The screech of brakes filled the air, but it was already too late. Xero's eyes widened as the massive truck barreled toward him, its chrome grille gleaming under the afternoon sun. Time seemed to slow as he stood frozen in the crosswalk, his phone still clutched in his hand from texting his sister about dinner plans.
The impact was immediate and devastating. Pain exploded through his body for a brief moment before everything went dark. His last coherent thought was regret—regret for all the things he'd never done, the risks he'd never taken, the life he'd lived so carefully and cautiously.
Then, nothing.
Xero's consciousness drifted in an endless void, weightless and without form. He couldn't tell if seconds, minutes, or years had passed. There was no sense of time, no sense of self, just an awareness floating in absolute darkness. Gradually, however, warmth began to seep into his being, like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
His eyes snapped open.
Xero gasped, his chest heaving as he sat up abruptly. The movement sent a wave of disorientation through him, but he was breathing. He was alive. His hands flew to his chest, patting down his torso, checking for injuries that should have been there. Nothing. No pain, no broken bones, no blood.
"What the hell?" he whispered, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar in his own ears.
He looked around, blinking rapidly as his vision cleared. This wasn't the busy intersection where he'd been struck. This wasn't even the hospital he'd expected to wake up in. Instead, he found himself lying on an ornate four-poster bed in what appeared to be a luxurious bedroom. Rich tapestries hung from stone walls, depicting scenes of mythical creatures and epic battles. Tall windows allowed golden sunlight to stream in, illuminating dust motes that danced in the air.
Xero swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood on shaky legs. The floor beneath his feet was polished marble, cold against his bare skin. He wore simple linen clothing—a white tunic and brown trousers that felt comfortable and well-made, though he had no memory of putting them on.
"This has to be a dream," he muttered, running his hands through his hair. But the texture felt real, the temperature of the air against his skin felt real, and the slight ache in his muscles from lying down felt real.
He walked to one of the windows and peered outside. His breath caught in his throat. The view revealed a sprawling estate with manicured gardens, cobblestone paths, and ornate fountains. In the distance, he could see rolling hills dotted with what looked like ancient castles and towers reaching toward the sky. The architecture was unlike anything he'd seen in his original world—a blend of Eastern pagodas with their curved roofs and Western medieval strongholds with their imposing walls.
"Definitely not Kansas," Xero said, trying to inject some humor into his bewilderment. "Or Chicago, for that matter."
He turned away from the window and began exploring the room more thoroughly. Everything was pristine and expensive-looking, from the silk curtains to the polished wooden furniture. A full-length mirror stood in one corner, and when Xero approached it, he nearly stumbled in shock.
The reflection staring back at him was his own face—the same brown eyes, the same slightly crooked nose from a childhood soccer accident, the same stubble that he'd always been too lazy to shave properly. But there was something different about him. He looked... healthier. More vibrant. The slight paunch he'd developed from too many late-night takeout meals was gone, replaced by a lean, fit physique. His skin had a healthy glow, and his eyes seemed brighter, more alert.
"I look like myself, but better," he said to his reflection. "Like I've been hitting the gym for months."
Xero flexed his arms experimentally and was surprised by the definition in his muscles. He'd never been particularly athletic in his previous life, preferring video games and books to physical activity. This body felt strong and capable in ways his old one never had.
He left the bedroom and found himself in a long corridor lined with paintings and sculptures. The hallway stretched in both directions, with numerous doors leading to other rooms. His bare feet made soft sounds against the cold stone as he walked, choosing a direction at random.
The estate was massive. Room after room revealed itself as he explored—a library filled with leather-bound tomes, a kitchen with copper pots hanging from the ceiling, a dining hall with a table long enough to seat twenty people. Everything was clean and well-maintained, but strangely empty. There were no servants, no other occupants, no signs of recent habitation besides himself.
"Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing through the empty halls. "Is anyone here?"
No response came back except the faint echo of his own voice.
Xero found himself in what appeared to be a grand foyer, complete with a sweeping staircase and a massive chandelier hanging from the vaulted ceiling. Portraits lined the walls, depicting people in elaborate robes and armor, their faces serious and regal. None of them looked familiar, but something about their clothing and the artistic style suggested this was definitely not his original world.
He was about to call out again when something extraordinary happened.
A translucent blue screen materialized in front of him, hovering in the air like a hologram. Text appeared on it in elegant script, glowing softly in the dim light of the foyer.
[Welcome, Host. System initialization complete.]
Xero stumbled backward, his heart racing. "What the—"
[You have been selected as a Host for the Universal Gacha System. Congratulations on your second chance at life.]
"Second chance?" Xero whispered, his mind reeling. "Then I really did die. That truck really did kill me."
[Correct. You have been transmigrated to the world of Aethermoor and granted a new opportunity to live. The System is here to assist you in making the most of this gift.]
The screen flickered, and new text appeared.
[The Universal Gacha System allows you to draw random items from across the universe. These may include weapons, artifacts, techniques, abilities, medicine, and various other items of power. Each draw requires System Points, which can be earned through achievements, quests, and personal growth.]
"This is insane," Xero said, but he found himself leaning forward, fascinated despite his disbelief. "It's like a video game."
[Would you like to view your Status Panel?]
"My what now?"
The screen shifted, displaying what looked like a character sheet from a role-playing game.
[STATUS PANEL] Name: Xero Race: Human Rank: First Step Health: 100/100 Mana: 50/50 Strength: 12 Agility: 11 Intelligence: 14 Wisdom: 13 System Points: 100
[You have been granted 100 System Points as a welcome bonus. Would you like to access the Gacha System?]
Xero stared at the screen, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. Numbers and statistics that described him like he was a character in a game. A rank called "First Step" that suggested there were higher levels to achieve. System Points that could apparently be spent on random items from across the universe.
"This is really happening," he said quietly. "I'm actually in some kind of fantasy world with a system that works like a video game."
He looked around the empty foyer, then back at the glowing screen. In his previous life, he'd been a software engineer who spent his free time playing RPGs and reading fantasy novels. He'd always dreamed of adventure, of power, of making a real difference in the world. Now, impossibly, he seemed to have been given exactly that chance.
A smile slowly spread across his face. "You know what? I spent thirty years playing it safe. Thirty years of routine and mediocrity. If I really have been given a second chance, I'm not going to waste it."
He straightened his shoulders and looked directly at the system screen. "Alright, System. Let's see what this gacha thing can do."
[Excellent. Your journey begins now, Host. Welcome to Aethermoor.]
The screen pulsed with soft blue light, and Xero felt a thrill of anticipation run through him. Whatever this world had in store for him, whatever challenges and opportunities lay ahead, he was ready to face them. His second life was just beginning.