Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land

Joseph woke up to the sound of crashing waves and seagulls cawing in the distance. His head was pounding and his vision was blurry, but as he slowly sat up, he realized that he was no longer in his own world. He looked around and saw that he was on a rocky shore, surrounded by steep cliffs and dense forests. The air was cold and salty, and the sky was overcast with dark clouds.

"What the hell...where am I?" Joseph muttered to himself as he tried to remember how he got here. He vaguely recalled going to bed in his own apartment after a long day of work, but everything after that was a blur. He looked down at his hands and saw that they were shaking. He was scared, confused, and alone.

As he tried to stand up, he felt a sharp pain in his ankle. He looked down and saw that he had sprained it, probably when he fell onto the rocks. He winced in pain and tried to put weight on it, but it was no use. He was stuck here until he could find a way to get help.

Just then, he noticed something strange happening in his vision. A window, like something out of a video game, appeared in front of him, displaying various stats and information.

Name: Joseph

Level: 1

Race: Human

HP: 100/100

SP: 100/100

STR: 10

DEX: 8

END: 10 I

NT: 12

WIS: 8

LUK: 6

Stat Points: 0

"What the hell is this?" Joseph muttered as he tried to make sense of the window. He realized that he could move it around with his gaze and that it seemed to respond to his thoughts. It was like nothing he had ever seen before, but somehow, it felt familiar to him. As he looked closer at the window, he saw a notification pop up.

[Congratulations! You have awakened the Gamer System. From now on, you will be able to track your stats, skills, and abilities through this window. Use it wisely, and you may find success in this new world.]

Joseph was both excited and apprehensive. He had always been a fan of video games and RPGs, but he had never imagined that he would be able to experience something like this in real life. He was also scared of what it meant. Was he really in a different world now? Was this some kind of bizarre dream?

He decided to explore his surroundings and try to find some answers. As he hobbled along the rocky shore, he noticed a path leading into the forest. He knew that it was risky to venture into the unknown, especially with his injured ankle, but he didn't have any other choice.

As he walked deeper into the forest, he saw signs of civilization. There were small huts made of straw and mud, with smoke rising from their chimneys. He also heard the sounds of people talking and children playing. He knew that he had to be careful. He didn't know if the people here were friendly or if they would see him as a threat.

He approached one of the huts and knocked on the door. A middle-aged woman answered, with a kind smile on her face.

"Hello there, stranger. What brings you to our village?" she asked.

Joseph was relieved that she didn't seem hostile. He explained that he had woken up on the shore with no memory of how he got there, and that he was looking for help.

The woman nodded sympathetically. "I see. You must be hungry and tired. Come in, I'll make you some soup and let you rest for a bit."

Joseph was grateful for her kindness and followed her inside. As he sat by the fire, he couldn't help but notice that the window was still there, hovering in front of him. He tried to hide it as best he could, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before someone noticed it. The woman brought him a bowl of hot soup and some bread. As he ate, he tried to think of a way to ask her about this world without revealing too much about himself. He decided to start with a simple question.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but where am I exactly?" Joseph asked, hoping that she would give him a straightforward answer.

The woman smiled warmly. "You are in the North Blue, on the island of Kaiten. It's a small, peaceful village where everyone knows each other." Joseph nodded, trying to hide his surprise. He had heard of the North Blue before, but only in stories and legends. He couldn't believe that he was actually here, in this world. As he finished his soup, he thanked the woman and prepared to leave. She offered to let him stay for the night, but he declined, saying that he needed to find a way to get back home. As he walked out of the hut, he noticed that the window was still there, displaying his stats and information. He knew that he had to be careful. He didn't want to attract too much attention or reveal too much about himself. He decided to explore the village and try to gather as much information as he could without raising suspicion. As he walked around, he noticed that the villagers were friendly and welcoming. They went about their daily lives, fishing, farming, and making crafts. He also noticed that there was a small marketplace where people were buying and selling goods. He decided to check it out. As he walked through the market, he saw all kinds of strange and exotic things. There were fruits and vegetables that he had never seen before, spices and herbs that he couldn't identify, and even some strange creatures that he had only heard of in fairy tales. He felt a sense of wonder and excitement, but also a sense of dread. He didn't know if he would ever be able to go back home or if he was stuck here forever. Just then, he heard a commotion coming from the other side of the market. He saw a group of people gathered around, shouting and cheering. He decided to investigate. As he pushed his way through the crowd, he saw a group of men fighting each other with swords and axes. They were shouting insults and curses, and blood was spilling onto the ground. Joseph felt sick to his stomach. He had never seen such violence before, not even in the movies or video games. He wanted to leave, but he couldn't move. He was transfixed by the sight. Just then, one of the men noticed him and pointed in his direction.

"Hey, who's that? A spy from the Marines?" The other men turned to look at Joseph.

He knew that he was in trouble. He had to think fast.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just passing through," Joseph stammered, hoping that they would believe him.

One of the men stepped forward, his sword drawn. "You're not from around here, are you? What's your name, boy?"

Joseph hesitated for a moment, then decided to use a fake name. "My name is Jack. I'm just a traveler, looking for a way back home."

The man laughed. "You expect us to believe that? No one comes to Kaiten by accident. You must be a spy'"

Joseph could sense the tension in the room rising, and he knew that he had to defuse the situation before things got out of hand. He took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly. "I understand that this might sound crazy, but it's the truth. I don't know how I got here, and I don't know anything about this place. I just need your help to figure out what's going on," he said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. The villagers looked at him skeptically, but the woman who had let him in spoke up. "We can't just leave him out there to die, no matter what he is. We'll take him to the chief and let him decide," she said firmly. The other villagers grudgingly nodded their agreement, and Joseph felt a small glimmer of hope. Maybe he would be able to get some answers after all. The journey to the chief's hut was long and arduous. Joseph's ankle was throbbing with pain, and he was struggling to keep up with the villagers' brisk pace. He was also feeling increasingly uncomfortable under their suspicious glares. He had the distinct feeling that he was not welcome here. Finally, they arrived at the chief's hut. It was much larger and more ornate than the other huts in the village, with intricate carvings and decorations adorning the walls. The chief himself was a tall, imposing man with a stern expression and piercing eyes. He looked Joseph up and down, taking in his strange clothing and foreign features. "You expect us to believe that you accidentally woke up here?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Joseph took a deep breath and tried to keep his cool. "I know it sounds crazy, but it's the truth. I woke up on your shore with no memory of how I got there. I don't want any trouble. I just need your help to figure out what's going on," he said, hoping that the chief would be more reasonable than the other villagers. The chief snorted in derision. "Very well. We will hear you out, but first, you must prove yourself. We have a problem that needs solving. If you can help us, we will consider your request for assistance," he said, folding his arms across his chest. Joseph felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. He had a feeling that this was not going to be easy. "What kind of problem?" he asked cautiously. The chief leaned forward, his eyes boring into Joseph's. "Our village has been plagued by a group of bandits for weeks now. They come in the dead of night, stealing our food and supplies, and terrorizing our people. We have tried to fight back, but they are too strong. We need someone who can take them down once and for all," he said, his voice low and menacing. Joseph felt a surge of adrenaline. This was it. This was his chance to prove himself and earn the trust of the villagers. He knew that he was stronger and faster than any normal human, thanks to his Gamer System. Maybe he could take down the bandits and earn their respect. "I'll do it," he said, his voice steady. The chief raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But you're also foolish. These bandits are not to be trifled with. They have weapons and magic that you have never seen before," he said, his tone warning. Joseph felt a flicker of doubt. Maybe he was in over his head. But he couldn't back down now. He had to try. "I have to do something. I can't just sit here and do nothing while innocent people suffer. I'll take on your challenge," he said, his voice firm.