[Initializing the abandoned plot system]
[Binding 20%]
[Host is currently experiencing significant blood loss]
[Resume healing]
[Binding 50%]
[Healing complete]
[Resume transfer]
[Novel: Eldritch Romance by Emma Broadway]
[Binding 70%]
[Transfer complete]
[Initiating plot progression, tasks, and rewards]
[Linking systems account with host's Earth bank account]
[Binding complete!]
[Beginning awakening process!]
"Wake up, Anna! Who's going to give water to the horses today?"
"Horses?" Anna mumbled, stirring from unconsciousness as her eyes flickered open. The unfamiliar sight of a woman loomed above her, maternal and wrapped in simple garments that spoke of a rustic life. The woman held a metallic bucket and stood in a dusty shed, the very same place Anna lay, disoriented in a stack of hay.
"No, dogs!" the woman chirped cheerfully, setting the bucket down before stepping outside, leaving Anna to grapple with her bewildering reality.
"What the hell?" she muttered, scratching the back of her head as the hay prickled against her skin.
[Congratulations, you have received the abandoned plot system.]
A mechanical voice echoed in her head, sending a chill down her spine. Who was this voice, and how did it invade her mind?
"Excuse me?" she called out, her voice wavering, glancing around but finding no one.
[You have been transported to the abandoned world of the novel Eldritch Romance, written by Emma Broadway.]
"Again, huh?" Anna's brow furrowed in disbelief as a holographic screen materialized in front of her, presenting the eye-catching cover of a novel that had made waves. She recognized the title and the author, a respected name in the literary world, yet she had never actually read any of her work.
"I've seen this cover before. I know the author... but I've never even flipped through the pages," she murmured, feeling the surrealism of her conversation with the enigmatic voice in her head.
[Very well then. When an author begins writing, a new world is created with every word typed. If the story is abandoned, the world freezes. If it remains dormant for too long, it collapses into nothing.]
"Okay?"
[Emma Broadway's fans flocked to her new creation from the very first chapter; its engaging plot and captivating synopsis drew them in like moths to a flame. But after the twelfth chapter, Emma abandoned her story, leaving the world frozen in time for over a year, teetering on the brink of collapse. That's why I brought you here, to breathe life back into the narrative. Your task is simple: continue the plot.]
"What?" Anna exclaimed, a mix of confusion and disbelief washing over her.
"How on earth can I continue a story I know nothing about? I'm not Emma Broadway! And I still don't even understand how I ended up here."
Memories flared in her mind, memories of a bleak bedroom, of her confrontation with Jack, and the dark thoughts that had consumed her.
"Did I die? Is this real? Is this... the afterlife?"
[Awaiting response… No]
"Wait a second, I'm not dead? This isn't the afterlife?" Anna felt a mix of disbelief and curiosity wash over her as she gazed at the shimmering screen before her.
[Nope! You're very much alive, Anna. Welcome to the Abandoned Plot System. I've brought you here to complete the story of a popular novel. Once you're done, you'll return to Earth with a hefty reward for your efforts.]
Her eyes sparkled with intrigue.
"Oh? So, it's just a temporary gig?"
[Exactly.]
"Alright then," Anna mused, a faint smile breaking through her initial confusion. The chaos in her life back home, especially the heartache Jack caused, felt like a distant memory already. Perhaps this unexpected adventure was just what she needed.
"So, how does this all work?" she asked, leaning closer to the screen as it flickered and brightened, startling her.
"I've got to get used to this tech."
[Status]
[Name: Anna Beetle]
[Level: 1 (-400 points to level up)]
[Abilities: None]
[Achievements: None]
[Points earned: 0]
[Reward: $0]
[Readers support: 0]
[You unlock new abilities by completing tasks, and scoring points earn you even more abilities,] the system continued.
[Your level determines how powerful those abilities are. Plus, as you level up, your previous skills become even better! ]
Anna nodded, trying to absorb every detail. This was bizarre, yet thrilling. The idea of reader support intrigued her as well.
"The more readers engaged with the story, the more bonuses I get, right?" she summarized, her mind racing with possibilities.
"So, keeping the audience entertained is the name of the game?"
[That's correct.]
She grinned. "Okay! So how do I start?"
[You'll receive assignments to advance the plot, but the approach is entirely up to you. Just be sure to keep the readers hooked!]
"Sounds like a challenge I can handle," Anna said, her pulse quickening at the prospect.
"So, what about my family? What do I need to know?"
[You live in a farmhouse with your parents and sisters. You actually come from the largest animal farm in the region.]
"Interesting! And the woman I saw earlier… that's my mom?"
[Yes, her name is Rossi Beetle.]
"Got it!" Anna's enthusiasm bubbled over. "Anything else I should know before diving into my new role?"
[Not much. Just remember, you're stepping into the twelfth chapter of this novel. Your first task awaits you immediately.]
"Bring it on!" she exclaimed, rising from the bay stack and shaking off the remnants of her past. She picked up the bucket her new mother had left nearby, feeling ready to embrace this new life.
[Excellent! Your eagerness is commendable!]
[First task: Become a servant in the Royal Palace.]
Anna furrowed her brow, pausing for a moment. "Hold on! What's Emma Broadway's synopsis for this story?"
[Here's the intended plot by Emma Broadway…]