Leo sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. His suitcase lay half-packed beside him, but he couldn't move. Not because he didn't want to—no, he wanted to leave more than anything—but because his legs refused to cooperate.
"You're leaving me?" Aria's voice was soft, too soft.
Leo forced a smile, one that was as fake as the houseplants on the windowsill. "It's not you, Aria. It's… us. We're not good together."
Her eyes darkened. "Not good together? We're perfect together. You belong to me, Leo."
[Ding! Red Flag Alert: Population You.]
Leo flinched at the sudden voice in his head.
"What the hell?"
[Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. I'm Simmy. Life Simulation System, at your service. You're about to die, by the way.]
"What?" Leo whispered.
Aria tilted her head, her eyes glinting. "What's wrong, darling? Hearing voices?"
[She's about to go full yandere. And not the fun kind.]
Leo scrambled to his feet, heart pounding. "I'm sorry, Aria. Really. But this—it's over."
She stepped forward, each movement deliberate and slow. "No one leaves me. Not alive."
Leo didn't wait to hear the rest. He bolted for the door.
[Run, Forrest, run!]
He barely made it two steps before Aria tackled him. The world spun, and he landed hard on the floor, gasping for breath.
"You can't leave me," Aria hissed, straddling him. Her grip tightened around his neck. "We're together. Forever."
Dark spots swam in Leo's vision. He kicked and thrashed, but Aria was freakishly strong.
[Congratulations! You've unlocked the 'Death by Obsession' achievement! Respawning in 3… 2… 1…]
Everything went black.
---
Leo woke up with a gasp, sitting upright so fast he nearly headbutted someone.
"Easy there," said a voice.
Blinking, Leo realized he was lying on a bed in a small, rustic room. The man beside him had kind eyes and a beard that screamed 'woodland hermit.'
"Where… am I?" Leo rasped.
"Safe," the man replied. "You're in Hallowbrook Village. We found you unconscious near the forest."
Leo's head spun. Hallowbrook? Forest? This wasn't the city. And where the hell was Aria?
[Welcome to your first life simulation! You're now in Fantasy World #347: 'Era of Hunters.' No psychotic ex-girlfriends (yet).]
Leo groaned. "This can't be real."
[Oh, it's real. And good news! You're 18, and it's Awakening Day. Time to see if you get any cool powers. Or none. Probably none.]
Leo massaged his temples. "Why are you so irritating?"
[Because I'm all-knowing and bored. Let's go!]
---
The village square buzzed with excitement. Young adults gathered under a massive crystal, each taking turns placing their hands on its surface. The crystal would glow to reveal their awakened powers.
Leo watched as the village blacksmith's son touched the crystal. It lit up with fiery red light. Everyone cheered.
"Show-off," Leo muttered.
[Your turn! Go make a fool of yourself.]
With a sigh, Leo approached the crystal. He placed his hands on it and… nothing. No light. No sound. Just awkward silence.
"Ha! The outsider's a dud!" someone shouted.
Leo clenched his fists. Great. Not only was he stuck in fantasyland, but he was also powerless.
[Congratulations! You're officially below average.]
"Shut up, Simmy."
---
Back at the hut, Leo lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Life sucked. Again.
[Hey, cheer up. You've unlocked a special ability.]
Leo sat up. "Really?"
[Behold! The 'Life Simulation System.' You get to live different lives, gain abilities, and possibly avoid more homicidal girlfriends.]
"Sounds fake."
[Try it. You can start your first simulation right now.]
Leo sighed. "Fine. Let's get this over with."
[Initiating Simulation #1… Loading… Loading… Error! Too much sass detected.]
"Wait, what?" Leo yelped as the world dissolved around him.
---
And so began Leo's new life—one full of sarcastic commentary, terrible luck, and more chaos than he ever wanted.