Darkness.
Arthur's mind floated in an endless void. There was no pain, no sound—just an unsettling emptiness.
Is this what death feels like? he wondered, struggling to remember what had happened. The last thing he recalled was the screech of tires, the blinding glare of headlights, and then…
Nothing.
Suddenly, the void cracked open. Digital numbers and letters began swirling around him, chaotic yet oddly mesmerizing.
They pulsed with a faint glow, rearranging themselves into patterns that Arthur couldn't comprehend.
"What is this?" he muttered, though his voice seemed lost in the void.
The symbols began to form words.
[MotoGP System Activating...]
The words shone brilliantly before vanishing.
[MotoGP System has successfully activated.]
Arthur blinked. His senses began to return. The faint beeping of monitors, the sterile smell of disinfectant, the weight of his body pressing against a mattress—it all came rushing back at once.
He opened his eyes, squinting against the harsh fluorescent lights above.
White walls, the hum of machines, and a faint murmur of voices greeted him. He was in a hospital.
"What...?" he croaked, his throat dry and hoarse.
Before he could think further, his gaze drifted to his hands. They were larger, rougher, and definitely not his own. Panic set in as he struggled to move, but a sharp pain shot through his ribs, forcing him to lie still.
"Easy, Mr. Cross," a calm voice said in heavily accented English. Arthur turned his head to see a nurse adjusting one of the monitors. "You're in intensive care, but you're stable now."
"Mr. Cross?" Arthur whispered. That wasn't his name.
The nurse looked at him, confused. "Yes, Adrian Cross. You're in St. Vitalis Hospital in Germany. You had a terrible accident on the track."
Arthur's heart raced as fragmented memories flooded his mind. The roar of the crowd, the deafening hum of motorcycles, and the final moment when everything went black.
MotoGP system? What is the meaning of this?
Before he could make sense of it, a feminine, robotic voice echoed in his mind.
[Welcome to the MotoGP System. Do you wish to begin your tutorial?]
Arthur froze. A system? A different body? A completely different life?
He turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the polished steel of a medical cart. The face staring back wasn't his own—it was Adrian Cross, the world-famous MotoGP racer.
"What the hell is going on?" Arthur whispered, his voice trembling.
As fear and confusion swirled in his mind, another emotion began to rise. This was insane, unbelievable. But if it was real—if he truly had transmigrated—then maybe this wasn't the end.
...
"Sir, I advise you not to move since you're still recovering," the nurse said, her tone firm but kind.
"Ah, yes, um, sorry," Arthur replied, his voice still hoarse. He forced a small smile, trying to mask the whirlwind of confusion inside him.
The nurse smiled back, a touch of admiration in her expression. It wasn't every day that someone tended to Adrian Cross, a name that seemed to carry weight even here.
Before Arthur could dwell on it, the door to the room opened. Another nurse stepped in, followed by a young blonde woman who looked to be in her early 20s.
She was striking, dressed in an elegant yet understated outfit that radiated sophistication. The moment her eyes landed on him, she raced forward, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor.
"Oh, brother!" she cried, grabbing his hand tightly. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears.
"Are you okay? I came as soon as I heard what happened. Father couldn't come—private business as always... But I couldn't just stay away!"
Brother? Arthur thought, startled.
As he stared at her face, a strange wave of familiarity washed over him. Memories began to surface—clear, vivid images that weren't his own.
Alice Cross.
His sister.
A talented fashion designer whose career was just as illustrious in her field as Adrian's was in MotoGP.
Arthur blinked, staring at her with a mixture of shock and recognition. "Alice…" he murmured.
She let out a relieved laugh, tears slipping down her cheeks. "You scared the hell out of me, Adrian! When I heard about the crash, I thought…" She paused, her voice catching, then shook her head as if to banish the thought. "It doesn't matter. You're alive, and that's all that counts."
Arthur swallowed hard, his mind spinning. This wasn't just a body he'd woken up in, it came with relationships, a history, a life he hadn't lived.
"I'm… sorry for worrying you," he managed to say, his voice stiff as he tried to sound natural
Alice frowned, studying him closely. "You're acting strange," she said, tilting her head. "Are you sure you're okay? Maybe it's the painkillers."
"Yeah, probably just the meds," Arthur replied quickly, forcing a weak smile.
Her eyes softened, and she squeezed his hand again. "Rest up, okay? You're not getting back on that bike anytime soon, so don't even think about it."
Arthur nodded absently, though his mind was racing.
As Alice continued fussing over him, her words barely registered.
Arthur's focus was pulled elsewhere, his mind suddenly filled with the same feminine, robotic voice that had greeted him in the void.
[Welcome to MotoGP System. Do you wish to begin your tutorial?]
The voice echoed in his head, sharp and precise, making him flinch slightly.
This voice… this system… What is it?
[Welcome to MotoGP System.] The voice repeated, calm and unyielding.
[Do you wish to begin your tutorial? Respond with "Yes" to proceed or "No" to decline.]
Arthur swallowed hard, his heartbeat quickening. Whatever this was, it didn't seem to be going away. And if this system was tied to Adrian's life—or rather, his new life—he had no choice but to figure out what it meant.
Yes, he thought, not daring to say the word out loud with Alice so close.
The voice responded immediately.
[Tutorial commencing. Loading basic information...]
A faint buzzing sensation filled his head, followed by a flash of new information. He saw a sleek digital interface overlaying his vision, transparent yet crisp, displaying stats, charts, and various menus.
[Tutorial Step 1: Understanding Your Role.]
The voice continued as images of motorcycles, race tracks, and podiums flickered before his eyes.
[You are Adrian Cross, a famous MotoGP racer. Your goal is to dominate the racing world and become the greatest of all time. The system is here to assist you by enhancing your skills, improving your understanding of racing dynamics, and unlocking new abilities. To begin, you must complete your first system task.]
Arthur's breathing quickened as he absorbed the words. This wasn't just a game. This was real and it was all tied to this Adrian Cross's life.
"Adrian?" Alice's voice cut through his thoughts.
Arthur blinked, the interface fading from his vision like a mirage. He turned to see Alice frowning.
"You okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Arthur nodded, his mind still spinning. "Yeah. Just… processing everything."
Little did she know, the real processing had only just begun...