Chapter 1: Waking in the Stable and the Spark of Revenge
The smell was the first thing he registered. Not the smell of burnt asphalt that accompanied his last moment of death, but a sharp mix of rotting hay, cow manure, and cold dampness... and the acrid stench of horse urine.
The young man slowly opened his eyes. There was only the darkness of a dilapidated wooden horse stable. He tried to get up, crying out with a muffled groan of pain. His entire body was aching, as if every bone had been shattered. Painful memories flickered through his mind: an unbearable amount of beating at the hands of his half-brothers, then being thrown into the stable like an animal.
In that moment, a wave of strange memories flooded his mind like a torrent. He was now Caesar. The illegitimate and neglected son of "Baron Marcus." The original Caesar had just died from humiliation and a brutal beating from his brothers.
His fists clenched. He was now Caesar. And this world was his chance to seize control.
Suddenly, a transparent digital flicker appeared before his eyes (visible only to him). He felt immense surprise and joy. "A golden cheat finger!" he whispered to himself, as if fate had granted him an incredible second chance.
Caesar asked the flickering digital screen: "Who are you?"
The screen immediately replied with a faint glow: [Insufficient data access for the requested information.]
"Alright, display my status!" Caesar ordered with curiosity.
The screen changed to show his information:
[Status:
Name: Augustus Caesar.
Titles: The Bastard.
Strength: 4 (Average human strength: 7).
Agility: 5 (Average human agility: 7).
Endurance: 3 (Average human endurance: 7).
Intelligence: 10 (Average human intelligence: 7).
Vitality: 6 (Average human vitality: 7).
Amana (Magic Energy): 0 (None).]
Caesar was stunned. He was weaker than an average human in most aspects, except for intelligence. This explained his current physical weakness. The screen then reverted to display the basic System information:
[The Balance System Activated]
[Host: Caesar.]
[Current Quest: Prove Self-Worth.]
[Reward: Unlock Cognitive Adaptation Skill (Level 1).]
(The need for Balance. You must build your strength through meaningful actions.)
The transparent screen expanded to show new information:
[Karma System:
Positive Karma (Good Deeds): Granted for helping the innocent, justice, protecting the weak.
Negative Karma (Evil Deeds): Granted for eliminating enemies, revenge, achieving strong self-interest.
Note: The balance of Karma determines your path. Do not overindulge in either side.]
[Inventory System: Locked.]
[System Shop: Locked.]
Caesar felt a chill down his spine. This was not just reincarnation; it was a chance for absolute power if he mastered this System.
He sat there, stunned for a few moments, comprehending the reality of this new world and its capabilities. Then, he slowly stood up, brushing off the stable's grime from his clothes. "Old Caesar," he whispered to himself, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination, "I will avenge for you. Because now, I am you."
He headed towards his usual sleeping place, behind the horse stable, but his weakened body couldn't endure. As he walked, his strength suddenly gave out, and he fainted.
Caesar woke up to find himself lying on a worn straw mat, being tended to by a small, elderly woman. It was the maid, "Ira." Caesar immediately noticed that her foot was swollen and inflamed, with obvious pus. He remembered the reason of this: Ira had been injured trying to protect him from his brothers' brutal beatings.
Caesar looked at her foot, feeling a wave of regret and anger. "I'm sorry, Miss Ira," he whispered, his voice strained, "You suffered because of me and protected me. I will avenge you."
Suddenly, the System screen appeared before him again, glowing more intensely this time:
[Congratulations to the Host!]
[The Host has understood the essence of Karma: Repay good with good, and evil with worse!]
[1000 Karma Points awarded!]
[Inventory System unlocked!]
[System Shop unlocked!]
[Go forth, we are with you!]
Caesar felt power surging through his veins. He understood the game now.
The System screen abruptly changed. The "Shop" and "Inventory" icons lit up with a brilliant glow. Caesar clicked on the Shop icon with curiosity. A new window opened, displaying countless classified items:
[System Shop:
Sections:
Skills (Combat, Magic, Agriculture, Crafting...)
Potions (Healing, Strength, Intelligence...)
Items (Weapons, Armor, Modern Tech, Vehicles...)
Servants (Humans, Fantasy Creatures, Robotic Beings... for Karma points)]
Current Karma Points: 1000 Positive | 0 Negative.
Caesar browsed the sections in awe. Everything imaginable was there. But what truly shocked him were the prices.
A quick click on the "Skills" section showed:
[Skill: Basic Agriculture] - 5000 Positive Karma Points.
[Skill: Master Swordsmanship (Level 1)] - 20000 Positive Karma Points.
[Skill: Fork Mastery (Eating)] - 500 Negative Karma Points (discount).
Then he moved to "Items" in disbelief:
[Modern Sports Car (Model 2024)] - 150000 Positive Karma Points.
[Automatic Rifle (AK-47)] - 80000 Negative Karma Points.
[Normal Toothbrush] - 1000 Positive Karma Points.
[Smartphone Device (Unlimited Connection)] - 500000 Positive Karma Points.
[High Explosive Hand Grenade] - 100 Negative Karma Points.
[Book on Ancient Civilizations] - 10 Positive Karma Points.
"What is this?!" Caesar muttered. "A toothbrush for a thousand points, and a hand grenade for just a hundred?!"
More clicks revealed further bizarre contradictions. Things that seemed trivial or mundane in his old world were incredibly expensive here, while tools of destruction or profound knowledge were unreasonably cheap. This shop did not operate on normal economic logic, but on the System's unique "Balance" and Karma logic. It seemed the System valued things based on their rarity or impact in this world, not Caesar's old one, or perhaps based on what Caesar would have to pay to alter his nature or behavior.
He now had 1000 bonus Karma points. This meant he could buy ten hand grenades. The thought was both amusing and terrifying.
Caesar tried to move, but his frail body groaned in pain. "Oh, my injury... and Miss Ira's injury!" he remembered her festering foot that ailed her because of him.
Is there anything in the shop that can heal us? Caesar began frantically searching for any healing potion within the vast shop lists.
---