The blinding flash was the last thing Ning Feng remembered. One moment he was in his laboratory, the hum of high-voltage equipment a familiar symphony as he finalized the energy containment field. The next, an overwhelming surge of power engulfed him, the world dissolving into a chaotic storm of light and sound. Then, nothing.
He drifted in a void, a sensationless expanse. There was no pain, no fear, just an unsettling absence. Then, a faint spark ignited within him, a nascent awareness slowly growing stronger. It wasn't physical, but a sense of being, expanding into the nothingness. Is this…death? he wondered, the thought echoing silently.
Then, a new sensation: a gentle warmth, a soft pressure, as if cradled. Fragmented images formed: swirling colors, indistinct shapes, the faint sound of rushing wind. He felt lighter, less defined, as if his essence had diffused. He wasn't perceiving through eyes or ears, but through a diffuse sense of…energy. He was aware of warmth from "outside," the gentle breeze, and the faint hum that permeated everything. I…I'm energy? The realization was both terrifying and exhilarating. He tried to move, but there were no limbs. He was a disembodied consciousness, adrift.
Then, a voice echoed in his mind, clear and mechanical:
A semi-transparent, geometric shape, resembling a stylized circuit board, materialized briefly in his awareness, accompanied by a soft, digital chime.
[System Initialization Complete.]
[Welcome, Host. You have been designated as User 001.]
[Primary Function: Energy Conversion and Optimization.]
[Scanning Host's Current State…]
[Host Designation: Energy Entity (Type: Unstable)]
[Current Energy Reserves: Minimal.]
[Physical Form: None. Recommended Action: Seek suitable energy source for stabilization.]
Ning was stunned. A system? Like in those web novels? The thought was absurd, yet undeniable. The voice, the information, it was real.
[Analyzing Local Environment…]
[Detected Energy Sources: Solar Energy (Abundant), Atmospheric Energy (Moderate), Terrestrial Energy (Minimal). Recommended Action: Absorption of Solar Energy for initial stabilization.]
He instinctively focused on the warmth, the energy the system called solar. A swirling vortex of golden light materialized beside his formless essence. It wasn't solid, but a shimmering, semi-transparent spiral, like heat haze given form. Tiny particles of light streamed from the vortex towards him, dissipating as they touched him. Holographic readouts flowed outward, updating in real-time: +12/sec, +15/sec, +18/sec, the numbers fading as new ones appeared. A low hum accompanied the absorption, growing louder with each surge.
[Absorbing Solar Energy…]
[Energy Reserves Increasing…]
A translucent, segmented circle appeared around his form, each segment glowing blue as his stabilization progressed. Numerical percentages appeared within each filled segment: 25%, 50%, 75%. A rhythmic pulse emanated from the circle.
[Stabilization Complete.]
As the final segment glowed blue, the circle dissolved. A brief holographic projection of Ning's energy body materialized. It was more defined, with glowing outlines and details, like flowing strands of energy. Numerical stats flashed around it: Energy Integrity: 100/100, Structural Cohesion: 100/100, Stability: Optimal. A melodic chime echoed as the projection faded, leaving a faint impression of energy.
He could now perceive a faint outline of his own form, a shimmering, translucent figure hovering just above the ground. He was still energy, but no longer formless. He found himself in a forest clearing, bathed in the setting sun. The air was crisp, the scent of pine needles filled his senses. It was beautiful, but he was acutely aware of his vulnerability.
He noticed a small cave nestled among rocks. It would provide shelter. He willed himself towards it, moving slowly, awkwardly. As he reached the entrance, a holographic scroll unfurled before him. Ancient symbols glowed on it as the System spoke:
[Secure Shelter]
Objective: Remain within the designated shelter for 24 hours.
Reward: [Basic Energy Manipulation Technique]
The scroll rolled back up and dissipated, leaving a faint trail of light. Ning entered the cave, the cool darkness a welcome contrast. He settled into an alcove, the rough stone a strange sensation. He was alive, or rather, he existed. He was no longer Ning Feng, the physicist, but something else. An energy entity with a system, adrift in a strange world. His journey had just begun.