If I die today, it won’t be the bullet that kills me — it’ll be the fact my browser history is still open.
Sergeant Roy Vanders lay on the cold asphalt, blood pumping from his chest in hot, sticky waves. Above him, a rookie officer knelt, hands pressed desperately against the wound.
"Sergeant Roy! Please, don’t die!" the rookie sobbed. Roy’s ears rang, the world fading into a high‑pitched whine.
He’d warned this kid a hundred times: "We de‑escalate. We don’t play hero."
But the idiot had chased a purse snatcher through a crowd, gun out, ignoring every order to stand down.
The thief had pulled a weapon, shots rang out, and now here they were — Roy bleeding out, the rookie crying like a toddler. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry..." the rookie whispered, his mind racked with guilt.
Roy’s vision felt hazy as a shrill ringing that drilled into his skull..
Am I really going to die so soon? His mind gradually cleared, overcome with a strange, soothing peace in contrast to the situation — probably because he had accepted his fate.
Sigh! At least my death will be honorable and be used as a warning for all other young officers around the world, Roy thought.
Feeling this way about dying wasn’t so bad. He could imagine things far worse... imagine them putting his portrait on the wall for honor at the precinct.
That thought put a peaceful smile on his face. Well, that was until he realized, Wait, a photo! They would have to get that from my apartment!
His eyes widened in horror as a vivid memory of what his room looked like just this morning flashed in his mind with eerie, high-definition detail.
A litter of caked socks all over...
Suspicious wallpapers all over the walls...
And worst of all, he was in such a hurry he left an Xvideos tab playing the moment he finished — just to get to work on time!
One couldn’t blame him. Honestly, what was expected from a 23-year-old virgin? No, no, no! I don’t want to die! Roy felt a sudden, overwhelming surge of will to live.
But from the unusually dark blood seeping out of his chest, he could tell that the bullet had definitely ruptured a vital organ, and there wasn’t much hope. Realizing this, he did the only thing he could think of.
Even though blood was rapidly flooding his lungs, he opened his mouth in an attempt to relay his last wish to the rookie. If nothing else, the little bastard owed him that much.
Seeing his dying superior trying to talk, the young man quickly reached over and clamped his mouth shut. "Don’t say anything, sir. The ambulance is on its way. You need to save your strength. Stay with me, please don’t die!"
Roy’s eyes bulged in rancor. This little fucker... I just need you to at least — at least — help me clear my browser!!! But sadly, he couldn’t convey his last message as the rookie clamped his mouth shut, muttering beneath his breath deliriously.
Slowly, a creeping sea of red encroached from the outer edges of his vision. He knew what was happening — he was about to kick the bucket. And after that, what little dignity he had left would be gone. His eyes went moist as tears gathered.
"Don’t cry, sir, you will make it... stay with me!" The rookie, seeing his superior cry, burst into tears too, his hands still tightly clamped around poor Roy’s mouth.
The encompassing sea of red erupted, about to engulf his vision whole when...
[Candidates have been put on priority of Order...]
[Initializing Order...]
[Bestowing Order across candidates...]
A series of red-screen notifications popped up in his vision, banishing the sea of red in a blink.
W-what the hell? Roy wondered in shock. The rookie still seemed to be crying, showing that this phenomenon could only be seen by him.
[Priority Candidates have been selected!]
[Priority Candidate Roy Vanders has been chosen!]
[Bestowing First-Class Order...]
Suddenly, the interface warped, changing colors from crimson red to navy blue.
[Congratulations!!! Host has awakened SSS Class Policing System, the First-Class Order of Justice!]
Roy went wide-eyed... this looked familiar... isn’t this a game system interface?
[Host is in dire straits!!!]
[Initiating Emergency Healing.]
A warm current flooded his solar plexus, and he started to feel a slow itch. Little by little, his energy was regained.
What is going on? Roy wondered in confusion, when suddenly a mechanical voice boomed in his head.
This time, he could ascertain that he didn’t hear it alone, as the crying rookie suddenly went quiet, his expression strange as he gazed around warily.
{Priority Candidates selected! All Orders bestowed!!!}
{Planet will now ascend and merge with Acrana!}
{Priority Candidates... will now be dubbed Lords...}
{Remnant Residents will be dubbed Hunters...}
{Lords will be given territories...}
Territories? What am I, a medieval landlord now?
{You must grow stronger... upgrade your territories and evolve.}
{Hunters can choose their lieges...}
{BUT YOU MUST ALL GET STRONGER!!!}
What the hell is going on? Roy wondered as the voice continued in a mechanical motion.
{Newly ascended worlds will be given a three-year protection guarantee...}
{After three years, your world will be accessed by other worlds...}
{In Acrana, the weak get weaker and the strong get stronger...}
{Get stronger, evolve past your limits — either that or die...} ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel{f}ire.net
Great, I escape death just to find a more brutal way to die! Roy’s mumbled, pessimistic of his chances at survival.
{Good luck to you all!}
Suddenly Roy’s mind went blank as a heavy shift happened in the atmosphere. His vision was clouded by a brilliant flash of white, space distorting and devouring his figure whole. When his vision cleared, a notification could be seen.
[Lord Roy Vanders has been transported to his territory...]
[Small Police Outpost – Tier 0]