2 System

"The world is not what it seems. Everything has an underlying meaning. Sometimes we notice it, but most of the time we don't. Life is tough! Sigh…"

With a long-fatigued sigh, Alan walked towards his workplace. Looking up at the sky, he once again thought how vast and strange the world is. He died and was transmigrated into the body of a twenty-year-old guy in a strange world.

'Is this some kind of curse that will not let me have a peaceful death?'

Although Alan was called Alan even in this world. That was where the similarities between this world and the previous world ends. This world was completely strange.

There were monsters that eat humans. People with superpowers, known as mutants and even had dungeons and portals to other worlds.

But as usual, the world was fucking with him again. Plunging him into a completely different environment with nothing more than his memories. In this world governed by people with superpowers and where people turn into monster fodder every day. Alan was given no superpowers nor any skill that would help.

If not for the fact that he has a family now. He would have turned one-eighty degree into a mediocre villain after all that he had gone through. His family or the family of Alan of this world was the only thing keeping him sane.

In his last life, Alan didn't have a family, friends or people who cared about him. Everything was black and white for him. Now that he has a second chance he wished to bring colours into his life.

Even when everything was going against him. He had some hope left, belief that he could do it.

'When life gives you a lemon, let's just make some lemonade.'

Even though there is hope that something better is waiting for him in the future. But, as of now, Things were not that optimistic.

Even though it has only been a couple of months since he transmigrated. He found a job to support himself. He didn't want to be a burden to his family that was already so poor. So, he left home and went to nova city.

Although finding a job in Nova city may seem easy for most, but that was not his case. Coming from a poor family, he was just barely scraping by while attending to his daily needs. For the son of a villager, with no connections and a sack full of dreams, living in the city was not that easy.

Most of the time, Alan was discriminated against just because of his old clothes and social standing. At least that was the same as his previous world. There were always people who judge others by their looks and he wouldn't be able to change that. The only thing he could do in this situation was to try and make more money. Some might say that motivation towards financial gain was superficial and immoral. It will not give you any happiness.

There were many great personalities that supported this idea. In a way, that is true. But they tactically avoided giving an answer to the age-old question of, what would we do without any money.

It is a fact that money opens many doors. Even those doors that you didn't even know existed. These are things Alan found out the hard way. Looking at the peaceful sky and the fluffy cloud which had the shape of a leaping frog.

A smile blossomed on his face.

"Someday soon. I will succeed in leaping out of this well, my frog brethren." He remembered how he was a hardcore pessimist in his previous life and now having optimistic thoughts was truly new for him. Death can really change a person.

The little bit of bitterness he was feeling dissipated just like the dissipating clouds.

"I have to send some cash home before going to the farm." A smile slowly blossomed on Alan's face thinking about his cute sister. She just turned eighteen and was preparing for the college entrance exam.

'I have to take care of her college fees somehow.' Thought Alan in his mind. With his family income, there was no way that his sister could attend a good college. And Alan knew very well how important education is.

Alan of this world didn't have the opportunity to study. Due to multiple dungeon explosions, monsters flooded the world two years ago. This further disrupted his family and their livelihood. After all, it is the poor that are affected first by the turmoil in this world. Due to not being able to farm that year. Alan had to quit high school and do manual labour to support his family.

One might wonder why a pessimist like Alan suddenly turned over a new leaf. The answer to the question was the Alan of this world. Even when faced with adversities, he didn't give up nor complain. He faced it head-on.

After transmigration, Alan acquired these memories and made a conscious effort to change. He didn't want to feel stagnant again. That was the reason why he found a job.

Alan's parents are getting older, they wouldn't be able to continue farming in the future. So, any help that he could provide would be for the better.

That was why he applied for the job of being a handyman on a farm. Don't take this farm lightly though, it is a farm owned by the multinational company, the LIFE CORPS. Due to his good luck, he even managed to secure the job.

Alan's job is to look after a plantation and guard it against pests and other animals and report anything peculiar to the manager. In the vast mountain owned by the LIFE CORPS, he only had to manage a small area of herbs in the outer section. Coming from a farming village gave him enough knowledge to do his work effectively. To the jobless Alan, this was a blessing. At least with this, he could take care of himself now.

Today, he was off to mail his first month's salary to his family. It was just a thousand credits, pocket change for city folks. But it could feed his family for a month. Feeling happy about his contribution to his family. He mailed it before going to the farm.

As usual, Alan walked towards the mighty gate that forbids trespassers from entering. It was a humongous gate, gigantic walls spreading as far as his eyes could see. Even though it has been a month since Alan started working there. Till now, he doesn't know where these walls end. Once, he heard the workers say that, rather than to keep away the mountain and herbs from prying hands. This wall was made to keep the things inside from escaping. Many other rumours and horror stories about the wall spread among the workers.

'Let's just hope these rumours are just rumours.'

Alan had never seen a monster, demons or a mutated beast after coming to this world. The only thing he knows about them is the memories inside Alan's head. Even then. They were so foreign to him that it felt like he was watching a high budget movie.

Remembering the destruction and carnage these monsters cause around the world. Alan felt happy not seeing these monsters in real life.

Having his ID-verified Alan went to change into his working clothes. Without any delay, he turned towards the plantation to do his job.

Alan walked carefully through the fields to find if anything is amiss. The herb field was located just outside the forest, near the base of the mountain. So, he had to be careful about his work. Maybe there are snakes, boars or even mutant animals around here.

The lush green herbs were a sight for sore eyes. Just looking at them made Alan smile. He slowly plucked the weed and watered the herbs. It was slowly turning noon, his work was almost done. As usual, he was going to wash up and have lunch. But just as he was ready to go to the cafeteria for workers, he saw something green flashing in the herb field. It was very unusual, nothing like this happened before. Although he knew some herbs produces light when they mature. But what he was looking after was common herbs, they can't form bio-luminescent light. And they definitely can't light up like a Christmas tree.

It was Alan's responsibility to look after these herbs. He couldn't watch by when something unusual like this was happening. He ran towards the central region of the herb field to check upon it.

The nearer he got, the brighter the light shone. Alan became more alert. If something happened to these herbs his life would be finished. Losing his job isn't the main problem here. This field of the herb is worth more than a hundred thousand credits. Even if he sold himself for the highest bidder, he wouldn't be able to compensate for the loss he made. Alan quickened his pace.

When he reached just three-meter in front of the glowing ball of light. It started flickering from green to blue very fast. Alan became more worried about seeing the flickering light gaining intensity. But just as he reached within hands length of the flickering ball of light. It suddenly gained a tint of red colour. Then came a flash of light so bright that it felt like an exploding supernova. Unknowingly he shut his eyes and covered them with both his hands.

"Thud…" A body slowly fell down onto the herbs. Squashing some leaves and flowers in the process.