When Lin Mingyue opened his eyes, he was still standing in the endless darkness.
The black cat sat a few steps away, quietly watching him.
Neither of them spoke.
After what felt like a minute, Mingyue finally broke the silence.
"...A cat?"
The cat blinked.
"I am a system."
"So... a talking cat."
"..."
"I suppose that's close enough."
Mingyue let out a small sigh.
Even after everything that had happened, he still couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He looked around.
There was no sky.
No walls.
No floor.
Yet somehow, he was standing as if there was solid ground beneath his feet.
The place was silent. Too silent.
"What is this place?" he asked.
"The System Space."
"And you brought me here?"
"Correct."
Mingyue nodded slowly before asking the question that had been bothering him ever since he woke up.
"...Am I dead?"
Cub was quiet for a moment before answering.
"Yes."
Silence filled the void once again.
Mingyue lowered his head and let out a quiet laugh.
"What a way to go."
He had spent years saving lives.
Every day, he fought against death inside the operating room.
In the end, he couldn't even save himself.
"The plane?"
"It crashed."
"...I see."
He closed his eyes.
By now, the news had probably spread.
His colleagues would hear about it.
His parents would eventually receive the call.
He could already imagine how heartbroken they would be.
A bitter smile appeared on his face before disappearing just as quickly.
After taking a deep breath, he looked back at Cub.
"So... what happens now?"
"You have two choices."
Cub's tail swayed from side to side.
"You can let your soul fade."
"Or?"
"You can become a Host of the Interdimensional Salvation System."
"...Host?"
"You will travel to different worlds and complete missions."
"And what do I get in return?"
"Star Points."
"What are Star Points?"
"They are the System's currency."
"When you've earned enough, you can exchange them for another chance at life."
Mingyue stared at Cub.
"You can revive me?"
"Yes."
The answer came without hesitation.
He fell silent.
The offer sounded unbelievable.
If someone had told him this yesterday, he would have laughed and recommended a psychiatrist.
Now, after waking up in an empty void with a talking cat...
It didn't sound impossible anymore.
"What kind of missions?"
"Every world is different."
"You may save someone."
"You may change someone's fate."
"You may prevent a tragedy."
"You only need to complete the world's assigned mission."
"And if I fail?"
"You fail that world."
"No rewards?"
"No rewards."
"So I can just try again?"
Cub looked away.
"...Sometimes."
Mingyue narrowed his eyes.
"Sometimes?"
"It depends on the world's rules."
"You really like giving vague answers."
"I do."
"..."
For some reason, Mingyue almost smiled.
This little system was surprisingly honest.
After thinking for a while, he asked his final question.
"If I complete every mission..."
"I can return to my world?"
"Yes."
"My body will be restored?"
"Yes."
"..."
That answer was enough.
He still had people waiting for him.
He still had dreams he hadn't accomplished.
He wasn't ready to disappear.
Mingyue met Cub's gaze.
"What do I need to do?"
Cub's blue eyes curved happily.
"Form a contract with me."
"Is there any fine print?"
"No."
"You answered that a little too quickly."
"There really isn't."
"...I'll pretend I believe you."
Cub lifted one paw.
A small blue light floated into the air before drifting toward Mingyue.
The moment it touched his chest, it disappeared.
A familiar mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
[Contract Established.]
[Host Confirmed.]
A translucent blue panel slowly appeared before him.
╔══════════════════════════════════════╗
INTERDIMENSIONAL SALVATION SYSTEM ╠══════════════════════════════════════╣
Host Name : Lin Mingyue
Host ID : LM-00001
Current Rank : F
Star Points : 0
EXP : 0 / 100
Worlds Cleared : 0
Missions Cleared : 0
Skills : None
Inventory : Empty
Titles : None
╚══════════════════════════════════════╝
Mingyue looked at the floating panel with curiosity.
"So this is the System."
Cub nodded proudly.
"It displays your current status."
"As you complete missions, more functions will become available."
"Can anyone else see this?"
"No."
"Only the Host can access the System Panel."
"That's convenient."
Before he could ask another question, the panel suddenly flickered.
A second window appeared.
╔══════════════════════════════════════╗
WORLD INTERFACE ╠══════════════════════════════════════╣
World Rank : F
World Name : Unknown
Identity Transfer : Preparing...
Memory Sync : Pending...
Main Mission : Locked
Side Missions : Locked
Reward : Star Points
╚══════════════════════════════════════╝
Another notification appeared beneath it.
[Preparing First World.]
[Identity Synchronization Starting...]
[10%...]
[35%...]
[67%...]
[100% Complete.]
The darkness around them began to twist.
A powerful force pulled at Mingyue's body.
The two system panels shattered into countless blue particles before disappearing into the void.
Cub smiled.
"Good luck, Host."
"You'll need it."
Before Mingyue could say anything else, the force swallowed him whole.
His vision went black once again.