The darkness was absolute. No light, no sound—just this suffocating weight pressing down on him, like being buried alive but without the dirt. Lin Wei tried to move, to speak, but his body wouldn't cooperate. It felt… wrong. Like he wasn't fully there.
Panic started creeping in, slow at first, then all at once. Memories flickered through his mind—fragments of something that didn't quite fit together. A car screeching. Headlights blinding him. Then silence. Just… nothing.
And now this.
Am I dead? The thought floated up, unbidden, but it didn't feel urgent. More like a distant curiosity, as if his brain couldn't muster the energy to care. He wanted to scream, to cry out for help, but even that seemed pointless. Who would hear him here?
Then came the voice.
Cold. Mechanical. So sharp it made his nonexistent spine tingle.
[Eternity System Initialized.]
[Host: Lin Wei | Status: Reincarnated]
[Objective: Survive. Adapt. Conquer.]
"What the hell is this?" Lin Wei muttered aloud. His voice sounded strange, hollow, like it was echoing back at him from some far-off place. He blinked—or at least, he thought he did—and suddenly the world shifted.
The oppressive blackness gave way to blinding light, and he found himself falling. Or maybe floating? Hard to tell when everything around him was moving too fast—or too slow—to make sense of. Shards of glowing fragments surrounded him, each one pulsing with strange symbols and images. Some showed bustling cities with towering spires; others depicted barren wastelands under blood-red skies. And still others… well, they looked like pure chaos, colors swirling and twisting in ways that hurt his eyes just looking at them.
He landed hard on solid ground, coughing as dust filled the air. When he opened his eyes, the sight before him stole his breath away.
A sprawling city stretched out under twin suns, their golden light casting long shadows across jagged buildings and floating platforms. Strange creatures roamed the streets alongside humans, their forms ranging from humanoid to utterly bizarre. In the distance, a massive rift tore through the sky, pulsating with chaotic colors that defied logic. Lightning crackled within the tear, sending shockwaves rippling across the horizon.
"Where… am I?" Lin Wei whispered, staggering to his feet. His clothes were gone, replaced by a simple gray robe that hung loosely on his frame. A glowing interface hovered in front of him, displaying stats and options he didn't understand.
[Level: 1 | EXP: 0/100]
[Abilities Unlocked: Time Manipulation Lv.1]
"Time manipulation?" He reached out instinctively, not really sure what he was doing. To his astonishment, the flow of time around him slowed to a crawl. People moved like statues, their expressions frozen mid-step. The sensation was intoxicating—and terrifying.
But before he could marvel at it, reality slapped him in the face. Literally.
From the shadows emerged figures clad in black armor, their weapons gleaming with unnatural light. Their leader stepped forward, his crimson eyes locking onto Lin Wei like a predator spotting prey.
"You're the anomaly," the man growled, raising his blade. "And anomalies must be eliminated."
Lin Wei's heart skipped a beat. Anomalies? What does that even mean?! He had no idea who these people were or why they wanted him dead—but one thing was clear: survival would require more than luck. It would take everything he could learn about this strange new world—and the mysterious system guiding him.
With a deep breath, Lin Wei clenched his fists and activated the only ability he had. Time slowed once again, and he prepared to fight—for his life, and for answers.
As the first soldier lunged toward him, Lin Wei sidestepped clumsily, his movements untrained but desperate. The blade grazed his shoulder, drawing blood, but adrenaline surged through him. Focusing on the interface, he tapped into another feature of the system:
[Skill Enhancement: Reflex Boost Lv.1 Activated]
His reflexes sharpened instantly, allowing him to dodge a second attack with ease. With newfound confidence, Lin Wei grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it at the nearest assailant, striking him squarely in the chest. The armored figure stumbled back, giving Lin Wei precious seconds to retreat.
Breathing heavily, Lin Wei ducked into an alleyway, clutching his wounded arm. The pain was sharp, but manageable. He glanced at the interface again, noticing something new:
[Quest Alert: Escape the Enforcers]
[Reward: +50 EXP, Temporary Safe Haven]
"A quest?" Lin Wei muttered, incredulous. "What is this, some kind of game?"
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. This whole situation was insane. One minute he was dying in a car accident, the next he's stuck in some weird fantasy world with floating cities, talking interfaces, and guys in black armor trying to kill him. How was any of this real?
Despite his confusion, the objective gave him clarity. Survival came first. As shouts echoed behind him, Lin Wei pushed forward, navigating the labyrinthine streets of the alien city. Every step brought new revelations—and new dangers.
For the first time since waking up in this strange place, Lin Wei felt a spark of determination ignite within him. Whatever this world was, whatever role the Eternity System intended for him, he vowed not to go down without a fight.
Besides, he thought wryly, if this really was some kind of game, he might as well play to win.