Resurrection System: Become the Strongest

"Is this all the strength you've got, Richard?" The taunting voice echoed through the dark, narrow alleyway. A heavy kick landed squarely on Richard's stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground and vomiting fresh blood onto the dirt. "I'm sorry... please stop," Richard whispered helplessly, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His face, chest, and stomach were already severely bruised from the beating dealt by the three men who now stood surrounding him, laughing with satisfaction. "Forgive you? Tsk, why are you only saying that now?" Morgan squatted down and grabbed Richard's shirt collar tightly, pulling his face just inches away. "Did you forget your place? You're just a useless piece of trash! How dare you even think about taking my opportunity?" Morgan shoved Richard's weak body back against the brick wall. The harsh impact slammed the back of Richard's head, and warm fluid began trickling down his neck. "Even if you die right now, no one will give a damn about an orphan like you," Henry said, kicking Richard's leg with utter disgust in his eyes. "Why... why are you doing all this to me?" Richard asked, struggling to stay conscious. His vision was blurring and his head felt increasingly heavy, but he refused to give in to the pain. "You're still asking what you did wrong?" Gerry stepped forward, glaring with deep-seated hatred. "You took the contract that was supposed to be signed by Morgan! Besides, didn't you realize that from the very beginning, you were nothing more than a slave to Morgan at that office? Don't play dumb, Richard. No one ever truly acknowledged your existence there, yet you had the nerve to act disrespectful toward Morgan!" Gerry let out a bitter laugh. He despised Richard immensely because ever since Richard joined and took over his workload, Gerry had lost his title as the top employee. "But that wasn't my fault!" Richard growled, enduring the excruciating pain radiating throughout his entire body. "You think the world is fair? Weaklings like you don't have the right to demand justice!" Morgan barked before spitting directly onto Richard's face. Morgan signaled his two companions with a gesture. Henry grinned broadly, picking up the iron baseball bat resting against the alley wall. "What... what are you going to do?" Richard's eyes widened in horror. He realized the three men in front of him genuinely intended to murder him. "You should be happy that I'm acting as your Grim Reaper," Henry chuckled triumphantly, savoring the terror on Richard's face. "By tomorrow, there'll just be a news headline reporting a homeless drug addict who met a gruesome end in this alley for messing with the wrong people." "Don't be crazy!" Richard forced his body back, but the brick wall behind him trapped him completely. "Help me!" he screamed with all his remaining strength and fading consciousness. "Unfortunately, the Grim Reaper is the only one coming for you," Henry whispered coldly. Thwack! The iron bat struck Richard directly on the head. Repeated vicious blows followed, plunging Richard's vision into total darkness. His breath hitched before his eyelids closed completely, soaked in the blood dripping from his head. His consciousness gradually ebbed away. Why was the world so cruel to him? He had never asked for much. Why did he have to meet such a gruesome end at the hands of these bastards? He hadn't even had the chance to buy himself a pizza this year. I don't want to die like this... Richard thought with profound vengeance before losing consciousness entirely as he sank into the void. Unbeknownst to anyone, blood from Richard's head trickled down and soaked a small stone lying beside his lifeless body. Instantly, a beam of golden light pierced through his head. "Where am I?" Richard woke up and immediately looked around. The place was nothing more than an endless, empty white space. "Argh! Where on earth is this?!" Richard shouted in frustration. He attempted to walk far into the distance, but no matter how far he traveled, he kept returning to the exact same spot. Richard scratched his head hard. "What is actually happening? Ah, I remember. Shouldn't I be dead? But I'm certain I'm not in heaven, and there's no way this is hell either. Besides, what did I do wrong? I suffered so much in the living world; surely I don't have to suffer in the afterlife too?" Richard laughed cynically, recalling how miserable his life had been without a single shred of mercy from the universe. Ding! A crisp chime echoed, followed by the appearance of a translucent holographic screen right in front of his face. [A soul filled with despair and vengeance has been detected.] [System attempting to connect with the host. Is the host willing?] Richard froze, staring at the screen. [Host, please answer the system's question: Do you desire a second chance at life and to avenge all the wrongs done to you?] "Who are you?" Richard asked in a raspy voice, staring at the floating screen in front of him, his breath coming in short gasps. [I am the Dragon System. Your intense vengeance has guided you to me, and my presence here will lead you to the apex of the hierarchy. So answer my question now: Do you wish to accept my offer to exact revenge and become the strongest in this world?] "Revenge? The strongest? Is that even possible?" Richard asked with a hint of hesitation. It all felt like a dream. [Host need not doubt the system. The system will grant everything Host requires to exact revenge. Not merely for revenge, the system will guide Host to become the sole ruler of this world!] "Are you sure?" Richard's chest pounded rapidly. How could he possibly pass up this golden opportunity he had longed for so deeply? [The Dragon System cannot linger on pleasantries any longer. Does Host wish to bind with the system? If Host wishes to proceed, please press the 'Yes' button provided.] Without a second thought, Richard raised his hand and pressed the transparent screen in front of his eyes. [Option confirmed.] [Soul synchronization system will now transfer Host to an appropriate vessel.] [World destination: Arcane Galaxy - World of the novel 'Arcane Legend'] [Target vessel: Richard Alexander Drag] "Wait! Isn't that the name of a minor extra character from the novel I read this morning? He's supposed to die in the very first chapter!" Richard's eyes widened in shock. He remembered the name because it was the novel he had been reading earlier that morning before heading to the office. [Transfer process: 10%... 40%... 70%... 100%] [Transmigration process completed.]