The sensation was akin to emerging from anesthesia: thoughts struggled to connect, and assessing my surroundings felt daunting, despite everything being visible. My mind refused to function as it should. Perhaps this was a side effect of being reborn in another realm? I wondered if this was how those in Star Wars felt during a hyperspace jump. All around me stretched a blue expanse, streaked with white lines flashing past. It truly resembled the hyperspace visuals from the films!
Abruptly, everything turned black again, like the void I had been in before. I could feel my body once more—no longer bound by that paralyzing cold. The rustle of grass, the chirping of birds, and the hum of insects crashed over me so suddenly I thought I might go deaf. A blinding light flooded my eyes. After a few minutes, I adjusted to the cacophony and brilliance. Looking around, I found myself on a small hill. To one side lay a vast steppe, to the other, a forest. I was pleasantly surprised to find I wasn't naked: I wore black leather boots, lightweight black linen trousers, a black cotton shirt, and a flowing black cloak. Not exactly an awe-inspiring starter kit for a future emperor…
"Greetings, my Lord!" a pleasant female voice rang out, startling me so much I nearly jumped out of my skin.
"Damn it! You could give someone a heart attack!" I spun around, searching for the source of the voice, but saw no one. Could it be…?
"My apologies, my Lord," the voice interrupted my thoughts. "I opted for vocal communication over text messages at my discretion. I am the System, designed to assist you in your development. I am here to inform you of your current status."
"Is that so? Well then, enlighten me, oh beacon of wisdom," I quipped, unable to resist a touch of sarcasm. The System, unfazed, continued as if I hadn't spoken.
"You have been transported to the world of Raizel. As previously stated, your task is to conquer this entire world!" Her voice carried no hint of jest or irony—just unwavering confidence. The mission, though… I hadn't fully registered its weight before.
"The entire world? How am I supposed to do that without an army, influence, or resources?" The absurdity of the task made me want to throttle the System—or whoever designed it—for dumping such an impossible burden on me from the start.
"Please remain calm, my Lord. Speak or think the word 'Status,' and a window will appear with your…" I didn't let her finish. "Status!" I shouted. A large blue panel materialized before me, displaying an array of information:
USER STATUS 25,000 Cr
Name: Andrey
Class: Sith Lord (Supreme)
Health: 100 HP //Note: Health Points
Stamina: 100 (+50) SP //Note: Stamina Points
Might: 100 (+50) WP //Note: Witchcraft Points
Strength: 20 (+50) PP //Note: Power Points
Mana: 100 (+50) MP //Note: Mana Points
Condition: Normal
Skills: Telekinesis (Level 1), Force Lightning (Level 1), Force Sense (Level 1), Sixth Sense (Level 10), Mind Control (Level 1)
Titles: Emperor (Mental influence on others doubled), Sith (Bonus +50 to all attributes except HP)
I let out a low whistle, mildly astonished. Now this felt like a proper starting kit for a future emperor! Still, some details puzzled me.
"System, what does the 'Might' attribute do?"
"The 'Might' attribute measures your strength as a Sith, my Lord. It is of paramount importance. The potency of your skills scales directly with this attribute, though it does not affect this world's elemental magic."
The System's explanation clarified some things, though questions lingered. For now, I set them aside. This "Might" seemed to be a distinct metric for Sith and Jedi abilities, much like in the films. A memory flashed through my mind—Anakin Skywalker shouting, "You underestimate MY POWER!" before Obi-Wan Kenobi. The thought brought a faint smile.
I hadn't noticed at first, but in the top right corner of the status window, I saw numbers: 25,000 Cr. Credits, perhaps? A currency? If so, there might be a shop tab. I decided to test the theory.
"Shop!" I called out, and a new tab appeared with a sound like a mouse click.
I cringed slightly at having said it aloud—surely thinking it would have sufficed. I was a grown man, yet here I was acting like a kid. Opening the search tab, I scrolled through a list of locked filters. "Is there any filter I can actually use?" I wondered. As if in response, an unlocked filter labeled "Buildings" appeared. I selected it, though a "Materials" filter was also available—its name seemed self-explanatory. A long list of buildings appeared, most marked red with "Locked." But one caught my eye: a "Mining Facility" priced at a mere 15,000 credits. Scanning my surroundings, I spotted a rocky outcrop with bright yellow chunks protruding. Could that be gold? I'd never seen raw gold before.
"System, are those bright yellow formations gold?"
"Affirmative," the System replied, its tone as indifferent as ever. I could hardly contain my excitement—my pants were practically bursting with joy! There must be a hidden luck stat in my profile, and it was clearly sky-high!
Without hesitation, I selected "Purchase," and a blue 3D map of the nearby area appeared, with a miniature version of myself at the center and a model of the mining facility nearby. Locating the gold deposit on the map, I tapped it, and the facility snapped to that spot. Tapping again, I heard the System:
"Commencing construction of the Mining Facility. Estimated completion time: 1 minute."
The short wait thrilled me—I despised delays. While the facility built, I navigated to the "Materials" tab and purchased a simple camping tent and some pre-cooked roasted meat for just 600 credits. Conveniently, a stump nearby served as a table, where a plastic plate with a hefty piece of sizzling meat appeared, fresh off the skillet. As I savored my meal, night approached. Seeing no immediate dangers—the forest was a safe distance away—I entered the tent and fell asleep in my clothes, lulled by the hum of the now-operational mining facility.
I woke early, catching the sunrise. My first thought was to check the gold mining progress. Opening the "My Buildings" tab, which listed only the mining facility, I tapped it. The icon displayed a staggering 59,000 credits—more than double my initial funds! A sum like that demanded to be spent wisely. Tapping the facility again transferred the earnings to my personal account, reflected in my status.
Before I could revisit the shop, the System spoke:
"Congratulations, my Lord! You have unlocked the 'Weapons' tab in the Shop."
This was fantastic—I could arm myself like Stallone in Rambo! Wasting no time, I opened the shop and navigated to the new tab. My eyes widened in disbelief. I could purchase weapons from the Star Wars universe! My gaze locked onto the E-11 blaster rifle, standard issue for Imperial stormtroopers. Though a basic weapon, it was reliable, with enough charge for 100 shots. Its maximum range was 300 meters, though accurate fire was limited to 100 meters. For now, it would suffice. I'd aim for a VADIM later…
The rifle cost 1,000 credits. Hoping my increased funds would unlock more options, I checked the buildings tab again. A "Clone Barracks" caught my attention, sending shivers down my spine at the thought of commanding a small army from the Republic era. It cost 40,000 credits—a steep price, but as a Sith Lord and Emperor, I needed an army, didn't I? While deciding where to place it, the System offered a one-time instant construction. I eagerly accepted, selecting a spot 40 meters from the mining facility. The barracks appeared in my buildings menu, complete with a "Unit Queue" option. Browsing the available units, I spotted "Clone Trooper: 501st Legion." A grin spread across my face, wide enough to rival the Joker's. The 501st, known as "Vader's Fist" during the Galactic Empire's reign! I ordered 50 clones, each costing 100 credits, draining 5,000 more from my funds—a small investment in my empire's future.
The day passed quickly as I managed these tasks. I purchased the same dinner and a bottle of water for 50 credits, ate, and went to bed, eager for the next day.
Grumbling about the brevity of the night as I emerged from the tent, I froze at the sight before me. Fifty clone troopers stood in formation—five rows of ten, their DC-15A blasters raised skyward. Clad in Phase II clone armor with blue stripes, they bore the distinctive markings of the 501st, setting them apart from other units like the 104th "Wolfpack" Battalion. As I took in my new subordinates, they executed a synchronized "Attention" and "At Ease" without command, then shouted in unison:
"Long live the Emperor! Glory to Him and His Empire!"