Chapter 3: Awakening of the System
Date: 12th June 2008
Hashi's eyes fluttered open, his mind clouded with confusion. The surroundings seemed all too familiar - the old house he had once shared with his family when he was just eighteen years old. His gaze fell upon his little brother, who appeared younger than he remembered. Doubt and bewilderment coursed through him, questioning the reality of the situation. Was he losing his mind? Were these mere tricks his mind played on him? Or perhaps, he was caught in the clutches of a dream?
Scared to wake up from what seemed like a cruel illusion, Hashi called out to his brother by name. To his surprise, his brother sleepily responded, requesting five more minutes of slumber. Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, Hashi couldn't hold back his tears as he embraced his little brother tightly. The sudden display of affection roused his brother from his sleep, causing him to inquire about the cause of Hashi's distress. With a trembling voice, Hashi choked out his words, "I miss you and Mom so much..."
His mind still grappling with the inexplicable circumstances, Hashi believed he was trapped in a dream. However, his brother's innocent question shattered that notion. "But I didn't go anywhere. Are you making excuses to skip college? Mom is probably outside, busy with her cooking," his brother remarked. Hashi's confusion deepened as he asked, "What are you talking about? College?" His brother's response only added to the growing puzzle in his mind.
Suddenly, a blue screen materialized before Hashi's eyes, shocking and surprising him all at once. He hesitated to awaken from this dream-like state, fearing the loss of what seemed too good to be true. He requested his brother to punch him, a desperate attempt to test the reality of the situation. And with a powerful blow to the stomach, Hashi received the painful confirmation that he was indeed awake.
Amidst the mix of happiness and pain, Hashi scolded his brother for the force behind the punch. But deep down, he was grateful that this was not a dream. He instructed his brother to go downstairs for breakfast, promising to join him later. As his brother left the room, Hashi's emotions surged uncontrollably. He couldn't help but marvel at the unusual turn of events, questioning the reality before him.
Gazing at the blue screen that had appeared earlier, Hashi read the words displayed: "Loading Technology System in the Host's Soul." His disbelief mingled with excitement as the screen progressed through various stages: downloading at 30%, 50%, 70%, and finally reaching 90% before the download completed. The installation process began, progressing to 50%, until it announced the installation was complete. Basic functions were now available, but advanced functions remained restricted. To access the basic functions, he was prompted to think "status."
Hashi's mind raced with thoughts and possibilities. He recalled hearing about systems in web novels, but he never imagined it would become his reality. If this was indeed real, he realized the potential it held - the ability to achieve anything in this world. Suppressing his initial instinct to embark on a path of world domination, his inner voice urged him to explore the system and understand its true nature. With a smile on his face, Hashi uttered, "Am I really going mad? Well, let's see what you have in store for me, my system."
As he continued to ponder, Hashi remembered a legendary mechanic system he once read about in a novel. Could this be something similar? Excitement surged within him as he decided to test the system's capabilities
. In a single, determined thought, he activated the system and said, "Status."
The moment those words left his lips, a holographic display materialized before him, showing his name, level, attributes, and other details. Hashi's eyes widened in amazement as he delved into the wealth of information at his fingertips.
Hashi: "Level 1... Attributes... Skills... This is incredible! I have a system, and it's granting me access to incredible abilities!"
His mind buzzed with possibilities, and he couldn't wait to explore the depths of his newly acquired power. With newfound determination, Hashi began his journey, eager to uncover the mysteries of the system and unlock his full potential.