After finishing his thoughts and mentally cursing Thaddeus, Mark was now forced to focus on his own situation. He was in a frail, blind, and crippled body, stuck within a "Safe Zone" of a dungeon he had yet to fully explore or understand. At this moment, the System was the only thing he could lean on, and it was capable of answering his questions. This time, he addressed the System mentally: "What is the meaning of my reincarnation? Who transferred me here? Was it a local God of this world? And if so, why did they cast me into this dungeon for five years?" After a brief moment, the sound of a "Ding!" echoed.
[Answer: After your death on your home planet, Host Mark Miller encountered an entity known as the 'Reincarnated God' and entered into a binding contract. Under this agreement, the Reincarnated God was permitted to conduct experiments on your soul for an indefinite period. In exchange, he was to reincarnate you into a fantasy world you were familiar with, preserving your soul exactly as it was at the moment of death, while providing a certain degree of assistance.]
[Due to a specific clause in the contract regarding the "preservation of the original post-mortem soul state," all memories of this encounter and the contract itself were erased from your mind. Your soul and memories remain identical to how they were when you died. As he was reincarnating you into a body suitable for this fantasy world, the local 'God of the Fantasy World' intervened. He did not oppose your reincarnation; however, this world is currently under the threat of the Demon King and faces total annihilation.]
[The local God could not place full trust in an individual who possessed knowledge of the future and the memories of someone who harbored a deep-seated hatred for the protagonist. Consequently, the two Gods reached a compromise: You are to be confined within this specifically designed dungeon, created by the God of the Fantasy World, for a period of five years.]
As Mark carefully scanned the rows of glowing panels, he began to grasp the reality of his situation. The System might be weaving lies, but for now, he didn't care about the grand designs of the Gods. Instead, his mind drifted back to his previous life.
It had been an ordinary existence, devoid of grand ambitions. His only true regret was the strained relationship with his parents. He had always delayed reaching out to them, telling himself he would do it once he achieved something meaningful in his career or love life—something to be proud of. Yet, he had never truly given his all to either. He wasn't entirely lazy, but he lacked the courage and motivation to seize what he wanted. He never confessed his feelings to the girl he liked, and at work, he chose the escapism of anime over professional growth. Because of that endless procrastination, the chance to see his family was gone forever.
Further inquiry with the System clarified several grim points. First, given the unknown duration of the soul experiments, his parents were likely long dead. The System could not help him return to his original world. Even if he somehow found a way back, reclaiming his former body as Mark Miller was a near-impossibility. Furthermore, the System's full functionality was bound by a five-year limit. It was designed to assist him primarily during his time in the dungeon. While some features might remain active afterward, such benefits would come with their own strict conditions.
After processing his past, Mark once again focused his attention on his current situation. He tried to boost his own morale. "Even if my physical condition is a wreck, isn't the System itself a 'cheat code'?" he thought. In typical cliché isekai stories, protagonists usually grew powerful at an incredible pace thanks to their Systems. First, he needed to clearly understand the System, the dungeon, and the Safe Zone. Once he calmed his mind and organized his thoughts, he began to ask questions one by one through his mind.
'First of all, what exactly are this dungeon and the Safe Zone?'
A "Ding!" sound resonated, and a new panel materialized.
— [Answer: The dungeon the Host currently occupies is called "The Butterfly Cage." It was created by the local God specifically to suppress the "Butterfly Effect." This dungeon has no entrance or exit. It is divided into two sections: the Safe Zone and the Floors.]
— [The Floors: Each floor possesses its own unique flora and fauna. Access to the First Floor is simple—it is reached through a special "gate" within your Safe Zone. However, to advance to the Second Floor, you must first defeat the Boss of the First Floor. Only then will the Second Floor be linked to the gate in the Safe Zone. From the Safe Zone, you can choose to enter any floor you have successfully unlocked.]
— [Rewards: There is no fixed reward system; loot primarily consists of monster parts and various plants. Note: If these items are not stored correctly, they will rapidly vanish or decompose within the dungeon's floor sections.]
— [The Safe Zone: This is a section designed specifically for you. A fixed daily ration of food and water is provided here. It includes a bed for rest, a private area for sanitation, a bathtub with warm water for washing, and a full set of clothes tailored to your size every three months. In essence, all the minimal necessities for survival have been provided.]
Having learned about the Safe Zone, Mark felt a flicker of curiosity regarding the potential "cheat codes" the System might offer, but he quickly suppressed it. The repeated psychological blows and the sheer volume of information had left him utterly exhausted. Before dealing with the System, he craved a warm bath, a decent meal, and a long sleep. Deep down, a nagging fear persisted—the fear that the legendary powers he hoped for didn't exist, and that he would be trapped in this broken body forever.
Pushing those dark thoughts aside, Mark began to explore the Safe Zone, feeling his way through the space. It was more complete than he had anticipated. After a short distance, he discovered a "Blind Staff" provided by the System. About 1.8 to 2 meters long, it was perfectly balanced for a single-handed grip. Though it resembled a simple cane, the System informed him it was incredibly durable and flexible—superior to even the finest wooden weapons in the outside world. It was the first piece of his "Starter Kit."
Encouraged by this small win, Mark began using the staff to navigate. To his surprise, the layout of the furniture and amenities mirrored his old apartment back on Earth. This familiarity made navigation easy; he was a man who could find his way around his own home even in total darkness. He bathed first, then headed to the dining area. There, he found a 0.5-liter bottle of water and a container of warm food that reminded him of his favorite brand of instant noodles. The food was a bland, textureless porridge, but after finishing it, he felt a surge of vitality. Finally, he located the bed and collapsed into a dreamless sleep.
Upon waking in his familiar bed, Mark instinctively reached out to find his phone. But as his hands met only the void and he remembered the crushing darkness, the reality of his situation flooded back. He took a deep breath, fighting his oldest habit—procrastination. Though a voice in his head whispered to eat breakfast first, he suppressed it and addressed the System mentally.
"System, tell me about your functions. Is there a Status window? Can you help me overcome my physical defects and grow stronger? Tell me about yourself."
After a brief silence, the "Ding!" resonated, and the holographic panel flickered to life.
— [Answer: Host, my primary objective is not to simply grant you power or help you conquer the world. My purpose is to facilitate your adaptation to this world. I cannot grant you raw power directly; I can only provide guidance. Furthermore, I cannot intervene with your physical body; I can only communicate with your consciousness.]
— [Binding your soul to this body and restoring it to a functional state upon your arrival was my first and final act of direct assistance. As for your Status, it displays your Mana (magic/spiritual energy), Ki (physical energy), vital signs, learned spells, and mastery of combat or weapons.]
— [Core Functions:
"Library": Contains nearly all knowledge available in this world. It holds everything deemed necessary for your survival and a high-quality life.
"Appraisal": Allows you to evaluate and analyze objects based on the information stored in the Library.
"Inventory": A storage space for anything found within the dungeon, specifically designed to preserve flora and fauna harvested from the Floors.]