CHAPTER 1: SIGN-IN SYSTEM

In a dark, starry world reminiscent of the night sky, Roy dreamt himself floating down and landing on an invisible liquid platform.

Ripples spread across from where he landed, like a gentle wave on a shallow river.

Roy looked up and basked in the sight of a magnificent, mysterious blue-neon cosmic cube. Instinctively, he already knew what it was.

The cosmic cube spoke, "I am the System Creation Engine, created by the Maximum Inventor. Human Roy, you have been granted a system."

A smaller cube split apart from the whole, floated down, and rested above Roy’s outstretched palm, bearing an iridescent glow.

Roy smiled and allowed the cube to enter his body. If he could speak, he would’ve thanked the cosmic cube a million times over.

"Yes!!!" He woke up with a shout of joy and sprang up from his bed.

Fifteen years ago, mysterious portals to another realm known as God’s Abyss appeared, and creatures of all kinds emerged, wreaking havoc on the human race.

The extinction of the human race was starting to look like a feasible outcome due to their invasion, but almost at the same time, individuals all over the world reported having dreamt of a cosmic cube. And when they awoke, they had been granted systems that rewarded them with various skills and power.

Among these individuals, there were those who were given special systems that allowed them to fight head-to-head with the Abyss Creatures. They entered the gates before they could break and dealt with the monsters in a timely fashion. These individuals were called Executioners.

All systems came with a title and world, with skills uniquely tailored to them, so not one system was the same.

Some of the well-known ones were:

"I, the Weakest Hero, Can Only HEAL.exe," which belonged to the C-Class Executioner, Sick-In-The-Head Keyaruga.

"As Cannon Fodder in the Villain’s Story, I Don’t Have Enough LUCK.exe," belonged to the B-Class Executioner, Gambling Gambino.

And, "Let Me Farm AURA.exe in Peace," which belonged to the A-Class Executioner, Aura-Final-Boss Sung Jin-Woo.

Or even, "I Really Don’t Want to Be a NAZI.exe in 1939," which belonged to the A-Class Executioner, Supreme-General Alexandria.

The systems were also known as EXEs, and one only had to sign in to start leveling up and gaining power!

"System!"

Roy called out, eager to learn his system’s title.

And before him, the iridescent cube appeared, spinning slowly on its axis.

Immediately, it displayed a small panel of information.

+

[System Information]

Host System: 404.exe

System Title: "ERROR 404.exe, Executable Not Found"

World: Nullspace

+

Roy’s smile froze.

"404.exe? And they’re three digits, why are they three?!"

Drawing from the naming scheme of other EXEs, there were usually four characters, not three.

Roy had been waiting for this day ever since he was just ten years old. Although most people didn’t receive a system, he believed he would simply because he deeply desired it. It was said that the cosmic cube granted systems only to those who strongly desired them.

However, it was also well-known that the cosmic cube had an extremely skewed naming sense. On a forum, an individual complained that they were happy to finally receive their system, only to learn that it was PANT.exe.

Roy already felt satisfied by just having a system, so he cleared the worry and doubt from his mind and just told himself, "No big deal. Let me just sign in first and learn what it’s about."

~Tap to sign in ~

Roy took a giant gulp and tapped the cube.

ERROR: No EXE Environment Found!

Sign-In Unsuccessful!

Roy frowned and tapped again, but it still displayed the same error message. He couldn’t sign in!

He caressed his chin slightly and then said, "Okay, then. At least, show me my skills."

Quickly, a message popped up.

[You must be signed in to view your skills.]

"But I can’t sign in!" Roy screamed. He was obviously in a quagmire. He couldn’t sign in, and he couldn’t view his skills until he signed in.

He grabbed his phone and entered the forum, and typed: "What does it mean when your first sign-in attempt shows ’ERROR: No EXE Environment Found!’?"

Roy’s situation was so unique that responses came quickly.

Bro, you’re cooked. Give up. (51 likes).

This problem is the first of its kind. Maybe S.C.E. glitched and gave you its shit. Hahaha~ (32 likes).

S.C.E. was definitely on the zazas when it gave you your system, lol. I wonder what your system title is. Surely it won’t be as bad as Let Me GOON.exe in Peace, right? LMFAO. (29 likes).

This is obviously a fake post to get attention. Try something smarter next time. Unsuccessful sign-in? That’s impossible. (8 dislikes).

Reply: How can you be so sure? S.C.E. has always been unpredictable. (13 likes).

Have you tried viewing your skills? (18 likes).

Reply: Yes, I have. It says I must sign in before I can view my skills. But when I try to sign in, it says sign-in unsuccessful. (7 likes).

Reply: Damn, if you dropped out of college or smth to be an executioner, better go pick the books back up. LOL. (28 likes).

Over ten minutes since Roy requested help, the ridicule just kept on coming in, wearing him down.

But then, a unique message came in:

Maybe you’re signing in wrongly. Not all EXEs have the same sign-in activation method; most are just easy. I have STDY.exe, so I have to answer a question before I can sign in. I haven’t failed any yet, maybe that’s why it has never shown me sign-in unsuccessful. But at the same time, I’m not dumb enough to attempt to fail my sign-in just because. Your system’s title might even be a hint on how to sign in. (2 likes).

Reply: Dude. You’re just trying to glaze yourself. Piss off. (5 likes).

Reply: Get off your dick, bro. Lol. (3 likes).

Roy thanked the user in the replies and pondered on his title.

[ERROR 404.exe, Executable Not Found]

"But really, what the fuck can I do with 404.exe? WTF.exe would’ve been a better title for it," he said, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

He stared at the cube and repeatedly tapped to sign in, but the results were the same. Signing in was unsuccessful.

Knock. Knock.

There was a light rap on the door slightly far away, and an elderly woman’s voice came along with it, "You better not still be sleeping in there. You’ll be late for school. Come down for breakfast!"

Roy groaned and screamed in response, "I’m going through a lot right now! Can’t you just leave me alone?"

"Stupid boy! So the school fees I pay every year should go to waste because you’re having one of those your ’moments’?!"

"This is not a ’moment’! I’m not okay—"

"Shut up! Better not make me come in there and drag you out."

"You’re old. You can’t do shit to me!"

"What?! Even if you die today, your ghost will attend that school till the end of the year before going to hell."

Roy threw his pillow at the door and countered, "I’m not going to hell, you old bag of bones! You are!"

"W-What did you just say to me?! You little bastard, you’ll really see the other side of me if the food on that table gets cold!"

"Aaaaahhh!" Roy screamed and covered his entire body with his blanket.

He thought that if he just got a system, his life would change for the better. But now, he was still going to be the same old Roy because of WTF.exe.

And now, he had to go to his regular old school.

What shit luck!