Left alone in the lavish room, Alex Stark—or rather, Sven in Alex's body—sat cross-legged on the enormous bed. The weight of his new reality pressed heavily on his shoulders. He wasn't going to squander this opportunity, but to make any meaningful moves, he needed information.
"The first step to power," he murmured, "is knowledge."
Alex scanned his surroundings for anything that could aid him. His room was a testament to wealth and privilege, a space designed for comfort and luxury. The bed was enormous, covered with a silky duvet and too many pillows to count. Ornate carvings adorned the dark wood furniture, and a massive crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of a sprawling garden, complete with a fountain and neatly trimmed hedges.
On the far side of the room stood a sleek, state-of-the-art desktop setup. The monitor, slim and curved, bore the logo of a company he didn't recognize—an elegant, minimalist design that hinted at high-end innovation. Beside it lay a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a high-tech smartphone resting on a charging dock.
Alex strode toward the desk, his curiosity piqued. He powered on the computer and waited for the system to boot. The startup screen displayed an unfamiliar operating system, but navigating it was surprisingly intuitive. Within minutes, he was browsing the internet, a universe of knowledge at his fingertips.
As he delved deeper, Alex realized something: while this world bore many similarities to his own, there were significant differences too. The geography was identical—continents, oceans, and countries aligned with what he remembered. Familiar nations like the United States, Russia, China, France, and India still held prominence on the global stage.
But some countries he had never heard of before appeared on the map. For example, there was Astoria, a small but powerful nation sandwiched between France and Spain. The United Kingdom was still intact, with Scotland and Wales remaining firmly under its banner, unlike the independence movements he remembered from his world.
Intrigued, he dug into history. This world had also experienced two world wars, but the details were strikingly different. The First World War had ended not with the Treaty of Versailles but with a treaty called the Accord of Zurich. Its consequences had given rise to entirely different political alliances. World War II still involved the Axis and Allied powers, but notable figures were missing or replaced by others.
Figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't exist here; instead, a man named Harold Whitmore had led the Allies to victory. Napoleon had never risen to power in France; instead, a revolutionary named Pierre Renard had shaped French history. Even Leonardo da Vinci was replaced by an enigmatic inventor named Vittorio Moretti, whose works bore a resemblance to those of the famed polymath.
"This is fascinating," Alex muttered, his fingers flying across the keyboard. "A world that feels familiar but isn't. It's like I've been dropped into an alternate reality."
He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples. With the weight of this realization came new questions. If historical figures were different, what about modern-day celebrities and icons?
A quick search answered that question. Hollywood still existed, and there were major blockbusters, but the stars were unrecognizable. Instead of Leonardo DiCaprio, the leading man of the decade was a charismatic actor named Victor Delaney. Musicians like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift didn't exist here, but their places were taken by equally talented singers with entirely different names.
However, there were a few familiar names—Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk existed here too, though their careers and accomplishments had taken slightly different trajectories. Steve Jobs had revolutionized not just computing but also medicine, pioneering advanced wearable health technologies. Elon Musk was still the ambitious entrepreneur he remembered, but in this world, he had founded a company called SolaraTech, which focused on nuclear fusion energy instead of electric vehicles. Though generative AI was not yet developed.
"This is wild," Alex said to himself, shaking his head in disbelief.
Finally, he turned his attention to laws and societal structures. Here, too, he found notable differences. Laws around intellectual property, for instance, were stricter, offering greater protection for inventors and creators. However, privacy laws were more relaxed, allowing corporations to wield immense influence through data collection.
Alex leaned back, letting the information sink in. This world was both an opportunity and a challenge. He needed to adapt, to master its nuances if he was to succeed.
With a sigh, he shifted his focus to his immediate surroundings—his family. A quick search revealed the staggering extent of the Stark family's influence. His grandfather was a powerful senator, a seasoned politician with connections in every corner of the government. His father, Richard Stark, was a titan of industry, the CEO of a sprawling conglomerate with interests in real estate, tourism, entertainment, and luxury hotels.
The Stark empire didn't stop there. His uncles and aunts were billionaires in their own right, each controlling significant stakes in various sectors. The family name carried weight, opening doors that most people couldn't even dream of.
"This is my golden ticket," Alex muttered. "But I need to play it smart. One wrong move, and I could lose everything."
He spent the entire day at his desk, researching, reading, and planning. By the time night fell, his mind was brimming with ideas. A soft knock on the door broke his concentration.
"Master Alex?" a gentle voice called. It was the maid from earlier. "Mr. Stark has requested your presence for the family dinner."
Alex glanced at the clock. It was already 8 PM. He had lost track of time.
"Just coming in two minutes," he replied.
As he stood to leave, a thought struck him. He had to be sure.
"System!" he called out.
Silence.
Disappointed, he tried again, this time with a different approach. "Status!"
To his astonishment, a translucent blue screen appeared before him, floating mid-air. His heart raced as he read the text displayed..
---
[STATUS SCREEN]
Name: Alex Stark
Physique: 6.2
Agility: 5.3
Dexterity: 7.4
Vitality: 4.1
Intelligence: 10.4
Skills: Mathematics (C), Computer Science (B), Hacking (C), Music (D), Entrepreneurship (D)
System Points: 0
Traits: Wealthy Heir, Enhanced Intellect
---
Alex gasped, a mix of excitement and disbelief coursing through him. "I have... a system?"
This was a game-changer. The universe hadn't just given him a new life—it had given him a tool to reshape it entirely.
He closed the screen with a wave of his hand, a grin spreading across his face. "This just got a whole lot more interesting."
With renewed determination, Alex left his room, his mind buzzing with possibilities.