Chapter 1

Chapter 1: A human, a grail and a system?

       Not wanting to die. It was the most common instinct for humans and animals alike when their life is threatened. There were some exceptions, but it was a thing to discuss for another time. The struggle for survival is natural. It was an instinct that was ingrained within the minds of humans and animals alike. It was also a common thing to fear death and natural to fear the unknown. Despite the faith of humans, there was still a lingering doubt on those beliefs in their God.

He wasn't a faithful believer. He doesn't believe in any of those things. But when he was dying, his instincts and mind screamed at him to live. A desperate cry for help escaped on his throat even nothing of it came out since something sharp was pierced on them.

No noise, but a blood– and him desperately taking a mouthful of air. It was so painful and he needs to breath and inhale the air.

What has he done to have a knife stabbed on his throat?

One last glance at the smiling psychopath. He falls into a deep slumber.

---------------

When he woke up, everything feels like a dream. He wasn't dead. He would just continue the rest of his days just like his usual schedule. Go to school, went home, enjoy his brief entertainment time and go to sleep. Then everything else would just become a usual routine.

But it feels that he was still dreaming when his eyes came upon the sight of a bright light. He have to squint his eyes and used his hands to cover them. He blinked for a few times and it was certain that it wasn't an illusion. He was staring at a wide open sky. He wasn't inside of his room but he was at outdoors.

He can feel that he was laying on something soft and comfortable. But it feels different compared to soft couches or the beds. He can't feel any fabrics on the thing that he was laying on. He decided to get up– his body have obeyed his will sluggishly.

It was like that his body doesn't move itself like forever. If it would be compared towards an analogy, he would be weak like a newborn.

When he have finally gotten up and sitting on the thing, he realize what was he laying on. He was sleeping on a flower field. It seems that it wasn't on his makeshift bed, but everything was covered in flowers. Even from the distance, all he could see was flowers. His eyes widened once more when he notice the distinguishable structure on the distance.

He pinched his cheek and registered the pain.

No way. His mind thought. It was impossible for such thing to exist. And everything that was happening to him right now.

That large and pristine majestic white long tower...

He wasn't in that fictional Garden of Avalon.

{ You aren't. }

A shock run through his mind when he heard a voice. He quickly stood up and look behind him. There was nothing. He look around and there wasn't a presence of any person.

He must be going crazy.

{ I can assure you that you have still a fully functioning mind and consciousness. }

He heard the voice again. But there was nothing on his surroundings. He was scared and feeling uncertain.

" Who are you?! Show yourself!! "

He shouted at his surroundings, waiting for the voice to reply– and it did reply.

{ Hmmm... You have forgotten? }

What is that person talking about?

{ Person? }

While the voice was replying to him. He keep aware and look around his surroundings. He can't see anyone or any trace of the said person.

He also noted the way that the person speaks. There wasn't any hint of emotion on that voice. Just a flat and monotone. He can neither tell or discern whether the voice was a male or female.

{ Not a person at all. }

He was shocked by the information. Various thoughts flashed across his mind. But he decided to listen to the not person a little more even through he can't see the person at all in the surroundings. He glance at the tower on the distance for a moment before his expression turned complicated.

Maybe he already have a clue on what is happening...

{ You have really forgotten.. But i must clarify to you first that this isn't a dream. }

He has a feeling that it was like that.

{ You are already dead. }

So, it wasn't a dream. He have really died.

{ Nameless human who has forgotten his name, did you remember your wish? }

No, he doesn't remember what is this person or being are talking about. And what about his name? He can still remember it right. His name is—

" Huh?..."

Nothing came up within his mind. His hands started shaking. His name.. Is it Jason? Michael? William? Avery? ... He can't tell which is which within all of those names.

{ Calm down, human. It was just natural for you to feel fear for the unknown... }

He decided to took a deep breath. The sight of a the surroundings has also made his mind calm down a little bit.

{ I would remind you of your wish. You have wish that you wanted to live. }

And that wish has been granted. He was currently in a place that was similar or definitely look like the Garden of Avalon. He can easily come into conclusion that he wasn't on his Earth anymore. He was definitely in the Fate Franchise or the Nasuverse.

{ You are wrong, Human. }

His mind went confused when he heard that. And it was just a reflexive occurrence when he decided to ask a question.

" What do you mean by that?! "

{ We aren't at what that person's fans deemed as Nasuverse or that Fate series. }

He wasn't on that world. A little part of mind can't help but feel disappointed at that. Then he look at his surroundings. If it isn't the Garden of Avalon... Is it an imitation of the real one?

{ You are correct in that Assumption, Human. }

Anyway, he couldn't see any traces of the being that he was having this conversation everything on his surroundings. Now that he think of it... The being looks like he was talking through his mind.

{ The assumption is correct again, Yes. }

His reflexive reaction at that statement was to hold his head and mind conjuring the image of those sci-fi movies that he watched about those horrible aliens and parasites.

" Get out of my head! "

{ I am afraid that I can't do that. And no, I am neither an Alien or a Parasite who would control the body of its host just like in those movies. }

" Then what are you? And what did you mean you couldn't do that?! "

{ We are bound together. }

" What?! "

Bound?

{ I can't separate myself from you. You would die if I do that. }

" Then, just do that... "

{ Do you really wanted your story ended so early? }

"...."

A strong part of his mind protested that it doesn't want to die. He feared death. And he didn't certainly like the feeling of pain.

{ It seems your answer is No. }

The surroundings was really pleasant to look at. It was peaceful like a paradise.

" Since we aren't in the Nasuverse or my world, where are we? "

{ When we arrive at this world or plane, I now understand why those events are giving me a strange feeling. }

What is the being talking about?

{ It just happened that we are within one of the worlds that happened to be fictional in your previous world just like how my previous habitat was fictional to yours. }

He hoped that he wasn't in Worm.

{ We are what in your previous world titled as [Solo Leveling] or [ I alone, level up ]. }

No way.... His mind then immediately conjured of ways that he could avoid dying by avoiding the plot and places where there are dungeons and gate appearing.

{ No, you couldn't do that. }

" And why I couldn't do that? "

{ It wasn't just I, you should worry about being in your head.. }

The being didn't finish saying those words in his mind when a sound that was similar to a pop up notification rang inside his mind.

[ You have awaken from your slumber 5 years after the gates and dungeons appeared on this world's Earth. ]

Not just one, but there are two parasites in his mind?!

{ How rude, Human. I am not a Parasite. }

" You haven't told me earlier on what should I call you! "

{ You know what I am since you made that wish in the first place. But since it seems that you have forgotten the events after your death– I shall remind you, Human. I am the Holy Grail. }

" That is much worse than being a parasite! "

{ I assure you that I am not Angra Mainyu in disguise. }

" And how I was supposed to believe your words? "

{ Simple. You would decide whether or not you believe in my words. }

He thought about it for a moment and decided to ask a question.

" Then can I ask what version of the grail are you? Are you from the fate stay night? The grail from the fate zero, or one of those Grails from the Grand Order? It would really ease my mind if you told me that you are the grail from the carnival phantasm. "

{ I am not one of those. But I have copied my other versions of servants that I don't have. I have Angra Mainyu and several alter versions of the Servants. }

That statement didn't reassured his mind. But at least he knows who is he dealing with now. A version of holy grail that appears to be sentient. On the other hand....

He glance at the window that materialize in front of him. Just like in those games, light novels and etc.

" 5 years before the Canon... "

He can already feel a headache forming. Sighing, he decided to ask an important question.

" And what do you mean by earlier that I couldn't do what I want and avoid the plot? "

{ Even if you really wanted to avoid the gate and dungeons, you couldn't do that... }

The window chimed again and change.

[ Congratulations on your successful awakening, Dungeon Master! Do you want to view your current status?

< Yes >     < No >               ]

{ Since we are already one... }

[ Name: « Currently Unidentified»

Race: Unidentified mixed race— humanoid form (Dungeon Core)

* Part human

* Part Object – Holy Grail

* Part Unknown – [       ]

Job: Dungeon Master

Title: None

Class: None

Residence: Far Side of the World– Garden of Avalon (Imitation) ]

He stared at the window for a moment. Then he blinked his eyes and stared at it again.

" Dungeon Core....What the heck?! Please tell me that you are just joking!! "

{ It wasn't joking, Human.. }

He can already here the sound of doom playing in the background for his future.