The Truth

[Soul Restoration: 80%]

[Soul Restoration: 81%]

'Damn, what is that noise?'

[Soul Restoration: 82%]

'Tch!'

He was having a good dream, but that incessant noise awoke him.

Gradually, Austin's eyelids started to flutter open and his vision returned

He tried to lift himself up from his 'bed', but was instead flung away.

After screaming and trying to flail his arms and legs, to his horror, he could not locate any of his limbs or even his torso

And though he did not have any hands to check, he instinctively felt he had no head either.

He was bodiless.

Empty.

Despite knowing this was all a nightmare, it did not help his state of mind.

Being unable to stop his 'body' from rotating, did not help either.

[Soul Restoration: 87%]

'Damn, what is with this noise and why can I see those words?' Austin was sure he would go insane if he heard the robotic voice again. A nightmare was one thing, it's not like he had never experienced one in his life before, but this was torture. He had lost track of how many times he wanted to vomit, but couldn't.

[System detects hosts deteriorating mental health.]

[System Analysis shall commence!]

[System has found two possible reasons. Would the host like for his balance to be restored?]

"...Are you talking to me?" Austin tentatively replied to the annoying sound robotic voice.

[Affirmative, Host!]

"What do I do?"

Austin did not know what was happening; the nightmare was getting weirder by the second. Even so, he would rather fix one problem than let it continue.

[If the host wants to stop his dissent then the host simply needs to think of stopping.]

"..." Austin felt irritated by such an idiotic method to solve his issue, but since he had no better solutions he decided to listen to the robotic voice.

And to his joint displeasure and joy his 'body stopped'.

[Soul Restoration: 89%]

"..." 

[Soul Restoration can not be stopped!]

"..." Austin felt a vein popping on his forehead when he received that response after trying to stop that 'Soul Restoration'… whatever that meant.

[If the host wishes, the System can temporarily mute alerts!]

"..." Austin did not respond because he felt that the so-called 'System' should understand without him needing to tell it. 

Instead, he looked around his surroundings now that he was no longer disorientated. 

And… all he could see was an expanse of white.

He felt the ever-present whiteness was near as if he could touch it, yet at the same time infinitely far away.

And the more he concentrated on his surroundings, the more his head started hurting.

Like he said before, this nightmare was unlike he had ever experienced in his life.

He would rather fight off a skyscraper-sized monster than continue having to stare at the whiteness around him.

It was so bad that he started to miss the feeling of being disoriented because even when he closed his 'eyes', he could still see through them.

To distract himself he decided to converse with that weird robotic voice that felt as though it came from inside of him.

However, it seemed the robotic voice was one step ahead of him.

[It seems Host is unaware of his situation. The System, shall explain, after the host died -]

How did he forget that?

Then this nightmare… What could it possibly be?

Was this the afterlife?

He hoped not.

[If the host refrains from interrupting the System, the System can explain…]

Noticing the slight reproach in its emotional robotic voice, Austin smiled wryly as he stopped with his useless inner monologue.

[The host was born with a damaged soul leading to the host's deteriorating health. According to the System's calc-]

"Sorry to interrupt, but can you speak normally?' Austin asked hesitantly. The whole 'the host' and 'the System' thing was a bit weird for him.

[... Before I was rudely interrupted.] The System's previous robotic voice changed to a girl's voice midway, causing Austin to smile wryly.

[Unfortunately, according to my calculation, if no irregularities occurred you would live for exactly fifteen years. However, you were like a cockroach unwilling to die... Tch, if not for that voracious appetite you would have lived for a full fifteen years instead of dying twenty-four seconds before the predetermined time. And because of that damn seal, I couldn't even tell you to … *cough* well, anyway, after your death, the seal which was placed on me broke allowing me to pull your soul into this independent space for healing.]

After processing the shocking information, Austin became excited.

He watched enough isekai anime to understand where the conversation was heading.

[Neat!]

Ignoring the remark from the now surprisingly talkative System, Austin cared more about what was to come.

"So System…" Austin pondered, rubbing his non-existent chin with his equally non-existent hands. "Actually, it would be weird if I called you that… Hmm, do you have a name?"

"Tch, took you long enough to ask and shouldn't you present yourself first before asking a lady's name? Who taught you manners? Humph, knowing you, I doubt you have any manners. Very well, this great lady's name is Yan and since I am stuck with you, I will permit you to call me Yan'er!]

Austin smiled wryly, though he shouldn't complain; he wondered out of all the Systems he could have gotten, why was he stuck with a tsundere System?

"Anyway, Yan'er, what will happen after my soul fully recovers?"

[Your soul has already fully recovered and before you ask, say the word [Status] within your head.]

With giddy excitement, Austin spoke [Status] in his head as a familiar-looking status screen appeared right before his eyes.

=================================================================

Name: Austin *Sealed* *Sealed*

Age: 15

Race: *Sealed* *Sealed*

Rank: None

Job Class: None [Awaken]

Magical Affinity: Dark

Health Points: 5/5

Mana: 2

Strength: 1

Vitality: 2

Agility: 1

Dexterity: 1

Defense: 1

Skills: None

=================================================================

"WHAT?! What the actual fuck?!"