Dying isn't the worst part of life...

But dying when you were only inches away from grabbing your dream job is the worst part of life

Never in my 22 years of existence, I would have expected, I will die in the hands of someone I had trusted so much .

It hurts. The multiple stabs on my upper torso hurts like hell . I couldn't stop the profuse bleeding. Dizziness and nausea seized me .

Darkness slowly begun engulfing me .

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

I don't want to die.

His deranged smile - was the last thing I saw before I drowned into eternal darkness.

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Abruptly I opened my eyes . I scanned my body quickly to check for any injuries. But to my surprise there were no injuries...no stabbing marks...no bloodied outfit.

My attention went to my surroundings . There was nothing. I was floating in nothingness. Everything was black except for my pristine white shirt tugged into blue pants which I wore before dying .

I wasn't in my shared appartment where I was stabbed to death . Rather I am in....

Wait a moment — WHERE AM I !!!

Did I die and went to hell ?

OH MY GAWD !!!!

[ ??? : No Mr.Yu Jiming you aren't in hell ]

I almost screamed in fright , hearing a mechanical voice coming behind of me . I turned around with wide opened eyes in a defensive stance to face whoever he/she/it was .

To my shock it was a holographic cat , glowing with neon green glow .

" Who are you ? And why am I here ? What do you want from me "

[ ???: Let me introduce myself, I am Bastian28 , a veteran system (agent) , came here to help you . You are in system space, also known as resting area . The administrative God heard your cry for help and sent me to help you . I can help you regain your life and you can use it to achieve your dream job . But in return you have to do something...]

Maybe I was too desperate to get back my life and my dream job, I couldn't care about all other conditions. I quickly agreed, continuously nodding my head .

" I will do it...I will do whatever you ask me to do . Just help me to get me back my life ".

[ Bastian28 : Excellent ! Sign this agreement to continue ]

Suddenly, a paper and pen materialized infront of me . I was too desperate and in hurry to read the terms of the agreement, so I directly skipped to the final page .

For some reason, Bastian's eyes shined strongly as I picked up the pen . It sent shivers deep down my spine. My gut feeling said something wasn't right . But I ignored it signed it with my name before passing it back to Bastian28. The contract disappeared in Bastian28's hands.

A holographic notification like interface popped infront of me . It read :-

Name - Yu Jiming

Age - 22 years

DOB - 13 July XXXX

Agreed To —

Before I could read further, the system cat jumped on my shoulder, catching me off guard . Scrolled down to the bottom and tapped on agreed button.

The contents of the holographic notification changed to 'Thank You For Agreeing ' . And then it disappeared into thin air

" What was that ? " I asked feeling confused.

[ Bastian28: Nothing you should be worried about]

I didn't dwell on it anymore thinking of it as nothing important. ̶O̶̶n̶̶l̶̶y̶ ̶i̶̶f̶ ̶I̶ ̶k̶̶n̶̶e̶̶w̶ ̶h̶̶o̶̶w̶ ̶m̶̶u̶̶c̶̶h̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶̶i̶̶l̶̶l̶ ̶r̶̶e̶̶g̶̶r̶̶e̶̶t̶ ̶i̶̶t̶ ̶i̶̶n̶ ̶f̶̶u̶̶t̶̶u̶̶r̶̶e̶ .

" Now tell me , what do I need to do to regain back my life ? "

[ Bastian28 : You have to fill the metre for life reviving portion. Currently it is zero since you haven't started out the mission. It takes 100 gold points to fill it . You have to travel various worlds and successfully complete it to gain gold points. Depending how you complete the worlds , you will graded on three grades A , B and C . A is for outstanding wherein you will gain 4 gold points , B is for average where you will gain 2 points and C is for failure where you will gain nothing. If you get grade A and B , you can successfully travel to next world but if you failed and get grade C you won't be able to travel to next world . You will have to spend 25 gold points and have to play the world again to move forward. But there is a catch , the world will be more tougher this time compared to your initial try .]

The system fell silent observing my expression. Needless to say I was too dumbfounded to even make an expression hearing the terms .

[Bastian28: Another thing I forgot to say , for instance you failed your first world, you can take loan from System Points bank ;or you have to buy certain items from System Shop but you have no gold points, you can also take loan from System Points bank - which you later have to pay with an interest of 15% ]

THE FORK !!!!

" What do you mean ? WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY IT EARLIER BEFORE I SIGN THE CONTRACT" I was infuriated beyond any reasoning .

[ Bastian28: The terms were written in the contract. Did I ask you to not read it ? You can't blame your own fault on me ]

The freaking cat smirked at me . If I was alive , I would have died out of anger .

/ Calm down Yu Jiming, calm down. This is for your dream job . Calm down /

I had to chant it to myself to suppress my building anger .

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale

Only after I calm myself down . I looked at the cat and agreed . Because I have no way out , I have already signed the contract. Why didn't I read the contract earlier? I am dumb , idiot, stupid.

[ Bastian28: Brace yourself host , the journey might be dizzying for you . And then don't blame me for not warning you earlier ]

WHA—

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Ahhhhh !!

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I was screaming nonstop , bawling my eyes out . My stomach churned as I continued to fall down in not a straight pattern but in a zig zag pattern.

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It felt like I was trapped in a toy which a kid was vigorously shaking.

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OH MY GAWD !!

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I felt like puking.

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Once I get you Bastian28, once I get you —