Chapter 2 - System Initialization

Eren's eyes widened and his brows furrowed. Why was a voice sounding in his head? Also asking him to save the world from the impending, does he look like some messiah? Eren pondered.

Shortly after the blue message, a voice sounded in Eren's head. "I'm the system and if you want to return back to your world, you have to complete the mission I give to you."

Eren furrowed his brows, a myriad of question swirling within his mind. "Who are you and where are you?" He looked left and right but there was no one apart from him in the surroundings.

"You can't see me, dumbass. I'm in your head." The voice retorted, its words dripping with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.

Eren's confusion deepened, his brows knitting together in a perplexed frown. The situation seemed to teeter on the edge of madness, his own sanity at stake. Was he losing his grip on reality?

"Why can't I see you?" He demanded, his words laced with a mix of impatience and curiosity.

"You just can't."

"Why?" Eren insisted.

The voice devoid of patience, replied with an air of finality. "Because I said so."

Undeterred, Eren pressed on, his curiosity unyielding. "Okay, one more question. Can you harm me?"

A momentary silence enveloped the room, before the voice finally replied, "No, I can't do you any harm."

Eren's lips curled into a wry smirk. "Let me get this straight," he retorted, his tone tinged with skepticism. "I don't know who or what you are. I can't see you, and yet, you expect me to heed your every demand, one of which includes saving this world from an impending apocalypse."

"Correct." the voice responded, its tone unwavering in the face of Eren's skepticism.

A scoff escaped Eren's lips, a testament to his growing impatience. "You're delusional if you believe I'd be interested in this preposterous request."

"Y-You…" The voice stuttered. As if realizing it lost composure the voice seem to calm for a few seconds before saying, "Why aren't you interested?"

"Don't you want to return to your world? And do you truly believe that you will remain untouched by the chaos of an impending apocalypse?" The voice continued.

Eren's eyes narrowed, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Don't you understand?" he chuckled, his voice infused with unwavering confidence. "I have no need for your assistance to return to my world. I'll find my own way back, on my own terms."

"And concerning the impending apocalypse, that's my problem to worry about."

Silence descended upon the surroundings, a heavy blanket of stillness that hung in the air. Five seconds passed, each one stretching into an eternity, before the voice spoke once more, its words measured and deliberate.

"It would take ten to twenty years to return to that place on your own," it offered, its voice threaded with a hint of persuasion. "But with my help, you could accomplish it in a mere two year."

Eren placed his hand on his chin, "I'm still not interested I will take my chances." He said with his lips slowly curling into a smile.

Amid the stillness that clung to the air, Eren's smile grew wider, an undeniable glimmer of satisfaction dancing in his eyes. "If you're searching for a puppet to manipulate at your whim, look elsewhere. I won't be your pawn," he declared.

Just as he was preparing to make his move, a voice shattered the silence. "Enough with the insolence. Spare me your theatrics and reveal your true desires, Eren Salvatore," it commanded.

Eren felt a surge of intrigue coursing through his veins, a flicker of amusement tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It's been an eternity since I last heard my full name. Even in my own world, few are acquainted with those words," he mused, his voice tinged with a touch of nostalgia.

"I suppose that makes me part of that exclusive circle," the voice retorted. "But did you truly believe I would willingly choose someone as cunning, deceitful, merciless, malevolent, and wicked as you, had I been given a choice?"

Rather than being upset or displeased, Eren nodded his head in agreement as he heard the voice. "Very true."

"What were you thinking?" He asked, seemingly confused.

"The apocalypse is imminent, orchestrated by a clandestine group of malevolent individuals." The voice said. "Their complete goals remain shrouded in mystery, but their intentions are clear—they seek to plunge the world into chaos, leaving devastation in their wake. Many innocent lives will be lost."

"I simply can't allow this to happen and in my current state I can only do little which is why I need someone like you ." The voice said, "We fight evil with evil, and who else is better at this than you Eren Salvatore."

"Remember when you unleashed devastation upon an entire city for the sake of your beloved pet? This is the kind of ruthless determination we need."

"Enough with the praises," He remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of playfulness. "I have decided that I will help you."

A hint of skepticism seeped into the voice's response. "Why do I sense a 'but' approaching?" it interjected.

Eren's lips curled into a knowing smirk, his gaze steady. "Because there is," he admitted. "I have two conditions, and it's your acceptance or rejection of them that will determine my involvement in this impending apocalypse."

"Alright, I'm listening," The voice acquiesced.

Eren's smirk widened, his confidence unfaltering. "Firstly," he began, his voice taking on a firmness that mirrored his resolve, "Instead of the two years to return to my world, I demand six months.

Six months? That's impossible!" The voice blurted. "While it may be within my capabilities, I have my doubts if you can achieve the task within such a compressed timeframe. However, I would consider granting you a year if you prove swift in your actions."

Eren's smirk never wavered, his eyes gleaming with a calculated determination. "Fair enough," he conceded. "One year it is."

"And now, onto my second condition," Eren continued, his voice holding a playful edge. "As I embark on this perilous journey, I anticipate moments of boredom. To keep my spirits high, you must provide something to look forward to, something that will entertain and engage me along the way."

"A source of entertainment if you will." Eren said.

The voice absorbed Eren's words, contemplating the request before responding with measured resolve. "I accept your terms, and for every tasks completed, I will prove you with something captivating, a reward that will ignite your spirit." it declared.

"Very well then," he acknowledged, his voice steady and resolute. "It seems we have reached an agreement."

Before another word could be spoken, a flicker of blue materialized within Eren's vision, capturing his attention. The message, projected onto his retina, demanded his focus. His gaze narrowed, curiosity mingling with a sense of purpose as he read the words that appeared before him: