The ceiling was too bright.
Ren Katsuro's eyes flinched open as the sterile white lights stung his vision. His body felt like it had been through a meat grinder—ribs aching, head pounding, and his throat dry as sandpaper. But he was alive.
He wasn't supposed to be.
"Didn't I… die?"
The image returned in flashes—an alley, three thugs, a girl screaming, and then—
CRACK.
Steel-toed boots to his face. The wet sound of bone breaking. The metallic taste of blood.
And then... nothing.
Ren sat upright, gasping, heart hammering.
That's when it appeared.
A glowing blue interface hovered mid-air in front of him, transparent yet solid-looking, like a hologram from a sci-fi movie.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZED]
Welcome, Ren Katsuro.
Vital Status: Revived
Host Death Count: 1
Congratulations! You have been selected by the Ascension Protocol.
Would you like to activate your new life?
[YES] [NO]
"What the actual hell?" Ren whispered, voice hoarse.
Analyzing confusion…
Loading Tutorial Mode.
The text flickered. Then came a voice—clear, robotic, but with an irritatingly smug tone.
"You died trying to be a hero. How tragically noble. Lucky for you, someone thought your sacrifice was... amusing."
"...Amusing?"
"Don't worry, I'm here to make you less pathetic. You're now bound to the Ascension Protocol—a multiversal system designed to turn losers like you into, well, gods."
Ren blinked. "You're joking."
"I don't joke. I'm software. Unless you tick the sarcasm setting. Shall we begin?"
The [YES] button on the screen pulsed.
Hesitantly, Ren reached forward and tapped it.
[ASCENSION PROTOCOL ACTIVATED]
Initializing Host Stats…
Strength: 3 Intelligence: 7 Charm: 1 Luck: 2 Libido: 0.5 (yikes.)
Skill: None
Assets: None
Harem Slots: Locked (0/5)
Level: 0
"...Libido point five?"
"Yeah, even your hormones gave up on you."
Ren growled. "So what does this thing even do?"
"Simple. Complete missions. Earn rewards. Grow powerful. Conquer the world. Get girls. Ascend."
"Fail… and die. Permanently this time."
MISSION: WALK OUT OF THIS HOSPITAL WITH DIGNITY.
Objective: Get discharged without humiliating yourself.
Reward: Strength +5, Charm +3, [Random Reward]
Bonus: Flirt successfully with one female staff member.
Warning: Libido Boost in Progress…
Ren's eyes widened. "Wait, what—"
Just then, the door opened.
A nurse walked in. Early twenties. Tight uniform. Glasses. Curvy. Beautiful.
She froze when she saw him sitting up. "O-oh! You're awake!"
Ren looked down. The blanket tented.
The system chimed gleefully.
"Congratulations! First contact with female achieved. Now try not to die of embarrassment."
To Be Continued…