Within a Hollow Heart - Chapter 8: Volume 1, : "Echoes of Forgotten Threads"

They stole his future. Now, he’s rewriting reality.Ryan was at the top—champion of the world’s biggest VRMMO, but one wish changed everything.“I wish I could start over.”The Orb of Wishes granted it. Literally. Time snapped backward. The world unraveled. And Ryan woke up years in the past, holding his younger sisters close in a rotting apartment, broke and desperate.This time, he’s not starting from scratch.He remembers it all. Every hidden boss. Every bugged quest. Every game-breaking secret. While the world waits for the launch of Kingdom Forge, Ryan prepares to tear through it like a storm.But when he logs in, something glitches.His old character is locked. His class is reset. His power? Supposedly gone.Then the system flashes something strange:[Access Granted: Legacy Bank Synced][Warning: You were never meant to exist.]Ryan grins. He doesn’t need a strong class. He doesn’t need fair odds. He has what nobody else does—endgame knowledge in a beginner’s world, and an account holding gear, gold, and exploits that broke the game once before.He’s done being a pawn.This time, he’ll become the glitch the system can’t contain.

In the heart of the Azure Continent lies a legendary establishment known as Origin Mall.This extraordinary store offers goods beyond imagination: a sip of its cola can instantly replenish one's vitality; its spicy snacks grant the strength to overcome powerful foes; the games it offers can accelerate cultivation progress; and its novels impart profound techniques and insights.Origin Mall boasts a vast array of offerings, catering to leisure, entertainment, dining, and training needs alike.However, there’s one rule that all visitors must remember: never cause trouble in the store. The owner, though unassuming, is unimaginably powerful.

Shen Roujia, a completely despicable top-level “green tea,” suddenly found herself inside a book on the very day she secured her inheritance rights. However, karma caught up with her. Not only did she have to start over, but she also didn’t become a stunningly beautiful female lead or a charming second female lead. Instead, she became a short-lived, pitiful memory in the male lead’s past, with only one line left in her story!Determined to return to her original life as soon as possible, Shen Roujia pretended to be pitiful and started her long wait for death. But… was her progress bar stuck? Why wasn’t she dying already?!Moreover, what was wrong with this male lead? Instead of focusing on his career, why was he always hanging around her?Male Lead: “To repay your life-saving grace, I will marry you!”Antagonist: “Woman, you have successfully caught my attention.”Prime Minister: “Jiaojiao, have you forgotten our promise?”Shen Roujia was speechless: “…”“You mediocre people better not hinder my grand plan to return home!!”Until one day, the Crown Prince stood by the lake for the Nth time, holding a su*cide note, his eyes naturally reddening as he looked up.“I don’t want to delay you.”Shen Roujia immediately dropped everything she was doing and rushed over in a panic, “No… if you die, at least give me the divorce papers first!”

On a normal evening, a voice appeared out of no where to give an announcement all over the world, this same evening was also when Dustin was run over by a car while running way from thugs.

Dustin however woke up unharmed, and learned that the world was about to go into ruins basically, and that some humans would be taken away in a few days as 'earth's warriors'.

As it would turn out, on the D-day, Dustin is one of those that were taken. But, this might turn out to be an opportunity rather than a curse, as some night before this day, something interesting happened.

[System activated]

[Starting assimilation... Complete]

[System online]

[Congratulations player for being the first to awaken. Rewards will be given]