Where am I? Why am I here?

  This wasn't the first time Arthur asked himself those questions. The endless void surrounding him, the infinite darkness threatening to swallow him whole—it had been his reality for almost as long as he could remember. Not that he remembered much anymore.

  He had died, that much he knew, but how? When? Why? No matter how hard he tried, the answers remained out of reach, slipping further away with every passing second, hour, day—perhaps even years.

  Just as they had taken away his body, now something was taking his memories away, too.

  Arthur had already forgotten his last name or even his age. That said, he remembered a family, a big one at that, yet their names were scattered like leaves in the wind. Their faces, though… not even the void could take those memories away from him. They were all he had left. The only thing keeping him afloat.

  Well, that and the hope that sooner or later, this suffering might end.

  Not today, though, he thought as his mind once again drifted into restless sleep.

  He awoke many times after that. Still drifting. Still being consumed by the void.

  A few times, he considered surrendering, giving in to the darkness so his sleep might continue forever. But he didn't. His mind instead created a mantra, a simple chant built from the fragments of his past.

  Of his family. Of his world.

  Somehow, it helped, and with each repetition, his sense of self strengthened instead of fracturing further. Flashes of forgotten memories resurfaced, feeding his mantra and giving him more bits and pieces to hold onto. Still no names, though.

  Not that Arthur minded.

  As long as he could see their smiling faces, that was all that mattered. The rest? He could take care of it once he got out of this hell. When that would happen, he didn't know. But after already waiting this long, he wasn't planning to give up now. Or ever, for that matter.

  Just you wait. I will be back…

  You have died. Do you wish to start New Game Plus?

  [Yes | Yes]

  Light.

  For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Arthur saw light. Not that of the sun or even a lamp, but from glowing golden text hovering just out of reach. Then again, he couldn't really reach anything without a body. All he could do was watch, and even then, he had no idea how he was doing that.

  New game? Is this some kind of a joke?

  While he had never expected to meet a god who would offer him a new chance at life, this wasn't even on the list of things he had imagined. Was this text trying to tell him that his entire life, all the memories, had been a lie?

  No, he refused to accept that.

  Refusal is not acceptable. You must answer the call. New Game will begin in 10 seconds. Vanguard welcomes the Warrior.

  Stand by for transference.

  Wait, wait, wait! Arthur yelled. That wasn't my answer! Just hold on a damn second. I have questions. Please! I will take the offer. Just tell me—where am I going? Will I see my family again?! Anything!

  But the golden text didn't acknowledge his desperate cries. The countdown continued, ticking away second by second.

  3…

  Something grasped him—his consciousness, his soul, his very being.

  2…

  It pulled him apart, twisting, reshaping him into something new.

  1…

  Transference begins. Vessel selected. Lesser Mana world selected. Threat Scale: Planetary.

  Firing…

  Those were the final words Arthur heard before sleep claimed him once again. Yet even as his slumbering mind hurtled through the stars, he clung to his mantra, repeating it over and over.

  My name is Arthur. I am a human from the planet Earth. I do not remember when or where I was born, but I know I once had a family. No matter what happens, no matter how long it takes, I will return.

  Even if I have to fight Death itself…

  Waking up had never been easy. From as far back as Arthur could remember, he was never an early riser. As a child, getting him out of bed had been a constant struggle. His mother… or was it his father? No, his sister?

  Why can't I remember? What is going on? Where am I?

  Darkness still surrounded him, but it was different this time. The void from before had constantly gnawed at his mind, stripping away his memories, while his body had long been lost. Now though?

  Now Arthur could feel something.

  Pain, exhaustion, rage, and so much more. All of it was muffled, pushed into the depths of… something. He couldn't quite describe it. Only that it was a bit like a chest with the lid barely cracked open, not allowing even a bit of light inside.

  I need to move. Need to open my eyes, Arthur thought, focusing as hard as he could on the connection to his new body. Wait connection? No! Just focus! This is my chance to get out!

  Yet no matter how hard he pushed, how hard he wanted to move even a single piece of his body, it never responded. It was like a block of steel that took root in the ground and refused to budge.

  At least let me see! Please! Arthur pleaded, the sense of panic within him growing with each second. Please!

  His silent cry must have been heard because, for a brief moment—a moment that stretched into eternity—something opened, flooding his sight with light. Soon, the glare faded, replaced by a tiny, narrow, and blurry image. It was far from what a human should see with two working eyes, but it was more than what he had before.

  A forest.

  Thick bushes and towering trees stretched toward the sky ahead of him. Greens, yellows, and browns, all mixed together to create a perfect blend of colors. There was more, a faint glow, scattered throughout that Arthur couldn't quite place. Maybe if he had more time to observe…

  Only it wasn't meant to be. His sight shut down, plunging his world back into darkness.

  Why?

  Then, the golden text returned.

  Transference finished successfully.

  Core's Status: Decent.

  Vessel's Status: Critical!

  Initializing Vanguard Growth System. Ignoring safety checks due to an emergency. Success!

  Applying modifications to the Vanguard System.

  Repurposing of the Core in progress.

  Ether connection established.

  Adaptation to the new vessel in progress.

  Success… Perfect connection between the Vessel and the Core established.

  Activating recovery hibernation protocols.

  Sleep well, Warrior.

  No, no, no! What are you doing?! Arthur screamed as his insides twisted and shifted. Strange power surged through him, shattering the fragile box that had held back his emotions. Everything spilled out and dove right for him.

  A moment later, Arthur knew no more.

  The next time he woke up, he felt more. More alive, more in control. There was also power flowing through him, a power he couldn't recognize. After all, before dying, he had been just an ordinary, weak human. And now?

  Well, he wasn't sure what exactly he was now, but something told him 'human' wasn't quite the right answer. He had a body, yes. That much he realized. But none of it felt like arms, legs, a head, or anything resembling his old form. There were similarities, though.

  The act of breathing, however, wasn't one of them.

  I need to see.

  Just like last time, he forced his eyes—or whatever it was—open. He succeeded right away.

  The image of the forest greeted him again. Only it was a bit different this time. Where green had once ruled, yellow had taken over, painting the trees above and the ground below.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Autumn had arrived.

  How long was I asleep? Arthur wondered just before another thought struck him. Why has no one found me yet? Just where the hell am I?

  Since he couldn't take a few deep breaths to calm himself, he simply closed his eyes again and cleared his mind. The whys and hows didn't matter right now. First, he had to gain control of this new body and figure out what that golden text from before had meant.

  It mentioned a Vanguard Growth System, right? Like a game. Then where are you? Hello?

  To Arthur's surprise, the golden text returned.

  Initial recovery hibernation successful. Stability achieved. Access to the Vanguard Growth System unlocked. Awarding the welcoming package.

  Congratulations! You have obtained the following skills: The Listener, Silent Observer.

  Skills? So it's really like a game… Okay? What's nex—

  His thought was cut short as the golden text moved on its own, summoning more messages—notifications? At the same time, he felt something settle in the back of his mind. A trigger. Something he could pull at any moment.

  Not yet.

  System: Online. Running basic status checks. Stand by…

  A moment later, a list, a very long one at that, materialized in front of him.

  Armor: Damaged | Engine: Critically Damaged | Primary: Critically Damaged | Secondary: Operational | Mobility: Critically Damaged | Generator: Damaged | Sensors: Damaged

  Status check complete. Returning control to the Warrior. To access full status and discover potential upgrades to your systems, please think, "Command Center."

  Arthur gasped soundlessly as floodgates inside his mind burst open. The body he thought was beyond his control suddenly fell back into his grasp. More triggers—similar yet different from the first—latched onto his mind. And somehow, he understood them all.

  Engine control. Cannon trigger. And so much more.

  Arthur almost pulled onto one of them, only to hesitate. None of this sounded like something a human should have access to. It wasn't flesh and blood. Far from it.

  He became something built for war.

  Shit…

  Once the initial shock faded, Arthur shoved his fears aside and opened his eyes again. He needed to see something real before doing anything. It was that or go mad.

  With that, the familiar forest came into view for the third time. Or at least, the small sliver he could see through whatever narrow gap he was looking through. Though unlike the last time, the image was perfect, with no blurriness whatsoever. He could finally see how the bushes and tree branches in the distance swayed in the wind.

  Wind… I don't feel it.

  He pushed that thought aside and focused on something new he could do now that his eyes were open. The possibility was there; he could feel it.

  Come on!

  Giving it more mental effort than any test he had taken in his life, Arthur forced the massive muscle—or something similar—to move. For a moment, he thought he would fail, but just then, the view in his sight began to change, slowly drifting to the right.

  That was also when he heard it.

  A loud grinding whine filled the air, like two gears being forced to move after years of neglect. Something inside his mind told him it was a very accurate comparison.

  Stop!

  Just like that, the movement stopped. So did the noise.

  All right, the text mentioned something else… What was it? Right! Command Center!

  Designation: The Warrior

  Core Rank: Inferior (Tier I)

  Vessel Class: F-

  Core's Ether: 1%

  Upgrade Points: 0

  Action Menu:

  1. Status Check

  2. Upgrade Your Vessel (Temporarily Locked)

  3. Abilities

  Arthur would have blinked if he could. It might not be a lot at first glance, but the fact remained that he understood maybe half of this. No, scratch that. Less than half.

  Designation? Why Warrior?

  To his surprise, the weird System answered.

  [The Warrior - Key member of the Vanguard. You are the unstoppable force, the unmovable object. An ever-evolving vessel of war with the potential of the destroyer of worlds. When faced with impossible odds, you adapt and fight until your last dying breath. You do not falter, you do not give up. You destroy.]

  For a brief moment, Arthur’s mind froze. The words he had just read? They hit him with a tidal wave of different emotions, concepts, and even visions he could barely understand, thanks to how fast they came.

  Sense of Pride? It was definitely there.

  Concept of Power? That too.

  Visions of Death? Too many to count.

  Dying screams. Burning cities. Worlds cracking open from within. Billions of voices crying out for help.

  Damn… Arthur thought to himself once his mental faculties recovered from the onslaught. That’s… that’s a bit ominous. Why show me this? And this Vanguard… Why do you keep mentioning it?

  This time, however, the System had no answer for him. And so, with no other way forward, he tried asking for another explanation. This time, about the Core Rank.

  [Core - The heart of the Warrior and the source of his power. It exists on a higher plane but remains connected to the vessel. Its energy, called Ether, fuels repairs, abilities, temporary enhancements, and much more. As the Warrior, your core will grow stronger with every battle, every war, and every enemy you defeat.]

  This just keeps getting better and better.

  If Arthur had any lingering doubts about no longer being a human, they were all gone now. They had him convinced, even without seeing the vessel he now inhabited. Although with all he just learned, he had an inkling of what he had become.

  It wasn't a comforting thought.

  Right, right. Next.

  The description of Vessel Class, however, didn't tell him much. Apparently, it was just an estimated power level of his vessel. Compared to what, exactly? The System didn't say.

  As for Core's Ether? It just pulled up the same message from before.

  Upgrade points, then.

  [UP - Can be obtained by defeating enemies and completing certain tasks. Additionally, one UP is generated every 3 days. Used to upgrade your vessel and plenty more.]

  Sounds simple enough… I think. Thanks.

  Arthur eyed the Action Menu. He had already run a Status Check before, but he selected it again anyway.

  It was a good thing he did, as aside from listing all the damages from the last time, it also provided some bonus information.

  Ammunition cannot be produced until the Generator's status returns to Operational. Currently, your Ether is repairing your vessel equally. Time until full recovery: 93 days. Do you wish to change the distribution?

  Just to check, Arthur agreed.

  Whoa…

  Instead of more golden text, one of the triggers inside his mind activated on its own. Behind it hid numerous valves. Right now, they were all open equally, but he knew that with just a thought, he could switch things up. Distribute more Ether to Engine or cut the flow to Armor.

  Everything was within his grasp.

  Still, for now, Arthur left it alone and returned his focus to the action menu and its last option.

  Abilities.

  A short list appeared before him.

  [The Listener (Tier I) - As a traveler of worlds, understanding the local languages is a must. Now you can learn most of them within hours or even minutes.]

  [Silent Observer (Tier I) - With this ability, you can separate a tiny piece of your Core and observe your surroundings without using your vessel. Can be used for free for 30 minutes daily. After that, it requires a very low amount of Ether to maintain.]

  This is it! My way to freedom. Or, well, partial freedom.

  Without an ounce of hesitation, Arthur pulled the trigger responsible for Silent Observer. Something inside him shifted, and suddenly, he could see.

  And what a sight it was.

  As he had previously observed, he was in a forest, or well, at the edge of one at least. To his right, golden-leaved trees stretched endlessly into the distance. But to his left…

  A wasteland.

  Scorched earth. Barren plains. A few dead trees, blackened and skeletal. He tried to see further, but either there was nothing there, or his skill had limits.

  Still, none of that mattered in the face of his biggest discovery. The truth of what he had become. Or rather, what his vessel had become.

  A tank.

  For Arthur, the design reminded him of an old soviet T-34 that he had heard so much about in the past. How he even remembered that when he had already forgotten parts of his past life was another question. Though the weird System was most likely responsible. It probably wanted him to have something for comparison.

  This is strange, he noted as his spirit-self drifted forward.

  And wasn't that another discovery? While using Silent Observer, he had no real body. He just was. No form, no weight, nothing.

  Not that he was complaining, though. Being able to move and see again was more than enough.

  As such, he slowly floated to the front of the tank, his gaze sweeping over the wreckage. Holes in the hull. Broken wheels and shredded tracks. A cannon barrel that looked like it had exploded from within. With this much damage, it was no wonder his status check showed everything as destroyed.

  Yep, looks pretty much like a T-34. He hummed. But wait… shouldn't the machine gun be mounted on the hull, not under the cannon? How does that even—

  He paused as something clicked in his mind.

  Wait a second…

  Feeling like he was onto something big, Arthur forced open the 'eye' from before.

  At once, a part of his sight was replaced by the same narrow view of the forest.

  He looked down at the machine gun. Then, back at the forest.

  Huh… so that's what I have been looking through. Some kind of special camera that lets me see where I'm aiming? Wow, you really thought of everything, System. Wait, does that mean I can shoot? Secondary is supposed to be operational.

  Again, just going with the flow, Arthur focused on the view through the machine gun and pulled another trigger in his mind. Unfortunately, instead of firing bullets, all he received was another notification.

  You are out of ammunition. Repair your Generator to create more.

  This again. What the hell even is a generator? I'm pretty sure a normal tank doesn't have anything like that.

  Again, the System answered his call.

  [Generator - A vital part of your vessel. It's responsible for producing ammunition, engine fuel, energy for shields, and much more. Take good care of it.]

  Oh… Arthur swallowed—or tried to, or whatever. Should I repair it first, then? There must have been a reason the System dropped me at the border between two opposite territories.

  As if to prove him right, the skies above him darkened. Within minutes, lightning descended upon the ground, striking the scorched wasteland to his left. Rain soon joined in the fun, activating the storm in full force.

  Yet, that wasn't the real problem.

  No, the swirling mass of black and red energies in the distance was. Well, that and the next notification.

  Mission Issued!

  A low-ranked Hell Gate is slowly rising near you. As the only living being in the area, you will be the first target of the Fiends. Slaughter the Legion before they extract the Core from your vessel.

  Reward: 2 UP, Repair Kit (Small), New System functions unlocked

  Right, I got thrown into a Mana world with some planetary threat. Means Hell is real. Great.

  Still, after pushing past the fear of dying again, missing his old life, and the small existential crisis of becoming a damn tank, he had to admit that maybe, just maybe, he was a little bit excited.

  Not enough to charge straight into battle. But enough to be curious about what came next.

  Guess I have to survive to find out. System, direct all Ether to the Generator.

  Acknowledged.