Aki found himself surrounded by the warmth and care of his new family. His first year in Mularkham was one filled with love, attention, and the insatiable curiosity of a newborn. His mother, Beniko, was a constant presence, a caring figure who could hardly bear the thought of how fast her child was growing. She would sit by his side, softly running her fingers through his golden-brown, silky hair, her heart both full of joy and apprehension.
"He's growing up way too fast," she would think, her mind filled with concerns about his future. "He'll be alright, won't he?" Sighing quietly, Beniko reassured herself with a silent prayer, trusting in her family and her son. Eventually, she left him to sleep, her worries momentarily set aside as she whispered a wish for sweet dreams.
Little did she know, it was the perfect moment for Aki to awaken from his long, strange sleep.
The moment Aki's consciousness stirred, he was struck by the surreal nature of his experience.
"Woah… that was one hell of a weird dream," he thought. He'd had dreams before—some good, some bad, some downright disturbing—but this one was different. It felt real. More real than anything he had ever experienced. It was almost as if the dream was a part of him, an inseparable fragment of his very being.
"It's over, either way," he mused, trying to push the remnants of the dream from his mind. "Not like I remember everything, anyway."
With his thoughts scattered, Aki tried to push himself up from the bed, intending to start his day. But when he attempted to rise, his body betrayed him. His tiny limbs were weak, and he stumbled, barely able to maintain his balance. Panic surged within him, anxiety bubbling up in his chest. "What the hell? What's going on?" He couldn't fathom the reason behind his inability to move properly.
In a mix of humor and fear, he tried to distract himself from the anxiety. "Maybe I had a stroke. Or perhaps I was kidnapped by aliens? Haha, like that'd happen." But deep down, the thought of being trapped in a child's body—completely helpless—terrified him. However, his imagination quickly came to his rescue, offering a bizarre comfort in the thought of a life where he could simply lay around, meditate, and talk to himself.
"Ah, the prospect is interesting… but living through it? Nah, that would be horrific," he chuckled nervously. "I'd prefer to endure the interaction, thank you very much. It helps temper the mind and soul."
As Aki began to calm himself, he lifted his hands to see what had become of his body. But instead of the familiar adult limbs, he saw two tiny hands, no larger than an average adult palm. His eyes widened. "Fu—ck! I don't want to live as a child… Wait, I don't have to. I have my memories!"
The frustration quickly boiled over, and Aki threw a tantrum, but in the very next second, his voice echoed back to him—strangely different from what he had expected. "Huh? Was that me? Yeah, it's me… but this isn't what I expected at all."
He shook his head in disbelief. "Okay, let's try again. {fuck}… {اللعنة} … Yep, this is real."
Just as he tried to process his situation, a notification sound pierced his mind, followed by a red window appearing in his vision.
<Welcome to YOR System: AKIZAKURA>
[Minimum body, structural maturity reached]
Congratulations on completing [Operation: Synchronous Rest]
You have been awarded: (One Assimilated Mular)
Structure: Scion~seal
Type: Consumable
Grade: Not Worthy
Description: Assimilation of knowledge, emotion, memory, skill, language, accumulated during one Mular year.
Effect: Heightened enlightenment using 100% of developed bodily function. Transfers data with 100% efficiency.
Limitation: Causes extreme dizziness, nausea, heightened pain, emotional disturbance.
Hidden: Can only be assimilated by 'Pupil of YOR' without any permanent effects or defects.
Item has been transferred to Storage
It is advisable for host to consume this as soon as possible. It holds answers to all the questions and basic format of your current situation.
Aki stared at the notification in silence, absorbing the information. Though surprised, he managed to stay calm as he read through the details, now translated into the language he could understand. It seemed as if he had either entered some hyper-realistic dream or, more likely, had actually been reborn.
The latter option seemed far more promising, and Aki couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. He still had his memories from his past life, and apparently, whatever energy or essence he had cultivated in his previous world had some connection to the system window before him.
"This is amazing! A lifetime of memories and a damn system? Hahaha… it's just so fucking great!" He couldn't contain the excitement bubbling inside him as he imagined what was to come—becoming stronger, more powerful, and better than he ever was in his past life. He couldn't wait to dive into the new possibilities, to shape his destiny in this world.
But first, he had to understand his new surroundings—the language, the culture, the people, and most importantly, his new body. Sorting out his memories and gaining clarity on his situation was paramount.
Though intrigued, Aki couldn't shake the skepticism rooted in his past experiences with similar narratives. He had read countless stories of system-host relationships gone awry—where the system creator exerted control over the host, turning them into mere puppets. Aki wasn't ready to trust the system blindly. Trust had never been something he gave easily—it had to be earned.
He decided to test the system.
Aki: "Hey, system."
System: "Yes, host."
Aki: "Please answer some of my doubts. I hope you don't mind."
System: "Yes, host."
Aki: "Am I in some kind of hyper-realistic simulation?"
System: "No."
Aki: "Am I being held captive?"
System: "No."
Aki: "Who created you, system?"
System: "&%₹#+=$£€"
Aki: "I asked for your creator, not random symbols."
System: "Host authority level and energy insufficient for comprehensible action."
"Figures," Aki muttered. "I knew there was going to be some bullshit about authority. But hey, the fact that it even responded is a good sign."
Relieved by the response, Aki pressed on with more questions.
Aki: "Are you feeling okay, system? Am I annoying you?"
System: "Host, system responses are calibrated and do not involve emotional entanglements. Kindly, understand my inability to answer such questions."
Aki let out a breath, feeling more at ease. "So it's not a sentient being, but more like an algorithmic response system. That's good for me. It rules out the possibility of the system controlling me. It has the same name as the energy I cultivated in my previous life, so I guess it's worth the gamble."
Aki nodded to himself. "Fortune favors the brave, right?"
Aki then issued his next command:
Aki: "Change addressing setting from host to Aki and command setting to YOR."
System: "Confirmed."
With a deep breath, Aki readied himself.
Aki: "Open and consume item named (One Assimilated Mular)."
System: "Command registered, Aki."
Preconsumption warning: Host will experience intense pain, varied emotions, and fall unconscious for three prahars.
System: Beginning in 3…2…1…
Aki's body tensed, his heart racing as the warning echoed in his mind. For a brief moment, everything seemed calm. But then, as the assimilation process began, the pain hit him with an intensity he couldn't have imagined.
"Oh shit! AAAAAAHHHH… WHAT IS THIS?!" He screamed internally, his body wracked with agony. But on the outside, he remained still, silent, his breath shallow as he fought to keep his composure. His small body quivered under the weight of the transformation, but his mind stayed focused, calm—his training, his will, the shield that kept him grounded.
As the pain continued, Aki lost consciousness, his last thought before slipping away being: "When I wake up… I'll be different. I'll be ready for whatever comes next."
To be continued…