Chapter 1: The Beginning of My Most Shitty Day (1)
Somewhere in this godforsaken world...
A lush, magical forest stretches beneath a brilliant blue sky, teeming with wildlife and lurking dangers. In the heart of this vast wilderness, a war rages-fought over territory and precious resources.
Nestled in a clearing among ancient trees lies a small village. A handful of scattered buildings cluster around the center, all enclosed by rough wooden walls meant to protect the heart of the settlement: the Town Hall.
Right now, chaos reigns. The battle is fierce-defenders struggle desperately to hold the line, while attackers press forward with savage determination.
The villagers make use of every defense they have: an archer tower, where a lone archer fires arrow after arrow at the oncoming horde, and two rickety cannons that look like they might fall apart from the recoil alone. One can't help but question whether these makeshift weapons can do any real damage.
Boom...!!! Boom...!
On the other side, about twenty barbarian-looking men charge forward, swinging massive swords and bellowing war cries.
Hyaa...!!! Hyaa...!!!
They carve a path of destruction, heading straight for the Town Hall, demolishing everything in their way.
Amidst the defenders, one person stands out-a young man in modern clothes, utterly out of place in this world. He stands near the outer wall, frozen for a moment, until the urgent clang of the emergency bell jolts him into action. He sprints toward the Town Hall, panic rising with every step.
"Run, Max! Come on, run quickly! Why do I have to be the one with such shitty luck?!"
[Host! You're lucky you have me, so why are you whining like a child?]
"Shut up! What did I do in my last life to deserve a useless system like you?!"
My name is Max Oliver. Why? Because I died in my first life-at least, that's how I remember it.
How did I end up here? Well, that's a pretty pathetic story.
Let's start from the beginning-how I got here, and the truth behind my suffering.
Two Hours Ago
Max was completely absorbed in a fierce Clash of Clans battle, his eyes glued to his phone as he commanded his troops with frantic taps. Suddenly, an urgent notification buzzed on the screen. As he reached for it, the phone slipped from his grasp. He lunged to catch it, lost his balance, and crashed into the sharp corner of his table. Pain exploded in his head and chest as he hit the floor, the world spinning wildly. Darkness swallowed him before he could even process what had happened.
When Max finally opened his eyes, his familiar room was gone-replaced by a strange new reality. The game he'd just lost wasn't confined to a screen anymore. It had become his entire world.
How did I know I was in the game? Well, a level 1 Town Hall is hard to mistake. Right in front of me stood a small, sturdy wooden building with rough, weathered planks and a simple, square design. Its slanted roof was thatched with straw, slightly worn but intact. A plain wooden door faced me, functional and unadorned. The Town Hall stood on a patch of dirt surrounded by scattered stones-a humble but vital heart for the village. Despite its simplicity, it radiated the quiet strength of a place where a village's fate begins.
"Am I dreaming, or is this really happening?" Max muttered, glancing around at his strange new surroundings.
[Of course you're not dreaming, Host!]
Eh!!!???
"What the fu-?! Who's talking to me?" Max spun around, startled by the sudden voice in his mind.
[I'm the system, Host! You know, like in those otaku novels. Congratulations on successfully binding with me!]
"Are you serious? Is this some kind of joke?" Max asked, suspiciously eyeing the clearing and the dense forest beyond.
[No joke, Host. I'm 100% real.]
"So, where am I, and why is there a Town Hall in front of me?"
[Let's just say you've transmigrated into a game-like world called Eldgonet-a magical medieval world where anything is possible, according to the rules of the game. All thanks to your, uh, rather pathetic death in your old world.]
"And by 'game-like world,' you mean... let me guess, Clash of Clans?" Max said, walking toward the Town Hall.
[Correct, Host! But you're not the only one who'll transmigrate. You're just the first-lucky enough to bind with me, a system unique in this world.]
"Which means...?"
[Yes, Host. It means people from your old world will start appearing here soon, each as the chief of a new village with a level 1 Town Hall as their home.]
"..."
"So, what are the benefits of binding with you?" Max asked, curiosity overcoming his frustration. "Give me something-superpowers, divine skills, or a divine dick-like those systems in web novels! Come on!"
[...]
Max's face darkened at the long silence. He stopped walking, pointed to the sky, and shouted, "At least give me something useful to survive!"
[Host! Aren't I the most useful thing you could have to survive in this world?!]
His mouth hung open in disbelief. It took a few seconds for the words-and their implications-to sink in.
Max's fists clenched, his knuckles turning white. Anger surged through him, his face flushing red. He ground his teeth, frustration boiling just beneath the surface.
"So, you're just a freeloader, here to give me just bullshit advices instead of help? Don't even call yourself a system! You're an insult to systems everywhere else!"
[Host, you'd better stop, or don't blame me for what happens next!]
"Are you threatening me? What can you even do, you useless system?!"
[You forced me, Host!]
Zap. Shock.
Suddenly, a jolt of electricity shot up Max's arm, making his muscles seize and his hand snap back. His whole body tensed, heart pounding as a tingling numbness raced from his fingertips to his shoulder. At the same time, a mocking message flashed before his eyes, twisting the knife with its cold, digital sneer. Humiliation and pain collided inside him-his face burned, his jaw clenched. The shock wasn't just physical; it felt like the system itself had slapped him.
[Host! You were saying something? Hehehe.]
Max gritted his teeth and forced a flattering reply. "Of course! I was just saying how great you are. Other systems are just cheap copies-you're the real deal."
[Thank you very much, Host.]
He thought loudly, You shameless system, I'll get my revenge for this humiliation.
[Host! You know I can read your superficial thoughts, right? Hehehe...Hehehe.]
"You mean...?" he asked, suddenly fearful.
Zap. Shock.
"Aaah! Aaaah!"
That day, in the heart of the magical forest, surrounded by countless dangers, the screams of a new arrival echoed through the trees.