"Grrr…"
A low rumble and a sudden jolt of pain pulled me back to consciousness. I blinked groggily, my head pounding, only to see several rats the size of my palm nibbling at my toes.
"Ugh!" I scrambled back in horror, but the rats moved closer, undeterred. They had the strange, glinting eyes of creatures long-starved. My gaze darted around until I spotted a plank of wood nearby. Grabbing it, I swung to shoo them away—but instead of retreating, the rats surged forward, their movements growing more frenzied. One lunged, and I smacked it with the plank, but then the others leapt. Panicked, I swung wildly, stumbling backward before finding my footing and breaking into a desperate run.
After what felt like an eternity, I slowed, my breath heaving as reality sank in. My last clear memory was walking out of the library after returning a book, and then… nothing. Now, I was standing in what looked like the ruin of a once-bustling town, every building around me shattered and bleak. The air reeked of decay, and a heavy silence wrapped the place, broken only by the faint squeak of distant rats. My stomach twisted. This wasn't home. This wasn't anywhere I knew.
Get it together, Lewis. First, shelter. I cast a wary glance back toward the shanty store from which I'd just escaped. At least I knew what to expect there. Better the devil you know, right?
I picked up the plank, steadied my breath, and crept back to the store for round two. Peeking through a broken window, I searched for any sign of the rats, but the place seemed empty. The chittering of unseen pests echoed, but the swarm that had attacked me was gone.
"Strange…" I murmured, swallowing a knot of nerves as I cautiously stepped inside. Just then, a soft clink sounded from somewhere nearby. I jumped, and a translucent screen flickered into view in front of me.
Connection to System Archivist #0##210#8 established.
"Greetings, transmigrator from another world."
I froze, glancing around for a speaker or camera. "Hello? If this is a prank, you're in serious trouble. I swear, I'll sue you."
The screen reappeared, scrolling text in eerie silence.
"As I was saying, welcome to Sector Silva. Due to… unfortunate circumstances, the entire sector has spiraled into an apocalyptic state for hundreds of years. However, you've been selected—"
"Who's out there?" I yelled, the tremor in my voice betraying me. "Stop messing with me! I have an exam tomorrow!"
The text froze. Then, with a jolt of electricity, a new message seared onto the screen.
"Listen closely. You're no longer on Earth. You've been chosen for a trial in Sector Silva. Your task: survive, adapt, and complete quests to uncover your purpose here. Do you understand?"
Heart pounding, I couldn't decide whether I was more terrified or just plain annoyed. "So… this is real?" I muttered, feeling a chill as my surroundings seemed to grow sharper, more oppressive. There was no comforting rationalization, no easy escape.
The screen scrolled again:
"As I was saying, various individuals from different sectors, including your Sector Veridian, have been selected. You'll receive paths and powers to assist you in this realm. But beware: choose wisely, or your foolishness will lead to certain death."
The text faded, and suddenly, a new display materialized:
System Online
[Name: Lewis Hamilton (Rename chance: 1)]
Species: Bipedal Sapient
Traits: {Intellectual} {Introverted}
Stats
• Constitution: 4 (Low stamina; prone to exhaustion but capable of building endurance over time)
• Strength: 3 (Weak physical strength; struggles with lifting or intense physical exertion)
• Endurance: 5 (Average resilience; can handle moderate challenges but tires quickly under pressure)
• Dexterity: 6 (Moderate hand-eye coordination; decent at tasks requiring precision but lacks speed)
• Agility: 5 (Average speed and reflexes; can dodge or run short distances, but not very quick)
• Intelligence: 9(High intellect; excellent at problem-solving, analyzing, and strategizing)
• Wisdom: 7 (Above-average judgment; cautious but quick to grasp new concepts)
• Perception: 6(Slightly above-average awareness; tends to notice details but can miss subtle cues)
• Willpower: 8 (Strong mental resilience; capable of focusing under pressure and enduring hardship)
• Sanity: 7 (Stable mindset; adaptable and can handle stress, though prolonged trauma may impact stability)
XP-34800
XP Store
{Survival skill-60
Survival manual-30
Tracking skill-50
Tracking manual-20
….
….
….
Combat skill-1500
Combat manual-600
…
…
Water bottle-2
Dry Ration-2
…
…
Butter knife-25
…
…
…
Strong bones-2400}
The overwhelming absurdity of it almost made me laugh—stats? Abilities? Like a character sheet in a video game? Yet, here it was, stark and undeniable. And somewhere in this hellscape, some "Archivist," an entity ancient and unfathomable, was overseeing it all.
I clenched my fists. I was no hero. Just a quiet guy who preferred books to people. But here, there were no excuses, no way to retreat to the familiar. I was alone, and if I wanted to live, I'd have to adapt fast.
For better or worse, my life as I knew it was over.