Chapter 4: The System's Revelation
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
I tagged this book, come and support me with a thumbs up!
Like it ? Add to library
As I exited the chamber, the weight of Hela's presence lingered on my shoulders. Her story had been captivating, but now I needed to focus on something equally pressing—my survival and the system that had been thrust upon me. The cold air of Hel prickled against my skin as I stepped onto the jagged terrain.
"System," I called out, my voice echoing in the emptiness. "Let's get some answers. What's my beginner gift?"
A familiar, emotionless voice responded, calm yet unyielding:
[Beginner Gift: Hela, Goddess of Death. The host's first mission is to guide her transformation into the Goddess of Life. Failure to complete this mission will confirm the host's unfitness as Void's Chosen.]
I stopped in my tracks, blinking in disbelief. "Wait, what? My beginner gift is Hela? And if I fail, that's it? Game over?"
[Affirmative.]
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Fine. Can I at least upgrade my power level?"
[Yes. The host can increase their abilities through training and external means.]
"External means? Like what?"
[Examples include Devil Fruits, Haki, Ninjutsu, Magic, Potions, and similar sources.]
My heart skipped a beat at the mention of such powers. "Wait, does the system have a leveling option? You know, gaining power by defeating enemies?"
[No. The host cannot rely solely on defeating enemies to grow stronger.]
I frowned. "So, what about food? I need to eat to survive."
Silence.
"System?" I asked, wondering if it had crashed. The pause stretched uncomfortably long, over two minutes.
Finally:
[Ding! Emergency correction by the Void: New features added.
Shop function added.
Point system added.
Sign-in function added.
The host can now earn points by defeating enemies and use them in the system shop.]
I let out a long breath. "Okay, this might work. But what's this sign-in function?"
[The host can use the sign-in feature daily to receive rewards.]
"Alright, let's try it. Use the daily sign-in."
[Ding! Congratulations, host has received 1000 points.]
"Not bad. Open the shop."
A translucent menu appeared before me, listing items that were far from impressive:
Food Box (1 point each)Shield x10 (10 points each)Wooden Stick x10 (10 points each)
I stared at the list, unamused. "That's it? No Devil Fruits, no magical items?"
[The shop was added to ensure the host's survival in basic conditions. External power acquisition is discouraged for optimal existence control.]
I sighed, begrudgingly accepting the system's logic. "Fine, buy everything."
[Ding! Please check your inventory for purchased items.]
I accessed my inventory and found the goods. Taking out a food box, I opened it to reveal a simple meal: a bottle of water, some bread, and protein bars. Not gourmet, but it would keep me alive. As I ate, I mulled over my next steps.
The Side Mission
The realm of Hel stretched endlessly before me. Its vastness was oppressive, filled with jagged rocks, scattered corpses, and the occasional skeletal soldier. I took a step forward, scanning the terrain for anything remotely useful.
[Ding! Side Mission Unlocked: Map the Realm of Hel.
Reward: Training Manual.]
I frowned. "Map the realm? That sounds vague. What exactly do I have to do?"
[Mission Objective: Explore and collect sufficient data on the geography of Hel. Progress will be tracked automatically.]
"Well, at least I don't need to sketch anything," I muttered. "Might as well start walking."
The oppressive silence was broken only by the crunch of my boots against the rocky ground. The deeper I ventured, the more the desolation grew. Skeletal remains of beasts and warriors alike littered the landscape, a testament to countless forgotten battles.
Then I heard it—a faint, rhythmic clattering sound.
I froze. The sound grew louder, accompanied by a low, guttural rattle. My eyes darted around, and from the shadows emerged a group of skeletal warriors. Their hollow eye sockets glowed with a sinister green light, and they carried ancient, rusted weapons.
The Test of Hel
"System, any tips?" I muttered, gripping the wooden stick from my inventory.
[Combat tips: Aim for critical points. Skeletal warriors are fragile but relentless.]
"Got it."
The first skeleton charged, its rusted sword swinging in a wide arc. I sidestepped just in time and countered, smashing the stick into its ribcage. The brittle bones shattered, and the skeleton collapsed into a heap.
The fight continued, each skeleton attacking with unrelenting aggression. Despite the chaos, I noticed something odd—their strikes seemed just off the mark, as if they were deliberately holding back.
Finally, I delivered the last blow, shattering the remaining skeleton into a pile of bones. I leaned on my stick, breathing heavily.
[Ding! Side Mission Completed: Map of Hel updated.
Reward: Saitama Training Manual.]
"Wait… what?" I froze, rereading the words on the translucent screen. "Saitama Training Manual? You don't mean… that Saitama, do you?"
[Affirmative. The manual follows the training regimen of the One Punch Man from the host's original world.]
I burst out laughing. "You're joking, right? That's it? 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10-kilometer run every day? You're telling me that's my reward for surviving a battle with a bunch of bony rejects?"
[The host should not underestimate the potential of disciplined training.]
I stopped laughing, realizing something. "Wait… will I go bald if I do this?"
[Hair loss is not guaranteed. However, scalp massages can mitigate any side effects.]
I groaned. "Of course. Leave it to you to throw in hair care advice."
Before I could dwell further, the air around me grew colder. A familiar presence made my stomach churn, and I turned to find Hela standing atop a jagged rock, her expression one of amused disdain.
"You fought well," she said, her voice dripping with condescension.
I narrowed my eyes. "That was you, wasn't it? The skeletons. It was a test."
She tilted her head, smirking. "A test? What an amusing way to put it. No, mortal, that was my entertainment."
My fists clenched. "Entertainment? I could've died!"
Her laughter rang out, cold and sharp. "Oh, please. If you had died to such pitiful foes, then you would've proven yourself unworthy to even live in my realm. Consider this a favor."
Her mocking tone stoked the embers of anger in my chest. "Next time, maybe find a less life-threatening way to entertain yourself."
She arched an eyebrow, her smirk deepening. "Careful, mortal. You're amusing now, but defiance has a way of wearing thin."
With that, she vanished, leaving me alone amidst the remnants of her "entertainment."
I looked down at my stick, now splintered from the battle, and let out a sigh. Hela might have been toying with me, but she'd made one thing clear: in this realm, I was both a pawn and a player in her game. One way or another, I would prove myself—not for her approval, but for my own survival.