounding around him. 

"Where...where am I?" he muttered, slowly sitting up to take in his surroundings. Lush green trees towered over him, sunlight dappling the forest floor. The air smelled fresh and earthy, devoid of the familiar car exhaust smells of the city.

He patted his body down cautiously. Some kind of coarse linen clothing had replaced his t-shirt and shorts. At his waist was a sheathed sword, the hilt and scabbard intricately carved. This definitely wasn't his plastic replica toy!

Wan Jie scrambled to his feet, heartbeat accelerating. "This looks just like...the Immortal Forest beginner zone? Am I actually IN Dragon Realm Online?" 

He glimpsed a notification panel popping up in front of him, text filling the translucent window.

[Welcome, Host! You have been randomly selected for transmigration into the Dragon Realm Online game world. Your identity will be Wan Jie, a low-level swordsman. Additionally, you have been granted access to the Modification System shop.]

"What? Transmigration? Is this really happening?" Wan Jie couldn't believe his eyes. He had read plenty of web novels about people getting transported into virtual worlds. But to have it happen to him? He took a deep breath, pinching his own cheek. The pain felt real enough. This was no dream.

With trembling fingers, he tapped open the Modification System interface. A list of options appeared, categorized into different sections. Skills. Classes. Equipment. Cosmetics. Perks. The possibilities swirled in his mind. If this System was real, then he had a huge advantage over normal players!

A wide grin split his face as the implications sank in. "If I'm really in the game world, then with the right modifications, I can become the most powerful player that ever existed!"

Wan Jie quickly glanced over the options, formulating a plan in his head. First he needed more combat skills. The passive party buffs could help later, but offense was the priority. He selected a few flashy martial arts abilities, choosing to specialize in sword skills for now. 

Next he upgraded his starting equipment. The plain longsword became a glistening blade carved with intricate runes. His simple clothes transformed into a daoist robe with flowing sleeves, embroidered with protective talismans. A stylish conical hat completed the outfit.

Checking his stat window, he saw his experience level was still 1. Wan Jie smirked and directly set himself to level 100. If he was going to cause chaos in this world, he needed more than just starter abilities. 

Cracking his knuckles, he opened up the cosmetics menu. He chose a tall, muscular body shape and the coolest-looking male face template. No more weak and scrawny! For his new name, Wan Jie typed in 'Sword Destroyer'. Much more imposing!

Equipped with martial arts, a legendary sword, and a powerful new look, Wan Jie strode confidently through the forest toward the nearby city. Occasionally he drew his sword, testing his skills on unsuspecting beasts. Each slash cleaved through his targets with laughable ease. 

As the forest thinned out, he spotted wooden walls and tiled rooftops ahead - the starting town for humans. Two guards stood at the gates, dressed in simple leather armor. They crossed their spears as Wan Jie approached.

"Halt! State your name and business!"

Wan Jie met the guard's eyes with a fierce glare. "I am Sword Destroyer, and I go where I please. Stand aside!" To punctuate his point, he activated [Sword Pressure], sending out an overwhelming wave of energy.

The guards were blown back instantly, crashing into the walls around the entrance and slumping down, unconscious. The spectators gathered around the gates gasped and cried out in shock at this display of power.

Ignoring their reactions, Wan Jie strode into the town, making his way toward the central commerce area. Players milled about, gazing wide-eyed and scrambling out of his path. Many realized his name was not the default blue color for an NPC, but the white of a player character.

"He easily knocked out two guards! And that sword technique..."

"Could he be a hidden class character? Or some ultra rare race?"

"With skills like that, he's got to be at the level cap already..."

Wan Jie allowed himself a smug smile. Let them speculate. With the Modification System, he had complete control over his destiny here. Common sense and limitations did not apply to him.

Reaching the trade area, Wan Jie sought out the auction house. It was time to truly equip himself to start his journey of unfettered conquest and power. 

Rare weapons, potions, artifacts - with his system access, it cost him nothing to acquire these items which normally required endless grinding or enormous sums of in-game currency. He picked out artifacts that boosted his abilities and attributes even further beyond normal limits.

Within minutes, his inventory filled up with powerful equipment and consumables. This small taste of what was possible only stoked his appetite for more. He could do anything here, be anyone. A grand destiny awaited him.

Stepping out of the auction house, Wan Jie gazed out over the bustling town. Normally these NPCs would be but stepping stones on a player's path to greatness. But with the Modification System, he would ascend at speeds no normal gamer could ever dream of.

"This world will be turned upside down. Those who have mocked me, looked down on me all my life - they will regret everything when I have the power to dictate reality itself!"

His laughter echoed across the town, causing NPCs and players alike to shudder involuntarily. The air itself seemed to tremble at the promise of chaos and upheaval to come.

Wan Jie set off toward the town exit, a swirling aura of energy already starting to coalesce around him. His grand quest for ultimate power was just beginning.