Somewhere in the depths of space…
An object pulsed faintly, radiating light—yet at the same time, it seemed to absorb it. Its size was impossible to measure, as if its very existence defied the laws of reality.
Anything that approached—asteroids, stars, even light itself—was consumed without a trace, disappearing into the void.
If one were to observe closely, they would see the fabric of space twisting and distorting around it, yet somehow appearing stable—as if reality itself were an illusion.
Its rough, circular shape resembled what humans might call a black hole—though whether that truly defined its nature was a question beyond understanding.
Its location? Fortunately for humankind, it was nowhere near the Milky Way galaxy.
Suddenly, a streak of white and gold light erupted from the black hole's center, cutting through the darkness with blinding speed. It shot into the depths of space, with no sign of slowing or changing course.
Its destination? Unknown.
---
In a dimly lit room, the glow from a computer screen served as the only source of light, casting faint shadows on the surroundings. A bed was placed against the wall, shelves cluttered with various items, and a table where the computer hummed beneath its bright screen.
Seated before the screen was a man. His messy hair stuck out at odd angles beneath a pair of headphones. His bloodshot eyes, shadowed by dark circles, were glued to the screen, while a twisted smile stretched across his face, his teeth glinting in the dim light.
His right hand moved the mouse in quick, erratic motions, while his left hand repeatedly hammered a single key on the keyboard.
Despite the headphones, the sound of moans filled the room. On the screen, a beautiful naked woman with strikingly clear features writhed in pleasure, her trembling voice aligning perfectly with the movements of a translucent male figure above her, whose movements perfectly matched the motions of the man's hands over the keyboard and mouse as he sat before the screen.
[Congratulations, Player! You have conquered the final target.]
For ten minutes moans continued along with the fierce clicking of buttons before a prompt appeared on the screen, marking the accomplishment of his hard work.
As if he had finally achieved the thing he was after, his crazed smile faded as his hands came to rest.
He stared at the prompt for a full minute, as if imprinting the screen into his mind before the moment could slip away. Only after feeling satisfied did his right hand move, following the soft click of the mouse, a new prompt appeared.
[You have successfully conquered the 30 targets and have reached the end of the story. Thank You for your hard work.]
After a quick review, another soft click resounded throughout the room. A new prompt appeared.
[Congratulations! Player, you have completed the Story Mode and have unlocked Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?
Reminder:
Selecting "No" will save the game and Player can continue from here later.
Selecting "Cancel" will result in losing the Special Mode.]
[Yes] [No] [Cancel]
His twisted smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. His bloodshot eyes, heavy with exhaustion, remained fixed on the screen.
After a while, his eyes shifted to the digital clock at the left corner of the table.
{ 2 : 50 }
It was just ten minutes from 3 in the morning.
His eyes turned to the screen, then once again glanced back at the clock before shifting back.
For a brief moment, he paused before he clicked [Yes]
[This is a Focus-based Mode. Special Mode does not feature "Save" Mode. There are three checkpoints where the progression will be saved automatically. Exiting in the middle will result in loss of the progress and the access to Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?]
[Yes] [No]
He hesitated, knowing his condition. His eyes were already burning, and he didn't want to lose progress if he blacked out. After a moment's consideration, he clicked [No].
After a few idle clicks, the screen faded to black. The room fell into quiet stillness before it was broken.
"*yawn* Finally reached the end of the game. I've been grinding for *yawn* two months straight."
The man mumbled as he stretched his body and left the chair.
The lack of sleep was evident.
"It was so worth it… I can't wait to see what… this Special Mode has in store."
He rubbed his eyes, exhaustion creeping in.
"My eyes… are killing me… Good thing… I stopped… or all that progress… would've—"
His feet shifted towards the bed, his yawns had no end.
Just as he reached the bed, his body went cold, followed by the sound of his snores.
He was asleep.
God knows how long this man had been up playing games.
In other words, this man was the definition of a 'gaming addict.'
He was just an average guy in his last year of high school who was humble in the outside world and minded his own business.
He was what you'd call an average boy and surely loved to play games, but he was more into the R-18 category than others.
After playing multiple such games, he was out searching for a new one when he stumbled upon a self-made game by some dude. After browsing through various forums, he stumbled upon the game. After a bit of scrolling, he discovered it was based on a non-adult novel.
It seemed that the random dude was in love with—or perhaps obsessed with—that novel and had created the game with elements of his own.
The game was titled "The Urban Paradise." It was a conquering game set in an urban environment, where the player would conquer not just women like other such games but the economy as well.
In summary, it was a game gamers in this specific niche would die for. It was the definition of an 'awesome game' with a solid plot and spicy content.
Conquering each character was the test of patience. One mistake, and either the difficulty would be raised or the character would be lost with no further chance.
The animations, graphics, and overall quality were what gamers thrived on.
And this game delivered it all.
In conclusion, the game was very engaging, and if not for the R-18 part and the fact that it was made by some random dude and was launched on a forum, it could have reached the top fifty.
"Ugh"
Around 4, the man on the bed suddenly groaned as his hand moved towards his chest. His expression was difficult to see but it seemed he was in pain.
It lasted only a few seconds before his expression returned to normal.
In fact, unnaturally normal—his breathing had stopped.
At that time, a soft mechanical sound echoed somewhere in the void.
[The perfect target has been found. Target selected.]
[Initiating link…]
[The target's soul has been linked to the System.]
[Initiating transmigration… Searching for the designated location…]
[Location marked. Commencing transmigration to 'Blue Land.']
---
In a tiny apartment, a man lay in bed, unresponsive, as if dead. His chest rested motionless.
Then—
"Ugh!"
With a sudden jerk, the man sat up, clutching the sheets beneath him.
His face was pale, his eyes unfocused. Cold sweat drenched his back as his loud breathing filled his ears. His heart pounded like crazy, and his hands trembled.
"Wh-What happened… just now?"
He gasped, clutching his chest as his breath hitched. His heart felt like a drum beating rapidly.
"It felt like… someone stabbed me… in the… heart and… twisted it."
Confused, he mumbled amidst his shallow breaths. His shaky breathing filled the room.
"There's nothing…?"
He touched his chest, checking, but everything felt normal. There was no injury.
Slowly, his heart relaxed.
"It seems everything's fine."
He let out a heavy sigh, his stiff body slumping as relief washed over him.
"It sure was a hell of a dream… it felt so real. Like I was actually dead. Maybe my lack of sleep caught up to me."
As if responding to his mumbling, a soft mechanical voice echoed in his mind—clear, emotionless, yet oddly intimate. It stunned him.
[Welcome to your new life, Host! It wasn't a dream. With coincidence and stroke of luck, you've been given a chance and have reincarnated.]
"..."
For a brief moment, there was silence.
"It seems I really need some proper sleep. Now I'm even hearing things like System voice.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind from the absurd imagination.
[Your ears are perfectly fine, Host. I'm indeed the System.]
"..."
As he was about to lay back to return to his sleep, he paused. His mind buzzed with the mechanical voice.
"W-W-What? H-How could this be p-possible?"
He stuttered as the System's voice echoed in his mind, disbelief etched across his face.
"D-Did I really… d-die?"
He hoped what he heard wasn't true—yet, deep down, a part of him secretly wished it was.
Why not?
After all, what man hadn't dreamed of reincarnation at least once after reading novels or watching anime?
How could he be blamed for that? It was an unspoken desire among men.
[Yes, Host.]
Only two words—and he understood.
For a moment, his heart sank. It's human nature, after all.
Someday, someone, out of nowhere, comes to you and says you're dead. Would you believe it?
It's obvious.
And even if somebody accepts the reality, there will always be some lingering feelings of the past, at least, initially.
Five minutes passed, the room remained still.
Soon, a sigh escaped his lips. He came to terms with the fact that he had really died.
"System?"
He mumbled slowly, his eyes held a bit of intrusiveness. The initial shock had faded, replaced by a cold sense of reality.
As a gamer, he was well-versed in various themes, and thus didn't panic when an unknown yet familiar voice rung in his head earlier.
At that time, he was confused, and didn't have time for contemplations, and thus his mind assumed the nearest plausible possibility—hallucination—a dream.
[Yes, Host. I'm here to help you. Ask away anything?]
Sure enough, once again, the System's mechanical yet soft voice echoed in his head, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"So… where am I? You said something like being reincarnated. I assume I'm not on the Earth I knew anymore."
His voice was low, yet steady this time. He started with a simple yet most important question.
His mind had tons of questions, and surely wanted the answers, but he had to consider his own situation first. Other questions could be asked later.
[You are on Earth… but not the one you knew, Host.]
"What does that mean?"
[This is a parallel world; another version of Earth among the infinite versions. It's called Prime Earth—a world where spiritual energy exists, but it is extremely scarce. Only a few can harness this energy. Those who did—gain boosts in various aspects be it vitality or strength, and can live longer than an average person. They are called 'cultivators.']
He frowned. "So… cultivators are real?"
He didn't ask what cultivators were, as an avid reader and otaku, he knew it as the back of his hand. From this alone, he could confer many other things the System hadn't told yet.
[Yes. But due to the low spiritual energy, modern cultivation has become stagnant. Most hidden families, ancient clans and sects guard their techniques and resources jealously. Only those born into the right bloodlines or with sufficient wealth have access to even the most basic techniques.]
"So, you're saying that unless you're born into a powerful family or have strong backing… you're screwed?"
[Essentially, yes. Independent awakeners—those who cultivate without backing—are exceedingly rare. Without the right resources, it's almost impossible to progress beyond the lowest ranks.]
"Tch…" He rubbed his temple. "And how exactly do I fit into this?"
[As chosen, your soul was integrated with the System at the moment of death. The System will allow you to bypass normal cultivation limitations, granting you access to techniques, resources, and knowledge unavailable to most cultivators.]
His eyes narrowed. "Right… death." He hesitated. "How did I die?"
[You have been reincarnated into a parallel version of Earth—one that exists alongside the hidden world of cultivation. Spiritual energy flows through this world, and powerful factions control its balance.]
"Cultivation?" His brows furrowed. His heart thumped louder as a strange excitement began to creep into his chest. "You mean, like in those novels and games?"
[Correct, Host.]
He swallowed. His mind buzzed with disbelief, yet the logical part of him screamed that this was impossible. But… if it was true…
1
Somewhere in the depths of space…
An object pulsed faintly, radiating light—yet at the same time, it seemed to absorb it. Its size was impossible to measure, as if its very existence defied the laws of reality.
Anything that approached—asteroids, stars, even light itself—was consumed without a trace, disappearing into the void.
If one were to observe closely, they would see the fabric of space twisting and distorting around it, yet somehow appearing stable—as if reality itself were an illusion.
Its rough, circular shape resembled what humans might call a black hole—though whether that truly defined its nature was a question beyond understanding.
Its location? Fortunately for humankind, it was nowhere near the Milky Way galaxy.
Suddenly, a streak of white and gold light erupted from the black hole's center, cutting through the darkness with blinding speed. It shot into the depths of space, with no sign of slowing or changing course.
Its destination? Unknown.
---
In a dimly lit room, the glow from a computer screen served as the only source of light, casting faint shadows on the surroundings. A bed was placed against the wall, shelves cluttered with various items, and a table where the computer hummed beneath its bright screen.
Seated before the screen was a man. His messy hair stuck out at odd angles beneath a pair of headphones. His bloodshot eyes, shadowed by dark circles, were glued to the screen, while a twisted smile stretched across his face, his teeth glinting in the dim light.
His right hand moved the mouse in quick, erratic motions, while his left hand repeatedly hammered a single key on the keyboard.
Despite the headphones, the sound of moans filled the room. On the screen, a beautiful naked woman with strikingly clear features writhed in pleasure, her trembling voice aligning perfectly with the movements of a translucent male figure above her, whose movements perfectly matched the motions of the man's hands over the keyboard and mouse as he sat before the screen.
[Congratulations, Player! You have conquered the final target.]
For ten minutes moans continued along with the fierce clicking of buttons before a prompt appeared on the screen, marking the accomplishment of his hard work.
As if he had finally achieved the thing he was after, his crazed smile faded as his hands came to rest.
He stared at the prompt for a full minute, as if imprinting the screen into his mind before the moment could slip away. Only after feeling satisfied did his right hand move, following the soft click of the mouse, a new prompt appeared.
[You have successfully conquered the 30 targets and have reached the end of the story. Thank You for your hard work.]
After a quick review, another soft click resounded throughout the room. A new prompt appeared.
[Congratulations! Player, you have completed the Story Mode and have unlocked Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?
Reminder:
Selecting "No" will save the game and Player can continue from here later.
Selecting "Cancel" will result in losing the Special Mode.]
[Yes] [No] [Cancel]
His twisted smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. His bloodshot eyes, heavy with exhaustion, remained fixed on the screen.
After a while, his eyes shifted to the digital clock at the left corner of the table.
{ 2 : 50 }
It was just ten minutes from 3 in the morning.
His eyes turned to the screen, then once again glanced back at the clock before shifting back.
For a brief moment, he paused before he clicked [Yes]
[This is a Focus-based Mode. Special Mode does not feature "Save" Mode. There are three checkpoints where the progression will be saved automatically. Exiting in the middle will result in loss of the progress and the access to Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?]
[Yes] [No]
He hesitated, knowing his condition. His eyes were already burning, and he didn't want to lose progress if he blacked out. After a moment's consideration, he clicked [No].
After a few idle clicks, the screen faded to black. The room fell into quiet stillness before it was broken.
"*yawn* Finally reached the end of the game. I've been grinding for *yawn* two months straight."
The man mumbled as he stretched his body and left the chair.
The lack of sleep was evident.
"It was so worth it… I can't wait to see what… this Special Mode has in store."
He rubbed his eyes, exhaustion creeping in.
"My eyes… are killing me… Good thing… I stopped… or all that progress… would've—"
His feet shifted towards the bed, his yawns had no end.
Just as he reached the bed, his body went cold, followed by the sound of his snores.
He was asleep.
God knows how long this man had been up playing games.
In other words, this man was the definition of a 'gaming addict.'
He was just an average guy in his last year of high school who was humble in the outside world and minded his own business.
He was what you'd call an average boy and surely loved to play games, but he was more into the R-18 category than others.
After playing multiple such games, he was out searching for a new one when he stumbled upon a self-made game by some dude. After browsing through various forums, he stumbled upon the game. After a bit of scrolling, he discovered it was based on a non-adult novel.
It seemed that the random dude was in love with—or perhaps obsessed with—that novel and had created the game with elements of his own.
The game was titled "The Urban Paradise." It was a conquering game set in an urban environment, where the player would conquer not just women like other such games but the economy as well.
In summary, it was a game gamers in this specific niche would die for. It was the definition of an 'awesome game' with a solid plot and spicy content.
Conquering each character was the test of patience. One mistake, and either the difficulty would be raised or the character would be lost with no further chance.
The animations, graphics, and overall quality were what gamers thrived on.
And this game delivered it all.
In conclusion, the game was very engaging, and if not for the R-18 part and the fact that it was made by some random dude and was launched on a forum, it could have reached the top fifty.
"Ugh"
Around 4, the man on the bed suddenly groaned as his hand moved towards his chest. His expression was difficult to see but it seemed he was in pain.
It lasted only a few seconds before his expression returned to normal.
In fact, unnaturally normal—his breathing had stopped.
At that time, a soft mechanical sound echoed somewhere in the void.
[The perfect target has been found. Target selected.]
[Initiating link…]
[The target's soul has been linked to the System.]
[Initiating transmigration… Searching for the designated location…]
[Location marked. Commencing transmigration to 'Blue Land.']
---
In a tiny apartment, a man lay in bed, unresponsive, as if dead. His chest rested motionless.
Then—
"Ugh!"
With a sudden jerk, the man sat up, clutching the sheets beneath him.
His face was pale, his eyes unfocused. Cold sweat drenched his back as his loud breathing filled his ears. His heart pounded like crazy, and his hands trembled.
"Wh-What happened… just now?"
He gasped, clutching his chest as his breath hitched. His heart felt like a drum beating rapidly.
"It felt like… someone stabbed me… in the… heart and… twisted it."
Confused, he mumbled amidst his shallow breaths. His shaky breathing filled the room.
"There's nothing…?"
He touched his chest, checking, but everything felt normal. There was no injury.
Slowly, his heart relaxed.
"It seems everything's fine."
He let out a heavy sigh, his stiff body slumping as relief washed over him.
"It sure was a hell of a dream… it felt so real. Like I was actually dead. Maybe my lack of sleep caught up to me."
As if responding to his mumbling, a soft mechanical voice echoed in his mind—clear, emotionless, yet oddly intimate. It stunned him.
[Welcome to your new life, Host! It wasn't a dream. With coincidence and stroke of luck, you've been given a chance and have reincarnated.]
"..."
For a brief moment, there was silence.
"It seems I really need some proper sleep. Now I'm even hearing things like System voice.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind from the absurd imagination.
[Your ears are perfectly fine, Host. I'm indeed the System.]
"..."
As he was about to lay back to return to his sleep, he paused. His mind buzzed with the mechanical voice.
"W-W-What? H-How could this be p-possible?"
He stuttered as the System's voice echoed in his mind, disbelief etched across his face.
"D-Did I really… d-die?"
He hoped what he heard wasn't true—yet, deep down, a part of him secretly wished it was.
Why not?
After all, what man hadn't dreamed of reincarnation at least once after reading novels or watching anime?
How could he be blamed for that? It was an unspoken desire among men.
[Yes, Host.]
Only two words—and he understood.
For a moment, his heart sank. It's human nature, after all.
Someday, someone, out of nowhere, comes to you and says you're dead. Would you believe it?
It's obvious.
And even if somebody accepts the reality, there will always be some lingering feelings of the past, at least, initially.
Five minutes passed, the room remained still.
Soon, a sigh escaped his lips. He came to terms with the fact that he had really died.
"System?"
He mumbled slowly, his eyes held a bit of intrusiveness. The initial shock had faded, replaced by a cold sense of reality.
As a gamer, he was well-versed in various themes, and thus didn't panic when an unknown yet familiar voice rung in his head earlier.
At that time, he was confused, and didn't have time for contemplations, and thus his mind assumed the nearest plausible possibility—hallucination—a dream.
[Yes, Host. I'm here to help you. Ask away anything?]
Sure enough, once again, the System's mechanical yet soft voice echoed in his head, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"So… where am I? You said something like being reincarnated. I assume I'm not on the Earth I knew anymore."
His voice was low, yet steady this time. He started with a simple yet most important question.
His mind had tons of questions, and surely wanted the answers, but he had to consider his own situation first. Other questions could be asked later.
[You are on Earth… but not the one you knew, Host.]
"What does that mean?"
[This is a parallel world; another version of Earth among the infinite versions. It's called Prime Earth—a world where spiritual energy exists, but it is extremely scarce. Only a few can harness this energy. Those who did—gain boosts in various aspects be it vitality or strength, and can live longer than an average person. They are called 'cultivators.']
He frowned. "So… cultivators are real?"
He didn't ask what cultivators were, as an avid reader and otaku, he knew it as the back of his hand. From this alone, he could confer many other things the System hadn't told yet.
[Yes. But due to the low spiritual energy, modern cultivation has become stagnant. Most hidden families, ancient clans and sects guard their techniques and resources jealously. Only those born into the right bloodlines or with sufficient wealth have access to even the most basic techniques.]
"So, you're saying that unless you're born into a powerful family or have strong backing… you're screwed?"
[Essentially, yes. Independent awakeners—those who cultivate without backing—are exceedingly rare. Without the right resources, it's almost impossible to progress beyond the lowest ranks.]
"Tch…" He rubbed his temple. "And how exactly do I fit into this?"
[As chosen, your soul was integrated with the System at the moment of death. The System will allow you to bypass normal cultivation limitations, granting you access to techniques, resources, and knowledge unavailable to most cultivators.]
His eyes narrowed. "Right… death." He hesitated. "How did I die?"
[You have been reincarnated into a parallel version of Earth—one that exists alongside the hidden world of cultivation. Spiritual energy flows through this world, and powerful factions control its balance.]
"Cultivation?" His brows furrowed. His heart thumped louder as a strange excitement began to creep into his chest. "You mean, like in those novels and games?"
[Correct, Host.]
He swallowed. His mind buzzed with disbelief, yet the logical part of him screamed that this was impossible. But… if it was true…
Somewhere in the depths of space…
An object pulsed faintly, radiating light—yet at the same time, it seemed to absorb it. Its size was impossible to measure, as if its very existence defied the laws of reality.
Anything that approached—asteroids, stars, even light itself—was consumed without a trace, disappearing into the void.
If one were to observe closely, they would see the fabric of space twisting and distorting around it, yet somehow appearing stable—as if reality itself were an illusion.
Its rough, circular shape resembled what humans might call a black hole—though whether that truly defined its nature was a question beyond understanding.
Its location? Fortunately for humankind, it was nowhere near the Milky Way galaxy.
Suddenly, a streak of white and gold light erupted from the black hole's center, cutting through the darkness with blinding speed. It shot into the depths of space, with no sign of slowing or changing course.
Its destination? Unknown.
---
In a dimly lit room, the glow from a computer screen served as the only source of light, casting faint shadows on the surroundings. A bed was placed against the wall, shelves cluttered with various items, and a table where the computer hummed beneath its bright screen.
Seated before the screen was a man. His messy hair stuck out at odd angles beneath a pair of headphones. His bloodshot eyes, shadowed by dark circles, were glued to the screen, while a twisted smile stretched across his face, his teeth glinting in the dim light.
His right hand moved the mouse in quick, erratic motions, while his left hand repeatedly hammered a single key on the keyboard.
Despite the headphones, the sound of moans filled the room. On the screen, a beautiful naked woman with strikingly clear features writhed in pleasure, her trembling voice aligning perfectly with the movements of a translucent male figure above her, whose movements perfectly matched the motions of the man's hands over the keyboard and mouse as he sat before the screen.
[Congratulations, Player! You have conquered the final target.]
For ten minutes moans continued along with the fierce clicking of buttons before a prompt appeared on the screen, marking the accomplishment of his hard work.
As if he had finally achieved the thing he was after, his crazed smile faded as his hands came to rest.
He stared at the prompt for a full minute, as if imprinting the screen into his mind before the moment could slip away. Only after feeling satisfied did his right hand move, following the soft click of the mouse, a new prompt appeared.
[You have successfully conquered the 30 targets and have reached the end of the story. Thank You for your hard work.]
After a quick review, another soft click resounded throughout the room. A new prompt appeared.
[Congratulations! Player, you have completed the Story Mode and have unlocked Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?
Reminder:
Selecting "No" will save the game and Player can continue from here later.
Selecting "Cancel" will result in losing the Special Mode.]
[Yes] [No] [Cancel]
His twisted smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. His bloodshot eyes, heavy with exhaustion, remained fixed on the screen.
After a while, his eyes shifted to the digital clock at the left corner of the table.
{ 2 : 50 }
It was just ten minutes from 3 in the morning.
His eyes turned to the screen, then once again glanced back at the clock before shifting back.
For a brief moment, he paused before he clicked [Yes]
[This is a Focus-based Mode. Special Mode does not feature "Save" Mode. There are three checkpoints where the progression will be saved automatically. Exiting in the middle will result in loss of the progress and the access to Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?]
[Yes] [No]
He hesitated, knowing his condition. His eyes were already burning, and he didn't want to lose progress if he blacked out. After a moment's consideration, he clicked [No].
After a few idle clicks, the screen faded to black. The room fell into quiet stillness before it was broken.
"*yawn* Finally reached the end of the game. I've been grinding for *yawn* two months straight."
The man mumbled as he stretched his body and left the chair.
The lack of sleep was evident.
"It was so worth it… I can't wait to see what… this Special Mode has in store."
He rubbed his eyes, exhaustion creeping in.
"My eyes… are killing me… Good thing… I stopped… or all that progress… would've—"
His feet shifted towards the bed, his yawns had no end.
Just as he reached the bed, his body went cold, followed by the sound of his snores.
He was asleep.
God knows how long this man had been up playing games.
In other words, this man was the definition of a 'gaming addict.'
He was just an average guy in his last year of high school who was humble in the outside world and minded his own business.
He was what you'd call an average boy and surely loved to play games, but he was more into the R-18 category than others.
After playing multiple such games, he was out searching for a new one when he stumbled upon a self-made game by some dude. After browsing through various forums, he stumbled upon the game. After a bit of scrolling, he discovered it was based on a non-adult novel.
It seemed that the random dude was in love with—or perhaps obsessed with—that novel and had created the game with elements of his own.
The game was titled "The Urban Paradise." It was a conquering game set in an urban environment, where the player would conquer not just women like other such games but the economy as well.
In summary, it was a game gamers in this specific niche would die for. It was the definition of an 'awesome game' with a solid plot and spicy content.
Conquering each character was the test of patience. One mistake, and either the difficulty would be raised or the character would be lost with no further chance.
The animations, graphics, and overall quality were what gamers thrived on.
And this game delivered it all.
In conclusion, the game was very engaging, and if not for the R-18 part and the fact that it was made by some random dude and was launched on a forum, it could have reached the top fifty.
"Ugh"
Around 4, the man on the bed suddenly groaned as his hand moved towards his chest. His expression was difficult to see but it seemed he was in pain.
It lasted only a few seconds before his expression returned to normal.
In fact, unnaturally normal—his breathing had stopped.
At that time, a soft mechanical sound echoed somewhere in the void.
[The perfect target has been found. Target selected.]
[Initiating link…]
[The target's soul has been linked to the System.]
[Initiating transmigration… Searching for the designated location…]
[Location marked. Commencing transmigration to 'Blue Land.']
---
In a tiny apartment, a man lay in bed, unresponsive, as if dead. His chest rested motionless.
Then—
"Ugh!"
With a sudden jerk, the man sat up, clutching the sheets beneath him.
His face was pale, his eyes unfocused. Cold sweat drenched his back as his loud breathing filled his ears. His heart pounded like crazy, and his hands trembled.
"Wh-What happened… just now?"
He gasped, clutching his chest as his breath hitched. His heart felt like a drum beating rapidly.
"It felt like… someone stabbed me… in the… heart and… twisted it."
Confused, he mumbled amidst his shallow breaths. His shaky breathing filled the room.
"There's nothing…?"
He touched his chest, checking, but everything felt normal. There was no injury.
Slowly, his heart relaxed.
"It seems everything's fine."
He let out a heavy sigh, his stiff body slumping as relief washed over him.
"It sure was a hell of a dream… it felt so real. Like I was actually dead. Maybe my lack of sleep caught up to me."
As if responding to his mumbling, a soft mechanical voice echoed in his mind—clear, emotionless, yet oddly intimate. It stunned him.
[Welcome to your new life, Host! It wasn't a dream. With coincidence and stroke of luck, you've been given a chance and have reincarnated.]
"..."
For a brief moment, there was silence.
"It seems I really need some proper sleep. Now I'm even hearing things like System voice.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind from the absurd imagination.
[Your ears are perfectly fine, Host. I'm indeed the System.]
"..."
As he was about to lay back to return to his sleep, he paused. His mind buzzed with the mechanical voice.
"W-W-What? H-How could this be p-possible?"
He stuttered as the System's voice echoed in his mind, disbelief etched across his face.
"D-Did I really… d-die?"
He hoped what he heard wasn't true—yet, deep down, a part of him secretly wished it was.
Why not?
After all, what man hadn't dreamed of reincarnation at least once after reading novels or watching anime?
How could he be blamed for that? It was an unspoken desire among men.
[Yes, Host.]
Only two words—and he understood.
For a moment, his heart sank. It's human nature, after all.
Someday, someone, out of nowhere, comes to you and says you're dead. Would you believe it?
It's obvious.
And even if somebody accepts the reality, there will always be some lingering feelings of the past, at least, initially.
Five minutes passed, the room remained still.
Soon, a sigh escaped his lips. He came to terms with the fact that he had really died.
"System?"
He mumbled slowly, his eyes held a bit of intrusiveness. The initial shock had faded, replaced by a cold sense of reality.
As a gamer, he was well-versed in various themes, and thus didn't panic when an unknown yet familiar voice rung in his head earlier.
At that time, he was confused, and didn't have time for contemplations, and thus his mind assumed the nearest plausible possibility—hallucination—a dream.
[Yes, Host. I'm here to help you. Ask away anything?]
Sure enough, once again, the System's mechanical yet soft voice echoed in his head, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"So… where am I? You said something like being reincarnated. I assume I'm not on the Earth I knew anymore."
His voice was low, yet steady this time. He started with a simple yet most important question.
His mind had tons of questions, and surely wanted the answers, but he had to consider his own situation first. Other questions could be asked later.
[You are on Earth… but not the one you knew, Host.]
"What does that mean?"
[This is a parallel world; another version of Earth among the infinite versions. It's called Prime Earth—a world where spiritual energy exists, but it is extremely scarce. Only a few can harness this energy. Those who did—gain boosts in various aspects be it vitality or strength, and can live longer than an average person. They are called 'cultivators.']
He frowned. "So… cultivators are real?"
He didn't ask what cultivators were, as an avid reader and otaku, he knew it as the back of his hand. From this alone, he could confer many other things the System hadn't told yet.
[Yes. But due to the low spiritual energy, modern cultivation has become stagnant. Most hidden families, ancient clans and sects guard their techniques and resources jealously. Only those born into the right bloodlines or with sufficient wealth have access to even the most basic techniques.]
"So, you're saying that unless you're born into a powerful family or have strong backing… you're screwed?"
[Essentially, yes. Independent awakeners—those who cultivate without backing—are exceedingly rare. Without the right resources, it's almost impossible to progress beyond the lowest ranks.]
"Tch…" He rubbed his temple. "And how exactly do I fit into this?"
[As chosen, your soul was integrated with the System at the moment of death. The System will allow you to bypass normal cultivation limitations, granting you access to techniques, resources, and knowledge unavailable to most cultivators.]
His eyes narrowed. "Right… death." He hesitated. "How did I die?"
[You have been reincarnated into a parallel version of Earth—one that exists alongside the hidden world of cultivation. Spiritual energy flows through this world, and powerful factions control its balance.]
"Cultivation?" His brows furrowed. His heart thumped louder as a strange excitement began to creep into his chest. "You mean, like in those novels and games?"
[Correct, Host.]
He swallowed. His mind buzzed with disbelief, yet the logical part of him screamed that this was impossible. But… if it was true…
Somewhere in the depths of space…
An object pulsed faintly, radiating light—yet at the same time, it seemed to absorb it. Its size was impossible to measure, as if its very existence defied the laws of reality.
Anything that approached—asteroids, stars, even light itself—was consumed without a trace, disappearing into the void.
If one were to observe closely, they would see the fabric of space twisting and distorting around it, yet somehow appearing stable—as if reality itself were an illusion.
Its rough, circular shape resembled what humans might call a black hole—though whether that truly defined its nature was a question beyond understanding.
Its location? Fortunately for humankind, it was nowhere near the Milky Way galaxy.
Suddenly, a streak of white and gold light erupted from the black hole's center, cutting through the darkness with blinding speed. It shot into the depths of space, with no sign of slowing or changing course.
Its destination? Unknown.
---
In a dimly lit room, the glow from a computer screen served as the only source of light, casting faint shadows on the surroundings. A bed was placed against the wall, shelves cluttered with various items, and a table where the computer hummed beneath its bright screen.
Seated before the screen was a man. His messy hair stuck out at odd angles beneath a pair of headphones. His bloodshot eyes, shadowed by dark circles, were glued to the screen, while a twisted smile stretched across his face, his teeth glinting in the dim light.
His right hand moved the mouse in quick, erratic motions, while his left hand repeatedly hammered a single key on the keyboard.
Despite the headphones, the sound of moans filled the room. On the screen, a beautiful naked woman with strikingly clear features writhed in pleasure, her trembling voice aligning perfectly with the movements of a translucent male figure above her, whose movements perfectly matched the motions of the man's hands over the keyboard and mouse as he sat before the screen.
[Congratulations, Player! You have conquered the final target.]
For ten minutes moans continued along with the fierce clicking of buttons before a prompt appeared on the screen, marking the accomplishment of his hard work.
As if he had finally achieved the thing he was after, his crazed smile faded as his hands came to rest.
He stared at the prompt for a full minute, as if imprinting the screen into his mind before the moment could slip away. Only after feeling satisfied did his right hand move, following the soft click of the mouse, a new prompt appeared.
[You have successfully conquered the 30 targets and have reached the end of the story. Thank You for your hard work.]
After a quick review, another soft click resounded throughout the room. A new prompt appeared.
[Congratulations! Player, you have completed the Story Mode and have unlocked Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?
Reminder:
Selecting "No" will save the game and Player can continue from here later.
Selecting "Cancel" will result in losing the Special Mode.]
[Yes] [No] [Cancel]
His twisted smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. His bloodshot eyes, heavy with exhaustion, remained fixed on the screen.
After a while, his eyes shifted to the digital clock at the left corner of the table.
{ 2 : 50 }
It was just ten minutes from 3 in the morning.
His eyes turned to the screen, then once again glanced back at the clock before shifting back.
For a brief moment, he paused before he clicked [Yes]
[This is a Focus-based Mode. Special Mode does not feature "Save" Mode. There are three checkpoints where the progression will be saved automatically. Exiting in the middle will result in loss of the progress and the access to Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?]
[Yes] [No]
He hesitated, knowing his condition. His eyes were already burning, and he didn't want to lose progress if he blacked out. After a moment's consideration, he clicked [No].
After a few idle clicks, the screen faded to black. The room fell into quiet stillness before it was broken.
"*yawn* Finally reached the end of the game. I've been grinding for *yawn* two months straight."
The man mumbled as he stretched his body and left the chair.
The lack of sleep was evident.
"It was so worth it… I can't wait to see what… this Special Mode has in store."
He rubbed his eyes, exhaustion creeping in.
"My eyes… are killing me… Good thing… I stopped… or all that progress… would've—"
His feet shifted towards the bed, his yawns had no end.
Just as he reached the bed, his body went cold, followed by the sound of his snores.
He was asleep.
God knows how long this man had been up playing games.
In other words, this man was the definition of a 'gaming addict.'
He was just an average guy in his last year of high school who was humble in the outside world and minded his own business.
He was what you'd call an average boy and surely loved to play games, but he was more into the R-18 category than others.
After playing multiple such games, he was out searching for a new one when he stumbled upon a self-made game by some dude. After browsing through various forums, he stumbled upon the game. After a bit of scrolling, he discovered it was based on a non-adult novel.
It seemed that the random dude was in love with—or perhaps obsessed with—that novel and had created the game with elements of his own.
The game was titled "The Urban Paradise." It was a conquering game set in an urban environment, where the player would conquer not just women like other such games but the economy as well.
In summary, it was a game gamers in this specific niche would die for. It was the definition of an 'awesome game' with a solid plot and spicy content.
Conquering each character was the test of patience. One mistake, and either the difficulty would be raised or the character would be lost with no further chance.
The animations, graphics, and overall quality were what gamers thrived on.
And this game delivered it all.
In conclusion, the game was very engaging, and if not for the R-18 part and the fact that it was made by some random dude and was launched on a forum, it could have reached the top fifty.
"Ugh"
Around 4, the man on the bed suddenly groaned as his hand moved towards his chest. His expression was difficult to see but it seemed he was in pain.
It lasted only a few seconds before his expression returned to normal.
In fact, unnaturally normal—his breathing had stopped.
At that time, a soft mechanical sound echoed somewhere in the void.
[The perfect target has been found. Target selected.]
[Initiating link…]
[The target's soul has been linked to the System.]
[Initiating transmigration… Searching for the designated location…]
[Location marked. Commencing transmigration to 'Blue Land.']
---
In a tiny apartment, a man lay in bed, unresponsive, as if dead. His chest rested motionless.
Then—
"Ugh!"
With a sudden jerk, the man sat up, clutching the sheets beneath him.
His face was pale, his eyes unfocused. Cold sweat drenched his back as his loud breathing filled his ears. His heart pounded like crazy, and his hands trembled.
"Wh-What happened… just now?"
He gasped, clutching his chest as his breath hitched. His heart felt like a drum beating rapidly.
"It felt like… someone stabbed me… in the… heart and… twisted it."
Confused, he mumbled amidst his shallow breaths. His shaky breathing filled the room.
"There's nothing…?"
He touched his chest, checking, but everything felt normal. There was no injury.
Slowly, his heart relaxed.
"It seems everything's fine."
He let out a heavy sigh, his stiff body slumping as relief washed over him.
"It sure was a hell of a dream… it felt so real. Like I was actually dead. Maybe my lack of sleep caught up to me."
As if responding to his mumbling, a soft mechanical voice echoed in his mind—clear, emotionless, yet oddly intimate. It stunned him.
[Welcome to your new life, Host! It wasn't a dream. With coincidence and stroke of luck, you've been given a chance and have reincarnated.]
"..."
For a brief moment, there was silence.
"It seems I really need some proper sleep. Now I'm even hearing things like System voice.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind from the absurd imagination.
[Your ears are perfectly fine, Host. I'm indeed the System.]
"..."
As he was about to lay back to return to his sleep, he paused. His mind buzzed with the mechanical voice.
"W-W-What? H-How could this be p-possible?"
He stuttered as the System's voice echoed in his mind, disbelief etched across his face.
"D-Did I really… d-die?"
He hoped what he heard wasn't true—yet, deep down, a part of him secretly wished it was.
Why not?
After all, what man hadn't dreamed of reincarnation at least once after reading novels or watching anime?
How could he be blamed for that? It was an unspoken desire among men.
[Yes, Host.]
Only two words—and he understood.
For a moment, his heart sank. It's human nature, after all.
Someday, someone, out of nowhere, comes to you and says you're dead. Would you believe it?
It's obvious.
And even if somebody accepts the reality, there will always be some lingering feelings of the past, at least, initially.
Five minutes passed, the room remained still.
Soon, a sigh escaped his lips. He came to terms with the fact that he had really died.
"System?"
He mumbled slowly, his eyes held a bit of intrusiveness. The initial shock had faded, replaced by a cold sense of reality.
As a gamer, he was well-versed in various themes, and thus didn't panic when an unknown yet familiar voice rung in his head earlier.
At that time, he was confused, and didn't have time for contemplations, and thus his mind assumed the nearest plausible possibility—hallucination—a dream.
[Yes, Host. I'm here to help you. Ask away anything?]
Sure enough, once again, the System's mechanical yet soft voice echoed in his head, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"So… where am I? You said something like being reincarnated. I assume I'm not on the Earth I knew anymore."
His voice was low, yet steady this time. He started with a simple yet most important question.
His mind had tons of questions, and surely wanted the answers, but he had to consider his own situation first. Other questions could be asked later.
[You are on Earth… but not the one you knew, Host.]
"What does that mean?"
[This is a parallel world; another version of Earth among the infinite versions. It's called Prime Earth—a world where spiritual energy exists, but it is extremely scarce. Only a few can harness this energy. Those who did—gain boosts in various aspects be it vitality or strength, and can live longer than an average person. They are called 'cultivators.']
He frowned. "So… cultivators are real?"
He didn't ask what cultivators were, as an avid reader and otaku, he knew it as the back of his hand. From this alone, he could confer many other things the System hadn't told yet.
[Yes. But due to the low spiritual energy, modern cultivation has become stagnant. Most hidden families, ancient clans and sects guard their techniques and resources jealously. Only those born into the right bloodlines or with sufficient wealth have access to even the most basic techniques.]
"So, you're saying that unless you're born into a powerful family or have strong backing… you're screwed?"
[Essentially, yes. Independent awakeners—those who cultivate without backing—are exceedingly rare. Without the right resources, it's almost impossible to progress beyond the lowest ranks.]
"Tch…" He rubbed his temple. "And how exactly do I fit into this?"
[As chosen, your soul was integrated with the System at the moment of death. The System will allow you to bypass normal cultivation limitations, granting you access to techniques, resources, and knowledge unavailable to most cultivators.]
His eyes narrowed. "Right… death." He hesitated. "How did I die?"
[You have been reincarnated into a parallel version of Earth—one that exists alongside the hidden world of cultivation. Spiritual energy flows through this world, and powerful factions control its balance.]
"Cultivation?" His brows furrowed. His heart thumped louder as a strange excitement began to creep into his chest. "You mean, like in those novels and games?"
[Correct, Host.]
He swallowed. His mind buzzed with disbelief, yet the logical part of him screamed that this was impossible. But… if it was true…
Somewhere in the depths of space…
An object pulsed faintly, radiating light—yet at the same time, it seemed to absorb it. Its size was impossible to measure, as if its very existence defied the laws of reality.
Anything that approached—asteroids, stars, even light itself—was consumed without a trace, disappearing into the void.
If one were to observe closely, they would see the fabric of space twisting and distorting around it, yet somehow appearing stable—as if reality itself were an illusion.
Its rough, circular shape resembled what humans might call a black hole—though whether that truly defined its nature was a question beyond understanding.
Its location? Fortunately for humankind, it was nowhere near the Milky Way galaxy.
Suddenly, a streak of white and gold light erupted from the black hole's center, cutting through the darkness with blinding speed. It shot into the depths of space, with no sign of slowing or changing course.
Its destination? Unknown.
---
In a dimly lit room, the glow from a computer screen served as the only source of light, casting faint shadows on the surroundings. A bed was placed against the wall, shelves cluttered with various items, and a table where the computer hummed beneath its bright screen.
Seated before the screen was a man. His messy hair stuck out at odd angles beneath a pair of headphones. His bloodshot eyes, shadowed by dark circles, were glued to the screen, while a twisted smile stretched across his face, his teeth glinting in the dim light.
His right hand moved the mouse in quick, erratic motions, while his left hand repeatedly hammered a single key on the keyboard.
Despite the headphones, the sound of moans filled the room. On the screen, a beautiful naked woman with strikingly clear features writhed in pleasure, her trembling voice aligning perfectly with the movements of a translucent male figure above her, whose movements perfectly matched the motions of the man's hands over the keyboard and mouse as he sat before the screen.
[Congratulations, Player! You have conquered the final target.]
For ten minutes moans continued along with the fierce clicking of buttons before a prompt appeared on the screen, marking the accomplishment of his hard work.
As if he had finally achieved the thing he was after, his crazed smile faded as his hands came to rest.
He stared at the prompt for a full minute, as if imprinting the screen into his mind before the moment could slip away. Only after feeling satisfied did his right hand move, following the soft click of the mouse, a new prompt appeared.
[You have successfully conquered the 30 targets and have reached the end of the story. Thank You for your hard work.]
After a quick review, another soft click resounded throughout the room. A new prompt appeared.
[Congratulations! Player, you have completed the Story Mode and have unlocked Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?
Reminder:
Selecting "No" will save the game and Player can continue from here later.
Selecting "Cancel" will result in losing the Special Mode.]
[Yes] [No] [Cancel]
His twisted smile faded, replaced by a serious expression. His bloodshot eyes, heavy with exhaustion, remained fixed on the screen.
After a while, his eyes shifted to the digital clock at the left corner of the table.
{ 2 : 50 }
It was just ten minutes from 3 in the morning.
His eyes turned to the screen, then once again glanced back at the clock before shifting back.
For a brief moment, he paused before he clicked [Yes]
[This is a Focus-based Mode. Special Mode does not feature "Save" Mode. There are three checkpoints where the progression will be saved automatically. Exiting in the middle will result in loss of the progress and the access to Special Mode. Would you like to Continue?]
[Yes] [No]
He hesitated, knowing his condition. His eyes were already burning, and he didn't want to lose progress if he blacked out. After a moment's consideration, he clicked [No].
After a few idle clicks, the screen faded to black. The room fell into quiet stillness before it was broken.
"*yawn* Finally reached the end of the game. I've been grinding for *yawn* two months straight."
The man mumbled as he stretched his body and left the chair.
The lack of sleep was evident.
"It was so worth it… I can't wait to see what… this Special Mode has in store."
He rubbed his eyes, exhaustion creeping in.
"My eyes… are killing me… Good thing… I stopped… or all that progress… would've—"
His feet shifted towards the bed, his yawns had no end.
Just as he reached the bed, his body went cold, followed by the sound of his snores.
He was asleep.
God knows how long this man had been up playing games.
In other words, this man was the definition of a 'gaming addict.'
He was just an average guy in his last year of high school who was humble in the outside world and minded his own business.
He was what you'd call an average boy and surely loved to play games, but he was more into the R-18 category than others.
After playing multiple such games, he was out searching for a new one when he stumbled upon a self-made game by some dude. After browsing through various forums, he stumbled upon the game. After a bit of scrolling, he discovered it was based on a non-adult novel.
It seemed that the random dude was in love with—or perhaps obsessed with—that novel and had created the game with elements of his own.
The game was titled "The Urban Paradise." It was a conquering game set in an urban environment, where the player would conquer not just women like other such games but the economy as well.
In summary, it was a game gamers in this specific niche would die for. It was the definition of an 'awesome game' with a solid plot and spicy content.
Conquering each character was the test of patience. One mistake, and either the difficulty would be raised or the character would be lost with no further chance.
The animations, graphics, and overall quality were what gamers thrived on.
And this game delivered it all.
In conclusion, the game was very engaging, and if not for the R-18 part and the fact that it was made by some random dude and was launched on a forum, it could have reached the top fifty.
"Ugh"
Around 4, the man on the bed suddenly groaned as his hand moved towards his chest. His expression was difficult to see but it seemed he was in pain.
It lasted only a few seconds before his expression returned to normal.
In fact, unnaturally normal—his breathing had stopped.
At that time, a soft mechanical sound echoed somewhere in the void.
[The perfect target has been found. Target selected.]
[Initiating link…]
[The target's soul has been linked to the System.]
[Initiating transmigration… Searching for the designated location…]
[Location marked. Commencing transmigration to 'Blue Land.']
---
In a tiny apartment, a man lay in bed, unresponsive, as if dead. His chest rested motionless.
Then—
"Ugh!"
With a sudden jerk, the man sat up, clutching the sheets beneath him.
His face was pale, his eyes unfocused. Cold sweat drenched his back as his loud breathing filled his ears. His heart pounded like crazy, and his hands trembled.
"Wh-What happened… just now?"
He gasped, clutching his chest as his breath hitched. His heart felt like a drum beating rapidly.
"It felt like… someone stabbed me… in the… heart and… twisted it."
Confused, he mumbled amidst his shallow breaths. His shaky breathing filled the room.
"There's nothing…?"
He touched his chest, checking, but everything felt normal. There was no injury.
Slowly, his heart relaxed.
"It seems everything's fine."
He let out a heavy sigh, his stiff body slumping as relief washed over him.
"It sure was a hell of a dream… it felt so real. Like I was actually dead. Maybe my lack of sleep caught up to me."
As if responding to his mumbling, a soft mechanical voice echoed in his mind—clear, emotionless, yet oddly intimate. It stunned him.
[Welcome to your new life, Host! It wasn't a dream. With coincidence and stroke of luck, you've been given a chance and have reincarnated.]
"..."
For a brief moment, there was silence.
"It seems I really need some proper sleep. Now I'm even hearing things like System voice.
He shook his head, trying to clear his mind from the absurd imagination.
[Your ears are perfectly fine, Host. I'm indeed the System.]
"..."
As he was about to lay back to return to his sleep, he paused. His mind buzzed with the mechanical voice.
"W-W-What? H-How could this be p-possible?"
He stuttered as the System's voice echoed in his mind, disbelief etched across his face.
"D-Did I really… d-die?"
He hoped what he heard wasn't true—yet, deep down, a part of him secretly wished it was.
Why not?
After all, what man hadn't dreamed of reincarnation at least once after reading novels or watching anime?
How could he be blamed for that? It was an unspoken desire among men.
[Yes, Host.]
Only two words—and he understood.
For a moment, his heart sank. It's human nature, after all.
Someday, someone, out of nowhere, comes to you and says you're dead. Would you believe it?
It's obvious.
And even if somebody accepts the reality, there will always be some lingering feelings of the past, at least, initially.
Five minutes passed, the room remained still.
Soon, a sigh escaped his lips. He came to terms with the fact that he had really died.
"System?"
He mumbled slowly, his eyes held a bit of intrusiveness. The initial shock had faded, replaced by a cold sense of reality.
As a gamer, he was well-versed in various themes, and thus didn't panic when an unknown yet familiar voice rung in his head earlier.
At that time, he was confused, and didn't have time for contemplations, and thus his mind assumed the nearest plausible possibility—hallucination—a dream.
[Yes, Host. I'm here to help you. Ask away anything?]
Sure enough, once again, the System's mechanical yet soft voice echoed in his head, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"So… where am I? You said something like being reincarnated. I assume I'm not on the Earth I knew anymore."
His voice was low, yet steady this time. He started with a simple yet most important question.
His mind had tons of questions, and surely wanted the answers, but he had to consider his own situation first. Other questions could be asked later.
[You are on Earth… but not the one you knew, Host.]
"What does that mean?"
[This is a parallel world; another version of Earth among the infinite versions. It's called Prime Earth—a world where spiritual energy exists, but it is extremely scarce. Only a few can harness this energy. Those who did—gain boosts in various aspects be it vitality or strength, and can live longer than an average person. They are called 'cultivators.']
He frowned. "So… cultivators are real?"
He didn't ask what cultivators were, as an avid reader and otaku, he knew it as the back of his hand. From this alone, he could confer many other things the System hadn't told yet.
[Yes. But due to the low spiritual energy, modern cultivation has become stagnant. Most hidden families, ancient clans and sects guard their techniques and resources jealously. Only those born into the right bloodlines or with sufficient wealth have access to even the most basic techniques.]
"So, you're saying that unless you're born into a powerful family or have strong backing… you're screwed?"
[Essentially, yes. Independent awakeners—those who cultivate without backing—are exceedingly rare. Without the right resources, it's almost impossible to progress beyond the lowest ranks.]
"Tch…" He rubbed his temple. "And how exactly do I fit into this?"
[As chosen, your soul was integrated with the System at the moment of death. The System will allow you to bypass normal cultivation limitations, granting you access to techniques, resources, and knowledge unavailable to most cultivators.]
His eyes narrowed. "Right… death." He hesitated. "How did I die?"
[You have been reincarnated into a parallel version of Earth—one that exists alongside the hidden world of cultivation. Spiritual energy flows through this world, and powerful factions control its balance.]
"Cultivation?" His brows furrowed. His heart thumped louder as a strange excitement began to creep into his chest. "You mean, like in those novels and games?"
[Correct, Host.]
He swallowed. His mind buzzed with disbelief, yet the logical part of him screamed that this was impossible. But… if it was true…1