Before I could decide what to do next, a faint chime echoed in my ears, followed by the soft sound of something mechanical clicking into place.
A transparent blue window appeared before my eyes, floating in the air like a ghostly screen.
I froze. My breath caught as glowing letters began to appear one by one, forming neat lines of text that felt both familiar and unreal.
[System Initialization Complete]
[Welcome, Host! Binding System Activated]
My eyes widened. A system? Here?
I stared at the floating screen, a wave of shock and curiosity rising inside me.
I had read about things like this in web novels back in my old world,systems that granted power, guided the protagonist, and helped them survive impossible situations.
For a moment, I almost felt relieved. A system meant I had a chance. It felt like something I could understand.
"Finally," I muttered, letting out a shaky laugh.
"Maybe this world isn't trying to kill me after all."
Then a calm voice echoed directly in my mind. It was emotionless, mechanical, yet strangely soothing.
[Greetings, Host. I am the Binding System.]
[My purpose is to assist your growth and survival through the power of bonds.]
A grin touched my lips. "Alright then, Binding System. Let's see what you've got. Do I get any bonus rewards or a newbie package?"
There was a short silence.
[No.]
" . "
The single word hit like a slap.
"What? No bonus? No skill? Not even a rusty sword?" I asked in disbelief.
[Negative. You are not a chosen hero. You are a linked host.]
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "Figures. Even in another world, I still can't get lucky."
Still, I reminded myself that when I first transmigrated, I didn't even have a system at all. So, this was better than nothing.
The voice continued, ignoring my frustration.
[Host, your current function is the Binding Feature. This allows you to form a connection with a woman of your choice.]
[To create a bond, you must express your intent directly to her. If she accepts willingly, the binding will activate.]
[Once bound, ten percent of her total power will be shared with you.]
[Each successful bond grants one unique skill to you and one to your partner.]
[The more partners you bind with, the greater your total strength and number of skills.]
[With each system level-up, both you and your bonded partners will receive an additional skill.]
I blinked, trying to process everything. So the system worked through bonds, with women, no less. It shared their power with me, and in return, granted both of us skills.
That was… strange, but still it was beneficial.
"So let me get this straight," I said slowly. "If I bind with someone, I get ten percent of her strength, and we both get a new skill. And when the system levels up, both of us gain another skill?"
[Affirmative.]
"And if I bind with more than one partner?"
[Each bond provides additional power and unique skills. However, maintaining emotional balance between partners is essential. If affection within a bond weakens, the link will shatter. When that happens, both the skills and the shared power will be lost, and you will suffer backlash.]
I couldn't help but chuckle. "So it's not just power, it's relationships too. Great. This is going to be fun and terrifying at the same time."
Still, I wasn't afraid. I knew how much I loved my wives, and how much they loved me. That bond wasn't going to break easily.
The system window pulsed gently with blue light, almost as if it was alive.
[Current Available Skill: Binding Initiation]
[To activate, approach your chosen partner and declare your intent to bind.]
I looked toward Sasha. She was still trembling, tears sliding down her pale cheeks. The light around her had faded, but her eyes were distant, lost in guilt and fear.
Maybe this system didn't appear by chance. Maybe it was meant to help me protect her, and find Eliana and Mirah.
I clenched my fists, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Alright, Binding System," I said quietly.
"Let's begin."
I turned to Sasha, her blue eyes trembling with fear and confusion, and decided she deserved to know everything.
"Sasha," I began carefully, "something strange just happened to me. A system appeared, it called itself the Binding System."
She blinked, her expression tightening. "A system?"
"Yes," I said, nodding. "It explained that I can form a bond with someone I choose. When that person accepts, our powers connect. I gain ten percent of her strength, and we both receive a skill from the system. It also said that as the system levels up, we'll keep gaining new skills together."
Her eyes widened. For a moment, she just stared at me, lips parted in disbelief. Then, slowly, she exhaled. "So, you have one too," she whispered.
I frowned slightly. "You believe me that easily?"
She gave a small, trembling smile. "Chris… I'm a transmigrator too. The world I came from is filled with fiction, stories about systems, magic, and other worlds just like this one. And you're my love, my husband. I have my own system as well. It's not hard to believe you when I've lived through something similar."
Hearing that eased something tight inside my chest. I could see the truth in her eyes, the same strange familiarity that connected us both. Two souls from different worlds, thrown together by fate and now bound by something even greater.
I took a deep breath. "If we use this system properly, it might help us find Eliana and Mirah. The skills it grants could give us the strength and direction we need. This might be our best chance."
She listened quietly, hands clasped together. Then she nodded. "If this can help us find them, then I'm with you. What do I need to do?"
I stepped closer and held her gaze. "The system says I have to declare my intent. So, Sasha… do you accept to be my Binding Partner?"
Her cheeks flushed, but her eyes stayed steady. "Yes, I accept."
The moment she spoke, a soft blue glow bloomed between us. A faint line of light extended from my chest toward hers, thin at first, then brightening until it looked alive.
The light pulsed once, twice, and then merged into both of us. The air around us trembled. A rush of warmth spread through my body, sharp, electric, like part of her essence had merged with mine.
[Binding Successful. Partner: Sasha Fou Belle]
The message echoed clearly in my mind. I exhaled and said, "System, show me my status window."
Another transparent panel poped up before me.
***
[Name: Chris Fou Winter]
[Age: 25]
[Rank: 0]
[Bound Partner: Sasha Fou Belle]
[Available Skills: Binding Skill, Locator Skill]
• More features and functions will unlock with system level up.
***
I focused on the last entry, curiosity stirring. "Locator Skill?" I muttered.
The system's calm voice answered:
[Locator Skill: Level 1]
[Effect: Allows the host to sense and locate individuals the host personally knows.]
[Limitation: At Level 1, the skill automatically shows the nearest person known to the host within the current realm. The user cannot manually choose whose location to find.]
[Higher levels allow the user to locate any person the host has previously seen or met.]
My eyes brightened. "So, it shows the location of someone I know, the one closest to me right now?"
[Affirmative.]
A grin spread across my face. "That's perfect for now. If Eliana or Mirah are nearby, I'll know."
Sasha looked up, hope flickering in her eyes. "You can really find them?"
I nodded, determination firming in my chest. "Yes. As long as they're in this world, I'll track them down. Once the skill levels up, I'll be able to find anyone I've ever met."
For the first time since we were thrown into this world, Sasha smiled. Her tears still clung to her lashes, but light had returned to her eyes.
I reached out and took her hand gently. "We're not lost, Sasha. Not anymore. This system, it's not just power. It's our way home."