He floated in what seemed to be a dark void at first. Slowly he could sense what was around him. It wasn't sight though, but something more akin to just knowing. He knew that he was surrounded by millions upon millions of floating small dots of light. Some were steady and some pulsed, some were dim and some were bright, but one seemed to pull to him. He sensed in that direction and he began to know. What was going on there.
He sensed a young man. This young man, a boy really, was struggling as he endured some pain. He was on the cusp of giving up and the emotions he felt were despair, envy, jealousy, and most of all fear of dying. In other words, he thought that the young man was ripe for integration.
He reached out through his sense and made contact with the mind he felt. "Do you need help?" he asked stupidly.
Shocked to hear a voice, but to have no one around the boy answered "Who's there?"
Taking the same tact that the Voice had taken with him he replied "Does it matter?"
"Yes!" the young man replied.
"I don't want to have any association with demons or devils. My life is bad enough. I'd rather just die than accept help from them." He emphatically stated.
"I am not a Demon or a Devil." He replied.
"Who are you then?" the boy demanded.
Thinking of this as his first challenge. pondered for a brief second before he replied. "I am simply a helper. I am someone who can help you heal yourself and survive. Don't you want to do this.?"
"Yes, but not at the expense of my soul." was the answer he received.
"I don't want your soul. I just want to live through your experiences. Accept my offer and I will help you heal. I will help you however I can as you live your life. I will do what I can to make your life better. I am simply a helper looking for a host." The new system stated.
"I accept then." the boy finally replied.
The new system felt a pulling sensation and then he could see what was around him. He was lying in an alley, and he knew that the host he had joined had several broken bones. He had numerous internal energies and was close to passing out. Thinking of this he pulled on his vast knowledge of gaming and immediately came upon a simple solution. He used the little power he had and formed a red vial of liquid.
"Quickly drink this." The system told the young boy.
Without much ado the boy grabbed the mysterious bottle of liquid and poured it down his throat. Immediately he could his insides began to squirm and his bones began to shift. The pain was intense. It wasn't long before he passed out.
As the boy lay there Unconscious, Slowly I, the system started to look through his memories. I saw he was only 12 years old. Almost an adult by this world's standards, but still a mere child in my senses. I learned his name was Lukas. Lukas had no talent in this world. He was an orphan and constantly bullied and beaten until this time he was nearly killed. Probably would have been had I not come along. Now though he had me.
I absorbed memories of tragedy and heartache. The death of his parents, the taking of his older sister from the orphanage, the constant abuse and pain, and now what would even have been his death. I empathized with someone for the first time. I learned of this world where only those who were powerful or rich prevailed. A world filled with a power called Essence. Essence allowed someone to alter the world around them.
I realized nearly anything was possible in this world. Essence was limited only by the user's imagination. A talented, smart user could literally reshape reality, only to be undone by a more powerful user. It was a unique and intriguing world. I wondered what it would have been like to play in a world like this in my past life as the Gamer, then I realized I could play in it now.
I checked my abilities and what I could do. I was very weak. IT was only my first outing as a system and I knew I could only produce a few basic items. I could make health potions, and mundane items. Nothing powerful and world breaking, but I imagined that would come with time. As I absorbed information about the myself, I discovered I could grant a few basic skills. I also realized to become more powerful I needed to absorb Essence from others.
How though Do I do that. Do I need to have Lukas kill the people of this world. I wasn't a mean or dastardly person in my previous life. I didn't commit sins or atrocities even in the games I played unless absolutely necessary for the gameplay. Then enlightenment hit me. I could absorb Essence through Lukas. Be it a kill, an Essence imbued item, or even through the environment itself, I could absorb the Essence with his help. Then suddenly I noticed what I had overlooked.
Lukas was considered trash in this world. He had been badly injured when he was a small child by a beast of some kind. This was the beast that killed his parents in front of him. This injury completely stopped him from absorbing Essence. He couldn't use Essence. Well there had to be a way, we just had to find it. I continued to study about this world and I began to plan what to do about our life and situation.
First I would need to strengthen Lukas. My power was extremely limited. I had used quite a bit of my power just to create the health potion. This would be considered a wondrous object in this world. This world didn't have much in the way of magic items. Essence was a natural force and everyone could manipulate it. Healing oneself was easy. Any weapon became powerful as long as it was willed to be so and Essence was applied. There were no Treasures of Heaven and Earth, no Powerful ancient artifacts, and no Celestial items to give someone a boost.
I knew Lukas was an anomaly that couldn't even sense Essence from his injury, but there would be ways and I would find them.