Ethan's eyes snapped open, but he wasn't in his dingy apartment anymore. He was standing—no, floating—in a vast, endless void.
A faint blue light illuminated the darkness around him, pulsing like a heartbeat. In front of him hovered a translucent screen, its glowing text sharp and vivid against the void.
His head throbbed, the pain from the fall still fresh, but the words in front of him were impossible to ignore.
[Welcome, Ethan Cole, to the Entertainment Mastery System.]
"What the hell…" he muttered, his voice echoing strangely in the emptiness.
"Where am I?" He spoke softly, looking around the emptiness that surrounded him.
[Welcome, Ethan Cole, you have been selected as the 1000th recipient of the Entertainment Mastery System! Work hard and conquer the world!]
Ethan blinked, confusion flooding his head. He tried thinking back at everything that brought about this moment. He was in his apartment? Yes, his apartment then….
His eyes widened at the final conclusion of his thought. "I-I died?!"
[Yes, recipient 1000, after falling to your death and fracturing you skull, you fell at the exact same time, at the exact right moment when two realities clash, and two worlds die, there by hitting the right marks for attracting the Entertainment Mastery System]
Ethan could hardly register what the so-called system was saying, his mind was still flooded with other disconcerting thoughts.
"I fucking died?!"
[Very few out of endless of creatures, human and non-human alike are selected by a Artificially Evolved Species such as myself]
Tueh! The sound of a palm connecting with a cheek resounded everywhere, Ethan slapped himself, unable to believe he hadn't fully lost his mind.
There was no way! There was no way he was dead right?
[I am called Error 30001, but you may call me "System", I believe this is easily digestible by your species of your timeline. I am one of many, many more Artificially Evolved Species, and you have been selected as my 1000th host!]
"I can't believe I'm dead!" Ethan wailed to which was followed with a sharp zing noise, and a chilling and powerfully charged feeling that traveled to his body, inciting tremendous pain from him.
"Bloody hell!" Ethan shrieked as he dropped to the "ground" that was made up of absolute nothingness.
[Apologies, I had to send a low-intensity bioelectric recalibration pulse. Your heightened emotional state was producing erratic neural oscillations that impeded coherent communication. The pulse was designed to disrupt the hyperactive feedback loops in your limbic system, thereby restoring cortical equilibrium. While the sensation may have been unpleasant, it was necessary to stabilize your cognitive functions for efficient interaction. You may resume communication now.]
Ethan's eyes could nearly bulge out of their sockets. "You…. You shocked me?"
[Affirmative, host, it was necessary to stop your hysteria.]
He let out a short breath before slumping on the "ground" underneath him and staring above him. "Am I really dead?"
[Affirmative, host]
"And you're a system?"
[Affirmative]
"Like those litrpg books?"
[If that is easier for you to digest]
"Now you're gonna reincarnate me in some fantasy world with a harem and plot armour?"
[Of course not, don't be ridiculous, that would be Error 2444. I am engineered towards Entertainment and created to cultivate the greatest star this world has seen]
"Created by who?" He couldn't lie that his interest was piqued now.
[Negative, not enough Star power to unlock answer]
Ethan clicked his tongue as he got up and sat, bunching his knees to his chest as he tried to fathom the entirely fantastical situation going on.
"You sure I'm not just really high off painkillers?" He asked, his voice cracking as he tried to smile.
After all of this. He really couldn't believe it, which was pathetic considering he had initially tried to end it himself. Now that he was actually dead he was realizing just how pitiful it was to die after all that suffering.
Not one thing had gone right in his life and then he died just as pitiful as he lived.
This is horseshit, he thought.
[Scanning host. Negative host, you are free of overdose of substance. I will pick up where I left off. You have been selected as my 1000th host, and with my features you will become the greatest superstar your world has ever seen!]
His eyes stared off into the distant nothingness m, no really there was nothing there but darkness so he quickly felt creeped out and rolled his eyes up.
"What kind of features?"
It was as if he had finally started asking the right questions because the System seemed so excited to answer…. If that was possible.
[Ah, finally, a relevant query!] the System's voice vibrated through the void, almost sounding smug. [As my host, you will gain access to features that will optimize your career trajectory in the entertainment industry. I am equipped with advanced algorithmic forecasting, skill enhancement modules, and cross-dimensional persona integration.]
Ethan blinked, trying to process the words. "Uh, English, please?"
[Simply put, I will make you the most versatile and talented actor imaginable. Skills, personas, and opportunities will be tailored to your specific growth. For example—]
Before Ethan could respond, a glowing screen materialized in front of him, its surface rippling like water.
[Starter Pack Activated]
1x Skill Token Received
1x Persona Card (F-Tier) Received
Daily Spin Unlocked
"Starter pack? This isn't some mobile game," Ethan muttered, squinting at the screen.
[Incorrect. My functionality is gamified to increase human engagement and adaptability. You may thank me later.]
Another screen appeared, showing a card hovering mid-air. The edges shimmered faintly, and the words "F-Tier Persona" glowed faintly across the front. Ethan reached out instinctively.
"Wait, what the hell is a persona card?"
[Your world is one of limitations, but through these cards, you will assume skills, memories, and traits from parallel realities. Each persona will shape you for specific roles. The tiers range from F to SSS, with F being the most… rudimentary. Suitable for your current level.]
"Wow, thanks for the confidence boost," Ethan said dryly, still staring at the card.
[No sarcasm detected. Proceed to draw your first card.]
He sighed. "Might as well." He grabbed the card, and a wave of heat shot through his hand. The name etched across it appeared in bold, glowing text:
[Background Extra – Ordinary Office Worker]
"Seriously?!" Ethan groaned. "This is what's supposed to make me the 'greatest superstar'?!"
[Every journey begins somewhere. Use this persona wisely. Your first mission is now live.]
A new screen popped up in front of him.
[Mission 1: Secure a role in any production within 24 hours.]
Reward: 500 XP, 1 Skill Token
Failure: System Deactivation
His jaw dropped. "Deactivation? What the hell does that mean?"
[It means I cease functionality, and you return to your current state: unemployed, indebted, and irrelevant. Do not fail.]
Ethan's hand tightened around the card. His head was still spinning, but one thing was clear—he couldn't afford to fail. "Guess I don't have a choice, do I?"
[Correct. Now, host, let's begin.]
Ethan arched an eyebrow. "Begin?"
[Affirmative host. You are being sent back to life.]
"Wait, what?"
[5]
"I'm being–"
[3]
"Resurrected!?!"
[1, buh-bye!]
"Argh!" Ethan yelled out, as his eyes sprang open, his familiar ceiling coming within his eye range.