Parallel world.

In the villa's main hall, a couple sat with heavy hearts. The wife’s eyes were red, tears streaking down her face.

“I told you, don’t let him join the army! You insisted—and now this! Where’s my son?” Her voice cracked as she spoke.

The husband’s tone was low, steady. “Crying won’t solve anything. He’s missing, not dead!”

“Missing...” Her eyes brimmed with anger and despair. “Who knows what that even means? I’m telling you now—if anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive you!”

The man sighed, turning toward the soldier standing to the side. “Comrade, my apologies. Could you give us the details?”

Asher Daniels, standing at attention, handed over a neatly folded uniform with both hands, saluting afterward. “Jason Marks successfully completed his three-month basic training. He was then assigned to the 1st Island as a logistics officer. However, during a recent attack on the island, he went missing…”

Alfred Marks, the wealthiest man in Donghai City, froze in shock as he took hold of the uniform. His hands began to tremble. “My son… was he labeled a deserter?”Asher Daniels shook his head. "No. He did it to avenge his squad leader. Some might say he went rogue, but he protected what mattered most. He's a hero."

The woman's tears broke free, her voice trembling as she choked out, "Is my son... is he still alive?"

Asher's eyes reddened, his effort to hold back his own emotions evident.

Was Jason Marks still alive?

The location of Island No. 1 was unusual, housing a rare and valuable energy source.

The soldiers stationed there were like nails hammered in place—unmovable, unyielding.

Jason Marks had gone there.

From what they said, he wasn't even supposed to. His performance during the three months of basic training was so poor they were planning to assign him to supply units, tending pigs. But Thomas Scott, his squad leader, refused to let go of him, dragging him along to defend Island No. 1.

Given the island's crucial position, every soldier sent there had to sign a life-and-death contract. If an attack came, they were to hold their ground to the last man, to the last drop of blood, never retreating.

For someone like Jason, it didn’t seem to make sense.

A recruit who had performed the worst somehow found the courage and resolve to go to the most dangerous post. No matter what anyone thought, the ones who chose to go there—all of them—were made of sterner stuff.

But now, was he still alive? Asher Daniels had no way to answer that question. Maybe Jason Marks was alive. Maybe he wasn’t.

What truly shocked him was finding out that Jason’s parents, Alfred and his wife, were the wealthiest couple in Donghai City. Their businesses spanned continents, boasting a reputation that most could only dream of.

Who could’ve imagined that a young master of such a powerful family would willingly enlist in the military?

Now things made more sense to Asher. Jason’s poor performance during the three-month training period—it wasn’t hard to figure out why his comrades called him a “young master soldier.” Growing up with everything handed to him, Jason was bound to struggle in the harsh life of the army.

But what really stunned Asher was Jason’s choice. He volunteered for the most dangerous post on No. 1 Island and, even more shocking, ventured deep into enemy territory after the squad leader, Thomas Scott, was killed. Jason Marks—what kind of person was he, really?

The woman standing in front of Asher didn’t need to hear the answer to know the truth. She could see right through the silence. Her son—her only son—was as good as gone.

“Alfred! Are you happy now? Are you satisfied?” she shrieked, her voice trembling with grief. “Our son, gone—just like that. He had everything. He was fine, living his life! But no, you had to push him into this. And now—now he’s gone! How am I supposed to live without my child?” "He's in his rebellious phase, isn't he? So what if he's a bit unruly? But you insisted, didn't you? Joining the army, joining the army, and now he's gone! Can you even justify this to me?"

Alfred Marks's eyes were glistening too. He couldn't hold it back anymore and said bitterly, "Three generations of the Marks family served in the military. Wars have always taken their toll... how many soldiers actually return?"

He turned to stare out the window, his voice trailing off.

"Son, where are you now? If you don't come back, who will take over this billion-dollar empire? And what about the fiancée your grandfather arranged for you? You haven't even married her yet..."

Meanwhile, in the dense jungle of 1st Island, where Jason Marks was supposed to be stationed, he lay shirtless on the ground. His worn-out jeans hung low over his waist, and his tattered shoes barely clung to his feet. Sweat poured off his sun-tanned, muscular frame as he hammered out push-ups.

"999, 1000, 1001..."

Each move sent his muscles rippling with raw power. His once pale skin now glowed with a bronzed determination, a ruggedness that spoke of struggle and grit.

For ten days straight, Jason had pushed himself to the brink, training like a predator lurking in the wild.

"System activation imminent. A man must be ruthless with himself to forge true strength," the mechanical voice echoed in his head once again.

Hearing it, Jason let out a dry laugh, a flicker of helplessness passing across his face.He had been in this parallel world for exactly ten days. After merging with the memories of the original host, his current identity was a soldier of Squad 1 on Island 1.

During the three-month training as a recruit, Jason Marks had been utterly useless. If it hadn’t been for his squad leader, Thomas Scott, insisting on keeping him, he would’ve been sent off to tend pigs long ago.

It was just a month ago that the original host had followed Thomas Scott into battle against armed intruders. They fought until the bitter end.

With the enemy jamming their communications and no way to send for help, Thomas had written a final letter and tasked Jason with delivering it. Thomas gave his last drop of blood to the country.

Jason managed to get the letter out and handed it to the military forces rushing in. Then, for the sake of avenging his squad leader, he took off his uniform and entered the jungle.

Jason wasn’t particularly strong in combat, but his mind was sharp. Plus, Thomas had taught him plenty of jungle warfare tactics during their time together.

With that knowledge and his unyielding willpower, Jason managed to hold out in battles against the armed forces hiding here for twenty days.

By the twentieth day, though, Jason pushed himself to the brink while fleeing from the enemy, running until sheer exhaustion took over. While he successfully escaped pursuit, he fell into a deep coma—and that was when the current Jason had crossed over. Jason Marks had been grinding it out in the jungle, pushing himself to the limit. If he didn’t activate the dormant system within him soon, he wouldn’t stand a chance against the armed militants, let alone take them out.

Over the past month, he’d gathered a fair bit of intel on the Red Scorpion group. He even knew the location of one of their hideouts. But knowing wasn’t enough—he was still too weak to take them on.

Sure, he’d improved. Compared to a month ago, he was much stronger. But let’s be real: he started out as a total weakling. Now? He was, at best, a scrawny rooster pretending to crow.

“System! Are you alive or dead? If you’re dead, how much longer do I have to drag you around? Hurry up, or I’m done for!” Jason spat, using up the last ounce of his strength.

“Fifteen hundred!”

With that, he collapsed onto the ground, a heap of useless limbs and sweat. But just as his face smashed into the dirt, something strange happened.

Out of nowhere, the system's voice echoed in his mind: "Hacker System activated. The host is now able to acquire various hacking skills, advancing on the path to becoming the ultimate hacker king. The ultimate objective: establish the Hacker Empire."