Anthony was jolted awake by a searing pain in his head as consciousness slowly returned. A hoarse groan escaped his lips as disbelief set in. Even after death… I can still feel pain. His vision was blurred by blood; when he wiped at his eye, piles of corpses came into focus all around him, and an unbearable stench of rot assaulted his senses. He retched violently, but only acidic fluid spilled from his throat. As he struggled to breathe, a single thought crossed his mind—Am I in the underworld?
Just then, a mechanical voice echoed inside his head.
Host, you are not in the underworld. I am System Number Zero, created by the advanced civilization known as the Golden Race. I have brought you to a parallel world from your original plane of existence, as your body was too damaged to repair.
"Why did you save me?" Anthony asked.
Host, you do not have the authority to know the answer.
"Then what can you tell me?" Anthony demanded.
I can tell you this: you must escape this mass grave before the fire reaches here, the system replied.
Anthony's eyes widened. He looked up just in time to see smoke beginning to rise above the pit. He stumbled to his feet, tripping over bodies as panic set in.
"So… do I get some kind of golden finger?" he asked breathlessly. "I mean, I've read that everyone who transmigrates gets one."
Your request is valid. I will forward it for evaluation. Please wait a few minutes, the mechanical voice responded.
Then, the voice vanished from his mind.
Silence followed—heavy and suffocating. Anthony had no time to process it. The smell of smoke grew thicker, heat creeping into the pit as muffled shouts echoed above. Gritting his teeth, he forced his trembling body to move.
He clawed his way over cold, lifeless bodies, ropes biting into his skin as he tore them loose. More than once, his foot slipped on blood‑soaked mud, sending him crashing down among the dead. Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but instinct screamed louder.
Using a half‑burned plank and sheer desperation, Anthony dragged himself up the edge of the mass grave. His fingers split, nails tearing as he hauled himself over the rim just as flames licked the pit below.
He didn't look back.
Staggering on weak legs, Anthony fled into the nearby woods. Branches lashed at his face, thorns tore at his clothes, and his lungs burned with every breath, but he kept running—until the sounds of voices and fire faded behind him.
Only then did he collapse beneath the shadow of the trees, alive… for now.
A moment later, the mechanical voice returned.
Congratulations, Host. The System's Main-Brain has approved your request. You have been granted a Golden Finger tied to your online game account.
Anthony's breath hitched.
You may now access all the games you previously played. Any rewards you obtain can be materialized in the real world; however, all previously saved data has been reset to zero.
"Thank you, System Number Zero," Anthony said. After a moment, he asked, "How do I access the game?"
The system replied calmly: Close your eyes and meditate while focusing on the game you wish to enter. Once your consciousness connects, the game will begin, and you may proceed.
After a brief pause, the voice added, A reminder, Host: while you are meditating, your physical body will be completely defenseless. Ensure you are in a safe location before entering this state.
"Thanks for the warning," Anthony murmured. He moved deeper into the woods, carefully searching until he found a small cave. After checking his surroundings and confirming there was no immediate danger, he sat down, steadied his breathing, and began to meditate, focusing his thoughts on a game he had once played—Happy Farm.
His consciousness sank into a bright, simple world—but there was no screen, no floating window separating him from it. The soil pressed cool and real beneath his fingers, the weight of the hoe settling naturally into his hands. Instructions did not appear as text; instead, knowledge flowed directly into his mind, guiding his movements instinctively—how to claim a plot of land, how to ready tools, how to prepare the soil correctly.
Anthony worked the earth himself, feeling resistance as the hoe cut into the ground, understanding through sensation how depth and spacing affected growth. When he lifted the watering can, he felt its weight shift as water poured out, instinctively adjusting the flow to distribute moisture evenly across the soil.
The tutorial was not rushed. It emphasized efficiency and sustainability through repetition and physical feedback rather than prompts or menus. Only after he personally completed every step—tilling, planting, watering, and observing the soil's response—did a quiet confirmation resonate within his mind.
Tutorial Complete.
A completion achievement appeared, and his starter rewards were issued: a basic hoe, a basic watering can, ownership of a single plot of land, and a packet of carrot seeds. Anthony opened his eyes and asked the system about the rewards. The system informed him that they were stored in his system inventory. Moments later, he retrieved the watering can and drank from it and cleaned himself.
Feeling hungry, he placed the plot of land outside the cave. Using the hoe, he tilled the soil, planted the seeds, and watered them carefully. Five minutes later, he watched in disbelief as the carrots grew before his eyes, fully matured and ready to be harvested and eaten. He reached down and pulled up the carrots one by one. Each of them was perfectly shaped, identical as if copied from the same mold—forty in total. He washed one and took a bite; it was crisp, fresh, and pleasantly sweet.
Just then, the system's voice rang out once more.
Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an asset. The System Marketplace has now been unlocked. Within it, you may trade items—selling or purchasing goods from other system users.
"Oh, let's see," Anthony muttered as he closed his eyes and focused on the marketplace.
A shopping interface appeared before him, filled with countless items available for sale. On one side, he noticed a Sell tab. When he selected it, a new panel opened, prompting him to enter the item's name, set a price (with an option to use the recommended price), and specify the quantity. Thinking it was worth a try, Anthony entered the item name as Organic Carrots. For the price, the system recommended two points per carrot, which he agreed to. He then input the full quantity—forty carrots.
After he completed the listing details, the interface requested authorization to link the system inventory to the marketplace. Once approved, any purchase would be processed automatically, with items transferred instantly upon sale, though the system would take a 10% commission from the profit.
Afterward, he browsed the items currently for sale. Everyday items filled the marketplace—lighters, knives, bread, and other necessities—neatly sorted into categories. Beyond them were sections for weapons, talismans, pills, charms, books, and even buffs, skills, and spells. Curious, Anthony opened the Spells tab and found a basic spell, Fireball, priced at 1,000 points. The Talismans section proved more affordable: a Fireball Talisman cost ten points, while an Invisibility Talisman was listed at fifty. In the Pills category, a Marrow Washing Pill (Low Level) carried a price of five hundred points.
Seeing all these fantastic items, he almost felt his mouth water. But reality quickly set in—he didn't have a single point to his name.
Night was approaching, and Anthony knew the forest would become far more dangerous after dark. Fearing roaming beasts or unexpected threats, he decided to enter another game—hoping to gain something that could help ensure his safety.
This time, he chose PUBG.
The moment his consciousness connected, the world shifted sharply. A briefing screen flashed before his eyes, outlining match conditions, squad size, and survival objectives. Seconds later, the roar of an aircraft thundered around him. He felt the vibration beneath his feet, the weight of equipment strapped to his body, and the cold wind rushing past as the plane crossed the battlefield.
When the jump signal appeared, Anthony followed his squad leader's mark and leapt. The sensation was nothing like tapping a screen or pressing keys—his stomach dropped as the wind roared past his ears, adrenaline flooding his veins as he adjusted his descent by instinct alone. The ground rushed up far too fast, and when he hit the outskirts of the ruined settlement, the impact jolted through his legs with startling realism.
He moved immediately, crouching behind broken walls as his hands seized a rifle, ammunition, and light armor. The weight of the weapon felt real in his grip, the cold metal pressing into his palms. This wasn't something he was controlling from a device—it felt as if he was truly there, breathing, moving, surviving.
Gunfire erupted nearby, sharp and deafening. Anthony flinched as bullets cracked past him, his heart pounding as he pressed himself against cover. He listened for footsteps, judged distance by sound alone, and coordinated silently with his teammates through movement and timing rather than words. They advanced zone by zone, rotating early, avoiding reckless fights, every decision carrying the weight of consequence.
As the play area shrank, tension tightened around his chest. Smoke grenades burned his lungs, debris exploded under gunfire, and when a teammate was nearly taken out, Anthony dragged him to safety with trembling arms that felt frighteningly real.
In the final circle, their squad seized the high ground. The last exchange was brutal and fast—muzzle flashes, ringing ears, and then sudden silence.
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner.
The battlefield dissolved into light as the match ended. This time, the system awarded tangible rewards: a military uniform, a sturdy pan, and a pistol fitted with a single magazine containing five shots. Anthony felt a sharp pull in his consciousness before his awareness snapped back to the forest cave.
Without wasting time, Anthony retrieved the items from his system storage. He used the watering can he had to clean himself, wiping away sweat, blood, and grime before putting on the military uniform. It fit surprisingly well, the fabric sturdy and warm, offering a sense of security he hadn't felt since waking up.
He then checked the marketplace and discovered that ten of his carrots had already sold, earning him twenty system points. Relieved, he quickly spent them—purchasing a lighter for one point and a case of instant noodles for five. With night fully settled in, he gathered firewood from the surrounding forest, keeping alert for any movement in the darkness.
Back inside the cave, Anthony sparked the lighter and boiled water in the pan. Soon, the familiar aroma of instant noodles filled the small space. He ate slowly, savoring the warmth as it spread through his body, easing both hunger and tension. Afterward, he bought a simple blanket for five points, wrapped himself in it, then lay back against the cold stone and closed his eyes. Fatigue dragged him down before he could think any further.
Sleep came quickly, shallow and uneasy.