1 Chapter 1 - The end of me

My name is Max Dominus. I am currently 21 years old and living what most would call a boring dead end existence. I wake up, eat breakfast and shower, then it's off to work for 8 hours just to come home sleep and start again the next day.

But to be honest I'm content with what I have and who I am. I'm of a modest height and weight, 6 foot 1 inch ,175 pounds. I have bright blue eyes and short wavy brown hair. I work out on my off days so I'm definitely not in bad shape and the best part, I have my own apartment with my own furnishings. What else could a 21 year old ask for? I mean sure, I could have a fancy car and a cover page girlfriend but really... neither are crucial for a happy existence.

I work for a company that makes ancient and modern weaponry: Sleek fancy swords , heavy bone crushing maces, Long brutally tipped spears you name it. But we also make Pistols of all sizes, Rifles of every caliber, Shotguns both full and sawed off. As a worker for the company I have spent countless hours improving on the weapons we make so even though many would say I live a boring life, I simply say it's a matter of perspective.

Sure the pay isn't the best and the hours suck, but I get to create and test weapons that were used hundreds of years ago then turn around and test fire guns that some people can only dream of laying there hands on.

Clocking out of work for the night I decide to take the same route I always do. Down 3rd street, across central boulevard and hang a right up 4th Street to the front of my apartment complex. Then of course a five minute ride up the elevator to the 24th floor.

I don't even have a dog or a cat so my responsibility are minimal. As long as the apartments clean and rent is payed on time I can pretty much do whatever I want which is more than some people can say. My mother and father had high hopes for me, what parents don't? But once they realized that aside from graduating at 16 with a 4.0 GPA and doing the minimum 4 years of university to be able to be a entry level engineer with the company... By the way it's called weapons are eternal for those who are wondering... they decided to help me get my own place and have pretty much left me to my own devices.

Their not uncaring at all, they just believe I could have done so much more with my life. Of course they aren't wrong but I'm not exactly going to admit that anytime soon. After a nice warm shower and a small dinner of left over spaghetti and meatballs, I turn off my lights set my alarm and slowly drift to sleep...

Little did I know that would be my last night sleeping in my own apartment, talk less of my last night on planet earth.

....

At the exact time I fell asleep a young man on the planet Grexis, a small planet of cultivators in an entirely different universe, fell sick while traveling through a dark forest and upon collapsing to the ground his soul left his body.

....

(back to our regularly scheduled program)

I awoke with a pounding headache and immediately noticed the change of temperature as I sit up slowly and very groggily. As far as my eyes can see there are trees and shadows everywhere, no trace of my bedroom or apartment, or anything to tell me remotely where I am.

"Wh..what happened?" I wonder aloud to no one in particular as it's quite clear no one else is in the immediate vicinity.

[Initiating Doom system]

[10%]

[30%]

....

A line of percentages continued for a few minutes until finally....

[Doom system initiated, System Greets host Max]

Taking a moment to make sure I haven't completely lost my mind I blink the fog out of my eyes and pop a few sore joints before quietly muttering "Who exactly ... or rather what exactly are you? and why does it sound like your in my head? while your at it mind telling me what in the world is going on right now?"

[That is both easy and difficult to explain Host. I am the Doom system, the reason it sound like I'm inside your head is precisely because I am. As for what is happening your body on earth died of unforseen circumstances and your soul was transferred here to this young mans body as he was dying. You will now live as him and be able to continue your life with powers and abilities beyond your wildest imaginations]

"This isn't some elaborate prank right? Cause if it is I'm really sorry but you've got the wrong guy for this sort of thing..." I began to take stock of my surroundings and upon raising my right hand I immediately confirmed one thing , this wasn't my body. Or rather not the body I was born in, obviously it's mine now cause I inhabit it... you know what I'm not going down that rabbit hole right now.

[No host, this is not a prank you've really taken over the body of this young cultivator and now have the ability to cultivate yourself, the best part is this body is only 10 and had just begun to understand cultivation so you will be able to start from scratch and make the power that would have been his, yours]

"So all those stories of people breaking apart mountains with a single sword stroke and throwing boulders, flying on giant swords etcetera etcetera. That can be me?" Even the thought of these possibilities made my blood boil as a previously unknown desire to be more than just your average person burst forth from within, but of course reality came crashing into me.

[Yes, but keep in mind, not anytime soon. You are starting from scratch at Rank 1 Qi gathering stage. There are many many stages before you'll be flying on swords and shattering mountains, which I wouldn't make a habit of regardless those things don't just grow anywhere ya know?]

Nodding my head I accept the fact that sadly I feel only about as strong as I was on earth though at 5 foot 2 inches and barely 120 pounds, I am a lot tinier so I suppose being as strong as a grown man could already be considered amazing. "How do I grow stronger and, out of curiosity why are you called the Doom system?"

[Let's not get ahead of ourselves first I'll explain what all I can do to help you then we'll talk about you getting stronger and why I am what I am.]

[ Host information]

Maximus Dominus

Age: 10

Height: 5'2

Weight: 120 pounds

Cultivation level : Rank 1 Qi gathering

[ System storage ]

1. Doom cultivation manual

2. Alchemy 101

3. Blacksmithing 101

4. A history of Grexis

[That is all I'm allowed to show you at the moment until you become stronger. as for how to gain that strength, These manuals will teach you everything you need to know about how to cultivate. they will also guide you on the path of alchemy: making pills and elixers for every purpose you can imagine. As well as blacksmithing: creating tools and armor for any and all purposes. The history of Grexis will catch u up to speed on everything about this planet up until about 2 years ago. For now I suggest sleep and we can start tomorrow morning. I will place a dome around you to keep you safe for the night]

With all that said I thanked the system and laid there on the cold ground, getting to sleep not being near as hard as I had imagined...