[WARNING]

Multi-verse calamity scenario predicted. Calculating defense measure...

Possible defense measure has been found, searching solution in:

Prime universes...

[ERROR]

Top universes...

[ERROR]

Middle universes...

[ERROR]

Low universes...

[ERROR]

Re-calculating solution…

Search abandoned universes...

[SUCCESS]

Integrate planet (UJ22-77ZA-EA57-JWV8PX31) #32 755 622 216 348 141 159 265 358

...

The calluses seared as I let go of the rugged barbell. The cold black steel shook the ground as it collided with the floor. With careful movements, my back relaxed, accompanied by the sound of ragged breaths reminiscent of someone working part-time for Atlas.

Tapping on my phone, another line containing the result of my set appeared on the workout app. 

I didn't enjoy exhausting myself every day, coating my body in layers of sweat during the summer warmth. It brought me joy to observe the increase in strength. Every single exercise I did, every weight and repetitions I performed, I logged. The graph on my app displayed a sharp upward trend. This is my simple happiness.

I wiped the equipment with a towel, then headed to the locker room. I wanted to go home, shower, and play games.

The games I found thrilling are competitive, Player vs Player types. Some people might label me as a 'try-hard'. If you didn't try hard, then what was the point, Mediocrity? 

Something special about being called a hacker — the less true, the better it sounded! Aimbotter, my favorite word to read regarding myself. A machine, aiming with inhuman speed and precision! Could they consider someone like me, a mortal, in such high regard? 

This behavior didn't just affect gaming. That was my philosophy for most things. The greater your skill, the more enjoyable it becomes. Even more so if the envy of others followed it.

As I exited the gym, the sun climbed above the surrounding mountains in a golden hue. The wind from the alps descended to caress my sweaty body, as if rewarding me.

*Boop boop!* My car welcomed me back.

Now unlocked, I opened the door and got in. As I reclined back into the seat, the wind-cooled sweat on my shirt pressed onto my back, giving me an icky sensation.

I'll need to shower when I get home.

The rural town Fjordbridge, where I lived, was among many small towns in the area. It's an hour away from the closest city. I enjoyed this simple life, free from urban chaos. Later, I would clock in at the local gas station for my evening shift, not fulfilling, yet enough to get me by while studying. 

As I drove, I crossed the river using the town's famous bridge, well-known by the locals, that is. Upon reaching the only major intersection in town, a single car approached from my left-hand side.

The lone car inched its way closer as my right foot hovered like a feather above the gas pedal. I'd start accelerating before it passed me. Had I been in a rush, I could've driven ahead, but I yielded. That was a massive mistake on my part.

Before it passed, it slowed further. The car started turning onto the bridge as its right side started blinking in a heartbreaking orange light.

I seethed with anger!

What's the point of using indicators if you've started turning where you want to go? It's too late to indicate!

I focused my gaze on the license plate, welding every letter and number to my memory in concentration, as if preparing to call the police. This heinous criminal ensured my mind reached nirvana in cursing. Those bygone seconds, ripped from my beating heart in cold blood.

A minute later, my blood pressure normalized as I made that one last turn into my parking spot, as if the entire event never happened. I returned home to the apartment complex.

I lived on the top floor. The top floor of a second-story building. I enjoyed imagining it as a suite. That imagination vanished when moving furniture up the narrow stairs.

Quick but silent, I went up the stairs to my unit, threw away my sweaty clothes, and went straight to the shower. I had a ritual. 

I shampoo my hair, followed by rubbing an exfoliating scrub on my face, and then washing it off with water. Condition my hair, clean my face with soap, then wash off with water. Pre-wash my body with water, scrub the body with soap, then wash off with water. The ultimate strategy for efficient cleaning, that is what I believed. It never failed me. The tools of my ritual had their designated spots in the shower, the bottles balanced where they could fit. 

Hair foaming with shampoo as I rubbed my face with the exfoliating scrub, the dead skin scrubbed away by the small sand particles. My fingers stayed clear of my closed eyes.

A loud *PING* sound reverberated in my head, scaring the hell out of me! I panicked, flailing my arms around, knocking the bottles of shampoo and soap all over the floor of my shower.

*BADUM DUM!*

Is this the day I get attacked by a ghost in the shower? This violated fairness! The shower demon had obviously planned this moment where I could not open my eyes! I forced my eyelids open through the on-coming agony. Instead of finding nothing, I reeled in even more surprise as a glowing orange square covered my vision. It startled me so much that I slipped and fell on the shower floor!

*BANG!*

The hard shampoo bottle imprinted itself painfully on my right butt-cheek. With a sense of relief, I extended my gratitude to whoever watched over me, recognizing the potential for the experience to have been profoundly traumatic!

The water, still pouring on my body, washed some of the soap away. I put my head under it to clear away the remaining soap. I tried keeping my eyelids open. My eyes were getting red as I felt the irritation from the chemicals. My vision cleared as I whipped my gaze around the room in haste for ghosts or demons of the night. Nothing unusual, except the square, orange glowing panel that followed my vision as I looked.

I could see the panel clearer now. It had text on it... 

[TUTORIAL]

- Integration with [WORLDS] system has started. 

- Enter the dungeons of other worlds to gain power.

- Defeating a monster in the dungeons will awaken the power of the system. 

- Successfully clearing the tower will complete the integration process. 

- For convenience, several entrances to the tower will be created.

- Please hurry.

What!?

I couldn't believe it, yet the panel wouldn't allow me not to. My heart thumped as I found myself in a pathetic position. I could feel an excitement from deep within me.

This was my time to shine!

Another message popped up, overlapping the previous one…

[WARNING]

- Please leave the area immediately. 

- Your current area has been assigned as a dungeon entrance. 

- To abstain from harm or death, clear the premises. 

- Time until dungeon appearance: 4 minutes, 59 seconds.

"Oh, shit…"