Elias had been a ghost in his old life, a man of silence and shadows. In this new one, he was a child, and the world was a cacophony and color he couldn't understand. He had spent three days in a silent, analytical stupor, his mind piecing together his new reality from fragments.
The boy he now inhabited—Orion—was weak, a fact confirmed by the feverish nightmares and the lack of muscle in his limbs. But within the boy, a new sense was stirring. It wasn't a sixth sense or a magical ability. It was a digital voice in his head, cold and precise, like the sound of an old computer booting up.
Fearless action. 50 Points Gained. Bold action. 100 Points Gained. Ruthless action. 200 Points Gained.
The voice had appeared the moment he had pushed aside the gentle hand of the woman, the boy's mother, and forced himself to sit up. It was an involuntary, desperate act, a rebellion against his own weakness. And for it, he was rewarded.
He began to experiment. He deliberately snubbed a servant who offered him a cup of tea, and the voice chimed again. He walked out of his room, ignoring the protests of the maids, and the points started to accumulate.
He soon realized the system was rewarding him for his natural inclinations. The calm, calculated aggression that had made him a legend in his old life was now a source of power. He wasn't just earning points; he was earning his identity back, one ruthless act at a time.
A new menu appeared in his mind's eye. It was a simple interface, with options for Powers, Weapons, and Resources. He mentally selected the Weapons category. The screen flashed with images: a shimmering sword of light, a pair of gauntlets that pulsed with energy, and then... a simple, steel dagger.
It was familiar.
Dagger of the Unseen. 300 Points. A weapon suited for shadows and quick kills.
He had 450 points. Enough to buy it, with some left over. He closed the menu and made a decision. He would play this world's game, and he would play it by his rules. He would amass as many points as he could, and he would start with a weapon he trusted.
With this newfound clarity, he focused on the next step. Orion's family was in danger, a political plot threatening to destroy them. Elias didn't care about their lives, not yet, but he understood the game. Protecting them was his way to gain more points, more power, and maybe, just maybe, a way back to the past that haunted him.
He was no longer a helpless child. He was Elias, a ghost in a new body, and he had a system that understood him perfectly. The ticking clock of the assassination conspiracy was gone, replaced by a new, more dangerous game. And the reward wasn't just survival—it was absolute power.