Darkness crept into the edges of Aurelian Stark's vision.
His breathing became shallow. The cold no longer bit as sharply because his body was starting to give in. Snow blurred into grey mist above him, and even the pain in his ribs felt distant, like it belonged to someone else.
So this is it…
Just as he was about to lose consciousness, a voice echoed in his mind.
Not sound.
A **notification**
> [ Hello, dear adventurer. Please create your profile. ]
Aurelian froze.
The world stopped.
Snowflakes hung motionless in the air. His breath no longer steamed. The pain vanished. Completely gone. His body felt weightless, suspended in time.
For a full heartbeat, his mind went blank.
Then realization hit him.
A system…?
Shock turned to disbelief. Disbelief turned to joy.
Aurelian laughed—truly laughed—for the first time since waking in this world.
"So, it's true a system exists, all those novels I read didn't lie," he muttered.
Another translucent panel appeared before his eyes.
> [ Profile Creation ]
He focused on it instinctively, and a new interface opened.
> [ Profile Creation ]
> Options:
> { Name }
> { Body }
He selected { Name } first.
As he was about to write Aurelian Starks, he paused for a moment
Why don't I create my own family instead of being Starks? he muttered.
As he thought, letters formed briefly before settling.
[ Aurelian Eldritch]
A fitting name for an otherworldly person, Aurelian laughed happily
Next, he chose { Body }.
The interface changed again.
> [ Body Customization ]
> Options:
> { Body Build Shape }
> { Hair Color }
> { Eye Color }
Aurelian did not hesitate.
For [Body Build Shape], he selected:
- Muscular, but flexible body
Not bulky. Not slow. A body built for endurance, strength, and battle.
For [Hair Color]
- [Dark Black]
For [Eye Color]
- [Dark Black]
The choices finalised with a soft chime.
> [ Profile Creation Complete ]
The frozen world shattered back into motion.
Pain vanished—not dulled, not eased, but erased.
Aurelian gasped as warmth filled his limbs. His bones realigned. Flesh knitted together. Ribs that had been crushed moments ago reformed as if they had never broken. Blood disappeared from the snow beneath him, leaving only untouched white.
He pushed himself up in disbelief.
His body felt… perfect.
Stronger than before. Lighter. Alive.
Then another set of notifications appeared, one after the other.
> [ Profile Created Successfully ]
> [Check-in System Loaded ]
> [ First Check-in: New World — planetos ]
A pause.
Then the final message.
> [ Congratulations, Adventurer ]
> [ You have obtained the Sub-System: TYRANT ]
Aurelian was stunned.
"sub-system…" he whispered.