(Author's Note: This is a revised version of this chapter. For clarity I will change how the system works in much simpler sense. But the story will be the same. Sorry for inconvenience.)
"Where am I?" Avin awoke to find himself in an unfamiliar place. The last thing he remembered was the plane he and his crew were on, teetering on the brink of crashing as it attempted to land. But then, everything had suddenly gone dark, drowned out by the screams of other passengers as the water engulfed them.
"Who would have thought that I'm alive!" Avin exclaimed to himself, his voice filled with disbelief. He rose from the rattan bed and ventured outside of the room. With nonchalance, he approached the nearest mirror to inspect himself, only to be greeted by the reflection of a different person.
"Who is he? Why does he look like me?" Avin questioned himself, his brow furrowing in confusion. After a few seconds, a realization struck him, sending a chill down his spine.
"Is that me?" he whispered, pressing his hands against the mirror in an attempt to discern any tricks. But as the reflection mimicked his movements perfectly, Avin knew with certainty that the person staring back at him was indeed himself.
He was flabbergasted, his mind reeling with confusion and disbelief. "How is this possible? It doesn't make sense," he muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
Running his hands over his face, Avin watched in astonishment as the reflection mirrored his every touch. "That young boy's image was him!" he exclaimed, a sense of surrealism washing over him.
Determined to make sense of the situation, Avin stepped outside of the rattan cabin. As he emerged into the unknown surroundings, he couldn't help but question the reality of what he had just witnessed.
Avin found himself standing amidst a sprawling garden, reminiscent of the sets commonly used in historical dramas. Servants bustled about, attending to household chores, while a group of individuals practiced martial arts nearby. It felt as though he had been transported onto a film set.
"Oh! Maybe I'm on a set? Or could it be..." Avin began to ponder aloud, but before he could finish his thought, a sudden voice startled him, emanating from seemingly nowhere.
"Hello, Host! Welcome to the Martial World!" The bright and lively robotic voice echoed in Avin's ears, causing him to jump in surprise.
"W-who are you?" Avin stammered, his eyes darting around in search of the source of the voice. Suddenly, he noticed a floating mascot resembling a large orange furball, with eyes and a mouth that appeared out of nowhere, resembling a cat.
[Hello! I am your sister! I am the Survival Idol System, or 'Sis' for short.]
The mascot chirped cheerfully.
[You have been chosen to be part of a project called 'Idol Cultivation in the Martial World.]
[The heavens have instructed me to assist you in spreading idol culture in this unforgiving realm of martial arts, where the weak are scorned and the strong are adored.]
[You have been reborn in the realm of the Martial World and tasked with spreading idol culture. The heavens seek to incorporate a new form of entertainment into the world of martial arts. In this world, people are obsessed with becoming powerful individuals, but you have been given the opportunity to be something new—a legend, a pioneer of Idol Cultivation in this ancient world!]
"You're kidding, right?! Oh! Yeah! Is this some kind of prank?!" Avin exclaimed, his mind struggling to comprehend the surreal situation unfolding before him. He half-expected hidden cameras to appear any moment, revealing that he was the unwitting star of an elaborate variety show prank orchestrated by his management. But as seconds ticked by without any sign of a reveal or a chorus of "it's just a prank," Avin's confusion only deepened.
[Oh, my dear host, I'm very sorry, but this is your reality now!]
Sis interjected, her tone earnest yet firm, punctuating Avin's disbelief with a dose of harsh truth. The weight of her words sank in, casting a shadow of apprehension over Avin's thoughts.
[If you don't move right now and accept your new fate, you may perish here and never return to your real world.] Sis continued, her voice tinged with urgency. Avin felt a pang of despair gnawing at his heart, the gravity of his situation becoming increasingly apparent.
[However, if you choose to accept the terms and contract, I will assist you in navigating this world and improving your current Idol Attributes]
Sis offered, her words injecting a glimmer of hope into Avin's despondent state. With renewed determination, Avin's mood shifted from hopelessness to a sense of burgeoning aspiration.
"Really? You'll help me, but how?" Avin inquired, his curiosity piqued despite his lingering reluctance.
[First, you'll need to undertake missions related to spreading Idol Culture in the Martial World.]
Sis replied, her tone reassuring yet matter-of-fact.
[Second, upon completing these missions.]
[You'll receive rewards based on your achievements]
[These rewards may include Idol attribute points, which correspond to your current skills—Visual, Vocal, Rap, Dance, and Charm—or martial cultivation manuals to enhance your skills, or even materials necessary for advancing your cultivation as you navigate this challenging world of intellect and brawn.]
As Sis explained the intricacies of the system, Avin absorbed every detail, his interest piqued by the prospect of navigating this new reality.
[You can monitor your current status through the system interface.]
Sis continued, guiding Avin through the steps to access and utilize the system interface. Once Avin had grasped the basics, Sis proceeded to elaborate on the tasks ahead.
[Name: Calvin Choi/Avin (Liang Tian)]
[Level: 1] (0/100]
[Race: Human}
[Job: Swordmaster Idol]
[Title: Martial Idol Trainee (effect: Host can use his previous Idol qualities and improve using the Idol Attribute System)]
[Position: Main Dancer, Sub-Vocalist, Lead-Rapper]
[Skills]
[Slot 1 ???]
[Slot 2 ???]
***
[Idol Status]
[Visual B-]
[Rap C+]
[Dance A+]
[Vocals B+]
[Charm B-]
[Martial Soul Attributes]
[Strength: 1]
[Dexterity 1]
[Evasion 1]
[Constitution 1]
[Intelligence 1]
[Fortune 1]
[Qi Absorption: Undetermined]
[Fortune: 1]
[Remaining Attrib. points (0)]
"Attribute points can be earned by completing your daily missions, each mission assigned a grade level corresponding to the potential points it can yield," Sis explained further, her words punctuated by Avin's attentive nods.
"In addition, allocating your attribute points strategically can enhance your secondary attribute passive slots—Strength, Dexterity, Evasion, Intelligence, Constitution, Fortune and Qi Absorption—providing valuable benefits if utilized effectively," Sis added, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful resource allocation.
"Furthermore, you can utilize your attribute points to purchase treasures, pills, and manuals from the heavenly shops," Sis concluded, her words laying out a roadmap for Avin's journey ahead. With a newfound sense of purpose and determination, Avin resolved to embrace his new reality and seize the opportunities it presented.
Avin listened intently, absorbing every detail of Sis's explanation with growing fascination. As she outlined the tasks and rewards awaiting him, Avin's initial reluctance gave way to a sense of excitement and determination.
"That sounds challenging, but also incredibly rewarding," Avin remarked, a spark of enthusiasm igniting in his eyes. "I'm ready to take on this mission and become a pioneer of Idol Cultivation in the Martial World."
Sis beamed, her furry form bobbing with evident delight. "I knew you'd rise to the occasion, Host Avin! Together, we'll make waves in this ancient realm and bring the joy of idol culture to new heights."
With a renewed sense of purpose coursing through him, Avin nodded decisively. "Let's do this, Sis. I'm ready to embrace this new chapter of my life and make the most of every opportunity that comes my way."
And with that, Avin embarked on his journey as a pioneer of Idol Cultivation in the Martial World, eager to face whatever challenges lay ahead and carve out a legacy all his own.