The system panel stared at Len Fang, hovering in the air before him like some divine decree. It cast blue lights unto this youth's face, illuminating his features in an ethereal glow as words and details were etched unto its interface in glowing characters that pulsed with power.
Instantly, Len Fang's heart beat rose, pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat!
'A system!' Len Fang exclaimed internally, his mind racing with the implications.
"To think I will find a system! What is this luck?" Len Fang could not help but wonder, his thoughts swirling with disbelief and cautious hope.
In this world, there were those chosen by luck—blessed individuals who seemed to stumble into fortune at every turn—and those cursed by misfortune, who struggled for every scrap they could claim.
Len Fang could not be argued with that he is not cursed by misfortune! His entire life had been proof of that bitter truth!
Every step forward had come with two steps back. Every small victory had been followed by crushing defeat. The universe itself seemed to have singled him out for suffering.
But to think, that this youth, who had faced all sorts of tribulations in his life and survived them through sheer stubborn will, could ever find a system—one of the legendary golden fingers that could change a person's entire fate!
If one were to see this, if anyone who knew Len Fang's history were to witness this moment, they would think they are mad! They would refuse to believe it! The cursed Len Fang obtaining a system was like lightning striking the same place twice—theoretically possible but practically unheard of.
"A system...." His voice trailed off, the word hanging in the air between him and the glowing interface.
The word system is very common in the new age, common enough that everyone knows of them even if few possess them. A word usually signifying a golden finger that will help a protagonist rise above their station and achieve greatness.
Naturally, it is usually associated with something overpowered, something that possesses capabilities beyond normal comprehension, that can cause the change of the winds of life and reverse even the most dire of fortunes.
But...
Len Fang's expression grew complicated as reality tempered his initial excitement.
Not all systems are like this. In this world, systems are very rare—precious beyond measure—and not all are nice and as useful as one would think from the legends and stories.
Some among them were incomparably powerful! Giving one the power to control the flow of life and death with but a thought!
A few possessed strength that defied the imagination, capabilities that bordered on the divine.
There were those whose might could shake mountains and rivers, whose wielders became legends spoken of in hushed whispers.
But there were also those who were tied with their system in chains rather than partnership, constantly working but not getting anything in return, slaves to their supposed golden finger.
This is not the case of work like an ant and eat like an elephant, where hard work brings proportional rewards.
This is the same as work as an ant and eat nothing! All gains going to the system, all benefits flowing away from the host while they suffered and toiled endlessly!
Looking at the now complicated expression of Len Fang as he stared at his system interface, the blue light reflecting in his pale black eyes, he could not help but wonder with growing concern: 'Is this system going to be helpful? Or is it going to bring forth another misfortune to add to my collection?'
But again, right now that is not what Len Fang should be thinking, not what he should be wasting precious mental energy on.
Within the next breath of time, Len Fang turned his thoughts away from 'If' and 'Maybe' and unto understanding his system, onto dealing with the reality before him rather than speculation.
If one were to keep standing while wondering endlessly about possibilities, what will change? Nothing!
One must enter the heart of the fire and seek to find and change what he truly wants to, and now, Len Fang wants to change his confusion and find out what he wants to know.
Action over contemplation. Truth over fear.
In but a heartbeat, Len Fang called out to the system, his voice steady despite his racing heart.
"System?"
Without hesitation, a voice pierced through to Len Fang's ears—clear, mechanical, yet somehow possessing a quality that suggested intelligence rather than mere programming.
[Yes, host?]
The response was immediate, confirming the system's presence and responsiveness.
Len Fang instantly calmed at hearing the reply, his breathing evening out. At least it responded. At least it acknowledged him as host.
That was a good sign.
"What are you and what are your functions?" he asked directly, cutting straight to the heart of the matter without preamble or politeness.
[Thank you for the question!]
The system's tone was almost cheerful, if such a thing could be said of a mechanical voice.
[I am the Assistant System here to assist you in your endeavors. Whether it being getting stronger or to finding artifacts or systems, I am here to help you!]
The promise was tantalizing—assistance in everything he would need to survive and thrive in the coming apocalypse.
[To demonstrate my functions to you, please call out the word (Begin)]
The instruction was simple, straightforward.
Len Fang's mind turned over the implications. This seemed too good to be true, but what choice did he have? He needed every advantage he could get.
He did not waver in his decision.
"Begin," he commanded, his voice firm and clear in the empty warehouse.
As soon as those words rose from Len Fang's mouth, as soon as the command left his lips, suddenly the system interface which was at Len Fang's front began to glitch violently!
The smooth blue display started to distort and fragment, pixels scrambling in ways that should not be possible!
Brrr~
The sound was wrong, discordant, like reality itself was being torn.
[3RROR D3T3CT£D]
The message flashed across the screen in corrupted text that hurt to look at.
[Syst3m G3tting Hack3d...]
Len Fang's eyes widened in shock and horror. Hacked? How? By what?
[.....]
The dots continued, a loading indicator for something terrible happening in real-time before his eyes.
[£rror D....]
The message cut off mid-word.
Suddenly, a strange silence returned to Len Fang's ears, heavy and oppressive. The system interface went completely dark, all light extinguished as if it had never been.
Cold sweat instantly formed on his back, trickling down his spine despite the cool air of the warehouse.
He sucked in a cold breath, his lungs struggling to draw air as panic threatened to overwhelm him.
"System?" he called out slowly, carefully, his voice barely above a whisper. "System, are you there?"
But there was no response. Only silence greeted his query, deep and terrible.
His heart sank. Had he lost it already? Had his system been destroyed before he could even use it?
Then—
[Hehehe, to think there is another place here, huh?]
A completely different voice emerged from the darkness, this one carrying a tone that sent chills down Len Fang's spine—playful, dangerous, utterly alien to the Assistant System's previous demeanor.
Len Fang's heart pounded frantically, each beat like a drum of war in his chest!
"Who is this?" His thoughts churned wildly, racing to understand what was happening. "What happened to my system? Who are you?"
[Hmm... Is this the host?]
The voice seemed to be examining him, studying him like a specimen under glass.
[Len Fang, huh?]
The way it said his name made his blood run cold.
Len Fang's face turned pale, all color draining from his features. His hair stood on end, every instinct screaming danger!
How did it know his name? What was this entity that had invaded his system?
[Hehehe... Then let's be friends, Len Fang!]
The words hung in the air like a curse, and Len Fang knew with absolute certainty that whatever had just happened, his life had become exponentially more complicated.