1: An Invitation from the Abyss

Consciousness struggled to rise from a swamp of nothingness.

At first, there was Chaos, a sensory-deprived confusion. Then, fragmented light and distorted noise flooded in like a tide, forcibly stirring the dead silence.

Han Chengyu "awoke" abruptly—if such pure perception could even be called awakening.

There was no expected bodily pain, no hospital's distinctive smell of disinfectant.

His "vision" revealed an interior space filled with futuristic technology? Indigo energy streams pulsed slowly on silver-gray metal walls like breathing, outlining cold yet fluid lines.

He tried to turn his "head," only to find no such structure existed. His perception was 360-degree, taking in every detail of this small yet precise chamber.

An absurd thought uncontrollably surfaced: This place... looks a lot like the inside of those... transformation gear from sci-fi movies?

[Consciousness connection stable. Perception synchronization rate 100%. Welcome, user.]

An absolutely neutral, emotionless electronic synthesized voice sounded directly at the core of his consciousness.

"Who?!" Han Chengyu's consciousness fluctuated violently.

[I am the auxiliary System bound to you. You may address me as 'System.'] The voice responded calmly, as if stating an established fact.

"System? Bound?" Han Chengyu felt a strong sense of absurdity. "Wait, my last memory is... working overtime at night, walking home by the roadside..."

A sharp, cruel image flashed: blindingly bright high beams, the screech of rubber tires on pavement, followed by a heavy impact and the brief, heart-wrenching pain of his body being thrown into the air.

[Yes. According to records, your original body was completely destroyed in your home world due to a traffic accident—specifically, an out-of-control large freight vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver—and all life functions have ceased.]

The System pronounced his death as "Han Chengyu" in the calmest tone.

Dead? Just like that... killed by a drunk truck driver? A vast sense of confusion and emptiness enveloped him. Over twenty years of life, countless plans and unfinished thoughts, all cut off in that moment. Before he could digest the immense shock, another more urgent question surfaced.

"Then what am I now? A ghost? Or... what are you now?"

[Your current consciousness is hosted within the 'Cross-Boundary Synergistic Combat Unit.' In terms you can more easily understand, you may consider your current state as the 'Artifact Spirit' of this equipment. My purpose is to assist you in mastering this unit and executing the designated mission.]

As the System explained, a clear external scene projected before Han Chengyu's "vision." It seemed to be a dim back alley, the ground damp and reflective, with several trash bins emitting a rotten smell.

And the "combat unit" he was in lay quietly in the shadows beside the trash bins, its appearance... unmistakably a futuristic wristwatch-style device.

A streamlined dark silver metal body with exceptional texture, encircled by an indigo light band pulsing at a slow frequency, with a central interface that looked like glass but had subtle data streams constantly cascading across it.

The design was indeed very cool, full of power and mystery, far surpassing any smart device he had ever seen.

"Mission? What mission?" Han Chengyu caught the key term.

[A transaction with this world.]

The System replied, [This world is about to face an all-encompassing 'Great Upheaval.' Turmoil and destruction are its themes. My mission, and now yours, is to stabilize as many life forms as possible within this upheaval, maintain the survival of civilization, and avoid... a genocidal-level outcome.]

"Save the world?" Han Chengyu thought this was utterly ridiculous. "I'm just an ordinary office worker who got hit by a car. You've got the wrong person!"

[Your selection was coincidental, but your compatibility has been verified.]

The System remained steady, [As for your personal desires, do not worry.

Upon completion of this mission, as compensation, you will have the following options: 1. Reconstruct a body in your original world and be perfectly resurrected; 2. Obtain a new, freely movable body in this world; 3. With me as your guide, embark on a Journey Through Myriad Worlds, exploring infinite Universes.]

Resurrection? A new body? Journey Through Myriad Worlds?

These options, seen in countless fantasy works, were now laid before him in such a real, undeniable way.

The coldness of death intertwined with the immense temptation of these promises, plunging Han Chengyu's consciousness into intense struggle and silence. He still had family, friends, that world he hadn't even had time to properly say goodbye to... Could he really refuse this only chance for a new life?

"...It sounds like I don't have a better choice." After a long while, Han Chengyu's consciousness transmitted a wave of bitterness and resolve. "Alright, System, I accept this deal."

[Agreement confirmed. Collaborative mode activated.] The System's voice seemed unchanged, but Han Chengyu felt a deeper, inseparable connection being established.

"But, always calling you 'System' feels weird." He tried to change the subject to calm his turbulent emotions. "Should I give you a name?"

[Naming permission granted. Please issue the command.]

"Hmm... 'Tianshu'? 'Gaia'? 'Alpha'?" Han Chengyu racked his brains, running through all the grand, mysterious-sounding names he could think of, but none felt quite right, not fitting enough to perfectly define this mysterious existence. In the end, he temporarily gave up.

"Forget it, I can't think of anything particularly suitable right now. Since it's just the two of us, I'll keep calling you 'System' for now. I'll think of something better later."

[Received. Codename 'System' recorded.] The System complied readily.

After a brief silence, Han Chengyu's consciousness focused again on his own existence. "System, since we're partners now, what's the deal with this 'Artifact Spirit' state? Can't you just give me a body? It would make things much easier."

[This is due to the limitations of this world's underlying Laws.] The System's voice carried a barely perceptible... perhaps helplessness?

[If we could directly create a body for you to descend, the mission would be much simpler. But the world itself is extremely sensitive and resistant to external intervention. Any direct interference could trigger unpredictable chain reactions. Therefore, the mission to stabilize internal life must be led by 'native' life forms of the world.]

"So, I can only be a behind-the-scenes assistant?" Han Chengyu understood but felt somewhat stifled.

[Precisely. After comprehensively considering the world's limitations and mission requirements, I chose this solution. And I referenced the concept of 'special heroes' from your original world's culture.]

The System explained, [Setting your existence form as this type of 'Transformation Device' is currently the optimal solution. You will become the granter and guide of power, not the direct executor.]

"Transformation Device... like in Tokusatsu Shows?" Han Chengyu's consciousness fluctuated with a mix of surprise and inexplicable excitement. This actually aligned with some of his past fantasies.

[That is an acceptable analogy.] The System confirmed, [Now, you need to design a set of 'armor' as the tangible armament for executing missions in this world. This will be the core of your collaborative combat with future Aptitude Holders.]

"Design armor? That sounds interesting, but I'm not a designer..."

[Given that this is your first time performing such a task, and referencing the common 'newbie benefit' logic in your original world's culture, a Beginner's Gift Package is now being issued to you.]

The System's voice remained steady, but the content perked Han Chengyu up.

[You will receive full design authority for the first set of armor. While design rights for subsequent armor also belong to you, they require completing specific tasks to unlock and are constrained by world permission upgrades—primarily due to world Law restrictions, I cannot provide excessive assistance beyond boundaries.]

"Great!" Han Chengyu immediately grasped the key point. "So how exactly do I design it?"

[The design process must follow this world's basic Laws, ensuring the creation can be safely used by native life forms. Rest assured, if your initial design has Law conflicts or unstable energy structures, I will provide prompts and corrections.]

The System gave assurance, [Now, the design interface is open to you. You may begin conceptualizing at any time. Simultaneously, I have transported you near the area of the first potential Aptitude Holder. You can perceive the external situation at any time.]

"Understood." Han Chengyu took a deep breath—though he had no lungs. In his "vision," besides the indigo-pulsing interior space and the real-time scene of the external alley, a brand-new, infinitely possible blank design interface appeared.

"Tokusatsu hero-style armor... Let me think carefully. What should this first set of armor look like..."