From his previous life's memories a particular detail stood out for him. Back on Earth he had read countless novels to escape the harsh reality of the apocalypse.
His favorite among them was a novel called Saga of the God Slayer. An author had written the story inspired by the demons of the apocalypse and had also mixed other tropes and elements in the story.
A story of a chosen one protagonist with thick plot armor if one had to summarize in a few words, but in actuality the details and worlds were far more complex even for him as a reader to understand; some things were just left hanging and unaddressed the whole story.
It majorly narrated the story of this magical continent of Aris, a world where magic soared, gods schemed, and mortals carved their own paths to supremacy.
And the name of the continent Will currently lived on, coincidently or not, was also Aris.
The resemblance didn't just end there. The power system of this world, the flow of mana, the structure of society, and even the laws of magic, everything mirrored the fictional setting he had once lost himself in.
It wasn't just a vague similarity. It was near identical, as though someone had taken the world from the novel and painted it over reality.
Will couldn't dismiss such a coincidence.
He had two theories about the whole situation.
One: he had been trapped inside the novel itself as a character within a world whose story was never mentioned at all. Maybe an illusion of the same demon who tormented him.
Two: He had been thrown into an alternate universe where the events of the story were real, where the author of the novel had, knowingly or unknowingly, glimpsed this world through imagination or some sort of ability.
The second option felt more plausible to him, but even then, he wasn't arrogant enough to assume he understood the working behind his reincarnation.
Maybe it wasn't even a past life at all, and he was just remembering someone else's memories. But since the suffering was so real, it had become personal for him at this point.
He had wished to be given a second chance before death, and now he would use this chance to its full potential.
The only thing he knew with certainty was a simple fact: if this was an illusion or a trap, he would have to shatter it and escape from the matrix of this.
And the ones responsible would experience a judgment far crueler than what he suffered in his past life; that was his ambition and goal from now on. His hate for demons had been increasing every second for the past two years.
from the moment he had started seeing those dreams.
DING!!
A soft chime echoed within his consciousness, disrupting the flow of his thoughts. Will frowned, sitting up slightly beneath the laurel tree.
Then glowing text materialized before him.
[System sync rate reached 100%]
[Supremacy system activated.]
Will's breath hitched for a moment. A system. An actual system. He was really in a novel; now he was certain.
"I've had my doubts about my rebirth," he muttered under his breath, "but never did I imagine I would get a live system like the ones I only read about in novels back on Earth."
There was no excitement in his voice, though. Emotions were hard to express for him.
Systems were cheats, monstrous advantages capable of propelling one to heights unimaginable. But Will was not naive; he did not put false hope on anything.
He already had a goal, carved in the blood of his family. Whether he received help or not, he would chase it to the ends of existence.
The addition of the system didn't ignite any excitement; it merely eased the weight resting on his shoulders by a fraction.
As if sensing his mindset, the system responded.
Your temperament is nice and aligns with the system's mission. My initial doubts about helping a mortal human like you are now cleared.
"System."
[Yes, host]
"Don't read my thoughts."
That is impossible. Since I exist in your soul space, every vulnerability of yours is clear to me. I can never stop reading you; you are the host after all. I run for you and on you.
A flicker of annoyance crossed Will's face.
"Then don't comment on my thoughts. Act as if you know nothing."
A brief pause happened.
[Understood… Now, would you like to know about my capabilities?]
"Before that," Will said, his cold tone sharpening, "tell me your purpose and your origin, and if you cannot, you are free to leave."
William said he feared that system might be something sent to toy with him by someone who wanted to play with his fate.
The system let out a sigh.
[sigh!! fine …]
[I will be brief and reveal only what I am permitted, but everything will be the truth. For you to believe me, I will swear upon the Will of the Universe. If I lie, may the universe erase me from existence.]
Will's eyes narrowed.
Swearing upon the Will of the Universe, the highest oath any being could take.
Even gods trembled before such a vow. It was different from swearing to the heavens.
Heavens were mere layers of existence. But the universe was the origin of everything in existence.
A system capable of swearing such an oath existed on a scale beyond comprehension. He silently signaled for it to continue.
[I am a sentient system without any physical form. You cannot know my origins, and you are wise enough to understand why.]
[My purpose was to find a host and fuse myself with them. The host must possess a strong will and madness buried within.
Will didn't flinch; he continued to listen until now, when everything sounded like usual things he had heard from generic systems in countless system novels.
[I devour fate. The fate you change or break will nourish me, also the fate of what i have digested before. In return of you feeding me fate disruptions i will make you stronger through sevral means]
It is sort of a symbiotic relationship, although I can sustain it without you doing anything due to my previous reserves, but I find fate delicious; that's all. Once bound to a host, I cannot unbind myself.]
[I cannot turn against my host, I am not familiar with that concept, it's like going against my existence since host is a part of me and i am a part of the host.]
He let out a long exhale.
He had half expected such an answer. Systems, in novels, always had enigmatic origins. As long as it didn't pose a direct threat to him, he would not pry further. Not yet, at least when he found no reason to.
"Fine, I won't ask for more."
[Very well, host]
"Now tell me what you can do."
The system lit up with faint golden text.
[Host, currently two features are unlocked.]
[1. system shop]
[2. binding system]
[1. system shop – purchase anything available on the shop for some shop points.
PRIVILEGE: The host may buy one item for free once a month.
Note: Shop points are earned when you complete a mission.
current assigned missions - N/A]
[2. binding system—host may bind specific individuals. Each time the bound individual gains something that makes them stronger or helps them grow their strength, the host receives 100x their gains, mostly in quality but also in quantity in some cases like cultivation.
[current binders: 1]
[Note: More binders can be purchased from the shop.]
Will's eyes sharpened.
"Nice," he murmured.
The outline of a vague plan appeared in his mind. He already had plans for growing, for revenge.
Now, with the system's help, that plan changed and became a lot easier. The obstacles became less suffocating. Time became an ally, not an enemy.