Max was an orphan or earth, he grew up in an orphanage with many other like him but he had one big advantage over others, which was he had Photographic memory. He took full advantage of it and read all kinds of books even when he was little as he grew up he kept up his reading. He always did his school work and in his free time he used to read other practical knowledge books and for fun he used to read comics and other fantasy novels. Since he couldn't afford any gaming setups or games but he could still read online so that's all he did in his free time.
As time passed Max got scholarship on scholarship as he finally got multiple degrees and PhDs in various fields. He had become quite famous in certain education and various other groups. It was finally time to start enjoying his life but that's when tragedy struck there was fire in a lab while he was helping other people get out he himself got stuck in there and before help arrived he had already died by suffocation from the smoke.
But that wasn't the end for max, just when he thought he was dead, he opened his room and it was like he was floating in the sky above the clouds. He braced himself as he thought he was going to fall when he looked down but nothing happened but then it was like he teleported into a pure white room with nothing inside and just then there was a bright light it was just a pure light he couldn't shape it or see who or what it was but he wasn't afraid instead he felt at peace.
Then he heard the sound from the light.
"hello max, you must be wondering what's happening, where you are and stuff like that, well sorry to tell you, you died in that fire but the good news is you lived a good life helping people when you had a chance and even lost your life helping other which means you have lots of good karma due to which you will get another chance."
Max was stunned for a moment but kept listening to the voice.
"so max, you have two options going forward you can either just choose to rest and don't reincarnate in just live in heaven for eternity or you can reincarnate in fantasy world with monster, magic, dungeons and a lot more and since you were a good person you will have some advantages even if you do decide to reincarnate, but I can't tell you what you get as the advantage so that's a bit of gamble for you. So what do you choose?"
Max thought for a moment.
"I choose to reincarnate and I will live a good life here as well help who I can so even if my advantage isn't good n I perish again at least I will still go to heaven later on so that could be my backup since I now know heaven exists and I get in by good deeds..."
Voice… "You are indeed a smart one. Then lets not waste any time and just do this, Good luck on your new life Max"
As the voice said that it was all blank everything turned white again and this time when max opened his eyes he saw green tree leafs and other plants around him, he put his hand up and saw it was the hand of baby not a grown man so he realized he starting from scratch again. Just then he heard a voice of an old man.
Old man-"it seems you are up little man, it's been two days I have been calling you that, I should give you a name, how about Max."
Max lightly giggled at that thinking he would have the same name as he had in his previous life.
Old man-"it seems you like your name, then it's decided you are Max Stone from today."
Max was abandoned by his parent near the edge of the forest thinking some monster will take him away n eat him rather then he live in this world n have a bad life like her, after she abandoned him, she killed herself as well as she wasn't in her right mind.
As a few days passed Max learned that how this old man found him on the edge of the forest and took him in. The old man had a small hut in the forest this area was close to a nearby town so there were no monsters in the area as they were usually hunted down by adventures but there were still some wild animals which the old man could hunt with his magic. He wasn't a strong mage but it was enough to take care of some wild animals.
Time passed as a few years went by and Max could now walk and talk pretty good for someone his age. He now called the old man as grandpa. Even if they had no blood relation he was the only one who cared for him in this world, like in his previous world only a grandma cared for him who was incharge of the orphanage.
As time went by Max learned the language of this world was same as his previous world so he could easily speak and write which not many people could do only those who go to school and most people in villages don't go to schools and here Max lived in a forest and still was able to write which surprised the old man but he was happy that the kid is smart and thought he learned to read and write from the books he had at home but those books Max could read the first time he opened them and he read them all and learned something about the world he was in.
He learned the people called the world Gaia, which was another name for earth in his previous life. There were multiple continents and he was on the continent Eldoria.
Which was mostly human civilization but there were also other species present such as elves, beastmen, dwarfs. These and some other species could talk and live peacefully with humans but there are always good and bad sides to everything so there are bad people from these species too. There are also lots of other monster species some of which live in forests or dungeons and they mainly harm human so they are left to be dealt with by adventurers.
Years passed and Max had even forgotten by now that he was supposed to get and advantage in this world promised by the white light, at first he used to wish n ask for it but nothing happened and he forgot about it n was living his life with his grandpa they used to hunt in the forest and go to a nearby village to by some supplies and only had little contact with people in the village.
When Max turned 16, the old man was quite sick and knew his time was up so he somehow convinced Max to not waste his life in the forest and go out and experience the world and enjoy his life. He had asked Max earlier too but Max wasn't willing to leave the old man alone. But now he couldn't even argue anymore as the old man passed away just as Max turned 16. Max buried the old man in the forrest near their hut and then he packed some stuff that he was planning to take with him n carried it on his back. After paying his respects he walked out of the forest and just as he was reaching the village he heard the sound..
"ding"
"congratulations host you have awakened the adaptation system"
Max was left stunned and speechless for a while he even forgot to walk and just stood still for some time. He eventually got a grip and realized that he was finally getting his advantage that the white light told him about, he wasn't angry that he was getting it late or anything he was just excited that something was finally happening.
He didn't know what the system was yet but he was still happy and just then he felt sadness as he realized he had no one to share the news with. Then he remembered his promise to his grandpa that he will live a happy and good life like his grandpa did as he had no regrets and he didn't want Max to have any that's why he asked him to not live in the forest and go out.