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Chapter 1: Rebirth and Revelation
The first thing Leo felt was warmth, soft earth beneath his back, and the crisp bite of cool air brushing his face. He blinked up at a star-filled sky, realizing with a rush that he was outside—not surrounded by the sterile walls of the world he once knew, but lying on open ground under a vast, endless night.
A dizzy, surreal sensation washed over him. Just moments ago, or so it seemed, he had been somewhere else. There were vague memories—an accident, darkness, then a strange, glowing figure who spoke to him with a voice that reverberated in his mind, promising him a new chance. And then… nothing. Until now.
He sat up slowly, trying to grasp the reality before him. He could feel the ground under his hands, smell the earth, and even hear distant rustling in the forest nearby. This was real. And it didn't take long for him to recognize where he was, though it made no logical sense. The landscape, the sky, even the air seemed somehow familiar—it was the world of The 100, one he knew from a TV show, a world that he never imagined he could be a part of.
A soft chime echoed in his ears, and then, to his shock, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes:
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING]
He stared, feeling both curious and slightly terrified as words began to fill the screen, reminding him of video games he used to play. It seemed he was starting this new life with a "system," something meant to guide him.
[STATUS PANEL ACTIVATED]
Name: ???
Level: 1
Health: 100%
Skills: None
[CHOOSE YOUR NAME]
His hands trembled. A name? He could start over with a new name, something meaningful for this new life. After a moment's hesitation, he chose a name he'd always admired: Leo. The screen blinked, registering his decision, and for the first time, he felt an odd sense of agency in this strange world.
As he stood up, Leo took a shaky breath, assessing himself. He seemed physically similar to his old self but with a leaner, fitter build—maybe an adjustment by the system to help him survive. Not far from where he stood, he noticed a dim flickering light. Without thinking, he moved toward it, heart racing as he tried to process his situation.
Just as he neared the light, a rustling sound came from his left. He froze, instincts firing, ready to flee or defend himself if he had to. A figure emerged from the shadows, illuminated by the firelight—a young woman, lean and fierce-looking, her eyes sharp and wary.
Leo recognized her immediately: it was Raven Reyes. She looked just as she had in the show, her face a mixture of intelligence and hard-earned resilience. She stopped, crossing her arms as she regarded him with suspicion.
"What are you doing out here?" she asked, voice cold and assessing. "And why do you look like you've never seen Earth before?"
For a second, Leo felt his throat go dry. He hadn't planned on explaining his presence to someone like Raven, not this quickly, and certainly not without a solid backstory. Thinking fast, he put on a confused expression. "I… don't know," he said, sounding just as bewildered as he felt. "I just… woke up here. I don't remember how."
Raven's brow furrowed as she scanned him from head to toe, clearly evaluating whether he was a threat. "You just woke up here?" She didn't sound convinced, but Leo didn't blame her—his story sounded weak, even to him.
"Look, I know it sounds crazy," he continued, raising his hands in a show of peace, "but I'm not here to cause trouble. I just need to figure out what's going on."
She didn't relax but seemed to consider his words. "Fine. Follow me," she said, nodding toward the campfire. "But if you try anything, you're out, got it?"
Leo nodded, feeling an odd sense of relief. He had no idea how he'd manage to survive in this world without a little help, and aligning himself with Raven seemed like the best option for now. As they walked, he tried to calm his racing thoughts. He had a system to guide him, three mysterious wishes granted to him before he'd arrived, and a chance to carve out a new life here.
Once they reached the fire, Raven settled onto a nearby rock and gestured for him to sit. Leo followed her lead, feeling strangely at ease in the crackling warmth of the fire, despite the tense silence between them. The shadows from the flames flickered over Raven's face as she observed him with quiet intensity.
"So, who are you?" she finally asked, breaking the silence.
"Leo," he said, grateful he had already decided on a name. "I… was an engineer. Or something close to it, anyway."
Raven's expression shifted slightly, her interest piqued. "An engineer, huh?" She leaned forward, watching him with an appraising gaze. "Funny, because we could use more people who know their way around machines here."
Before he could respond, another chime sounded in his ears. Raven didn't react, and he realized only he could hear it. A new screen appeared:
[QUEST PANEL ACTIVATED]
New Quest: Build Trust.
Objective: Prove your value to Raven Reyes by assisting her with mechanical work. Reward: +5 Skill Points, +10% Trust Level.
The words made him feel both nervous and excited. If this system was real, then completing quests might help him level up and unlock new abilities. And if proving himself to Raven was his first task, he'd give it his best shot.
"Do you have any tools?" he asked, his mind already working out how he could contribute.
She raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Yeah, some. There's a busted communicator I've been working on, if you're up for it." She tossed a small metal device to him.
Leo caught it, examining the wiring and damaged circuits. His hands moved almost instinctively, his system-fed knowledge helping him identify the problem. He reached into his pocket, surprised to find a small toolkit there—one of the perks, he guessed, from his reincarnated status.
After a few minutes, he handed the communicator back to Raven. "Try it now."
She gave him a look of mild disbelief but tried it anyway. Her eyes widened when the device powered on, emitting a faint signal. "Huh… you really do know what you're doing."
Leo felt a rush of satisfaction at her approval. Just then, another notification flashed before him:
Quest Complete: Build Trust
Reward: +5 Skill Points, +10% Trust Level
A small smile crept onto his face. He'd succeeded, and this was just the beginning. For the first time, he felt like he had a shot at surviving in this world. And maybe, if he played his cards right, he could even help shape the future he'd only ever seen on screen.
Raven glanced over at him, clearly curious but also somewhat guarded. "Stick around, Leo. You might just be useful here."
As the fire crackled between them, Leo couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose, one he hadn't felt in years. This was more than a second chance—it was a whole new beginning. And he was ready.
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