Chapter 1: The Collapse
The rain heavnly pouring against the narrow window of Ethan Carter's small studio apartment, each droplet a drumbeat against the silence. The bulb hanging above flickered, casting a ghostly shadow across the peeling walls. Ethan stared at the email on his cracked laptop screen, his heart sinking with every word.
"We regret to inform you that your project proposal has been rejected. Your vision is deemed unsuitable for commercial development."
His hand tightened around the edge of the table. This was the fifth time getting rejection in a row. His dream, his vision of a revolutionary eco-friendly smart city, was nothing more than a fading blueprint buried under corporate greed and traditional thinking.
Ethan's phone buzzed on the desk, the bright screen a cruel reminder of reality.
[Bank Alert: Your account balance is below $1.4. fees applied.]
"Great… just great," he whispered, leaning back, staring at the damp ceiling.
Bills were piling up. The landlord's eviction notice was taped to his door. His once-bright future as an architect seemed like a distant memory, crushed beneath a mountain of debt and empty promises.
He pulled his gaze to the stack of blueprints scattered across the table. Designs of towering green structures, efficient city layouts, and innovative eco-homes stared back at him—brilliant ideas destined to rot in the shadow of failed funding.
"I tried… I tried," he whispered, his voice cracking.
A low rumble of thunder echoed outside. The city of New York—once his canvas—now felt like an iron cage, closing tighter with each breath.
Ethan's hand reached out, trembling, to shut his laptop. But just as his fingers brushed the keyboard, the screen went dark. Then, suddenly, a single line of text appeared:
[You have been observed. Your vision has potential. Do you wish to inherit the Real World Kingdom System?]
[Y/N]
Ethan froze, his breath caught in his throat.
"Wait… What, What the fuck is this?" he whispered, leaning closer. His mind raced—was this some cruel prank? A virus? But the screen didn't flicker. It didn't change.
Lightning flashed outside, briefly illuminating his dim room.
His heart hammered against his chest. "This can't be real… But…"
A cold, unnatural feeling washed over him, like invisible eyes watching. Like a thousand whispers just beyond hearing. His hand hovered over the keyboard.
[Y]
The moment his finger touched the 'Y' key, the screen exploded with light. Ethan stumbled back, knocking over his chair, his vision consumed by a brilliant white glow. A deep, resonating voice filled his mind—a voice that seemed to speak directly to his soul.
"Welcome, Ethan. You have been chosen to inherit the Real World Kingdom System. Your vision will no longer be just dreams. You will build, rule, and thrive."
Pain seared through his head, a tidal wave of symbols and diagrams burning themselves into his mind. He screamed, clutching his temples, his vision spinning. The room twisted, reality warping. Circuits of golden light etched themselves in the air around him, connecting, forming a vast, geometric network.
[System Initialization Complete]
[Primary Skills Unlocked:]
🔹 Blueprint Creation (Lv.1): Design any structure or territory with a digital interface.
🔹 Resource Manifestation (Lv.1): Detect and gather basic resources within your territory.
🔹 Influence Nexus (Lv.1): Connect with and influence people you encounter.
🔹 Terra Sovereignty (Lv.1): Shape and develop your territory.
🔹 Arcane Architect (Lv.1): Integrate magical elements into your designs.
[Daily Task: Expand Your Influence]
Objective: Gain +1 follower (through persuasion, creation, or aid).
Reward: System Experience +1, Random Resource (wood, metal, basic magic stone).
Bonus Reward: Gain an influential follower for double rewards.
[Weekly Quest: Develop Territory]
Objective: Expand territory by 0.1 acres.
Reward: System Experience +5, Random Blueprint Fragment.
Bonus Reward: If the new land is connected to an existing settlement.
[Special Milestone Quest: Found Your First Settlement]
Objective: Establish a village with at least 10 followers.
Reward: System Experience +20, Rare Blueprint (Defensive Tower), Territory Expansion +0.5 acres.
The light vanished.
Ethan collapsed onto his knees, gasping for air. His head throbbed, but the pain was fading. Slowly, he opened his eyes. The room was the same, but it wasn't. In the corner of his vision, a semi-transparent interface hovered—a series of icons and text boxes.
"Is… is this real?" he whispered, reaching out, his fingers passing through the interface like mist.
A notification blinked.
You have one unclaimed territory. Would you like to view it?
His heart pounded. Without even thinking, he whispered, "Yes."
The world around him shimmered, his vision overlaying with a semi-transparent map—a tiny green square glowing just a few blocks away.
"A territory… My territory?" Ethan's voice shook.
He scrambled to his feet, threw on his soaked coat, and rushed out the door—his mind racing faster than his feet.
The rain continued to pour, but Ethan didn't care. His world was falling apart—but now, a tiny spark of hope burned in the darkness.
Because now, he had a system.