Custom Space

Even after returning home, Mike kept testing his new abilities nonstop.

He still wasn't sure if he'd truly gained an SSS-level talent; the whole thing was a giant question mark. 

For someone who'd already crossed over from another world, it wasn't exactly mind-blowing—after all, the act of crossing worlds was strange enough on its own.

Plus, Mike had only walked a relatively short distance, yet he felt utterly exhausted. He wondered if this fatigue was some kind of side effect from being transported to this world.

Just as Mike was about to collapse onto his bed for a decent nap, suddenly his body emitted a brilliant light. The very next moment, a mysterious power engulfed him completely.

"Checking attributes…" 

"Synchronizing…" 

"Warning, your body is in an abnormal state, and your abilities are severely limited." 

"Warning, your body is in an abnormal state…" 

"…."

Mike was completely puzzled. What exactly did they mean by "abnormal state"? Was it because he was from another world? While he was still lost in thought, his eyes prompted him with new information:

[You are the Chosen One. Before officially challenging the Tower of Truth, you can enter your Custom Space. Once you complete the trial within, you will lift your abnormal status, and during the subsequent challenge on the Tower of Truth, you'll have a 33.33% chance of obtaining an SSSSS-level reward.]

[Within the Custom Space, some functions of the Eye of Truth will be restricted, and they will return to normal after you finish the trial.]

[The chance of safely clearing your Custom Space is 99.9999%.]

Since the Eye of Truth had given him this hint, Mike didn't hesitate. He decided he'd tackle his Custom Space first, then deal with everything else.

A blinding white light surged around him. Mike shut his eyes tight, and when he opened them again, everything had turned upside down.

The sky was gloomy, and there was a faint musty smell in the air. In front of him lay a stretch of forest dotted with rundown houses, where the occasional whirring of cicadas broke the silence.

Fog swirled through the area, and the decrepit walls were mottled with green patches of moss. From a distance, the buildings looked like gaping jaws waiting to devour anyone who got too close—unsettling and eerie.

Mike glanced at his character panel:

ID: None 

Class: None 

Talent: Eye of Truth (restricted) 

LV: 1 

HP: 10/10 

Strength: 1 

Constitution: 1 

Agility: 1 

Spirit: 1 

Status: Extreme Weakness (all stats drastically reduced) 

EXP: 0/10 (locked) 

Remaining Lifespan: 6 hours 05 minutes 

Buff: Supreme Blessing (23 hours 59 minutes left)

…

All stats at 1? That's basically the weakest you could be in any game. 

Mike felt pretty helpless. Why on earth were his stats so low? Could it be that he was practically on death's doorstep before he even arrived in this world?

"Even if that's the case, why is my EXP locked? I can't even level up right now."

"Screw it, I'll worry about that later. My Remaining Lifespan is only six hours, so I need to hurry."

Mike made his way toward the village, cautiously scanning his surroundings and figuring out how to pass this Custom Space trial.

Suddenly, he spotted a shape moving not too far away, occasionally pausing in place.

"A wild pheasant!"

Mike's eyes lit up. He picked up a fairly sturdy stick from the ground and crept forward. Before him, a long-tailed pheasant was pecking at the dirt, searching for worms.

Bam!

Once Mike was in striking range, he seized the moment and took a mighty swing with his stick.

-1

Mike: "…"

"Gah, gah, gah—"

The pheasant flapped its wings, bursting away into the trees before vanishing from sight.

Mike: "…"

Why do I feel like it's laughing at me?

He sighed. The weakness debuff was no joke. With all his attributes at 1, his attacks were pitiful, and he was way too slow to chase anything down.

Fortunately, there was a loophole he could work. After thinking for a moment, Mike found a patch of soft ground beside a nearby house.

He dug out the earth, used a few thin sticks as supports, then covered it with grass and dirt. Finally, he scattered some seeds on top.

"Homemade trap, done."

Mike patted his hands clean and hid himself. Sure enough, it didn't take long for another flock of pheasants to wander into view. They approached the trap, pecking away at the seeds, blissfully unaware that death was right in front of them—and that someone was watching from a distance.

Plop!

One of the pheasants tumbled into the hole. The trap was triggered! Startled, the rest scattered and fled. Mike darted out from behind a tree. Peering into the pit, he saw a pheasant frantically flapping around. A faint smile spread across his face.

-1 

MISS! 

-1 

…

It took Mike twenty hits with the stick just to kill it!

[You have killed a Pheasant (lv1). EXP +1]

[Supreme Blessing effect has activated. EXP has been converted into Lifespan!]

[You have gained 1 hour of Lifespan.]

Mike unconsciously tightened his grip on the stick, feeling completely stunned. What was going on?

He quickly opened his character panel, eyes filled with a mix of anxiousness and excitement. Sure enough:

Remaining Lifespan: 6 hours 37 minutes

Factoring in the time spent digging traps and catching the pheasant, he had indeed gained a full hour!

Mike was astonished, and then a rush of euphoria swept over him. He had a real chance now!

All he had to do was keep hunting monsters and claiming their life force. He could escape death this way!

Mike's eyes gleamed as he glanced at the flock of pheasants that had dashed away. His gaze changed, like he was eyeing a naked beauty sprawled out on his bed.

"One hour is not bad at all. The key is that I can keep stacking it."

Fueled by excitement, Mike was itching to grab his stick, hunt down every pheasant in the village!