Chapter 4: The Birth of a Dream
A bright, searing light enveloped John's body as his consciousness was pulled from the void. The last thing he remembered was the sinister grin of Azrathos fading into the darkness, leaving behind only cryptic words and an insatiable curiosity about his greed. Then, silence.
When the light finally dimmed, John found himself standing on solid ground—but not much of it.
Beneath his feet was sun-bleached rock and coarse sand. Around him stretched the deep blue of an endless ocean. Wind howled gently across the small patch of land he stood on. John spun around slowly, realizing he was completely isolated. No civilization. No trees. No animals. No life.
"This is it?" he muttered.
The island was shockingly small—barely 1000 square feet. Just a square of rock and sand floating in the middle of nowhere. There were no clouds above, and the sun blazed overhead with brutal indifference.
Suddenly, a chime rang out.
DING!
> [Empire System Initialization Complete. Welcome, Host.]
[Analyzing environment... Complete. You are currently located on a Level 0 island. Estimated size: 1000 square feet.]
[Empire System AI: Activating...]
A soft glow materialized in front of John, forming into a translucent figure—elegant, feminine, and dressed in what resembled futuristic armor with regal designs. Her voice was crisp and intelligent.
"Greetings, John. I am LIRA—the Logical Intelligence for Ruling Authority. I will serve as your assistant in all matters pertaining to governance, expansion, and survival."
John blinked. "LIRA… huh?"
LIRA gave a courteous nod. "You have been selected as the recipient of the Empire System—a multiversal construct designed to assist individuals with imperial ambitions."
John's eyes widened.
DING!
> [You have received: Empire System Starter Pack]
1,000,000 System Coins
Access to System Shop
AI Assistant (LIRA)
Basic Inventory and Quest Log unlocked
A golden holographic interface unfolded in front of him. Tabs blinked to life one after another:
[System Interface Loaded]
Status Panel – Displays host's personal stats and attributes.
Empire Panel – Displays empire progress, population, land, and resources.
Quest Log – Tracks all system-issued tasks.
System Shop – Buy skills, troops (both magical and modern), buildings, ministers, heroes, flora, fauna, and more.
Inventory – Stores collected resources, items, and rewards.
Island Management – Expand or upgrade the host's domain.
John stared at the 1,000,000 glowing system coins blinking in his interface. The number shimmered with promise, like a genie waiting to be unleashed.
His mouth twisted into a smirk. "So I really am getting a shot at this… A kingdom. Power. Everything I ever dreamed of."
DING!
> [New Quest Issued: Name Your Nation]
Description: You are now the ruler of a nascent empire. Before your empire can rise, it must be named.
Reward: +100,000 System Coins
Before John could react, another notification followed.
> [New Quest Issued: Design a National Flag]
Description: An empire must be defined not only by territory, but also by identity. Design your empire's official flag.
Reward: +100000 system coins
John's heartbeat sped up. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. All of this felt like a video game—a very elaborate, god-powered simulation.
He turned to LIRA. "This system… I can buy troops? Like, soldiers?"
LIRA nodded. "Correct. The System Shop allows you to purchase both modern and magical troops. You may acquire units ranging from musketeers to elite shadow assassins, from elemental mages to armored tanks."
John's eyes gleamed. "And buildings?"
"Of course. Defensive walls, hospitals, academies, palaces, granaries, laboratories, magical sanctuaries—nearly anything you can imagine."
John stepped forward and tapped on the glowing System Shop tab. A beautifully organized market opened before him, categorized with icons and brief descriptions:
Troops:
Modern Infantry
Archers
Magitek Golems
Shadow Mages
War Beasts
Drones
Buildings:
Barracks
Research Labs
Training Grounds
Magical Towers
Food Depots
Heroes & Ministers:
Summon capable individuals to lead armies or manage internal affairs.
Flora & Fauna:
Summon wildlife, trees, crops, and magical plants.
Utility:
Weather control
Teleportation beacons
Communication hubs
John scrolled through the listings like a child in a toy store. His hands were trembling, his thoughts racing.
This... this is everything I wanted.
Azrathos' words echoed in his mind:
> "Show me what your greed can create, John."
He clenched his fists.
"I'll do more than that. I'll build a world that bows to me."
LIRA's voice returned. "Before any purchases or expansions, your first priority should be to complete the initial quests."
John nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Right. A name..."
He stepped back, looking out at the vast ocean that stretched beyond the island's edge. The wind rustled his ragged clothes, and the waves lapped softly against the sand.
He was alone, but not weak. Not anymore.
"I'll give it a name that people will fear. A name they'll revere. Just you wait."
As he began to ponder names, LIRA projected a holographic input screen. Symbols, language options, and stylistic fonts hovered in the air.
At that moment, John was no longer just a loser or a janitor. No longer a shut-in dismissed by society.
He was a ruler standing on the ashes of nothing, armed with power beyond comprehension.
And his empire was about to begin.