In a classroom full of teenagers, a video played on a big screen while a voice narrated,

“New York City,

Tall buildings and high skyscrapers dominated the whole layout of the city. In the busyness of the modern world, technology dominated everything.

From solving the most complex algorithms to helping out toddlers learn simple syllables, technology was needed everywhere.

In such a world, heavily dependent on technology where magic and swords were mere concepts of fiction, where such things were shown as animated cartoons to entertain people, a change occurred.

When humanity cracked the code for transmitting their consciousness into a virtual world, they found a world many would only dream of.

However, that was when things went wrong. The code they cracked, the so-called life-altering change they claimed would come backfired upon them.

Although transmitting one’s consciousness into a virtual world was possible, it wasn’t in the hands of humanity anymore. Not only that, humanity couldn’t even control where their consciousness would be transmitted.

The thing was, humanity had optimized several different worlds to provide the perfect form of transmission from reality to the virtual world.

At the start, everything was fine, but when a group of teenagers around the age of 16 entered the virtual worlds. They were all transmitted to a single world.

It’s name? Unknown.

No one knew what the world was, only that it was less of that but more like a game, a role-playing game where completing quests and killing monsters would make one stronger.

Soon, many tests later it was confirmed that transmitting consciousness into other worlds was not possible anymore and only the unknown world remained.

Later, it was confirmed that the mysterious unknown world had very strange mechanisms for people who entered it.

They would obtain different systems and get stronger using those systems.

However, the strangest thing that shocked the whole world wasn’t that, but the fact that those systems and the powers gained through them could be used in the real world.

This caused great unrest in the real world, the world leaders panicked and after testing and experimenting with countless theories, it was confirmed that the world was an alternate reality that affected the real world.

Thus, giving a start to a new era where modern technology and magical things would co-exist while the unknown world was given a new name, System Online.

This world known as System Online slowly grew and took over the world while humans all around treated it as a game, to get stronger so they could change their destiny”,

“And that is how the world we live in adapted to change and after a hundred years, we could find normal humans and system users working in tandem to help run the world”, the teacher spoke as she paused the video and faced a class full of students, of which more than half were dozing off.

“Uhm, As today is the last day of school, the school would be arranging a farewell party in the evening. So don’t forget to join”, The teacher spoke her words before turning the screen off and waiting for the class to end.

“Tringgggggggg”,

Not long after, the bell rang. Officially marking the end of class and also making the teacher sigh in relief.

Meanwhile, upon hearing the bell ring, all of the students regardless of their condition during the class stood as if programmed robots and rushed towards the exit.

The chatter continued as students excitedly rushed to their homes in anticipation of the event a few days later. When they all would enter System Online and awaken as System users and obtain powers that a hundred years ago were only thought of as myths and fictitious stories.

…

A few days later,𝗈𝑣𝓵xt.𝒸𝒐𝓜

In a small two-story cottage, a young teenager just woke up at the sound of an alarm.

He had an amiable smile on his face, his face which had refined features with dark black eyes as deep as wells and silky black hair cut neatly. Although the young man was good looking his eyes seemed to have a slight coldness in them that even the young man did not know about.

This young man was very happy today, as he had turned 16 and he would be able to enter the world of “system online”. So that he could obtain a system and make the conditions of his family better as he knew how much his mother put up for him and the family. He also knew that she had been saving for last year to a buy game capsule for him to play “system online”.

Although the system online was free, the capsules were overpriced due to game popularity, Moreover, even the worst capsule would be overpriced as expensive or cheap would not change the type of gameplay experience of someone.

Moreover, although one could join and obtain a system online at any age, it was recommended to start at the age of 16 as the soul would become complete and would be rid of any impurities of life thus one could obtain the best system for them.

This young man’s name was Ray.

Ray got up from his bed, refreshed himself, got a change of clothes, and got out of his room for breakfast just as he walked out of his room he got greeted by his sister.

Who excitedly hugged him and cheered for him as she shouted, “Happy Birthday”.

His sister who was just eight years old handed him a birthday card as well. Ray knew how much she cared for him, so he took the card and gave his sister a warm smile while he also hugged her back.

Afterward, the family of three went to the kitchen and proceeded with breakfast. After they did their breakfast, Ray’s mother stood and called him and his sister, who at that time were having a fun time messing around with each other.

” Ray!! “, His mom shouted.

Ray got up and went to see what his mother said:

After reaching his mother who was at this moment trying to hold five different-sized boxes stacked at one another. As Ray reached her, her foot tripped and she fell with all of the boxes on the ground. With stars in her eyes she said, “Son, your birthday present is here, though it’s in a mess. Nothing was damaged”, she chuckled.

Seeing his mother on the ground, Ray hurriedly got to her & made her take a seat, and settled her down. Afterward, he said, “Mom you should take care of yourself and rest sometime & why did you buy so much stuff.” Ray inquired in a worrying tone.

To this Ray’s mom said, “Son you are 16 now & I have been saving money for some time now, so I thought that I would help you get the best gift I could get for my child”,

To this Ray said, ” Mom, don’t tell me you bought all that just for the system ceremony”

Ray’s mom smiled and said, “Although the house matters are going on, I have been working some part-time jobs so I saved some money so I could give you a good gift and don’t even say something young man, just be happy and accept the gift I prepared for you and let me explain what this is”,

“This over here is a setup that would allow you to safely enter “System Online”, Although all capsules provide the same gameplay, this capsule helps your body recover faster & does not put a strain on your body”.

As Ray heard his mother give a detailed explanation, he sighed as he knew how much his mother cared for him and how much she worked for their house, inwardly promising himself to do his best & help his family out by becoming stronger…

Ray then got up and set out all of the boxes, & with his mother & sister together. they set out all of the boxes and constructed the game capsule. They had the time of their life as the whole family was present after a long time because his mother was always working.

Therefore, after Setting the console up, Ray’s mother & sister bid Ray good luck & left the room After leaving the room they closed the door so Ray could peacefully enter System Online. Ray then looked at the capsule, steeled his resolve to get stronger, and got into it.

Afterward, his vision got blurry and the world around him changed as slowly, he found himself in front of a black vastness that stretched as far as his eye could see.

Then all of a sudden a text appeared.

Welcome to “System Online.”

….

A/N:- Ps. I got a lot of readers complaining that the first chapter seems very off and is not a good read. Hence, I edited in a way that it’s fun to read.

So remember that it’s an edited chapter and my way of making the novel better and listening to everyone’s suggestions.