In a universe unreachable to other beings, there lived an entity whose existence was beyond comprehension. She had no form that could be seen directly, even with the most sophisticated of devices. The concepts of existence, space, and time were subject to his will. She was Vaelthanya Lutheryn Aetherielle, better known as Aether.
Aether was no ordinary entity. She was the supreme system, the creator of all concepts, the architect of reality, and a ruler who stood outside of all laws of causality. She was not part of the universe—instead, all universes and dimensions existed within her. Every event, every possibility, every alternate reality was but a tiny spark of his will. No one could comprehend her limits because she had no limits.
Amidst the infinite void, Aether observed the worlds she had created. Every star that shone, every planet that revolved, every life that flourished, all happened because she allowed it. She needed no purpose, for she herself was every possible purpose.
And with that, the fate of the world began to change.
However, despite her absolute power, Aether felt bored.
"What if I descend to the mortal world and play a little?"
With that one simple thought, Aether took the form of a woman and descended into the mortal world—a world where the laws of nature still apply, a world where humans still struggle to survive.
---
In the middle of a dense forest, a young boy named Yuan Jin was busy looking for medicinal herbs. He held his cloth bag that was starting to fill up with the leaves and roots he had managed to collect.
"The more herbs I get, the more money I'll make later," he muttered.
However, his steps suddenly stopped when he saw something strange—a woman lying on the ground, unconscious.
"What is that? A woman?"
He immediately ran over. The woman's clothes looked unusual, as if she was not from this world. Her long hair sparkled like stars in the night sky, and her face was so perfect that it felt like a dream.
"I should take her home. If I leave her here, I'm afraid something will happen to her," he thought.
Carefully, he picked her up and carried her home.
---
After some time, the woman finally opened her eyes. She blinked slowly, trying to understand where she was.
Yuan Jin, who was nearby, immediately realized that his guest had regained consciousness.
"Oh, you're awake," he said.
The woman turned to him, her eyes flashing a mysterious light.
"What happened to me earlier?" she asked in a calm tone.
"You fainted in the forest, so I brought you to my house," Yuan Jin replied.
The woman smiled faintly. "Thank you for helping me," she said.
"No problem," Yuan Jin shrugged casually.
However, he was still curious.
"Oh yeah... by the way, what's your name? I've never seen a woman like you in this world," he asked.
The woman stared at him for a moment before answering.
"My name is Aether," she said. "I am the Supreme System."
Yuan Jin frowned. "Supreme System?" he repeated, making sure he had heard correctly.
Aether nodded. "That's right. My purpose in coming to this world is to help you become a strong person," she said with certainty.
Yuan Jin was even more confused. "Wait… why me? I'm just an ordinary herb gatherer. Why would a system like you want to help me?" he asked.
A faint smile formed on Aether's face. She looked at Yuan Jin with eyes filled with something inexplicable.
"Oh yeah… your name is Yuan Jin, right?" Aether continued casually.
Yuan Jin immediately stiffened. "How do you know my name?" he asked suspiciously.
Aether just smiled. "Because I am the Supreme System. All the data about the humans in this world is in my grasp." she said.
Yuan Jin still stared at the woman before him, his face full of confusion. He didn't know whether to believe her or not, but Aether's way of speaking was so confident, as if she truly was a being beyond human comprehension.
"Supreme System? You mean… like the systems in legends, where heroes gain mysterious powers?" he asked.
Aether nodded casually. "Something like that. But I am different from ordinary systems. I'm not just a voice without form that gives out tasks and rewards. I am the system itself, and I have a physical form and my own will," she explained.
Yuan Jin rubbed the back of his neck, still struggling to process everything. "Then… what do you want from me?"
Aether smiled. "I want to form a contract with you."
"A contract?" Yuan Jin's confusion deepened.
Aether raised a finger, and suddenly, a blue light shimmered in the air. Before Yuan Jin, a transparent screen appeared, displaying something that looked like a status panel from a game.
---
[System Contract]
Host Name: Yuan Jin
Status: Ordinary human
Potential Level: ???
Benefits: Full support from the Supreme System
Consequence: Contract cannot be terminated until a certain power level is reached
Confirm: [YES] [NO]
Yuan Jin gaped. "What… is this?"
"This is the contract you need to accept. By accepting it, you will gain power beyond what any ordinary human can imagine. But of course, you will have to work hard to earn it," Aether said.
Yuan Jin stared at the screen, feeling a mix of emotions. This was too strange, too sudden, and sounded too good to be true.
"What happens if I refuse?" he asked.
Aether leaned back in her seat and looked at him with a relaxed expression. "If you refuse, I will simply find someone else. I came down to this world to grant power to someone, and I just happened to choose you. But if you don't want it, that's fine with me."
Her words were light, but for some reason, Yuan Jin felt a deep meaning behind them.
He bit his lip. All his life, he had been nothing more than an ordinary teenager struggling to make a living by gathering medicinal herbs. He had no power, no special background, and no promising future.
But now, an opportunity had appeared before him—a chance to become more than just an ordinary human.
He took a deep breath, staring at the transparent screen in front of him.
"Alright… I accept."
The moment his finger touched the [YES] button, a bright blue light enveloped his body. He felt something warm flowing into him, as if an immense power was being infused into his very being.
Meanwhile, Aether simply smiled.
"Good. From now on, you are the host of the Supreme System."
---
As the light faded, Yuan Jin felt something different inside him. He couldn't quite explain it, but his body felt lighter, stronger, and more energetic than before.
"Now… what happens next?" he asked.
Aether crossed her legs and spoke in a casual tone. "The first step is to train your body. You can't become strong overnight. But don't worry, I will guide you."
"Train my body?" Yuan Jin frowned. "Didn't you say you're the Supreme System? Shouldn't you be able to just give me power instantly?"
Aether chuckled. "That's true. I can grant you power instantly, but that would make you weak in the long run. True strength is not something you gain instantly. I want you to grow into someone who can wield your power properly."
Yuan Jin sighed. "So, what do I need to do?"
Aether smiled and snapped her fingers. Instantly, another transparent screen appeared in front of Yuan Jin, displaying what looked like a task list.
---
[First Mission: Building the Foundation]
Objective: Basic physical training for one week
Reward: Activation of the first feature of the Supreme System
Note: Strength without a strong foundation is merely an illusion. This training will strengthen your body to prepare for greater power in the future.
"A whole week of physical training?" Yuan Jin stared at the screen in despair.
"Of course. Do you think becoming strong is easy?" Aether grinned. "Come on, we'll start training tomorrow."
Yuan Jin could only let out a long sigh. He wasn't sure if this was the beginning of a blessing or the start of his suffering.
But one thing was certain—his life would never be the same again.
To be continued...