Culinary System: Transmigrated to Game World

The world around Kai and the girl stabilized as quickly as it had glitched, the forest returning to its eerie stillness. The bodies of the Mythenors lay motionless, their glowing fur now dull and lifeless. Kai's heart was still racing, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. The flickering trees, the warping shadows—it was as if the world itself had momentarily lost its coherence. And then there was the prompt, hovering in his vision like a ghostly reminder that this was still a game, no matter how real it felt.

He shook his head to clear his mind. Focus, he told himself. This is real. We got through one challenge. Just one. You can do this. Kai took a deep breath to calm himself. It was hard; his heart was pounding in his ears, and he could taste the sharp, nervous feeling in his mouth. But he knew there was nothing to fear. He had faced bigger monsters before. He thought about Ricky, and that gave him more confidence. He was ready for anything. But not this time. If anyone had seen how easily he took down all the Mythenor with just his small knife...

"Did you see that?" Kai asked, his voice low and uncertain.

The girl glanced at him, her sharp eyes narrowing. "See what?"

"The… glitch. The trees, the ground—it all looked like it was breaking apart for a second."

She frowned, her gaze sweeping the forest. "I didn't see anything. Maybe you're just tired. Or hallucinating. Wouldn't be the first time someone lost their mind after fighting Mythenors."

Kai shook his head, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his knife. "No, it was real. I think… I think the system is adjusting. Or maybe it's breaking."

The girl raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "The system doesn't break. It's designed to be flawless. If something's wrong, it's because you're wrong."

Kai opened his mouth to argue, but the prompt in his vision flickered again, demanding his attention. He narrowed his eyes, staring down at the screen as he read its contents. 

Game Prompt:

You have defeated the Mythenor pack. Your actions have shaped the future of Elyndral. Choose your path now.

Option 1: Choose a House to Live in — Secure a safe place to call home.

Option 2: Choose a Land to Farm — Build a life from the ground up and cultivate the land.

The choice was simple, really. If he chose a city house, he would have no choice but to move, and that meant leaving behind his parents and friends. On top of everything else that was going on, he didn't want to leave either of them behind. But if he picked a land, there would be high chance that he can find Lunara roots here, which would lead him to his family. So, that had to be his choice, his ultimate destination.

Option 1: Choose a House to Live in — Secure a safe place to call home.

Kai hesitated, hesitating over whether or not to take option 2. His mind was racing, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than it seemed. This wasn't just about picking a house or land—it was about deciding his place in the world. And with the girl standing next to him, her dagger still in hand, he knew his choice would affect her as well.

"What's taking you so long?" the girl asked, her tone impatient. "We don't have all day. Those things might have friends."

"I'm trying to decide," Kai said, his voice tense. "The system's giving me options. I can choose a house or some land to farm. What do you think?"

She crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed. "A house sounds nice. Somewhere to sleep that doesn't involve dirt and bugs. But farming? That's a long-term commitment. You sure you're ready to settle down?"

Kai frowned. "It's not about settling down. It's about survival. If we have a steady food source, we won't have to keep risking our lives out here."

The girl shrugged. "Fair point. But houses come with walls. And walls keep things out. Like Mythenors. And whatever else is out there."

Kai glanced at the prompt again, weighing his options. A house would provide immediate safety, but farming would give them a sustainable future. Both had their merits, but he couldn't shake the feeling that this choice would have consequences beyond what he could see.

Before he could decide, the ground beneath them trembled, a low rumble echoing through the forest. The girl's eyes widened, and she grabbed Kai's arm, her grip like iron.

"We need to move. Now."

Kai didn't argue. He dismissed the prompt for now, his instincts screaming that staying here was a bad idea. They sprinted through the trees, the forest alive with the sounds of creaking wood and shifting earth. Behind them, the ground split open, a deep chasm forming where the Mythenors' bodies had lain. Kai risked a glance over his shoulder and saw tendrils of dark energy rising from the fissure, twisting and writhing like living shadows.

"What the hell is that?" he shouted, his voice barely audible over the rumbling.

"I don't know, and I don't want to find out!" the girl yelled back, pulling him forward.

They ran until the forest thinned, the trees giving way to a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast, mist-covered valley. The ground stopped shaking, and the air grew still once more. Kai collapsed onto a boulder, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The girl stood beside him, her eyes scanning the horizon.

"This place is falling apart," Kai muttered, his voice trembling. "First the glitch, now that… whatever that was. Something's wrong with the system."

The girl didn't respond immediately. Her gaze was distant, her expression unreadable. Finally, she said, "Maybe it's not the system. Maybe it's us."

Kai looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"

She turned to face him, her eyes piercing. "We're not supposed to be here. Not like this. The system is designed for players to follow the rules, to stay on the path. But we're breaking things. Killing Mythenors, triggering events that shouldn't happen. The system doesn't know how to handle this....us."

Kai's stomach churned. "So what are you saying? That we're… what, glitches?"

"Maybe," she said, her voice quiet. "Or maybe we're something else entirely. Something the system wasn't programmed to deal with."

Kai stared at her, his mind reeling. If she was right, then everything they did from this point on would have unpredictable consequences. The system might try to correct itself, to erase them or force them back onto the intended path. Or it might collapse entirely, taking the world with it.

The prompt flickered in his vision again, more insistent this time.

Game Prompt:

Choose your path now.

Option 1: Choose a House to Live in — Secure a safe place to call home.

Option 2: Choose a Land to Farm — Build a life from the ground up and cultivate the land.

Kai took a deep breath, his decision made. He couldn't afford to hesitate anymore. They needed sustainability, a way to survive long-term in this unpredictable world. A house would offer temporary safety, but farming would give them control over their future.

"I'm choosing the land," he said, his voice firm.

The girl raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flickering across her face. "You sure? Farming's not exactly glamorous. It's hard work, and it'll take time before we see any results."

"I'm sure," Kai replied, his resolve unwavering. "We can't keep running forever. If we're going to survive, we need to build something. Something real."

The girl studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Let's see what the system gives us."

As Kai selected the option, the world around them shifted once more. The rocky outcrop faded, replaced by a sprawling expanse of fertile land. The soil was rich and dark, the air filled with the scent of earth and growing things. A small stream cut through the property, its clear water glinting in the sunlight. In the distance, a dense forest loomed, its trees tall and ancient.

The girl let out a low whistle. "Not bad. Plenty of space to work with. But we're going to need tools. And seeds. And a plan."

Kai nodded, already scanning the area for resources. "We'll start small. Clear a patch of land, plant what we can. Maybe hunt or forage until the crops come in."

The girl smirked. "You sound like you've done this before."

"I haven't," Kai admitted. "But I've read enough to know the basics. And we'll figure it out as we go."

As they stepped onto the land, a new prompt appeared in Kai's vision.

Game Prompt:

You have chosen to cultivate the land. Your actions will shape the future of Elyndral. Begin your journey by gathering resources and building your farm.

Objective: Clear a plot of land and plant your first crop.

Kai turned to the girl, a determined look in his eyes. "Let's get to work."

She nodded, her expression serious now. "Alright. But keep your knife handy. Something tells me the system isn't going to make this easy for us."

Kai couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. The forest in the distance seemed darker now, its shadows deeper and more menacing. But he pushed the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand. They had chosen their path, and there was no turning back.

Somewhere, deep in the code of Elyndral, something stirred—a presence that had been dormant for far too long. It watched them, its ancient, glowing eyes filled with a hunger that no system could contain.

The game was changing. And so were the rules.