SWNOVELXO Chapter 2: Chapter
Gerhan woke up to the soft rays of sunlight streaming through the curtains. He lazily reached for his phone to check the time and decided to start the day. Heading to the kitchen, he cracked some eggs into a pan, fried them to a golden perfection, and tossed in some meat. With a cold glass of milk in hand, he enjoyed his breakfast, savoring the simple pleasures.
After eating, he decided to take a walk in the nearby park. The fresh air and rustling of leaves provided a welcome change from the monotony of his apartment. He found an empty bench under a tree, sat down, and pulled a small quick meal from his pocket—his version of a snack.
As he unwrapped it, he noticed a trail of ants crawling across the bench, their tiny bodies moving in organized chaos. "Well," he thought with a wry smile, "at least I wasn't reborn as an ant."
The sun climbed higher, warming the world around him. Deciding to escape the heat, he headed to a nearby bookstore, one of his favorite places. He browsed through the aisles, picked out a few interesting books to stave off boredom, and returned home.
Back at his apartment, he opened a cold can of Coke, leaned back on his bed, and began reading. The story he chose was about a powerful dragon—a creature of immense might and ambition. The dragon conquered dragon slayers, united all races under one banner, and eventually ascended to godhood.
"How cool would that be?" Gerhan mused to himself. The idea of being a dragon, soaring through the skies and commanding awe, filled him with longing.
Just as he let the thought sink in, a sudden, resonant BAM echoed across his consciousness. Then came the voice—clear, authoritative, and impossible to ignore.
"System activated."
Gerhan froze, his heart racing with anticipation. Before he could celebrate, his vision went dark, and he felt himself slipping into unconsciousness.
When he woke up, he found himself in a blank, featureless room. A voice, calm and precise, began speaking to him.
"Welcome to the System. You will be granted a choice—three paths that will determine your future in the new world."
A screen appeared before him, glowing faintly in the void, and listed three options:
1) Create your own character.
• Choose your appearance and one of five races: human, orc, elf, dwarf, or undead.
• You will be summoned as this character into the new world.
2) Be born into one of the five races.
• Human, orc, elf, dwarf, or undead.
• Unlike being summoned, this path provides you with a background and established life. However, you will retain the age you currently have, and your new body could belong to anyone—from a king to a lowly servant.
3) Everything will be randomized.
• Your form could be anything: goblin, kobold, troll, spider, ant, centipede, stone monster, plant, dragon, or more.
The system continued:
"Note that every being in the new world has access to the system. However, the system is primarily informational—it does not grant power directly. Strength and abilities must be earned through effort and growth. The first option allows customization, including the use of a leveling system to improve attributes like stamina, strength, and skills. The second and third options rely on fate and circumstance, with no such customization at the outset. Choose wisely."
Gerhan stood frozen, processing the gravity of the choices before him. "Only three options," he muttered, "but each one could completely change my life."
He thought deeply about the first option—customizing a character. It was tempting, even though it limited him to five races. "Makes sense," he reasoned, "since allowing everything would be unbalanced and unfair to the other paths." Still, the leveling system intrigued him; it seemed like the best way to grow strong.
But his eyes lingered on the third option—its tantalizing word: dragon.
The thought of soaring through the skies, breathing fire, and commanding fear and respect stirred something deep within him. His heart raced as he weighed the possibilities, knowing that his choice would shape the destiny ahead.