**Chapter 1: The Cruel Laugh and a Dying Wish**

The last thing Lio Jin saw was the glint of moonlight on the Blood Dragon Sword, its crimson blade piercing his chest.

His girlfriend, Seraphina, her face contorted in a cruel, triumphant grin, stood over him, the laughter echoing in his ears even as darkness claimed him.

He’d been a Martial Saint, a pinnacle of strength in the cultivation world, yet he’d fallen to a single, swift strike from someone he’d loved.

The betrayal was a bitter pill to swallow, even in death.

He’d never understood her motives, the sudden shift in her eyes from adoration to cold calculation. All he remembered was that chilling laugh, a sound that would forever haunt the edges of his fading consciousness.

Then, a voice, thin and reedy, cut through the encroaching darkness. "Brother… please wake up… brother…"

He blinked, his vision swimming back into focus. He was lying on the cold, damp earth, the pain in his chest a dull throb.

He saw his younger sister, Mu Yiner, her face streaked with tears, her hands frantically clutching his own. Her desperate cries pierced the fog in his mind.

"Open your eyes, brother…"

He forced his eyelids open, the world blurring into a hazy mess of colors. He saw the frantic faces of medical personnel rushing towards him, their voices a muffled roar.

He was lifted onto a stretcher, the world tilting and spinning. He vaguely registered Mu Yiner's worried whispers, her small hand gripping his.

He awoke in a sterile hospital room, his body encased in bandages.

The pain was still there, a constant reminder of the attack, but it was muted, dulled by some unknown force. A girl with fair skin, sea-like light blue eyes, and flowing light blue hair sat beside his bed. She wore a simple white dress that seemed to shimmer faintly.

"Are you awake?" she asked, her voice soft yet firm. "Didn't I tell you not to go into the Beast Forest?"

The world swam back into focus, but it wasn't his own.

Fragments of another's life flooded Lio Jin's mind—memories of Mu Jin. He saw the gnawing hunger, the constant worry etched on his sister Mu Yiner's face, the crushing weight of unpaid rent. Desperation, raw and visceral, had driven Mu Jin into the heart of the Beast Forest, a desperate gamble to hunt a wolf and sell its crystal for survival.

Mu Jin hadn't yet awakened his latent abilities; he was just a man driven to the edge.

The wolf's attack was brutal, a maelstrom of claws and teeth. Injured and bleeding, Mu Jin fled, his strength failing him.

He stumbled towards the city, a desperate hope flickering in his heart. But hope died swiftly. A hulking figure, skin like granite, blocked his path—a Ranker, his body a living weapon, his ability clearly of the earth element.

The rock-skinned man struck with terrifying speed, ending Mu Jin's life with a single blow. He stole Mu Jin's dagger, leaving him to bleed out in the dust.

Then, a wisp of ethereal energy coalesced before Lio Jin's eyes—Mu Jin's soul fragment, fading fast. "I don't know who you are," the fragment whispered, its voice barely audible, "but I'm dying. I'll vanish soon. Please… take care of my sister… as your own." The light flickered and died.

"Mu Jin! Mu Jin!!" Mu Yiner's anguished cry tore through the silence.

Lio Jin turned to his sister, her face a mask of grief and despair.

He didn't know this man, Mu Jin, yet the weight of his dying wish settled heavily on his shoulders.

He looked at her, at the raw pain in her eyes, and a strange resolve hardened his gaze.

"Don't worry," he said, his voice surprisingly steady.

"Everything will change soon."

To be continue!

The late-night darkness pressed in on Mu Jin, or rather, on the body he now inhabited. He was still weak, the lingering effects of his injuries a dull ache. He looked down at Mu Yiner, her small form curled up beside him, fast asleep. He gently stroked her hair, the gesture oddly comforting. *Another world, another death,* he thought, a grim smile playing on his lips. First, the truck in the mortal world, then betrayal and murder in the cultivation world, and now this… this world of Rankers. He wasn't sure what awaited him here, but he knew one thing: he wouldn't let Mu Yiner suffer. "Don't worry," he whispered, his voice barely a breath, "we'll be fine soon."

The next morning, the harsh reality of their situation crashed down. A gruff doctor barked at Mu Yiner, demanding payment for the hospital fees. Mu Yiner, her face pale and drawn, could only shake her head. "I don't have anything left," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I sold everything—our home, our belongings—to pay the rent and cover the first day's operation and medicine."

The doctor's voice rose, sharp and cruel. "Then get lost! I don't care about your sob stories!"

Mu Jin's eyes flashed. He sat up, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't you dare scold my sister," he said, his words laced with steel. "We're leaving, and you will pay for your cruelty." He helped Mu Yiner to her feet, his hand firm on her arm. They left the hospital, the doctor's furious shouts echoing behind them.

Outside, the harsh sunlight seemed to mock their plight. Mu Yiner's shoulders slumped. "We have nowhere to go," she whispered, her voice choked with despair. "No clothes, no money… nothing."

Mu Jin pulled her close, his gaze firm and resolute. "Don't worry," he said, his voice filled with a quiet strength that surprised even himself.

"I'll take care of everything." He knew he had no plan, no resources, only a fierce determination burning within him. He would protect Mu Yiner, no matter the cost. This was a new world, a new life, and he would forge a new path, one where she would never again know hunger or hardship. His resolve solidified, he knew where to start. He needed to awaken his abilities, whatever they might be. The Rankers Awakening Institute was his only hope.

He arrived at the Institute, a towering structure of gleaming steel and glass. Inside, the air hummed with latent power. He explained his situation to a manager, a striking woman of only 25, yet already an SSS-class Ranker. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, fell upon Mu Yiner, who stood silently beside him, her face etched with worry.

"Why is this girl crying?" the manager asked, her voice calm but authoritative.

Mu Jin recounted their ordeal at the hospital, his voice tight with suppressed anger. He spoke of the doctor's cruelty, of his sister's despair, and of his own desperate resolve to protect her. He finished, his gaze unwavering.

The manager listened intently, her expression unreadable. When he was done, she offered a solution that surprised him. "Give her to me," she said, her voice surprisingly gentle. "I will take care of her as my own sister. She will have everything she needs."

Mu Yiner looked up at her brother, her eyes wide with uncertainty. She saw the unwavering determination in his gaze, the quiet strength that promised a better future. She watched him smile, a small, reassuring smile that held the weight of his promise. And with a silent nod, she accepted.

To be continue!

The manager, a striking woman with eyes that seemed to pierce through Mu Jin's very soul, gestured towards a crystal ball resting on a polished obsidian pedestal. The ball pulsed with a faint, inner light, its surface shimmering with an almost imperceptible energy.

"Touch the crystal ball," she instructed, her voice calm yet authoritative. "It will awaken your Ranker class. E-class is... normal. You gain nothing. You are essentially a mortal. D-class can break stones with their bare hands. C-class awakens body-type abilities. B-class awakens elemental affinities. A-class awakens specialized warrior, assassin, archer, or healer types, often with iron body enhancements. S-class awakens control over time or elements. SS-class awakens control over major elements like lightning or shadow. SSS-class awakens control over area-of-effect powers and abilities."

Her explanation was clinical, devoid of any warmth or encouragement. Mu Jin, his heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension, stepped forward. He reached out, his fingers brushing against the smooth, cool surface of the crystal ball. A wave of energy surged through him, a tingling sensation that spread from his fingertips to the very core of his being. A brilliant white light erupted from the crystal ball, engulfing him in its ethereal glow. The light felt both intensely hot and intensely cold simultaneously, a bizarre paradox that left him breathless.

When the light subsided, the manager's voice, as emotionless as ever, cut through the silence.

"E-class," she stated flatly. "You may proceed to the miner work detail."

Mu Jin's heart sank. E-class. The lowest rank. The utter insignificance of it hit him like a physical blow. He had hoped, however faintly, for something more. He had faced death, he had protected his sister, and this was his reward? A crushing wave of disappointment washed over him. He felt a surge of anger, a bitter resentment towards the unfairness of it all. He had expected a higher ranking, a recognition of his resilience, his strength. But the crystal ball had deemed him unworthy, relegated him to the lowest rung of the ladder. He glanced at Mu Yiner, who stood silently beside him, her face a mixture of worry and apprehension. He forced a reassuring smile.

He made his way to the designated mining area, his steps heavy, his heart burdened. He picked up a pickaxe, its weight familiar, its feel strangely comforting in its simplicity. He began to break stones, his movements methodical, his focus unwavering. He worked tirelessly, his muscles burning, his body aching. He was determined to prove himself, to show them, to show *himself*, that he was more than just an E-class miner.

As he swung his pickaxe, it struck something hard, something unusual. A sharp crack echoed through the air as the axe head shattered, splintering into a thousand pieces. Embedded in the rock was a small, ominous gem, its surface pulsing with a faint, dark light. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before; it seemed to throb with a malevolent energy, yet also held a strange allure. Mu Jin stared at the gem, his mind reeling. He reached out, his fingers brushing against its smooth, cool surface. He felt a surge of energy, a strange, intoxicating power. He picked up the gem, his curiosity overriding his caution. He brought it to his lips and swallowed it whole.

The world dissolved into a blinding flash of light. Mu Jin collapsed, his body convulsing, his mind reeling. When he awoke, he felt different, stronger, more powerful. A system notification appeared before his eyes, its message both shocking and exhilarating:

**Congratulations, Host! You have awakened the Multiverse System.**

Mu Jin stared at the notification, his mind reeling. The Multiverse System? What was it? What did it mean? He looked around, but no one else seemed to notice the notification. It was visible only to him. .

To be continued…