Jin's breath remained uneven as the translucent blue screen hovered before him. The strange mechanical voice echoed in his mind, its tone calm despite the chaos raging within him.
[System Initialized. Welcome, Host Jin Kyoto.]
He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't a hallucination. He had seen enough in his past life to know that fear didn't manifest as floating text in front of one's eyes. No, this was real.
[Beginning Adaptation. Assigning Initial Skill: Sixth Sense.]
A sharp pain stabbed through his skull. Jin groaned, clutching his head as foreign knowledge and sensations flooded his mind. His perception expanded in ways he had never experienced before. He could feel it now—the presence of the ghost, its aura thick with malevolence, the way it moved like a cold wind brushing against his skin. It wasn't just standing there. It was approaching.
Jin swallowed hard, forcing himself to focus on the system.
"What… what are you?" he whispered, hoping for an answer.
[System: The World's Key. A tool granted to chosen individuals to traverse different worlds and adapt to supernatural occurrences.]
"Different worlds?" Jin's mind reeled at the implication. Reincarnation was one thing, but world travel?
[Host has received a Newbie Package. Opening…]
A golden key materialized in front of him, floating gently before landing in his palm. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, information about it flowed into his consciousness.
[Gold Key: Grants entry to another world for ten years. Upon return, no time will have passed in the original world.]
Jin's eyes widened. Time didn't move in this world while he traveled? That meant he could leave, escape this nightmare, and return as if nothing had happened. The implications were staggering, but right now, all that mattered was survival.
[Explanation of Keys:]
Bronze Key: Grants entry to a small world for one month. Silver Key: Grants entry to a world for one year. Gold Key: Grants entry to a world for ten years. Diamond Key: Grants entry to a world for twenty-five years.
Jin's heart pounded. He had a gold key, one of the higher-tier ones. But why? What was the purpose of this system? Before he could ask, another notification appeared.
[Danger Level Increasing. Immediate Evacuation Recommended.]
His stomach dropped. The ghost was getting closer.
Jin peeked out from behind the slide. The figure was now closer, standing unnaturally still just a few feet away. Its hollow eyes bore into him, and though its face held no expression, Jin felt an overwhelming sense of dread.
He couldn't fight this. Not yet. His only option was to run.
Without hesitation, he focused on the key in his hand. "How do I use this?"
[Choose a world. A door will appear before you. Step through, and your journey begins.]
The screen shifted, revealing a list of available worlds. He didn't have time to analyze them all, but his eyes scanned the names in desperation.
Jumba: A world of endless deserts and wandering spirits. Krin: A realm of towering beasts and endless war. Lacen: A land of dynasties and ancient exorcism techniques. etc...
Lacen. Exorcism. That word stood out like a beacon of hope. If he was going to survive in this new reality, he needed power—knowledge that would help him deal with the horrors lurking in the shadows. And Lacen seemed to have exactly that.
[World Selected: Lacen. Preparing Transfer.]
Before he could second-guess himself, a golden doorway appeared before him, shimmering with ethereal energy. The ghost, sensing his movement, let out a low, guttural sound and lunged.
Jin didn't hesitate. He threw himself forward, diving into the portal just as the icy fingers of the entity brushed against his back. A moment later, everything went dark.
Jin's senses exploded as he tumbled forward, landing hard on solid ground. He groaned, pushing himself up and shaking off the dizziness.
[Welcome to Lacen. Time Remaining: 10 Years.]
Jin took a deep breath, his heart still racing from his escape. He didn't know what awaited him in this strange land, but one thing was certain.
He needed to survive.
And he needed to learn.