Game's Extra

Aiden Cross awoke with a start, his eyes flickering open to the soft, unfamiliar sensation of a cozy bed beneath him. He blinked a few times, his gaze drifting upward as he stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything.

"Did I survive?" he murmured, his voice groggy as he rubbed his eyes. His mind was in a fog, trying to piece together the events that had happened before. But there was nothing. The last thing he remembered was the sharp pain in his stomach, the blood, and then... nothing.

He pushed himself up from the bed, his head spinning slightly as he glanced around the room. "Where the hell am I?" he muttered under his breath. This didn't look like a hospital. The walls were a soft shade of cream, with a modern bookshelf stocked with books and a desk cluttered with what looked like... holographic gadgets?

"What the hell is this?" Aiden said aloud as his eyes landed on a futuristic computer sitting on the table. The screen flickered to life as soon as he approached, displaying a holographic interface. "Is this... a holographic screen?" he asked, his tone a mixture of confusion and awe as he stared at it. His fingers hovered over the screen, but he hesitated, unsure of what to do.

He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. "No way. This can't be real."

Aiden turned his gaze to the room's mirror, his reflection catching his attention. He walked over, still dazed, and froze when he saw his face.

"Who the fuck are you?" he whispered in disbelief, staring at the stranger in the mirror. The man looking back at him had jet black hair, amethyst eyes, and sharp, defined features. Aiden's hand instinctively went to his face, feeling it, trying to understand. This wasn't his body.

He stepped back, almost tripping over his own feet, and stared at the mirror for what felt like an eternity. "Is that me?" he muttered. His mind was racing. There had to be some explanation, right?

Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts—monotonous and digital.

[System Online.]

Aiden froze, blinking rapidly as the words flashed in his mind. The world around him seemed to go still as a flood of memories rushed into his head. He could feel them, a whole new set of memories about this body. He was... Aiden Cross, a son of engineers.

"What the...?" He reached out instinctively, trying to touch the holographic panel that appeared in front of him, but his hand passed right through it.

"WTF is this?" he exclaimed, feeling his confusion grow. "Is this... some kind of system? Like the ones from those novels I read?"

His thoughts were interrupted when the system's voice spoke again, as if answering his unasked questions.

"Welcome, Aiden Cross. You have been sent to the world of Aetheria—a world where superpowers, magic, and advanced technology coexist. Your current status is 'extra' in the system."

"Aetheria?" Aiden mumbled, the name ringing a distant bell in his mind. His mind raced as memories surfaced. "Aetheria... that's the game. The game I played... I used to top up my cash just to buy special items in it!"

He paused, a horrifying realization dawning on him. "Wait, no. This... this is Aetheria. This world is the one from the game I was obsessed with. The one I spent all that time on. Am I... am I really in that world now?"

The system seemed to understand his shock and continued speaking.

"Correct. You are now in the world of Aetheria, but your role here is that of an extra—someone without significant influence in the original storyline. Your power is 'Overhaul,' which allows you to manipulate matter, including both inanimate objects and living things. Use it excessively, and you will experience exhaustion and headaches."

Aiden's mind reeled. "I'm an extra? Why didn't I at least become the main character? Why am I stuck being some nobody?"

His frustration bubbled up, but he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He needed answers. He needed to get control of this situation.

"Alright," he said, his voice steadying. "Let me take a look at my profile then."

The system beeped and a holographic panel appeared before him.

Name: Aiden Cross

Power: Overhaul (Manipulate matter and living things)

Stats:

Strength: 1Agility: 1Endurance: 1Physique: 1

Aiden stared at the stats, blinking in disbelief. "Oh my god. This body is so weak," he muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief. "I've got nothing. This is... terrible."

Before he could dwell on it further, a loud voice called from downstairs.

"Aiden! Breakfast is ready! Come down!"

"Great," Aiden sighed, forcing himself to shake off the shock. He straightened himself out, brushed off his clothes, and made his way down the stairs. His mind was still in turmoil, but he had to act like everything was normal.

When he reached the dining room, his mother greeted him with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Aiden! Next year, you'll be entering Zenith Academy. You've already passed your admission papers. The official acceptance letter will arrive soon."

Aiden froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. Zenith Academy? That sounded familiar too. But there was no time to process it.

His father nodded from across the table. "Okay, time to eat."

Aiden glanced at them both, still trying to comprehend what had just happened. His life was different now. Nothing made sense, but somehow, he was supposed to make sense of it all.