Flies danced and picked at the blood caked to the scales on my snout desperately seeking sustenance that is so difficult to come by in the desert. Most flying insects annoy me to no end. Some slow-in-the-head folk say that the anger is irrational.

  “They’re just silly ol’ bugs. No need to start swearing and swingin,” they’d say to me with a drool hanging from their bottom lip.

  Then I’d aim my ire at that poor, loose lipped fool and start up swinging again.

  The best way to teach a lesson is with a smack across the head.

  Yet, here I lay unmoving while my great enemies snack on the blood of some nameless grunts. Their greedy little mouths stuffing themselves to bursting or at least flying a bit wobbly.

  No one knew I was terrible at splattin’ flies. They only knew Horst, The Desert Wraith, a legendary crackshot, bounty hunter, monster hunter, layer of many beautiful women, and devilishly handsome.

  Done so much in my relatively short life of 28 years with potential for so much more.

  I’d once shot a gold button off a fat man’s bowtie from 300 yards. I was drunk too! Oh boy did his grateful daughter show me that southern hospitality later that night for spooking the spirit out of her father.

  Ah. Good times. Good times.

  It took those dimwit gangsters ages to discover that their boys were being picked off one by one like prairie doves. They did not look up at the ridge till it was too late. I fell onto the remainder like a blood thirsty beast. The entire place was cleared out in less than five minutes. I’d even found the weird, glowy rock that they had been screaming their heads about.

  “Horst.”

  Huh. I wonder who is shouting my name? Pretty sure I killed every one of the Rowdy Badger gang. All that gun fire must’ve messed up my ears with how muffled that shouting is.

  What a pain. Healing my inner ear always takes longer than I’d like.

  Heh.

  I wonder what was the point where I became so cocky. I’d been too busy picking some sand out of my nose and tossing the rock around like a toy ball. I hadn’t noticed the fire from a fallen over candle creeping toward a box of poorly stored ammunition.

  Damn dry cardboard box the shells sat in lit up like an old lady’s wig. With a bang I was filled with lead.

  A fuckin candle lay down the great Horst! How ironic. Better a candle than one of these dead badgers. My poor ghost would never be able to rest with them boasting about how they bettered the Desert Wraith.

  Coughing up a glob of blood onto my chin only served to irritate me further. Those damn flies are going to have a feast now.

  “Horst where are you damnit!”

  I could try sitting up to see who is making all this racket, but the stinging in my stomach that radiates every time I try moving, along with more blood gushing out of the bullet holes riddled throughout my torso, assure me that it is a bad idea.

  “O-over…h-here,” I managed to squeak out between spitting up even more blood and wheezing.

  “Shit he’s over here Benny!”

  The voice sounded closer that time. That’s good right? Benny sounded familiar.

  I yawned for the tenth time now feeling sleepier and sleepier by the second.

  I think I’ll be better after a nap. Then I’ll be back up on my feet, find myself something to drink, and a cute girl to warm my bed. Just like old times.

  Scanning…

  Compatible host detected…host is not awakened

  The host's body is nearing termination.

  Initializing awakening protocol in 3…2…1.

  Who in the nine hells is shining a light in my eyes?!

  My hands came up, but did little to lessen the intensity of the blinding light. It was like the light was coming from inside my own eyeballs.

  Good evening Horst Jay Albroune.

  Your body is currently at 2% integrity and slowly recovering as it undergoes the awakening protocol. Due to your body’s condition our conversation will take place within the confines of your mind.

  What? I was hoping heaven would have more busty angelic babes. Instead I get some creepy, emotionless robotic lady voice.

  Maybe I did just enough wrong to have ended up in hell? The bright ass light sure burns like fire.

  I’d like to remind you, new Host, that we are conversing in your mind. Any bright light that you are experiencing is one that you are imagining yourself. Likely due to your perception of heaven being wrought with heavenly light and pearly white gates. If you’d like the light to cease simply stop thinking about it.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  My own mind huh? I still believe I am dead, but maybe the snarky robot voice was telling the truth. It wouldn't hurt to try it out. As I focused on the light to dim it readily obeyed then I imagined I was back at my favorite bar seated at my usual seat with a virgin mule in my hand.

  Just as the robot voice said it would, I was instantly transported to the Lusty Eyed Donkey, a small bar in a forgettable town called Five Trees.

  It was there I had met the love of my life long before I took up the gun. The memory hit with a soft, quiet jab.

  Wait a minute.

  “Hey robot lady. I thought you said that this was my head and I could imagine whatever I wanted in here? That clearly isn’t the case because something is missing from this scene I put together.”

  I am aware of your intentions, Host. I am currently sharing your mindscape with you. Although I am glad you have envisioned a familiar location for you to relax in, I will not allow you to imagine the bartender you are enamoured with wearing nothing but “the suit she was born in”. Once the awakening process is complete and I shut off you will be free to envision any obscene scene that you would like.

  Damn so I am dead with an angel that is a disembodied robot voice and she is also a prude. What luck!

  Anyways. Are you going to elaborate on what is going on Ms. Robot voice? As much as I enjoy strolling through memory lane and sipping on imaginary drinks I have stuff I’d like to get back to ASAP.

  As previously stated you are currently being kept unconscious due to your body dying. Through the awakening protocol your body’s integrity is being restored slowly. Once it reaches an acceptable level I will restore you to consciousness. The healing process is being assisted in the real world by your companions' efforts as well.

  My companions? Oh shit! Benny is going to be so pissed at me for flying solo again. I’d rather throw a candle into a whole crate of ammo than be on the receiving end of her tongue lashing.

  I recognize that you are using humor to help regulate your emotions in this likely confusing and traumatizing situation, but I advise against doing that. It would be counterproductive to the healing I am trying to do.

  It was a joke yes, but fair enough Ms. Robot voice. I’ll take your advice to heart. Being in an explosion hurts a lot more than I thought.

  Hmm. I am positive I had killed many folks with explosions. It makes me feel a bit bad now that I know what they felt.

  Only a little bit though. Like a loogie's worth.

  Duly noted. Now to enlighten you on the changes that your body, and to a lesser extent your mind, is undergoing. I am known in the wider universe as an Awakening Stone. Although, I am not made of stone. I am a sophisticated AI created with the sole purpose of using and directing the nano machines stored within the stone to enhance your body as well as awaken it which grants you access to the System. The System is a multiversal force that spans nearly all of existence. With the aid of the System mortals are able to grow, change, enhance their bodies to supernatural levels, gain access to classes, professions, skills, and spells. I am one of few Awakening Stones sent to your planet of Earth by the Mecha Legion, with the permission of the System, in order to gain favor and an early foothold in this newly initialized galaxy. A small disclaimer. The nano machines will disintegrate harmlessly into your blood and be expelled the next time you urinate. Your free will and autonomy will not be hindered or tampered with in any way. This is a safeguard feature required by the System.

  Thanks for the info dump Ms. Robot Voice. I don’t want to deal with whatever the hell you are talking about in all honestly. I am sure in your great robo wisdom you’ve noticed I have more pressing things to worry about. Such as staying alive.

  Picking my teeth with the end of one of my claws did little to help parse out everything I’ve learned so far. It was overwhelming and rightfully so. But none of it matters to me. I just want to get back home. Lick my wounds. Prepare for the next job that will bring me a few more chips closer to my goal.

  I just need to keep on pushing forward like I have been for all these years. I’ve been in tight corners before. All seeming lost. No exit in sight. Every time I made it by the skin of my teeth, but I made it out nonetheless. This time is just like those times although my ass has a lot less hair on it than it used to.

  Metaphorically speaking I hope.

  “I wonder when my luck will finally run dry.” I asked myself, floating in the emptiness of my own mind with a prudish AI as its guest.

  Luck is one of several fixed stats recognized by the System and represented by numbers on your character screen. It does not ever run out and will only ever lower if you are under the effects of a spell, ability, curse, or ailment that targets your luck stat specifically.

  “I was speaking rhetorically Ms. Robot Voice.” I replied.

  I know.

  Maybe my luck has run out.

  Time was difficult to keep track of in my inner mind. Being able to “visit” memories filled my heart with sad happiness. It made me want to throw up. I was not the most emotionally mature person. Just enough to get by without being in complete shambles. Yet, seeing her and everyone I loved again in such vivid clarity quickly burnt through my emotional tolerance. So now I lay on the shores of an imaginary lake I had spent a weekend at a year ago after a successful hunt and soaked up the fake sun’s rays. Doing jack fuckin shit.

  Ms. Robot Voice had tried engaging with me a few times, likely sensing some kind of turmoil in my heart, I am not sure. I ignored her entirely. Those memories had succeeded in absorbing all of my attention.

  Once I had shaken it off and conjured up my mental lake front she had felt it was safe to try starting up a conversation again. A vast majority of what she said fell on my disinserted ears.

  I did pick up that it was a good sign I was able to conjure such vivid and solid memories. According to her it will help “visualize magic and spell formation and a whole slew of other things related to the system,”

  If only my attempt to visualize a lid on her yapper worked.

  Ms. Robot Voice woke me up from my nap with a firm mental flick between the eyes. I hadn’t felt myself fall asleep.

  It has been fourteen days since you were rendered unconscious by extreme blood loss caused by numerous shrapnel injuries. You are currently laying in bed in the home of someone kind individual who appears to have loose ties to you from the past. When you awaken you will likely feel sore, disoriented, and like you had the “shit, rock, and salt kicked out of you”. As you’d likely put it.

  I think I’ve been a bad influence on you Ms. Robot Voice. Don’t beat yourself up about it. I was told many times I have that effect on others. Like a bad cold they said.

  I cannot get colds. Something I am sure you know. Returning to the subject at hand. In addition to all the pain you’ll feel upon awakening you will also feel a surge of power caused by the System activating your character screen. It will only be visible to you unless you decide to share it with someone, however it is strongly advised you refrain from sharing too much. Cards your enemy doesn’t know of is another card they cannot prepare against after all.

  That’s a lesson I learned the hard way. I’ve got this scar above my eye as proof.

  The activation of your character sheet will lead to your body undergoing physical changes, some obvious and others not so much. You will be stronger, more durable, and faster for starters. Do not let this new strength lead to you believing you are indestructible. You are still mortal. As the System draws closer there will begin to be monsters and creatures born directly from the System. Normal means to deter them will do very little or nothing at all. Only with personal strength from levels, stat gains, and System marked weapons and equipment will you be able to stand against them. Now our time is done. I wish you luck, Horst.