**Chapter 3: Awakening**
*Chirp. Chirp.*
The sound of birds filled the air as they soared through the clear morning sky. Their song, gentle yet persistent, stirred Ariz from unconsciousness. He awoke with a jolt, breathing heavily, eyes wide with confusion.
He sat up slowly, glancing around.
He was back on the training ground, lying on the cold grass, the same place he had collapsed the night before. Panic surged through him as he quickly examined his body—but to his surprise, there wasn't a single wound. Not even a scratch.
"Was it… all just a dream?" he muttered under his breath.
The memory of Zayen and his minions beating him, the drowning in the river, the helplessness—it all felt too vivid to be a dream. But here he was, perfectly fine.
Still shaken, Ariz stood and made his way toward the Zaraqah River, needing to cross it to return to his village. The journey felt strangely quiet, too calm. As he approached the bridge, a familiar old man came running toward him—Grandfather Hakeem.
"There you are!" Hakeem said, panting. His aged face was full of worry. "Where were you all night? I searched everywhere!"
Seeing the relief in his grandfather's eyes made Ariz feel both guilty and confused. He opened his mouth to explain, but no words came. Not any that made sense.
Together, they returned to the village. Along the way, many villagers stopped Ariz—neighbors, shopkeepers, even children—all expressing their concern. His grandfather, it seemed, hadn't slept all night, searching for him.
Ariz's heart felt heavy. Whatever had happened, it hadn't been a dream. But how was he alive and unharmed?
When they reached home, Hakeem scolded him again, though his voice shook with emotion more than anger.
"You better clean yourself up. I'll make something to eat," he said, sighing.
Ariz nodded silently and entered the small house. As he began undressing for a bath, he noticed something strange in the mirror. A mark—dark, almost glowing faintly—etched into the skin of his forearm.
It resembled a tattoo: a skull wrapped by a curved scythe, sinister yet captivating.
"What is this…?" he whispered, reaching to touch it.
The moment his fingers brushed the mark, a soft mechanical chime echoed in his ears. His vision flickered. Then—suddenly—a translucent blue screen appeared before him, floating in mid-air.
> **[System Initialization Complete]**
> **Codename: Sebas**
> **Bound Host: Ariz al-Suleiman**
> **Sync Rate: 98%**
> **Welcome, Host. Beginning full integration...**
Ariz stumbled backward, startled, but the screen followed his gaze, hovering calmly.
"What… What is this thing?"
> **System Interface Activated.**
> **Features Available: Basic Status Check, Mission Log.**
> **Warning: Due to emergency healing protocol, certain functions have been temporarily locked.**
> **Locked Features: Time Chamber, Spirit Teaching, System Shop.**
> **Estimated Repair Time: Unknown.**
Ariz's heart pounded in his chest.
"Is this... what saved me? You healed me?"
> **Affirmative. Emergency restoration was performed to prevent host death. Critical system power was expended to ensure host survival.**
Ariz sat down, overwhelmed. Everything was changing too fast—he died, and now some strange thing calling itself a "system" had saved him?
"Why me?" he asked softly.
> **Host qualification detected during near-death state. Host's desire for survival and strength triggered the contract. You wished for one more chance. I am that chance.**
Ariz clenched his fists. The memories of Zayen, the humiliation, and helplessness came flooding back.
He looked up at the glowing interface, determination igniting in his eyes.
"Then help me. Make me strong."
> **Acknowledged. Beginning first system calibration