Chapter 1: The Glitch in Reality

The last thing Tom remembered was the triumphant glow of his monitor, the virtual ticker of his in-game corporation, "Apex Technologies," finally hitting the zenith. Years of digital toil, mastering the intricacies of supply chains and market manipulation in the immersive strategy game, had paid off. He'd built a technological empire from the ground up, a digital titan that dominated the virtual landscape. A satisfied sigh escaped his lips as he leaned back in his worn gaming chair, the familiar ache in his wrists a badge of honor. Then, darkness. Not the gradual fade of sleep, but an abrupt, absolute nothingness.

He gasped awake, lungs burning, disoriented. The digital glow was gone, replaced by the muted light filtering through a slightly ajar curtain. This wasn't his minimalist, tech-cluttered apartment. The walls were painted a soft, almost pastel blue, adorned with posters of long-forgotten boy bands and soccer heroes he vaguely remembered from his childhood. The bed he was lying on was softer, less ergonomic than his usual setup. He sat up, his body feeling strangely lighter, younger.

Panic began to prickle at the edges of his awareness. Where was he? Had he been robbed? Kidnapped?

"System online."

The voice echoed in his mind, clear as a bell, yet undeniably foreign. It was female, with a melodic quality that was both soothing and strangely… mechanical.

Tom's eyes darted around the room, searching for the source. "Who said that? Where are you?"

"I am the Technological Advancement System, bound to your consciousness." The voice replied, its tone devoid of inflection.

His blood ran cold. Had he finally cracked? Years of late nights and energy drinks might have taken their toll. He pinched his arm, hard. Pain flared, sharp and real. This wasn't a dream.

He looked down at his hands. They were smaller, the skin smoother, unmarred by the calluses of years spent glued to a keyboard. A wave of dizziness washed over him as he took in his surroundings again. The furniture, the posters… it clicked. This was his old bedroom. His bedroom from when he was eighteen.

"Welcome back, Tom." The voice chimed, as if sensing his realization. "The year is 2010. You are currently located in your residence in [The system provides his address in Potchefstroom, South Africa]."

Eighteen? 2010? It was impossible. He was thirty, a seasoned adult who had navigated the brutal realities of life, from dead-end jobs to the crushing weight of responsibilities. Yet, here he was, back in his teenage body.

"What… what's happening?" he stammered, his voice sounding strangely high-pitched to his own ears.

"You have passed away in your previous life while engaging with a simulation of technological empire building." The voice stated matter-of-factly. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, your consciousness has been transferred to this earlier point in time. The Technology System, which you were interacting with in the simulation, has been bound to your being."

Tom's mind struggled to process the information. It sounded like something straight out of one of the many web novels he used to read in his previous life. Could this be real?

"As the bound host of the Technology System, you have access to a database of technological advancements across various fields," the voice continued. "This includes blueprints, manufacturing processes, and even specialized personnel. Furthermore, the System also contains a vast library of information that can be acquired using System Points. For example, should you wish to develop your own programming language, the complete knowledge and methodology could be purchased for 500,000 System Points."

A flicker of excitement, despite the sheer absurdity of the situation, ignited within him. His passion for technology, the very thing that had consumed his digital life, now seemed to be a tangible asset in this second chance.

"Upon activation, you have received a Tier 1 Mobile Phone Technology Gift Pack," the voice announced. "This includes the complete blueprints and manufacturing processes for advanced mobile phone technology relevant to this time period, along with a fully equipped, albeit currently unplaced, manufacturing facility."

"A factory?" Tom asked, his mind racing. How could a factory just… appear?

"The System will facilitate the acquisition and construction of necessary infrastructure to seamlessly integrate new assets without arousing undue suspicion," the voice reassured him. "Furthermore, an initial capital of 500 million US dollars has been deposited into an untraceable account for your use in establishing your enterprise."

Tom's jaw dropped. Five hundred million dollars? And advanced mobile phone technology? In 2010? This wasn't just a second chance; it was a launchpad.

"To assist you in your endeavors, your current System Point balance is 2,000,000." The voice informed him. "System Points can be used to acquire various resources, including specialized personnel from the System database."

"Personnel?"

"Yes. Researchers with verified backgrounds in your current location and internationally, engineers, security personnel, and even AI-powered robotic assistants are available for acquisition using System Points. For example, acquiring a skilled engineer will cost 1000 System Points, a construction worker 500, and a manager capable of overseeing operations will cost 2000."

This was insane. Absolutely, wonderfully insane. He, Tom, a guy who spent most of his adult life in front of a computer screen, was now eighteen again, with a futuristic tech database in his head, a fortune in the bank, the ability to buy knowledge, and the means to build a real-world technology empire.

"Okay," he said slowly, trying to wrap his head around the sheer scope of this. "Mobile phone technology… and a factory. Where… where is this factory going to be?"

"Upon your decision to commence production, the System will identify and secure a suitable plot of land. Personnel acquired for construction will then arrive and begin building the facility, ensuring a plausible timeline for its establishment."

It was like a real-life strategy game, but with far higher stakes. And the female voice in his head, the System, was his unconventional guide.

A wave of determination washed over him. He might have been thrown back into a younger body, stripped of his adult experiences in the traditional sense, but he carried the knowledge of the future, the understanding of technological trajectories, and now, this incredible System. He wouldn't just relive his life; he would rewrite it. He would build an empire that would make his virtual achievements look like child's play.

His first order of business: understanding the extent of this "Tier 1 Mobile Phone Technology." He had a feeling the Nokia brick his younger self probably still owned was about to become obsolete. The 2010s were about to get a whole lot more… interstellar.