Chapter 1: The Crash

The sky was still dark when Yan Jiayi left home. Her uniform was neat, her ID card safely tucked in her bag, and her pen case arranged like weapons ready for battle. Today was the college entrance exam. The exam that would decide everything—her future, her university, her life.

Her parents stood by the gate, eyes filled with both pride and worry. “Don’t be nervous, Jiayi,” her mother whispered. “You’ve always been our brightest star.”

Yan Jiayi smiled slightly. “I’ve prepared. I’ll be fine.”

She always was.

She climbed into the car, headphones in, review notes on her lap. But fate doesn’t wait for the prepared.

Halfway to the exam center, the world went white.

There was a screech of tires. Shattered glass. A loud bang. Then… nothing.

She didn’t know how long it had been. But when she opened her eyes, she wasn’t in a hospital room. She floated in a gray space, hazy and unreal, like the world was half-dream and half-nightmare.

Below her, she could see herself—hooked to machines, unmoving.

And next to the bed, her mother sobbed silently while her father stared blankly ahead. Their faces looked older, more broken, as if they’d aged in days.

Yan Jiayi reached out. “Mom… Dad…”

But her voice didn’t come out.

Then came the voice. Smooth, almost cheerful.

[Ding! Welcome, Candidate No. 027! Congratulations on entering the System Universe Trial Run.]

“What…?” Jiayi spun around. No one was there. Only the voice.

[Would you like a chance to change your fate? Complete tasks across different worlds. In return, the system will assist you in recovery and extend your life force.]

A system? Like in a novel?

Her logical mind tried to reject it—but what else was there to do in a coma? And her parents… they were still crying. Still hoping.

“…Fine,” she said quietly. “I’ll do it.”

[Excellent! Starting compatibility scan… Processing… Processing… Match found! Transferring consciousness to World No. 1875.]

Jiayi braced herself, thinking it’d be like entering a dream.

She was wrong.

The next moment, she was no longer weightless.

She hit the ground hard, knees scraping stone. The scent of blood filled her nose.

All around her were corpses—some still warm. The battlefield was silent except for the wind, carrying the scent of metal and death.

And in front of her stood a man, tall and terrifying. Red robes billowed. A long sword hung at his side, fresh blood still dripping from its edge.

His eyes, deep and empty, locked on her.

[Target identified: Male Lead. Objective: Save him from falling to darkness.]

[Blackening Value: 94]

“Wait… 94?” she blurted.

The system had said beginner-friendly.

What kind of family-friendly mission drops you in front of a walking bloodbath?!

“System?” she called out.

No response.

Only the sound of that man’s footsteps… getting closer.

He was walking toward her.

She looked around—realized she wasn’t on a battlefield, but inside an ancient mansion. The stone floor was cracked. Blood pooled everywhere. Lanterns swung gently above, casting shadows that made everything feel haunted. Walls were stained. Furniture broken. It felt like this place had died a long time ago… and dragged everyone with it.

And that man—

He was like a ghost. Pale skin. Long black hair stuck to his face. His expression was unreadable. His eyes were… empty, but dangerous. Like he had nothing left to lose.

Yan Jiayi’s legs refused to move.

He took a step closer.

Her breath caught in her throat.

She took a shaky step back—then tripped over something. She fell hard, her back hitting the cold ground.

She looked up—and he was right in front of her.

He raised his sword.

She flinched—but the blade didn’t strike.

Instead, he used the very tip—still dripping with blood—to lift her chin.

Her eyes went wide.

Her heart thumped so loud she was sure he could hear it.

She didn’t dare to breathe.

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