Alexander opened his eyes, feeling sore all over. After all, he had just survived a car accident, successfully driving off a cliff with the dubious guidance of a defective map.
Just being alive was satisfying enough, but all around him was pitch black. He couldn't see anything or discern his location.
"Clatter!"
As he moved, he suddenly felt something restricting his movements. It was heavy! And cold!
"What is this?"
Alexander couldn't remember when he had put on something like this on his foot. He leaned down to examine it closely and finally, with the help of a faint light, saw what was on his foot.
It was an... ankle shackle.
"What the...?" Alexander was bewildered. He definitely did not have any S&M tendencies.
As he fiddled with the shackle, making clattering noises, he suddenly heard footsteps around him.
"You wretched slave, are you not sleeping at this late hour? Waiting to die?"
A robust figure, dressed in a yellowing leather jacket and baring his chest hair, approached Alexander angrily with a torch in hand.
Only then did Alexander observe his surroundings with the help of the torchlight. He found himself in a small wooden shack, where there was also a horse standing and sleeping, oblivious to what was happening around it.
"Big brother, you've got the wrong person. I'm not a slave, I'm..." Alexander began to explain, but suddenly a whip cracked across his body.
Swish!
Alexander hadn't realized what was happening when the whip struck him. At first, he felt nothing, but after a moment's pause, his body began to ache severely, making it unbearable.
"You idiotic fool, your life belongs to the great Lord Shevder. Hmph, wretched slave!"
Swish! Swish!
The big man whipped Alexander twice more, looking satisfied as he snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Alexander gritted his teeth against the pain. He didn't scream, not because he didn't want to, but because the intense agony rendered him unable to make any sound. A modern man who had never experienced such suffering could not endure such whipping.
"Hehe."
At that moment, a few mocking laughs came from the corner. The laughter was piercing, as if they had heard a joke.
Alexander opened his tear-filled eyes and looked over, discovering several ragged, dirt-covered... slaves sitting in the corner. They too had ankle shackles on.
Now Alexander finally understood his situation. Whether he accepted it or not, he knew he had likely arrived in an unexpected world. This world needed exploration, but it definitely wouldn't be friendly.
"The Wheel of Fate begins to turn. Ding! Congratulations, Chosen One, you have received the Portable Shop System. Chosen One, please check your system!"
A faint but incredibly clear voice sounded in Alexander's ear. Alexander was stunned for a moment, thinking someone was talking to him. But when he looked up, he realized that the other slaves hadn't noticed anything.
Alexander, who had read many novels, immediately felt ecstatic. Even the pain all over his body was forgotten. He knew that his golden finger had arrived.
Sure enough, with a thought, a light screen appeared in front of him.
Alexander glanced at the others and saw that they still hadn't noticed the light screen in front of him. It seemed that only he could see this light screen.
He breathed a sigh of relief and began to carefully study the so-called Portable Shop System.
The first thing that caught his eye was not a dazzling array of goods, but the image of a thin, weak-looking man.
From the look of it, it was probably himself.
Under his own image were rows of data.
[Level]: 1
[Strength]: 8
[Agility]: 7
[Intelligence]: 6
[Charisma]: 5
[Available Attribute Points]: 0
[Experience]: 0/100
Alexander shook his head helplessly as he looked at his four-dimensional data, giving himself the definition of "battle trash."
Fortunately, the four dimensions could still grow, so there was no need to worry.
Then Alexander saw the [Quest] button above and clicked on it without hesitation.
The character panel instantly changed, and a quest panel popped up.
[Novice Quest]: As a slave, you absolutely cannot live and die in this identity. Brave resistance, escape to freedom, or gain recognition from your master and remove your slave status.
Reward: Experience +50, System Coins +50.
Alexander could understand the +50 experience reward, as he could see his experience bar, but what on earth were system coins?
When he opened another panel, the [Shop] panel, his heart soared again.
He finally knew what system coins could be used for.
Behind the items in the shop were prices, and the currency was these system coins.
[Shoddy Dagger]: 10 system coins
[Rusty Throwing Knives*3]: 15 system coins
[Rusty Short Axe]: 20 system coins
[Worn-out Fur Boots]: 20 system coins
Alexander looked at his tattered clothes and bare feet. He couldn't help but want to buy some equipment. However, the unfortunate thing was that he didn't even have a single system coin now.
It seemed he needed to plan carefully. He dismissed the idea of gaining recognition from his master; judging from the big guy's attitude, the master was probably not a kind person.
He might as well look for an opportunity to "run" instead.
Of course, before he could run, he had to figure out how to deal with the problem of his ankle chain. After all, without removing the ankle chain, he couldn't even run.
Perhaps he was too exhausted, Alexander drifted off to sleep as he pondered.
"Get up, you lazy pigs! Lord Scheffler didn't buy you for you to sleep!" The voice of the big man echoed with the cracking of the whip in Alexander's ears. Alexander opened his eyes and saw the big man swaggering in, brandishing the whip fiercely.
Quick on his feet, Alexander immediately stood up, mimicking the others as he walked towards the door. Outside, two men with sticks were watching them closely. If any slave moved too slowly, they would rush forward and beat them mercilessly.
It was just becoming light outside, with the sky tinged like a pale fish belly. Alexander finally understood where they were.
This was a place reminiscent of a medieval village, with various dilapidated wooden houses. In the center, there was a large well, where a peasant woman was drawing water. Chickens and ducks ran around, unconcerned by the muddy roads.
"You, go chop all that firewood." The big man pointed at Alexander.
Alexander followed his gaze and saw an old rusty iron axe stuck in a tree stump. He had no choice but to step forward and pick up the iron axe obediently.
"The rest of you, go plow the fields!" The big man commanded again, urging the other slaves to do the work of livestock.
"Ah~" Suddenly, a scream came from afar. "Bandits are coming! Run!"
A cry of alarm rang out, and it was unclear who shouted.
Alexander looked into the distance and saw a group of men on horseback at the village entrance, wielding large cleavers. Behind them, there was a gang of ragged men with shiny weapons, looking menacing.
Compared to them, the originally fierce big man was now trembling with fear. He dropped the whip in his hand and turned to run away. The other two men with sticks also scrambled to flee.
The bandits stormed into the village, killing everyone they encountered. Even the peasant woman who had just fetched water was shot with an arrow and fell to the ground, screaming in pain.
This scene deeply shocked Alexander. Without wasting any time, he seized the opportunity amidst the chaos, raised his axe, and viciously chopped at the ankle chain.
Perhaps the axe was too dull, or perhaps he was too nervous. The first blow did not cut through; it just got stuck in the iron ring.
Alexander hurriedly swung the axe again. This time, he put all his strength into it. Finally, the ankle chain broke open.
He didn't bother to completely remove the ankle chain. Instead, he turned around and ran for his life, because he saw a bandit not far from him, already closing in.