"Ding... System initialization in progress... 2%... 9%... 17%... 56%... 92% System installation complete."
"What's this sound...?"
Alex felt a surge of panic and began to look around frantically after hearing a random voice inside his head...
[No need to panic, Host. I'm communicating with you inside your mind...]
"Host...? In my mind...? Who are you...? And what do you mean by Host...?"
[Response to Host: I am a system created to help you adapt to your current world and survive in it. As for who created me and why you are my Host, your current state doesn't allow me to reveal more.]
"You mean like those systems from the novels?"
[Well, you could say that, but I can't give you any superpowers. I'm just a simple system.]
"A simple system... What are your functions?"
[1/ Status (displays the Host's status and those of others you focus on)
2/ Inventory (you can store anything except living beings)
3/ World Travel (locked)]
"Damn it! What kind of system are you? You don't have anything! Where's the lottery feature? Where's the login reward?"
[Response to Host: My creator decided that giving you an overpowered system would lead to chaos, so they sent you a compensation gift instead. Do you want to open it?]
Alex felt a wave of disappointment and frustration upon realizing how weak his system was... but that didn't last long when he heard that something had been prepared for him. He spoke eagerly, curious to know what he had received...
"Yes, open it."
[1/ Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the Medical Skill at Master Level.
2/ Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the Bodyguard Skills {Hacking (Advanced) / Firearms (Master) / Driving (Advanced) / Combat (Master)}.
3/ Congratulations to the Host for acquiring the Musician Skill (Mastery in all musical instruments and singing).
One gift will be unlocked in each world you visit.]
"Ah, damn! I hit the jackpot! Now I can protect myself in this damned novel. What about the world travel ability?"
[The Host can travel to worlds like those in novels... but it is currently locked. The Host must remain in this world for at least 3 months before being able to travel to another world.]
Alex became extremely excited at the thought of being able to travel to his favorite novel worlds and change some of the endings he didn't like... He even forgot about his current situation, as all his thoughts were focused on how to enjoy this life...
"System, show my status."
[Before that, would you like to receive the skills before displaying your status?]
"Oh yes, do it."
[I advise the Host to lie down on the bed, as the process will be painful.]
Alex left the bathroom and immediately lay down on his bed. Once he prepared himself, the process began...
"I'm ready, System, start."
At first, Alex didn't feel anything, but as time passed, the pain began to intensify gradually... until he could only bear it by clenching his teeth. It felt like thousands of nails were being driven into his body... The skill transfer process lasted no less than three minutes...
After enduring this extreme pain, Alex's body finally began to relax... Once he regained his senses, he sat up on his bed, holding his temples due to the intense pain he had experienced...
"Damn, that was really painful... It's a good thing I was lying down... System, show my status."
[Ding...
Name: Alex Shawn
Age: 22
Race: Human
Strength: 9 (the upper limit for normal humans is 10)
Speed: 7
Endurance: 6
Charisma: 9.5
Skills:
/Bodyguard (Master) / Medicine (Master) / Management (Advanced) / Cooking (Advanced) / Musician (Master)
Abilities:
1/ Nullification (A skill that allows the user to nullify all types of abilities with their right hand only and activate it over their entire body for 5 minutes)
Titles:
1/ Traveler (Allows the Host to travel between worlds without being suppressed by the world's will)
2/ Villain (Hated by all Protagonists of Destiny)
Inventory: Nothing]
After seeing his personal status screen, Alex was amazed by how weak his physical strength was... But what surprised him most was the strange nullification ability he had noticed...
"System, how did I get this ability...? Is there a reason for it...?"
[Ding... Response to Host: It is one of the abilities you acquired after surviving the Infinite.]
"Surviving the Infinite...? You mean the place I was before returning to the past...?"
[That's correct, Host... Due to your soul swimming through the Infinite and adapting to it, you gained this ability.]
"Well, that's not bad. I have something good up my sleeve... But, System, if I have the Villain's Aura, doesn't that mean the protagonist will be hostile to me even if I do something for him?"
[Yes, Host, as long as you have this aura, the protagonist will see you as an enemy, except in rare cases where they feel something stronger for you than hatred or resentment. But that's a slim chance.]
Alex was silent for a moment before throwing himself back onto the bed, lying down and staring at the ceiling... His eyes reflected a mixture of sadness, regret, longing, and joy...
"Well, there's no escaping it. I've returned to the past, so I should enjoy this life and avoid repeating the same mistakes."
Alex got up but then stopped, astonished, as he remembered something...
"That's right, System, who was that woman I met in the Infinite?"
[Ding... Your level is too low to know that.]
"Again! It seems I'm really too weak... Well, it doesn't matter. How are skills ranked?"
[Skills are ranked into five levels: Beginner / Learner / Trainee / Advanced / Master.]
"Master! [Yes, the highest level humans can achieve.]
"Humans? Does that mean there's a higher level?"
[Yes, but that information is currently inaccessible.]
"Alright, can you show me others' statuses?"
[Yes, Host, but the person must be within your field of vision.]
Okay, I'll leave that for later. I'll take a shower first and think about what to do next... To be continued.