The sun hung low, clouds wandering across every inch of the sky in strange circles.
A bright day for Krisna—his second day in this new world.
He was getting ready to craft a plant pot, but the screen in front of him suddenly acted up, making his head spin.
"Hey… what's wrong with you?" Krisna asked.
———
Dunno. Lol.
———
In his head: Is the screen broken… or what?
He sighed. "Alright, alright. I'm sorry."
———
Hmmm…
———
Krisna clenched his fists. "I'm… sorry, okay? Pretty screen."
———
…Fine.
———
He finally exhaled in relief, then continued crafting the pot.
———
What're you doing now?
———
"This? A place for your random seed."
> Pot acquired.
With the pot done, he scooped the soil he'd dug earlier and poured it in.
The noon sun was merciless—no clouds in sight to soften its blaze. Sweat soaked his body; his shirt clung to him as dehydration whispered warnings.
When he finished filling the pot, Krisna asked the screen to open the shop and bought two bottles of water.
———
Con: 2,200
———
Blue particles shimmered into existence, forming the shape of bottles. Larger cubic particles released mist, as if guiding it gently into the bottles—clean water materialized inside.
Krisna drank a few gulps, then bought a random seed.
———
2,050
———
The same process happened—particles swirling, shaping the seed before it landed in his palm.
It was big, like an avocado pit, but blue with violet streaks.
Krisna squinted.
"…This thing can grow?"
———
It can :)
———
"O-okay." He rotated the seed in his fingers.
Though unsure, he planted it.
"By the way, can I upgrade my stats? Or maybe get some skills…?" he asked while pouring water onto the soil.
———
Stats can only be increased
Through training.
———
Krisna's head drooped as his hand scratched his hair.
———
But there are skills.
Though you'll need training
To use them.
———
Krisna clicked his tongue. "Can't I just use them instantly? Why do I have to train…"
———
Nope!
Nothing instant.
Everything needs process.
And I know you're not
Lazy…
———
He froze at the words. They hit home. Something inside him quieted down, leaving the screen suspended in silence.
———
…You okay?
———
"Just… thinking about stuff."
He tilted his head back, watching the clouds drift slowly—sky fading to orange before he realized the day was slipping into night.
He let out a long, weighted breath. Carrying the pot, he hid it under a tarp he found earlier. Before heading into the truck, he covered the small gap he used as an entrance—just in case patrols passed by.
Krisna flopped onto the truck seat. It was soft enough, though parts were torn. His arms became his pillow. He stared at the rusty roof, cobwebs woven into the corners.
He planned to clean it tomorrow—today had drained him dry.
The truck protected him from the cold wind, but not from loneliness. Even with the screen beside him, a strange emptiness lingered.
In his mind: Screen… show up.
———
Yeah?
———
He shifted positions. "What skills are there?"
———
– Endless Running: 200 con
– Frog Leap: 175 con
– Big Jab Jab (BJJ): 500 con
– Peeping Tom: 250 con
And more…
———
Over a hundred skills in total.
"Seriously… all of them cost con? Capitalist much?" he laughed.
———
Money in, goods out.
———
"Hahaha… true. And hey—you don't even have a name yet."
———
A name?
I… don't need one.
———
Ignoring that, Krisna searched for a good name anyway. Then "Lis" crossed his mind.
"How about… Lis?"
———
Lis? Umm.
I-I don't need a name.
———
He smiled. "Alright then. I'll be counting on you, Lis."
———
…
———
For a moment, Krisna could almost see a girl blushing shyly.
Slowly, sleep crept over him. His second day ended like a brief exhale—time moving, world turning.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Morning light bloomed from the east. Roosters sang, shaking workers and students awake.
Inside the truck, Krisna was curled up, fast asleep. His eyes begged for more rest but—
———
Wake up!! Idiot!!
———
Lis yanked him out of dreamland.
Heavy as it felt, Krisna still pushed through the drowsiness. Lis cheered him on.
He opened the tarp and stepped outside; the morning chill kissed his bare skin. Hands tucked into pockets, he tiptoed away from the truck.
Today, he planned to shower and learn a new skill.
Breathing in clean, pollution-free air: "Lis."
———
What?
———
"Tell me… what skills are good for me?" he asked, scratching his head.
———
Hm… I don't think
You need any.
———
His expression knotted in confusion. "Why?"
———
Because I can scan
The skills from your
Previous life.
———
"You should've said that earlier… Alright, scan me."
Blue particles rose from his feet to his head—three waves in total.
———
Skills detected:
– Mechanics (lvl 6)
– Imagination (lvl 5)
– BJJ (lvl 4)
– Slippery (lvl 2)
– Heartbreak Resistant (lvl 3)
– Dislikes Whispering (lvl 1)
———
Krisna blinked, a bit impressed.
———
Wow… didn't think
You were capable.
———
He lifted his chin. "Heh, easy stuff," he said, wiping his nose proudly.
———
Plenty of skills,
But useless
In your current state.
———
Krisna froze. "Wait… repeat that."
———
Can't.
I'm accurate.
You should be grateful.
———
He bowed dramatically. "Yes, Your Majesty, Queen Lis."
———
Idiot.
———
———
Krisna carried on with his day. He bought three water bottles, two breads, and a fruit Lis said could clean germs and scent clothes.
———
Water (3×): 150
Bread (2×): 200
Soap-fruit (1×): 75
Total: 425
Previous con: 2,300
Current con: 1,875
———
He poured water into an old, cracked bucket and tossed the fruit inside. Bubbles burst out, releasing a pleasant scent. He washed his clothes and hung them to dry.
Now shirtless, he endured the cold morning breeze while scavenging useful junk. He stumbled upon a fairly intact CRT TV.
He carried it to the truck and dismantled it, separating the wires. Later, he found an antenna.
Climbing up a high spot, he secured the antenna with rope and a stick.
He repaired the radio.
By noon he was training BJJ—the martial art his mother forced him into years ago so he wouldn't get bullied.
When the sky glowed orange, he retrieved his now-clean clothes. Their fragrance wrapped him like a gentle embrace.
As he enjoyed the scent, far away, a white-haired girl silently watched him.
Night fell. The radio was finally repaired—only one problem: electricity.
He slapped his forehead. "Oh, come on…"
Luckily, he remembered a cable connected to an electric pole.
In the dim light, he snuck toward it with tools he scavenged.
He cut the line and rerouted power into the radio.
A few tweaks later—static. More tweaks—voices.
He cycled through channels until one became clear.
A girl's voice echoed:
"…and now, January 21st, 2019…"
Hearing "January 21st, 2019," Krisna froze.
This explained why Asuna seemed strange—why she hadn't joined C&C yet.
He thought, So that means… I can recruit her…
But he rejected the idea instantly.
Future info was valuable.
In the darkness, he thought and thought until one truth settled in his chest:
He was living before the prologue even began.
"Which means… I can save her."