Life had always seemed dull and monotonous to Aaron. An average young man, with no real talent and no particular passion. He had dropped out of school, and his life now amounted to temporary work. His savings were meager, barely enough to pay the rent. He survived, but he didn't really live.
That evening, after his shower, his brown eyes, heavy with fatigue, stung horribly. He brushed back his raven-black hair and put on his old, worn-out pajamas. Sleep soon overtook him, and before long, he fell into a deep slumber.
It must have been around midnight when a sudden, violent tremor shook the planet. Aaron opened his eyes, heart pounding. What was that? A second quake followed, even stronger. Weak-legged, he got out of bed and approached the window. He didn't know it yet, but the entire world was taking its last breath. As panic began to seize him, a voice echoed in his mind.
???: Dear inhabitant of Earth, your world is about to perish. But I, the great Osvar, am feeling generous today. Would you like to be reborn in another universe of my own creation?
A choice window suddenly appeared, offering only two options: [Live] or [Die].
The young man pinched his thigh, grimacing almost instantly. So it was real. Hesitantly, he clicked on "Live." After all, it couldn't be worse than his current life.
The ground beneath him crumbled. He felt himself falling into what seemed like a bottomless chasm. The fall was so long that he eventually lost consciousness.
He had no idea how long he had remained unconscious. The ground was hard and damp, darkness reigning supreme. Only a few luminous stones allowed him to see. He was no longer wearing his dreadful pajamas, but loose linen clothes. At his feet, Aaron noticed an intact card booster. He grabbed it automatically. A million questions swirled in his head: "Where have I landed? Am I still on Earth?"
But a voice sounded again in his mind.
Osvar: Hello, can everyone hear me properly… Let's say yes. As your benevolent lord, I've gifted you a card pack. You'll find it very useful. Here's what you need to know:
You may—and likely will—die, but for the next 24 hours, no monster will attack you.
To use a card, simply take it in your hand and visualize it—nothing more. Say "System" to access our marvelous database. You'll find system trading, regional chat, and many other super useful features.
For balance, you will all receive a base, a monster, a job, a spell, equipment, a canteen, water, food, and a magical light.
With that, I wish you all good luck! See you tomorrow at the same time.
Did he just say "monster"? Aaron swallowed hard and opened his pack. Without hesitation, he activated the Base card and the Magical Light card.
"Base: transforms a 10 m² area into a meadow with an artificial sky. A discreet spot providing some semblance of safety."
"Magical Light: a swirling energy that follows its owner, illuminating their path."
Seeing this little patch of greenery calmed him slightly. His eyes then fell on a Monster card.
"Cave Rat: a creature with intelligence and fine motor skills. Weak in combat."
He hesitated. What if this rat was an enemy? Well… the voice in my head said we're safe for 24 hours… He visualized the animal, ready to flee at any moment. The rodent appeared, its yellow eyes staring intently. It was far larger than an ordinary rat, easily reaching a meter in height, maybe a little more.
Rat: Are you going to stare at me with those fishy eyes all day?Aaron: Wait! You… you can talk!?Rat: Yes, and so can you, congratulations. Apparently, we share this skill. Now, do me a favor and shut your mouth before you swallow a fly.Aaron: You don't look that scary… My name is Aaron, and you are?Rat: My friends call me Patch, but for you, it'll be Mr. Patch. I see you've already summoned the Base. Good… very good!Aaron: So, Mr. Patch? What's a giant talking rat good for?
Patch sat back on his hind legs, whiskers twitching with annoyance.
Patch: First, I'm not here to look cute. I'm here to guide you. My talents are fine motor skills and intelligence superior to other monsters. But you'd know that if you used the system.Aaron: Alright… System, activate.
Several options appeared:[Regional Chat][Domestic Monsters][Aaron][Base][Crafting Recipes][System Trading][Current Quests]
There were no quests yet, except the one to survive the next 24 hours. What could go wrong during that time, other than falling into a chasm? Aaron focused on the options floating before him. What if I clicked on myself?
A new window opened:
[Name: Aaron Herkens][Age: 25][Strength: 1][Agility: 1][Endurance: 1][Intelligence: 1][Perception: 1]
[Known Skills]Analysis: skill to obtain details about surrounding elements.Minimap: skill to navigate and mark an area.
[Card Binder]1 x Peasant1 x Canteen1 x Small Flint Knife1 x Minor Healing Spell2 x Canned Food1 x 2L Bottle of Water
The boy sighed and closed the system screen. He was even weaker than he had imagined.
Patch: You seem disappointed, everything okay?Aaron: I'm probably a real burden…Patch: Don't say that! You've just been reborn; you can only get better. Now, move—let's hurry and gather as many resources as possible.Aaron: You're right. Collect what's here. I'll explore the cave in the meantime.
Aaron headed into the tunnels. The light from the energy orb was enough to navigate. While exploring, he noticed thick roots, which he quickly cut with the flint knife. Fortunately, everything he collected turned into cards, making transport much easier. He also found some mushrooms, which analysis showed were safe to eat once cooked. On his way back, he picked up some stones of various sizes. Craft notifications appeared each time he collected something, but he didn't have time to focus on them yet.
[Gathered Resources]3 x Small White Mushroom6 x Cave Roots5 x Small Stone1 x Flint
Returning to the Base, he checked the timer: 20 hours of safety left… Time flew here. He approached Patch, who was sorting his findings.
Aaron: So, what did you find?Patch: Plenty of good stuff! Even a great snack.
The rat licked his lips and handed over the resource cards he had collected.
[Gathered Resources]3 x Earthworms1 x Small Beetle3 x Green Moss12 x Cut Grass
Aaron: When you said good stuff… you meant these insects?Patch: Yes, they're exquisite; you should try!Aaron: No thanks, I'll pass… But for food, we should be fine until tomorrow. I still couldn't find water.Patch: Then let's hurry! What are we waiting for? So much to do, so little time.
The little creature leapt to the tunnel junction. This time they would explore the western area. After an hour, the duo had found nothing and was slowly getting exhausted. The landscape looked the same everywhere.
Patch: Human, wait… give me a moment, my legs aren't as long as yours!
The rat leaned against a wall, catching his breath. Suddenly, his eyes widened. He felt moisture on his paw and began digging energetically at what looked like a fissure.
Aaron: Stop fooling around! What's got you so worked up? I thought you were exhausted…
He fell silent when he noticed water flowing where Patch was digging. He lifted the animal, who scratched him in protest.
Aaron: Patch, you're a genius! Incredible!Patch: I know, I know… now let me go!
The young man grabbed the canteen and filled it, drinking directly from the source. God, it felt good. His thoughts cleared for a brief moment.
[System Alert! Someone is dangerously approaching your base.]