"What the... I've transmigrated into the world of Terra?!"
Jay had stayed up all night grinding Arknights' main storyline. Somewhere between victory and exhaustion, he passed out.
But when he opened his eyes again, he wasn't in his bed. He was lying inside a stone coffin.
Worse still he had become the Doctor.
Right now, Jay was holed up in a dilapidated building alongside Amiya, Dobermann, Ace, and more than a dozen wounded Rhodes Island Operators. They had narrowly escaped pursuit by Reunion forces.
The atmosphere was tense. Several operators were seriously injured and being tended to by medics. The situation was grim.
Suddenly, a mechanical voice echoed in Jay's mind.
"Detected host is conscious. Initializing system..."
"Sanity vs Madness System loading... 10%... 30%... 40%..."
As the loading bar climbed, a string of glowing notifications began to flicker inside his brain.
"Sanity vs Madness System? What kind of busted system is this...?"
Jay frowned, full of questions. But until the system finished loading, there was little he could do.
"Doctor, are you alright? Feeling any better?"
A girl with donkey-like ears crouched beside him, concern in her eyes.
Digging into this body's memories, Jay realized this was Amiya. She had been helping him walk ever since he was pulled from the coffin. With Reunion hot on their heels, the entire squad had been forced into a hasty retreat.
Amiya gently handed him a familiar device.
"Doctor... Reunion forces have ambushed us. Nearly half our operators are wounded. We need your guidance. Please, help us…"
Dobermann frowned and shook her head.
"Let's be realistic, Amiya. The Doctor has lost all memory. He's in no condition to command anyone."
"You're right..." Amiya lowered her head, voice tinged with despair.
CRASH!
Without warning, several crossbow bolts shattered the windows and pierced the air.
"Ahhhh!"
"Aghhh!"
A few operators, caught off guard, collapsed with bolts lodged in their bodies.
"Medics! We've got wounded!"
"He's bleeding out! Get the tourniquet!"
Chaos exploded inside the room. Panic spread like wildfire.
"They've found us!"
Dobermann pressed herself against the wall and peeked out. Outside, more than thirty Reunion fighters, masked and armed, had them surrounded. At least ten crossbows were aimed directly at their hideout.
With half the squad wounded and several operators on the brink of collapse, they stood no chance in a head-on fight.
Gritting her teeth, Dobermann barked her order.
"Amiya! Ace! Get the Doctor out of here now! I'll hold them off!"
"R-Right!"
Amiya nodded and helped Jay up, guiding him toward the back door.
"System loaded! Ding ding ding! Congratulations, host. Sanity vs Madness System is now online!"
Jay's vision flashed. Two options appeared before him.
[Sanity Option]: Log into the PRTS terminal and become a proper tactical commander. Reward: Intelligence +30, Sanity +20
[Madness Option]: Crush the PRTS terminal. Real men fight on the frontlines! Reward: Skill unlocked 'Wrath of Sparta.' Strength +30, Agility +20, Endurance +30
Note: 'Wrath of Sparta' lasts 50 seconds. Enter unarmed combat mode. Attack power +200%, movement speed +100%. Clears all debuffs. Attacks apply life-steal.
So this was the Sanity vs Madness System...
Jay blinked at the choices. It all made sense now.
The first option was exactly how the in-game Doctor operated rational, tactical, reserved. A perfect fit for Rhodes Island's ideals.
But the second option?
Smashing the command terminal? Charging into battle himself?
This was completely off the rails!
Yet for some reason, that kind of insane option… was just too irresistible.
"Amiya," he said calmly. "Let go of me."
"Eh? Doctor? You can walk on your own?"
"Of course."
Jay smiled as he stood tall.
"I'm going to lead everyone to victory."
"Doctor... can you really command again?"
Everyone in the room turned to look at him, hope burning in their tired eyes.
After all, the legendary 'Evil Spirit of Babel' had returned. The Doctor who had once led them through the darkest battles. If he was back... then maybe they had a chance.
"Doctor! Here's the PRTS terminal!"
Amiya handed him the device, trembling with anticipation.
This was the very terminal the Doctor had used to lead them in the past. She was ready to fight under his orders once more.
"Command? No... There's only so far a proper tactician can go."
Jay shook his head, a faint smirk forming on his lips.
"Doctor... what are you saying?"
Confused, Amiya watched as Jay slowly raised the PRTS terminal over his head.
"I'm not playing the commander anymore!"
CRACK!
The device shattered in his grip.
"Detected choice: Madness Option. Skill unlocked 'Wrath of Sparta.' Strength +30, Agility +20, Endurance +30."
Power surged through Jay's body. His muscles pulsed, his blood boiled.
His fists? Itched to fight.
"Doctor?! What are you doing!?"
"He's gone mad! He smashed the terminal!"
"Did something happen in that coffin?!"
"Doctor, please get a grip!"
The Rhodes Island operators stood frozen, mouths agape.
Amiya was completely dumbfounded.
She never imagined the Doctor would actually destroy the very device that defined his identity.
"This... is... SPARTA!"
Jay roared as crimson energy exploded from his body.
A feral, godlike aura surged forth.
"Reunion scum! Your end is here!"
He turned to the window, then dived through it in a spray of shattered glass.
"Doctor! Where are you going?!"
Amiya's cry faded behind him.
"Hah! The rat in the house finally crawled out!"
"Kill him! Show them the power of Reunion!"
The enemy rushed him with raised blades.
Jay cracked his knuckles.
"Come."
The Reunion captain led the charge.
But before he could even swing his weapon, Jay's fist was already in his face.
"ARRRGHHHHHHH!"
The man flew backwards like a ragdoll, blood spraying midair.
"W-What just happened?!"
"His power... it's insane!"
The captain died on impact. The rest of the group panicked.
Jay gave them no time to breathe.
With Wrath of Sparta active, he tore through their ranks like a demon incarnate.
"Impossible! He's a monster!"
"We can't stop him! Run! RUUUUN!"
The Reunion squad broke ranks and scattered, fleeing in terror.
Meanwhile, back inside the building, the Rhodes Island operators were stunned speechless.
"Ace... is this the same 'Evil Spirit of Babel' you always talked about?"
Ace stared at the chaos outside, then murmured under his breath.
"...Honestly? This is my first time seeing that version too."