I woke up with a jolt, my vision blurry and distorted. It wasn't just my eyes that felt strange. My body—my entire *being*—felt alien. My limbs felt smaller, my form different. I groaned, pushing myself up from what seemed like a dirty, unfamiliar floor.
Looking around, I saw nothing but gray walls and faded furniture. The air was stale, filled with the scent of old books and dust. I tried to push the feeling of dizziness aside and stood shakily. I wasn't in the afterlife. This was real. But... where was I?
I looked down at my hands, trembling with the unfamiliarity of my own body. They were small, slender, and... chalk white. I had pale skin, far too pale for anyone's natural complexion, with traces of springlock marks on my arms and hands—almost like scars from the cruel devices I'd built during my previous life. This body wasn't mine, but I could feel the remnants of who I used to be, lingering like a shadow inside. The springlock mechanisms that had once been my creations were now part of me, as if the past had never let go.
I looked around again, trying to figure out where I was. The room didn't look like anything I recognized. And then I caught a glimpse of a cracked mirror against the far wall.
The reflection staring back at me was a boy—probably around 12 or 13 years old—with wild, untamed hair and a gaunt face. His yellow eyes glowed in the dim light of the room. I looked... wrong. Everything about my appearance screamed wrong. The scars, the eyes, the skin—it was as if I had never been human at all.
I was no longer William Afton, the notorious murderer and businessman. I was just a boy now—a poor, forgotten orphan. Or rather, an *orphan with the same name* as the man who had once haunted the nightmares of others.
Suddenly, a blue interface blinked into existence in front of my eyes, the familiar *SYSTEM* text glowing like a neon sign in the dark room. I froze, looking at it. This wasn't just any system—it was the one the ROB had spoken of earlier, the one that would allow me to carve my own path, make my own choices.
^SYSTEM INITIATING^
^SYSTEM LOADING^
^SYSTEM LOADED^
^CHARACTER TEMPLATE: MIMIC^
^NEXT UNLOCK: SPRINGTRAP^
I blinked, processing the information. Mimic. That was the template I had been given. It felt oddly fitting, considering I could always slip into another form, control others, and manipulate technology. But it wasn't Springtrap yet. That was the template I wanted.
But for now, I was stuck as Mimic. I couldn't complain. Not yet.
The system flashed again, and I noticed a new option: GACHA.
I had 10 tickets. The system was basically giving me a beginner's package. I wasn't about to waste the opportunity. I opened the gacha interface, and the familiar spinning wheel of fortune appeared in front of me.
With a deep breath, I swiped my hand over the screen.
The wheel spun with a faint hum, swirling with lights and patterns. After a moment, it came to a stop, and the results flashed across the screen.
^GACHA RESULTS^
- **COMMON 1: Remnant x100
- **COMMON 2: Remnant x100
- **COMMON 3: Remnant x100
- **COMMON 4: Remnant x100
- COMMON 5: Remnant x100
- COMMON 6: Remnant x100
- COMMON 7: Remnant x100
- RARE 1: Remnant x500
- RARE 2: Remnant x500
- RARE 3: Remnant x500
I stared at the results. Seven common items, each containing 100 Remnant, and three rare ones, each with 500 Remnant. Remnant. It was the key to power, the lifeblood that flowed through every being, every form I could inhabit. The more Remnant I had, the stronger I became. The more worlds I could conquer. The more abilities I could unlock. It was perfect.
I focused on the Remnant I had just acquired. My mind shifted, and I could feel the system updating my stats, feeding new power into my being. The changes were subtle, but I could already feel a shift. My mind sharpened, my senses heightened, and my control over the world around me seemed a little stronger. This was just the beginning.
I opened my status screen.
^STATS^
- Remnant: 1000 (Common) / 1500 (Rare)
- Strength: 4
- Speed: 6
- Intelligence: 9
- Control: 8
- Charisma: 7
The numbers weren't overwhelming yet, but they would grow. They would build over time. The more I collected, the stronger I became. And with my next template—Springtrap.
I glanced at the room around me. It seemed like I was in an old, rundown orphanage. There were no adults here—just me and a bunch of other kids, probably as forgotten as I was. It didn't matter. The world was just a stage for me to dominate, a playground for a man who could now manipulate every single aspect of it.
I stood up, dusted myself off, and headed for the door. The world was waiting. The system had granted me power, and now, I was going to use it to reshape my future—starting with this miserable little place.
As I stepped out of the door, the world outside was brighter than I expected. The sun, though dim, seemed to shine just a little bit more for me. The city was bustling, filled with people going about their business. But they were just ants in my way. I could feel the power welling up inside me. I would climb. And I will grow stronger.
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In this version, there will be differences, so I hope you enjoy them :)