1. 1. A Strong Soul

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Leaf strolled along the sidewalk while thinking about her long-awaited vacation after her arduous training. She is now in a bustling street, where the sun hangs low in the sky and casts long shadows across the street. She was still in the planning stage of her vacation, even though her vacation started yesterday. 

As Leaf rounded a corner, her attention was suddenly captured by a loud noise. Her mind was still thinking about where to go and how long her vacation would be as she glanced up to see a massive truck hurtling toward her. Her instinct kicked in, and she subconsciously ducked to the side. Leaf dove to the side while narrowly avoiding the truck's path by mere inches.

She was relieved she didn't get any dirt on her newly paid clothes. But her relief was short-lived as the truck was not the only one on the road. Because of the first truck that almost pulverized Leaf, the second truck following behind the first one swerved out of course, and by the luck of having none, all trucks hit Leaf's spot one after the other. Then, with a sickening crunch, the second truck collided with Leaf, sending her sprawling across the pavement. Pain exploded through her body as she lost consciousness. 

It was so surreal that it seemed the world was out to get her.

The pain she did not know she was experiencing for god knows how long left her. Now, Leaf feels like floating on clouds and feeling refreshed. But then, like a marionette pulled by invisible strings, she felt herself being drawn uncontrollably toward a swirling vortex of dark mass.

The dark mass, or should I say the black hole, yawned in front of her. Its gravitational pull is irresistible, and it tugged her closer with each passing moment. Leaf's mind was reeling with confusion as the abyss was swallowing her. The world around her was slowly disappearing into nothingness.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the sensation of being engulfed by something stopped. Leaf found herself floating in a space of nothing but whiteness. She was still confused and with no sense of up or down or even left or right.

It was at this moment that a voice echoed through the empty white space, sending shivers down the spines of anyone who listened to it.

"Binding 100% complete. Congratulations, host," the voice said, its tone cold and mechanical. "I am System Zero, at your service."

Leaf's mind raced as she struggled to make sense of the voice. 

[Where is this? How did I get here? System Zero? What did it want from her? And why was it addressing her as its host?]

Before Leaf could voice her questions, System Zero continued.

"You are now bound to me at the soul level due to your strong soul," it declared. "As a host, your purpose is clear: enter Mission Worlds, complete tasks, and by doing so earn points. With enough points, the host can have one wish. Only then will you return to your world before the accident."

[Mission Worlds? Points? What was this voice talking about? And what did it mean by "returning to her world before the accident"?]

As soon as she finished thinking, her memory of the current event before regaining consciousness hit her like a bulldozer.

[Oh, right. It looks like my body kicked the bucket after that second truck hit me.]

System Zero issued a chilling warning.

"Failure to complete your assigned tasks will result in the death penalty," it stated matter-of-factly, its voice devoid of emotion.

"Not a simple death, but the destruction of your soul. You will feel pain unimaginable to the human's understanding", it added.

Leaf's blood ran cold at the thought. 

[Death penalty? Destruction of the soul? What kind of twisted game was this?]

As if sensing Leaf's confusion and disbelief, System Zero pressed on.

"You must enter the Mission Worlds, take over the body of a character, and act according to their original script provided by yours truly," it explained. "If the host, meaning you, does not follow the script, the host will earn negative points. And if you accumulate enough negative points, your soul will be obliterated."

Leaf still has her worry face on while her mind turns its gears. She understands that just like in those light novels she reads, she is currently abducted by a being called the system. Bounded forcefully without consent and forced to do their bidding. 

[It looks like my luck has hit rock bottom. I encountered a questionable system, but unlike those I read before, which are cute and fun… I get this.]

As the system observes its host letting her situation sink in, in its eyes, Leaf appears like a trapped, powerless mouse that does not have any other choice than to follow orders. 

Ignoring the system for a bit, Leaf attempted to explore her surroundings by walking around. Before the system appeared, the gravity in the space returned. But she only found herself trapped in an endless white of nothing.

"Don't bother exploring," Zero interjected, its voice echoing through the empty space. "Though it may appear as though you're in an endless white void, in reality, you're confined to a room. This room is no larger than a single bedroom. There is an endless loop around its boundaries." Meaning that every time Leaf walks far into the edge, instead of exiting, she will end up entering the room from the other side.

She took a deep breath after hearing and understanding what the system told her. 

Leaf tried to relax her shoulders and braced herself for whatever was coming. With a system like Zero, someone that seemed completely indifferent to its host's well-being, tagging along, whether she liked it or not, she had no choice but to take on whatever tasks it assigned.

What came next, she had no way of knowing.

Or at least, that's how she looked to Zero. If it even had eyes.

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