[Earth]
"Okay... that's definitely new," Charlie muttered, rubbing his eyes in disbelief. He had been buzzing with anticipation, counting down the last few seconds to what he believed would be the start of his adventure. And now here he was, standing in a corridor that seemed to stretch on forever, bathed in a golden glow from orbs floating near the ceiling.
There was no panic—only a surreal, overwhelming sense of realization. This was it. The notification had said it all: [Congratulations, you've been selected for the post of Junior System Administrator.] He had known something big was coming, but this? This was beyond what he had imagined.
Before he could fully process the scene around him, a voice—smooth, melodic, and almost too calm for the surreal situation—interrupted the silence.
"Mr. Charles, we've been expecting you."
Charlie spun around, and there, seated behind a mahogany desk that definitely hadn't been there a second ago, was a woman. Jade-green skin, snake-like eyes, and an air of ancient power practically radiated off her. She didn't belong in any world he knew of, but here she was, giving him the kind of smile that said she knew way more than he did.
"And now we're in a fever dream," Charlie said under his breath, but he wasn't totally rattled. Excited, yes. Freaked out? Not yet. He had played enough games to know that keeping a level head was the first rule in weird, cosmic situations.
"Please, sit," the woman said, gesturing to a chair that had appeared in front of her desk. "There's much to discuss."
Charlie eyed the chair, then glanced back at her. "Right. Of course. Chairs appear from thin air. Why wouldn't they?"
With a cautious shrug, he approached and sat down. Despite his sarcasm, his heart was pounding with excitement. This is real. It's actually happening.
"I am Lachesis," the woman continued, her voice calm but commanding. "HR Manager for Earth, I am here to guide you as you begin your new role as Junior System Administrator."
Charlie blinked, struggling to process the situation. HR? Like Human Resources? And Lachesis? Like, Greek mythology Lachesis? One of the Fates? The absurdity of the moment wasn't lost on him.
"Of course it is," he muttered, shaking his head. "Because why not start off my new cosmic job with a Greek goddess?"
Lachesis raised an eyebrow but didn't respond to his quip. "You must have questions, but understand this—my time is limited. I will allow you to ask three questions, no more."
Charlie sat up straighter, his mind racing. Three questions? This is some genie-in-the-lamp stuff. He'd read enough bad fanfiction to know that the last thing he wanted was to waste a question on something dumb like "Are you single?" He needed to be smart here.
He rubbed his chin, pretending to be deep in thought. "Alright. Three questions. Sure. Classic."
After a few beats, he grinned. "Okay, let's start with the basics. What's the most important thing I need to know to not die horribly on this job?"
Lachesis's lips twitched into what might have been the barest hint of a smile. "A wise first question. To succeed—and survive—you must understand three key principles: Players, influence, and adaptability. The most valuable resource to the System is Players—their potential drives everything. The stronger they are, the stronger the System becomes. Without them, the System has no foundation.
"Influence, on the other hand, allows you to integrate the System into a world without raising suspicion. The more influence you have, the easier it will be to guide events and manipulate the flow of power, all while staying under the radar. And lastly, adaptability is critical. Every world is different, and a rigid approach will get you killed. Be ready to adjust your strategies with every new place you visit."
Charlie nodded thoughtfully. Right. Control stuff, be sneaky, and don't be stupidly stubborn. Got it.
"But," Lachesis added, leaning forward with a more serious tone, "you must also beware of complacency. There are other beings—gods, mortals, and things in between—who won't hesitate to exploit your weaknesses."
Charlie gulped. "Right. So, don't get too comfortable. Cool. I can work with that."
He still had two questions left. His mind flickered through the possibilities, weighing the practical against the curious. But one question kept gnawing at him—who made this System, and why had it chosen him?
"Alright," he said, leaning forward slightly, "who created this System, and why me?"
Lachesis's expression shifted, her snake-like eyes narrowing as though she were deciding how much to reveal. "The System was created by a minor god, one who had the ability to glimpse into the future. When he looked into your world's future, he saw a growing obsession with numbers, levels, and progress through quantifiable means—particularly in games. It fascinated him. He saw potential in it."
Charlie blinked, his sarcasm briefly silenced by the strangeness of the situation. "So, a god designed this whole thing based on RPG mechanics?"
Lachesis nodded slightly. "In a sense. He realized that such systems could be applied to real life, driving mortals to achieve greater heights—or fall to ruin. With each level, with each milestone, their faith in the System grew. In time, the System became a self-sustaining entity, feeding on the devotion of its users."
Charlie let out a low whistle. "So, it's not just about power. It's about control."
"Precisely," Lachesis said. "The System spreads, not through force, but through belief. And you, Mr. Charles, are now part of its expansion."
Charlie leaned back in his chair, processing that. He wasn't just a player in a cosmic game—he was part of the infrastructure. And while that excited him, there was also a part of him that felt… a bit unnerved. The stakes were real.
"One last question," Lachesis reminded him, her tone more measured now.
Charlie tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair, thinking. He knew what was coming—he was about to enter a new world, one that he'd have to integrate into the System. The big question was, Where? Still, he had one last question before he was prepared to go.
"Okay," he said, a grin spreading across his face, "how do I choose the Players?"
Lachesis folded her hands in front of her, her eyes meeting his. "These doors represent different worlds. Each world contains individuals—people with potential. The Players you seek will come from one of them," she said, gesturing toward the array of doors, "but your task is to choose wisely, its exactly that potential you must identify. Some may rise to greatness, others will fall short—but in the end, it's their capacity to influence the world that matters to you."
Charlie frowned slightly, glancing at the countless doors around him. "So... I can just pick anyone?"
Lachesis gave a slight shake of her head. "Not anyone, Mr. Charles. Your instincts must guide you. The Players you gather are an asset—one you'll need in order to succeed. The higher their potential, the more valuable they are. Some worlds might offer you powerful individuals, but choosing the right Player—someone you can rely on—is key."
Charlie's grin faded as he processed her words. There was something about the way she spoke—like these people were tools to be collected and used. He didn't like it, but he couldn't deny the truth behind what she was saying. He needed strong Players, and he needed to make sure they could help him succeed.
His gaze swept over the doors again, each one a possible world, each one filled with people who could help him—or fail him, he could not chose recklessly.
He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the closest door. he decided to use one of his his first skills, [Appraisal]. Immediately a small notification appeared in his vision.
[World: Unknown]
Charlie frowned, moving to the next door. Another quick appraisal.
[World: Unknown]
Frustration crept in. This was going to take longer than he thought. He moved down the row of doors, trying appraisal again.
[World: Berserk]
His heart skipped a beat. A familiar world, but not the one he was looking for. Too dangerous. He moved on, determination pushing him forward.
One more door. He activated appraisal.
[World: One Piece]
A thrill ran through him. One Piece. If he was going to gather Players, why not start in a world full of powerful, unpredictable individuals? Sure, it was dangerous, but danger meant potential—and that was what mattered.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his hand hovering over the knob. He glanced back at Lachesis, who watched him with a faint smile.
"Remember," she said quietly, "potential is only valuable if you know how to nurture it. Don't waste your opportunities, Mr. Charles."
Charlie clenched his jaw, still uneasy with the idea of viewing people as "resources," but he couldn't deny the opportunity before him. With a deep breath, he twisted the knob and stepped through the door into the light.