'Because you died before the system could finish integrating with your soul, the system was forced to carry your soul and search for a body matching yours. After spending countless years and crossing countless worlds, the system finally found this body. It was fortunate that the system came in time just enough to integrate the near dying body or they system would again look for another one.'
'Then what can you do?' asked Rick again. He did everything slowly so that he was sure to digest the information that the system was dumping on him.
'The Origin World System was programmed to help the host reach the pinnacle of life. You can access the System's function buy giving it a command. Try saying Menu.'
'Menu!' Rick said with his thoughts. According to the AI, he was currently in a soul form. If the Body Repair is finally completed, then they system would return the control of his newfound body to him.
Sure enough, after saying the word, series of words appeared in his soul vision.
Level 1 System
Status
Inventory
Shop
'You can access this Menu by giving command to the system, or to say, me.' The system said.
'OK, I understand. Since you are the one I am giving a command to, then it would be rude to call system all the time. Do you have a name?' asked Rick. As a former marine, he still had discipline. Not to mention the system being bound to his soul. If it suddenly decided that he was not worthy because of his attitude, then it would be a disaster.
'The system did not give me a name. I was just awakened by the system as an AI to help the host navigate the system.'
'Then I'll call you Jessie. AI or not, it is still better to call you something appropriate.'
Just as he finished speaking, words were suddenly appearing in his soul vision, forming a single sentence:
IS THAT A COMMAND? Y/N
Rick did not need anyone to tell him to know that it was the system that wrote those words.
'YES'
The system did not reply but the AI talked.
'The system just added a name for me. From now on, please just say my name 'Jessie' if you need a help from me.'
'I understand, thank you.' Replied Rick. 'Then, Jessie, will you show me the Status, please.' With that command, the words in his soul vision changed.
Status: Currently in Soul Form since the body is severely wounded. Body Repair will be complete in 59: 40: 09
'What? Is that it? It wouldn't show how strong I am, or something like that?' Rick was bewildered. He expected it more to be like, all the strength are measured, agility, dexterity and whatnot, but no.
'Host, what did you expect?' Asked Jessie. Just to remind you, Jessie is an AI and lacks the emotion or tones or pitch of its voice. Just flat lady voice, nothing more.
'You can just call me Rick, or you don't have to address me. Just answer practically. Well... never mind. Open the Inventory, please.'
'Command accepted.' Jessie was acknowledging the naming part.
The words in his soul vision changed again forming a game like feature where you can see the items you have.
'The inventory is empty since you haven't bought anything yet. All the things that you will buy or anything that you wish to put in the inventory will be placed here. The slots are infinite so you shouldn't worry about running out of space.' Jessie explained patiently.
'Oh? Does that mean if I want to put a rock here, it will hold it?' asked Rick.
'Yes.'
'That sure is handy. In the future, I won't have to carry anything at all. Is that all it's function?'
'Yes. After the body repair is complete, you will receive your package. It is a gift from the system.'
'This is kinda like a game. I remember trying to play a game, and when I first started, they gave me a beginners package... Interesting.' Rick pondered for a second before ignoring it. So what if this was just a game for the system. Living is more important.
'Then please open the shop!'
The words changed yet again, this time, there were several stall like images. They were labeled individually, namely:
ALL ITEMS ARE AT TIER 1- Normal
Weapons- Clothes- Buildings - Technologies
'The shop is where you purchase anything that is for sale. Everything here is copied from every creations on earth. At tier 1, all the items you will buy will have the same effects as from the one you have on earth. Upgrading the system will also raise the items level to tier 2. At tier 2, all the effects of the item from tier 1 will be doubled.
'For instance, if you have a gun that is at tier 1 and it will be upgraded to tier 2, the effects will be doubled. Its toughness and weight is doubled. And since the bullets will also get stronger, the recoil, the speed, the range and power will also double. And every 3 tiers, the items will transform. That means the effect will not be raised exponentially. The system will decide if you are worthy enough to to wield these items, if that happens, it will upgrade by itself.
'That is why you have to get stronger. The memories of your predecessor helped the system on how this world works. But still, there is nothing definite when it comes to strength.'
Rick just listened to Jessie while it explained everything patiently. Everything was very easy to understand. He did not doubt whether the system really had the memories of his predecessor. The system could carry his soul, what more is another one? How could it possibly help him reach the apex of life if it could not even do something like that.
But still, although it sounded really easy, Rick new that it was not. Just carrying a soul, which one did not really know if it really existed, was already heaven defying.
'You just have to wait until the body repair is done before I can transfer the memory of your predecessor. Memory is a from the brain, but once you die, those memories even the one forgotten will be transferred to the soul. The soul will act as a carrier until it finally reaches the cycle of reincarnation. The memories will be used as a basing line to decide where they will be reincarnated.
'What?! Doesn't that mean that you cut of the chance for my predecessors chance to get reincarnated?!' Rick was shocked. There were no if's, Rick did not doubt what the system said. I mean, why would the system lie to him, when its purpose was to help him reach the apex of life.
'Yes. The purpose of the system is to help the host reach the apex of life. One life is just a dust in the endless universe, taking a single dust is no different that scooping a thousand of it. If you really think that what the system did was a big deal, then you should change your mindset. In this endless universe, there are countless ways for someone to crush and dissipate a persons soul. Everything is a cycle, destroy one, and another will be born.'
Rick was by no means a saint, nor is he evil. He is not afraid to kill, but he'd prefer not to. That was also the reason why he did not make it big in his previous life. If he really dealt with everything ruthlessly, then he would have made it big, or just ended earlier. It was also the reason why he did not make too many enemies. And if it wasn't because of that drive, he would have lived longer.