PATH OF THE SYSTEM AWAKENED

Chapter 2: Immortality Test

Riley stood in his room, surrounded by training equipment. Sweat dripped down his face as he struggled to focus. The challenge of awakening felt heavier than ever.

Suddenly, he noticed his dragon bracelet glowing. **What now?** he thought, irritated. He tapped the bracelet, and a voice filled the air.

"Welcome to the Immortality System."

Riley froze, his heart racing. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"I prevented you from awakening for 18 years," the voice continued calmly. "It was a test."

His anger boiled over. "A test? You’ve got to be kidding me!" Riley shouted. "You let my mother die because you wanted to test me?"

"Your growth was necessary," the system replied, sounding unbothered.

Riley clenched his fists, his mind racing. "You think this is some kind of game? I could have saved her! I could have saved her if you had just let me awaken!"

The voice remained silent, and that only made Riley angrier.

He looked down at the bracelet, its glow now mocking him. Without thinking, he lifted his spiked gauntlet. "You won't control me anymore!"

With a fierce swing, he smashed the bracelet against the wall. It shattered with a loud crack, pieces flying everywhere.

Riley stood panting, his chest heaving. **I won’t be a pawn anymore.**

Riley stood tared at the broken pieces of his gauntlets scattered on the floor. **What just happened?**

To his shock, the air around him shimmered. The floor began to glow, and he watched as the cracks healed themselves. The pieces of his gauntlets floated up and reassembled perfectly.

“No way…” he whispered, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

The floor returned to its original state, smooth and flawless. He reached down and touched the beast core that had once been damaged. It felt solid and warm in his hand.

“What is this?” he murmured, still in awe. He had broken the gauntlets in anger, but now everything looked brand new.

Riley took a step back, a mixture of fear and excitement flooding his chest. **Something extraordinary is happening.** He felt a strange energy in the room, like the air was alive.

He remembered the voice of the Immortality System. Was this its doing? Was it trying to show him something?

“Am I… awakening?” he asked himself, looking around.

His heart raced with the realization that his path might hold powers beyond his understanding. If he could harness this energy, he could finally fulfill his mother’s last wish.

Being shocked was an understatement.

Riley had always known that Telekinetics could control objects, but they couldn’t mend a broken gauntlet back together. Time Awakeners could alter time, but they couldn’t restore a destroyed beast core.

It wasn't that there weren’t stronger beings in the Federation. Sovereigns could slay millions without breaking a sweat. But this shattered Riley’s worldview like jumping off a building and suddenly flying instead of falling.

Sitting on the floor, Riley struggled to process what just happened. He hadn’t forgiven or forgotten, but if he couldn’t break the system, maybe listening would help.

“Truth be told,” the System spoke, “even if you awakened without my interference, you would have awakened at 16 in the Body Path. Despite your hard work, due to a lack of resources and guidance, you'd have stayed at stage 1 when your mother was attacked. You wouldn't have been able to save her.”

Riley shot back, “Nonsense! Even at stage 1, I could at least stall for time until she escaped or someone rescued us. Your powers might be strange, but I’m not buying your excuses.”

“In fact, it wouldn’t matter even if you were stage 2. She would still die. You would still live,” the System replied calmly.

Frustrated, Riley grabbed the bracelet but restrained his anger. “What do you mean? Why would she still die? Why do I get to live? Why?!”

“Find it yourself,” the System answered, its tone dismissive.

Riley wanted to argue, but he knew it would lead nowhere. He didn't know the truth behind her death, who Trish was, or why his mother asked him to save her. But he knew where to start.

“Hey, System,” he began, determination rising in his voice. “I’m 18 now. Can I awaken if I enter the Crypt and fight magic beasts?”

“A pleasant surprise awaits you,” the System answered.

“Save Trish,” he recalled her last words and made a decision he had avoided for a year. He would awaken.

He picked up the bracelet and put it on his left wrist. It merged into his body, a tingling sensation spreading through him.

With renewed resolve, he opened his comm. A holographic 3D display appeared, showing the contact for the Adventure Team that Bigg, the hall master, had recommended. He reached out, confirming the time and venue.

“Tomorrow… I’ll awaken.”

---

The next day, Riley dashed through the Crypt, adrenaline pumping. They were far from safety, and the journey ahead felt daunting.

"I-I warned you we were going too deep," Jones gasped, struggling to keep up. Maya, with her star treasure boots, managed better.

"Crow's mouth," Maya muttered between breaths, annoyance clear in her voice.

Riley glanced back to see Arthur’s team battling Bysteds. Although they were not in immediate danger, an unsettling feeling lingered.

'I hope we make it to the exit in time,' Riley thought, trying to calm his nerves when Jones spoke again.

"Jones, just run and save your breath," Riley urged, quickening his pace.

They put distance between themselves and the battle until Arthur’s team was barely visible.

"Why Bysteds?" Maya complained, frustration evident.

"W-What if one of them escapes?" Jones fretted, glancing anxiously back at the battlefield.

"We can’t help them, and we’re not safe here. Let's keep moving until we're out," Riley insisted, preparing to continue their escape.

"Do you really think they'll catch up?" Jones asked, his breaths becoming shorter.

"Behind!" Riley shouted, spotting movement behind them.

'Boom!' Jones teleported just in time, but Maya froze in shock as a Byssted appeared out of nowhere.

While Maya stood paralyzed with fear, Riley observed the Byssted. Despite its injuries, it still posed a significant threat.

"He's from a new group," Riley noted, recognizing their opponent.

"We can’t outrun him. We have to fight," he declared, bracing himself.

The Byssted taunted them, increasing their apprehension. Bysteds were intelligent and formidable adversaries, posing a grave threat to humanity.

"Leave it to me," Maya said, summoning her treasure weapon—a powerful gun that she struggled to aim.

The Byssted dodged Maya's attacks easily, laughing at their failed attempts.

Riley tried to kick but missed, rolling to avoid the Byssted's counterattack.

'Boom!' The ground shook as the Byssted retaliated with a powerful kick.

"Distract him!" Riley yelled as Jones charged in with his ice sword, managing to wound the Byssted temporarily.

Maya launched a fireball that scorched the Byssted's uniform, causing it to recoil in pain.

"Die!" Jones shouted, thrusting his sword, but the Byssted swiftly countered, freezing him momentarily with ice.

Despite their efforts, the Byssted remained a formidable opponent, its strength and resilience unmatched.

Seizing an opportunity, Riley delivered a decisive blow that incapacitated the Byssted.

"We're lucky he was injured," Riley sighed in relief, turning to check on his friends.

However, Jones was nowhere to be seen, having teleported away in a moment of panic.

"I'm here!" Jones's voice echoed from a nearby burrow, prompting Riley and Maya to rescue him.

"Be more careful," Riley scolded, handing Jones his sword.

"Why can't I teleport like everyone else?" Jones lamented, accepting his sword.

As they resumed their escape, Riley reflected on the strict regulations imposed by the Trading Union, limiting access to star treasures.

"Let's go. There may be more Bysteds," Riley urged, leading the way toward the exit.

Despite the distance remaining, they pressed on, determined to reach safety.

"Humans!" A shrill voice pierced the air, signaling the presence of another Byssted.

"We're almost there," Riley assured, spotting the exit in the distance.

With renewed determination, they raced toward the barrier, hoping to evade their pursuer.

As the Byssted closed in, Riley made a decision that could cost him his life.

"Go!" Riley urged, sacrificing himself to buy his friends time to escape.

With a heavy heart, Riley prepared for the fight that would determine his fate.