"Sergeant Roy! Oh my God, please don't die!" A young rookie officer could be seen crying in the rain, his hands pressed tightly on the fountain of blood gushing from his senior officer's solar plexus.
This whole thing was his fault. He had been warned repeatedly by this senior of his.
"As a police officer, our job is not to escalate. We are to assess and choose the most suitable means to de-escalate a crisis," the sergeant always warned.
But all that went in one ear and out the other for the rookie. He was so determined to prove himself to be a good cop and a hero that, when he saw a purse-snatching thief on their patrol, he jumped into a chase, whipping out his gun.
He ignored the fact that the streets were filled with civilians. He ignored the fact that his superior kept ordering him to come back. He ignored it all — nothing would stop him from proving himself, he thought.
Well, that was until the purse snatcher pulled a gun and fired, causing civilians to scream and run in panic.
The rookie was fast, though. He jumped right out of the way the moment he saw a gun pointed his way. He sighed in relief — but then he looked back, and guess who couldn't get out of the way fast enough?
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…" the rookie whispered, his mind racked with guilt.
Roy's vision felt hazy as all sound gradually faded into a high-pitched frequency. Am I really going to die so soon?
His mind gradually cleared, overcome with a strange, soothing peace in contrast to the situation — probably because he had accepted his fate.
Sigh! At least my death will be honorable and be used as a warning for all other young officers around the world, Roy thought. Feeling this way about dying wasn't so bad.
He could imagine things far worse… imagine them putting his portrait on the wall for honor. That thought put a peaceful smile on his face.
Well, that was until he realized, Wait, a photo! They would have to get that from my apartment!
His eyes widened in horror as a vivid memory of what his room looked like just this morning flashed in his mind with eerie, high-definition detail.
A litter of caked socks all over…
Suspicious wallpapers all over the walls…
And worst of all, he was in such a hurry he left an Xvideos tab playing the moment he finished — just to get to work on time!
One couldn't blame him. Honestly, what was expected from a 23-year-old virgin?
No, no, no! I don't want to die! Roy felt a sudden, overwhelming surge of will to live. But from the unusually dark blood seeping out of his chest, he could tell that the bullet had definitely ruptured a vital organ, and there wasn't much hope.
Realizing this, he did the only thing he could think of. Even though blood was rapidly flooding his lungs, he opened his mouth in an attempt to relay his last wish to the rookie. If nothing else, the little bastard owed him that much.
Seeing his dying superior trying to talk, the young man quickly covered his mouth. "Don't say anything, sir. The ambulance is on its way. You need to save your strength. Stay with me, please don't die!"
Roy's eyes bulged in rancor. This little fucker… I just need you to at least — at least — help me clear my browser!!!
But sadly, he couldn't convey his last message as the rookie clamped his mouth shut, muttering beneath his breath deliriously.
Slowly, a creeping sea of red encroached from the outer edges of his vision. He knew what was happening — he was about to kick the bucket.
And after that, what little dignity he had left would be gone. His eyes went moist as tears gathered.
"Don't cry, sir, you will make it… stay with me!" The rookie, seeing his superior cry, burst into tears too, his hands still tightly clamped around poor Roy's mouth.
The encompassing sea of red erupted, about to engulf his vision whole when…
[Candidates have been put on priority of Order…]
[Initializing Order…]
[Bestowing Order across candidates…]
A series of red-screen notifications popped up in his vision, banishing the sea of red in a blink.
W-what the hell? Roy wondered in shock.
The rookie still seemed to be crying, showing that this phenomenon could only be seen by him.
[Priority Candidates have been selected!]
[Priority Candidate Roy Vanders has been chosen!]
[Bestowing First-Class Order…]
[Order initialized!]
Suddenly, the interface warped, changing colors from crimson red to navy blue.
[Congratulations!!! Host has awakened SSS Class Policing System, the First-Class Order of Justice!]
Roy went wide-eyed… this looked familiar… isn't this a game system interface?
[Host is in dire straits!!!]
[Initiating Emergency Healing.]
A warm current flooded his solar plexus, and he started to feel a slow itch. Little by little, his energy was regained.
What is going on? Roy wondered in confusion, when suddenly a mechanical voice boomed in his head.
This time, he could ascertain that he didn't hear it alone, as the crying rookie suddenly went quiet, his expression strange.
{Priority Candidates selected! All Orders bestowed!!!}
{Planet will now ascend and merge with Acrania!}
{Priority Candidates… will now be dubbed Lords…}
{Remnant Residents will be dubbed Hunters…}
{Lords will be given territories…}
{You must grow stronger… upgrade your territories and evolve.}
{Hunters can choose their lieges…}
{BUT YOU MUST ALL GET STRONGER!!!}
{Newly ascended worlds will be given a three-year protection guarantee…}
{After three years, your world will be accessed by other worlds…}
{In Acrania, the weak get weaker and the strong get stronger…}
{Get stronger, evolve past your limits — either that or die…}
{Good luck to you all!}
Roy's mind went blank as a heavy shift happened in the atmosphere. His vision was clouded by a brilliant flash of white, space distorting and devouring his figure whole.
When his vision cleared, a notification could be seen.
[Lord Roy Vanders has been transported to his territory…]
[Small Police Outpost – Tier 0]