Chapter 2: Accepting Reality.

The people walking by didn't even spare him a second glance.

Kain was left grappling with the bizarre reality of his situation. If this was all just a figment of his imagination, then was he feeling such intense pain? It made no sense. One moment he was being rushed to the operating room, and the next he found himself sprawled on the ground of a filthy alley.

He glanced down and noticed that he was wearing ragged clothes. A wave of panic washed over him as he realized that his hands and feet didn't even look like his own. He tried to stand but felt lightheaded, collapsing back to one knee.

The host is extremely emaciated. You need to eat something.

Looking closer, Kain noticed just how malnourished he appeared. He felt like he should have already dropped dead.

System, if this is real, get me a cheeseburger.

Host, you're not very bright.

"I'm waking up in a strange place, looking like someone else. I am not okay with this, and I have no idea what's happening."

The host is advised to suck it up.

"Fuck you."

"Why am I even here?"

The host lived a life filled with the desire to be born into another world. Well, you have received that wish.

"How do you know that? Wait, if this is a system like those I've read about, then it must know everything about me. But this could still all be in my head. The gnawing pain in my stomach suggests otherwise."

Okay, let's try something. If this is real, then when I punch this wall, I should either feel pain or nothing at all. That will tell me more.

Host, if you're already in pain, why would you inflict more pain on yourself just to see if you'll feel pain?

"Shut up. I need to test this," Kain insisted.

He threw a straight jab at the wall, his form anything but graceful. His fist struck the surface with a dull thud, failing to knock off a single speck of dust. The rough texture told him it was made of bricks, which cut his knuckles, causing them to bleed.

"that hurts."

"Yeah, that's what happens when someone extremely weak hits a hard surface."

Okay, maybe this isn't all in my head, Kain thought as a rush of excitement surged through him.

"This isn't a fantasy. It's real," Kain declared, a newfound thrill evident in his voice.

Kain: System, I want to know your capabilities. I'm going to create a main character that will be so powerful, they'll be the most attractive person in the game.

System: The System can do many things for the Host. My primary purpose is to experiment with you. We want to see what happens when we take a weak creature like yourself from another world and place him in this one, filled with numerous paths to choose from.

Kain: I am not weak.

System: Look at your hand. I can grant you many abilities, but you'll have to work for most of them. That's all I can say for now.

Kain: Right, so I'm a test subject or something?

System:

Name: Kain

Race: Human

Age: 14

Strength: 1

Defense: 3

Stamina: 1

Agility: 3

Dexterity: 3

Intelligence: 5

Charisma: 1

Perception: 1

Abilities:

Regeneration: 1%Running: Level 4Pain Tolerance: Level 2Sleight of Hand: Level 3

Kain: I want to understand what this means.

System: A standard human from your world would be at a 5 in each category.

Kain: So I am weak. You should have put me in the body of someone stronger. And why am I younger?

System: This body meets the necessary conditions.

Kain: What conditions are you talking about?

System: Recently deceased, possessing stats closest to what you would have had.

Kain: I was stronger in my other life! I was at least average.

System: Host, I know everything about you.

Kain: Alright, fine. What about these skills?

System:

Regeneration: Boosts your rate of healing by the percentage achieved.

Running: Measures your proficiency in running. It improves your coordination and speed. Gains +2 Dexterity and +2 Agility when running, and +1 Dexterity and +1 Agility for each additional level.

Pain Tolerance: Reduces the pain you experience by 2%.

Sleight of Hand

Sleight of Hand is a skill that enhances Kain's dexterity and precision, particularly when performing delicate or intricate tasks. This skill is beneficial for activities that require nimble fingers, quick reflexes, and subtle movements.

Skill Effect:

Base Bonus: Increases precision and control in tasks such as lockpicking, minor theft, and intricate crafting.

Dexterity Boost: Adds +1 Dexterity for every 2 levels of the skill.

Current Level: 3

Dexterity Bonus: +1 Dexterity (Level 3 contributes +1 Dexterity)

Kain frowned at the information. Everything seemed good except the regeneration is pointless. 1% faster healing is nothing.

Kain: So I have to work my way up? What else do I need to know?

System: You must train, face challenges, and complete quests to unlock further abilities. Your potential can only be realized through effort and experience in this new world.

Kain frowned at the information. Everything seemed good except the regeneration—it felt pointless. A mere 1% faster healing was hardly worth mentioning.

He shook his head, trying to push aside the thoughts of his limited capabilities. I need to figure out where I am and what I'm supposed to do, he thought because I can hardly move. He knew this was Fort Hope, but that was about all he could grasp.

With determination, Kain started to leave the alley, using the wall for support. It took him far longer than it should have to walk a mere twenty feet. When he finally stepped out of the alley, the sun blazed down, forcing him to shield his eyes as they adjusted to the light.

Once he could see, Kain took a look around. The scene before him was a stark reality check; every person nearby seemed just a little better off than he was. The houses were crude structures made from a mix of mud and straw, with roofs pieced together haphazardly from whatever materials were on hand. Many of the homes appeared to have collapsed, and not a single one was constructed with the skill of a true artisan.

Kain couldn't help but think, Then again, I probably wouldn't do much better myself. He took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings, feeling a mix of curiosity and trepidation as he contemplated his next move in this unfamiliar world.