(?? POV)
Who am I?
Where am I?
I pondered these questions, trying to find an answer, all in vain.
However, there is one thing I'm sure about: I am searching for something or someone.
But what or who? I don't know.
The only thing that was keeping me sane was the feeling that I will find whatever I'm looking for, when I'm supposed to.
Time is the last thing I care about in this situation.
I did at the start, I even counted the days, but after reaching 30, I got bored and stopped.
However, even in this situation where I don't know anything, I don't feel scared, it's as if I had done this many times before.
I tried to recall anything I could about myself, but all I could remember was my time, traveling in space without any destination, just searching for something that I have no clue about.
I could see the Beauty of space, the void filled with star lights, multi-colored planets, the distant galaxies, and nebula all created an enchanting spectacle one could never get bored of.
They looked mesmerizing, so much that I would stare at them for days, just appreciating them, but time made me loose interest in them as well.
I just let my body travel independently, and even if I say 'body', it's just a mass of energy or soul.
As I continued traveling through nothingness, I also saw some strange creatures moving around, completely ignoring my existence as if I was invisible to them and maybe I actually was, I don't know.
It was then that I suddenly felt a pull, at first it was just a small light but slowly, it started getting stronger, though I didn't resist, I could feel that I had found what I had been looking for.
I saw everything as the force pulled me inside one of the small universes, then I was pulled inside one of the many galaxies in it, and lastly, I entered the world from which I felt the force pulling me.
...
"Ugh," I felt my body was on the verge of breaking, but I held on since it was still bearable.
'Where am I?' I looked around and realized that I was sitting on the ground next to a single bed inside a room of 6.5 square meters size.
This room consisted of a study table, a cupboard, a kitchen attached to the room of about 4x3m, and an attached bathroom of 3x3m size.
I stood up while enduring the pain in my body, and when I lay on the bed hoping to get some relief. I heard a mechanical female voice in my head and a soothing sensation that washed over my whole body, making me feel strong and energized.
[Suitable Vessel found.]
[Starting synchronization.]
[1%..
2%..
3%..
.
.
.
.
.
.
99%..
100%]
I waited patiently for the procedure to complete since whatever this was, it would not harm me.
It felt like something that had been with me for a long time, even though this was my first time seeing something like this.
[Please brace yourself for some discomfort.]
[Memory of the previous owner is being fused.]
[Awakening of the ability of the body.]
I didn't get any time to be prepared since the pain came just as the voice completed its announcement.
"Argh"
I felt like my body was about to burst, my veins felt like they were exploding, and my bones felt like they were being crushed. There was also some slight discomfort inside my head, but it was negligible Compared to the pain I felt in my body.
The pain eventually subsided, but I felt some gooey stuff covering my whole body and giving off a disgusting smell.
Still, I ignored it for now since my body was brimming with power and my body felt so light that it made me feel like I was in a low-gravity area. Then finally there were the memories of the previous owner of this body.
From the Memory I obtained, I found many things along with the fact that the mechanical voice I have heard in my head is called a system by many writers in their novels or books.
I realized what kind of world I was in and why I felt pain as soon as I took over this body. I also noted that the name of this body's owner was Alex Matthew and I was going to continue with his name as a thanks for this body.
(?? POV end)
Alex Matthew was an 18-year-old young man with strikingly handsome features, despite not yet becoming a Raider. He had dark ink-black hair and dark red eyes, giving him a dangerous allure. His angular face and streamlined body only enhanced his charm, standing tall at 188cm.
Despite his looks, Alex's only redeeming quality seemed to be his appearance, as he didn't achieve exceptional results in high school, nor did he become a Raider.
He was orphaned at a young age, left at the gate of an orphanage in Orange County with only a letter bearing his name. Rejecting adoption offers, he preferred the freedom of being an orphan, lacking pleasant family memories.
Living in the orphanage until high school, Alex eventually moved out for reasons unknown to the staff. While they briefly considered bullying as a cause, his intimidating appearance, particularly his dark red eyes, likely deterred any potential bullies.
Even some Raiders found his eyes unsettling, sensing an underlying strength despite his unawakened status.
Despite his average academic performance, Alex had a keen understanding of the world. Realizing he wouldn't secure a good job, he impulsively purchased an awakening potion with a mere 10% chance of success.
Drinking it revealed his latent Raider potential, albeit overwhelming his body with its power. As he faced death from the potion's effects, he regretted his impulsive choice of taking an awakening potion but it was already too late as his body was overtaken by someone else, choosing to retain the name Alex in gratitude for the original owner.
...…......
In Gaia, a world with seven countries named after colors of the rainbow, Raider Associations serve as police forces comprising Raiders in each country, while Guilds function as mercenaries, working for pay. Each country has ranked guilds with at least two S-rank Raiders.
When the Gates appeared, some individuals became F-rank Raiders, others B-ranked, and a few S-ranked.
However, advancing one's rank is notoriously difficult. Rank-up or Re-awakening potions, found in Boss Drops if fortunate, offer rare opportunities for advancement. Despite their scarcity, countries and ranked guilds strive to acquire them.
...…........
Before the Gates appeared, Gaia was a normal planet. The Gates connect this world to a dimension inhabited by monsters. If these monsters are killed and the Gates cleared, they disappear.
However, if left untouched, the Gates may crack, allowing the monsters to escape. These monsters are impervious to modern weapons, requiring Raiders to defeat them.
When the Gates emerged, they brought Mana, which awakened the hidden power within 2 out of 10 people. Raiders became the only ones capable of defeating the monsters. Consequently, the Raider profession became highly sought-after.
Monsters drop magic stones when killed, with the type depending on their rank. These stones have various uses, such as powering projects, upgrading weapons, and crafting magical items.
Gates typically contain three categories of monsters: Mob, Mid-boss, and Boss. While Mobs only drop magic stones, Mid-bosses and Bosses yield items or skillbooks upon defeat. Skillsbooks are rare, with only ten known to exist.
Special cases occur when Gates houses hidden Bosses or unique monsters. Such Gates are significantly more challenging. However, clearing them yields substantial rewards.
Three instances of encountering these special cases have been recorded, resulting in significant gains for the clearing teams. One team even gained additional S-rank Raiders. However, many team members perished or suffered severe injuries, with some unable to continue their Raider careers.
A surprising discovery was made when an S-rank Raider group obtained an Awakening potion from a Gate Boss.
This potion, capable of making anyone a Raider, caused a sensation and was eventually purchased by the Destroyer Guild. Despite its low success rate, the Guild mass-produced the potion. This potion is the thing that led to Alex's demise, though it is also the reason that we are able to see the new Alex.
Tensions have arisen between countries over items, Gates, or Raiders, but the world generally maintains balance. Now, an Enigmatic entity with his system enters the scene, raising uncertainty about the world's future, perhaps even beyond divine intervention.