A cool breeze ghosted through an open window, pulling Sora back to consciousness. He blinked, squinting against the dim light.
'Wait.' He frowned, his mind still sluggish. 'We're in a hospital. Windows don't just pop open in the ICU.'
As his eyes adjusted to the shadows, he realized he wasn't alone. An older gentleman sat in the corner, slumped in a chair. He was draped in a black cloak, the fabric trimmed with an ethereal, glowing white light that pulsed like a slow heartbeat.
Sora's heart hammered against his ribs. He reached for the remote to call the nurse, but his thumb jammed the button uselessly.
'Is the machine broken?' Sora thought, tapping the remote. 'And Who is this guy?''
"Ah, Sora. You're finally awake," the man said. His voice wasn't aggressive; it was like the chime of a distant bell. "I apologize if I startled you. I am Chronos, the god of Time."
Sora tried to glare, but a sharp spike of frustration hit him. "Are you kidding? How can you tell that I'm frowning? I'm wrapped up like a freaking mummy!"
He braced himself for the pain of movement, but there was nothing—just a strange, hollow weightlessness. Sora went still, his confusion deepening. "Chronos... are you here because I finally died?"
"Ten minutes ago, yes," Chronos confirmed with a polite, somber smile. "However, the pantheon has reviewed your file. We are in dire need of assistance."
Sora took a breath, trying to process his own mortality. "Okay," he managed, his voice steadying. "So, what's the job?"
"You will be transmigrated to Exteria, year 7439 and be born anew as a hybrid—half-god, half-Uthra. You'll also be granted SSS-rank abilities to start." Chronos said as he watched him closely.
"That's it? Just... go?"
"No," Chronos said, his tone shifting to something chillingly serious. "I encourage you to clear dungeons, build trust with a party, and form seals with them. The gods have seen two distinct outcomes for your path: you either save this world, or you destroy it."
Sora didn't hesitate.
"I'll do it."
The second the words left his lips, Chronos vanished without a sound.
"Whoa! What the hell?" He said, stunned by the sudden disappearance.
His tablet vibrated violently in his hand, a blinding blue light spilling from the screen.
[Do you wish to initiate the link to your new Chrono System? Yes/No]
Sora tapped Yes.
The world fractured. A white-hot agony tore through his entire being, a sensation of his molecules being ripped apart and restitched. Then, darkness claimed him.
[Good morning, Sora! You fell asleep during the link initiation process after arriving on Exteria. You have successfully linked to your new Chrono system. Please ask me if you have any questions.]
Sora bolted upright, his breath hitching. He scrambled toward a nearby mirror—and froze.
The guy staring back wasn't the scrawny, sickly kid from the hospital bed. He was tall, his frame corded with lean, powerful muscle. The only relic of his past life was his messy blonde hair.
"Hey, System," Sora muttered, distracted by his own reflection. "What's with the eyes? My right one is amethyst, the left one is aquamarine. I don't think that's exactly human. Is that a glitch?"
[Error. You must reach a higher level to unlock information regarding your ocular physiology.]
'Guess the system isn't perfect.' He thought to himself.
"Okay. Teach me the interface. How do I actually use you?"
[Certainly. Name: Sora Lockheart. Age: 20. Date: March 28th, 7439. Current Level: 1.]
'Okay,' Sora thought, analyzing the HUD that hovered in his vision. 'Command-based. Just like those webnovels I used to binge. I can work with this.'
"System, what's my first objective?"
[Reach Level 5 to unlock Passive Health Regeneration (1 HP/min). Create a party to unlock personalized sealing magic. Clear a dungeon for 10,000 EXP. Would you like details on experience points?]
"No, not yet at least," Sora said, putting on some clothes he found in the closet.
"I'm anxious to get going, am I ready for a fight?" He said, making a fist in the air.
[You are combat-ready.]
"Awesome! Are you able to locate the nearest dungeon?" Sora asked, slipping in some boots.
[Certainly, The Abyss is located five miles northwest of your current location. Plotting the optimal route on your internal GPS now… Route complete, simply follow the green line.]
Sora raised his eyebrows in astonishment, "Wow! That was easy! Thank you, System!"
[No need to thank me, Sora. I am merely performing my function.]
Sora spent the next hour looting his own storage. He equipped himself with SS-rank armor, a pair of devastating claymores, an axe, and sturdy gear. Per the system's tactical advice, he pulled on a white kabuki mask, the Yin and Yang symbol stark against the bone-white surface.
Stepping out of the mansion, he laughed. The air was crisp, and for the first time, he felt *alive*. His new angelic white cloak billowed behind him like a cape in the wind.
He started to run.
It felt like flying. The world blurred into a wash of color, his speed so high that the insects hovering near the trees seemed to hang suspended in the air. These weren't fireflies, but larger, bioluminescent creatures with tails that flickered in a kaleidoscope of neon colors.
He reached the entrance of The Abyss with time to spare.
"System, are you able to analyze?" Sora asked.
[Yes Sora, analyzing is one of my basic functions.]
'Wait, is the system being sassy with me?' He couldn't help but chuckle.
[Dungeon: The Abyss. Rank: A-tier. Floors: 55. Boss Floors: 10, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55. Retreatability: Allowed. Current occupants: 4.]
"Hold on, what do you mean there are 4 occupants?"
[A party is currently clearing the dungeon. In some instances, dungeons are locked until completion or death. Proceed with caution.]
Creepy.
Sora didn't hesitate. He placed a hand against the massive stone slab of the door. With a groan of ancient hinges, it swung open, revealing a stairwell lit by flickering, supernatural torches.
He descended, drawing twin claymores from his inventory. On the first floor, a pack of gnomes shrieked and charged. Sora didn't think; his body reacted before his brain could catch up. A sidestep, a flash of steel, and the gnomes shattered into light.
He was a blur. Floor after floor, he carved his way through the dark. On the ninth floor, he faced a swarm of piscine humanoids—fishmen with bulging eyes and hooked spears. He unleashed a torrent of fire magic, weaving it seamlessly with his swordplay.
After the twentieth fishman fell, Sora exhaled, his heart hammering against his ribs. He stepped toward the far wall, where a colossal door stood, emblazoned with a glowing number: 10.
Sora adjusted his mask and felt the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Boss floor," he whispered, feeling the thrill of the hunt. "Let's see what I'm actually capable of."