1 Death, like life is full of suffering! Perhaps the after-life will be better.

A wise person once said - "Systems are the bane of all living beings!"

That statement truly couldn't be better said.

When I had received the 'Godly Journalist System', I was happy beyond comparison. I knew that my time had come. I was destined to roll in pools of cash, have a harem of rich and successful women at my beck and call, and be the most powerful man of the planet, the protagonist of the era.

Well, that was the way how most urban novels went these days. Despite my obvious distaste at their cliches and cringeful face-slapping, I thought it won't be too bad of a life to lead.

Unfortunately, as it turns out, I was too naive.

Looking up at the barrel of the gun pointed at my forehead I couldn't help but sigh remorseful as my life flashed before my eyes.

My name is Charles Parker, a recent graduate from the college and just new to my job at the Daily Rugle. The boss KKK was a demon in human flesh, and the only sliver of sunlight in my day was seeing my crush Mary Kent at work.

I had decided to take up the Nightmare level daily mission- investigate the secret meeting in dark alleyway 7.

It should have been easy. I just had to hide and wait in advance. After all the protagonists in novels always dis the nightmare missions and came out successful.

I went and hid the trash can following the cues of the system.

Soon, two masked people entered the alley.

"You got the goods?" asked the first man.

"Yes, here is the suitcase" answered the second. "Where's the cash?"

"In here" replied the first kicking over a duffel bag.

As they were completing the deal, I started to panic. What bullshit deal is this!

I can't even see anything and no information has been given. Not only was there no evidence, but this also couldn't be used for a scoop. What a useless mission.

I tried to slowly peek through the gap to see the masks and no, I did not fall over and announce my presence. I was a bloody professional. Gimme some respect here!

I could vaguely see two people- one with a tiger mask and the other with a plain ski-mask. How boring...

Soon the two left and went their separate ways. Sighing in relief I slumped back. After making sure that no more sounds could be heard, I decided to take a peek before leaving too.

I looked through the gap to see... an expanse of white with a black void in the middle, along with multiple branches crossing the surface.

"What in the hell-" I froze as I realized that what I was looking at was a human eye.

I was pulled out and thrown onto the ground.

The tiger masked man looked at me emotionless, he didn't even bother asking whether I had heard anything. He immediately aimed a revolver at my face.

The masked man pulled the trigger and the bullet went speeding forwards with a flash of light. I felt my surroundings slow down as I could watch the bullet crash into my head in slow motion. MY eyes rolled into my head as all of my senses shut done immediately.

There was no pain, there wasn't even the time to rest. I just knew that I was dead.

I could vaguely hear the sounds of the system in the background.

[ Nightmare mission failed! ]

[ Host dead ]

[ Abandoning host! ]

[ Looking for new host ]

I was trapped in oblivion for an unknown amount of time. I was dead but could somehow still think. I still had the concept of self.

After what could have been either a few seconds or multiple centuries, I felt an existence approach me.

I was rudely grabbed up and examined.

{Interesting...what do we have here?}

{Abandoned by a system.....must be a some high level trash for that to happen}

Well, fuck me! How the hell was I supposed to know that the nightmare mission was so hard, and that there is no return after death function.

{Wow, looks like you still haven't decomposed. Looks like your soul is stronger than average. I have an idea...let me transmigrate you to a cultivation world. let me see if you can survive without the help of a system}

A bright flash of light broke through the eternal void as I found myself opening my eyes while lying on a bed. As a kaleidoscope of memories crashed into my head like a tsunami, numbing me with the pain.

I knew that I was as dead as dead could be!