REBORN HERO: THE ULTIMATE SYSTEM

CHAPTER 007: THE ULTIMATE SYSTEM

The world dissolved into hues of colours as Valor felt himself floating beyond a place where no sound could reach, nor could any thought, feeling or duality. It was a realm that seemed to mimic boundlessness. 

“Huff and puff,” something escaped his lips and it echoed within the silence of this illusory world. 

Somehow reality and all that is or was didn't matter to him anymore, he felt weightless. However, after a while, he could hear screams and noises. Even though both his eyes were closed, he could somehow see what was going on around him like he was a third person observer, watching the world through a fourth dimensional lens. 

He saw Ravian being pinned down by multiple mercenaries and he saw Lia holding on to the lifeless corpse of her sister as she was being dragged away. He could in fact feel all their pain. 

“Stop,” he tried to murmur but the words that came out were. “Huff and Puff.” And soon after, his eyes closed up. 

After what seemed like an eternity in blankness. A blue interface appeared in front of his screen. "You have been selected by the Ultimate System, Designation: Valor Harder. Do you want to live?” Two huge blue boxes appeared in front of his eyes displaying Yes or No?

Valor didn't understand what was going on, but his brain was clearer now and all the memories of all that happened until now had fallen into place. He remembered he’d been shot by a large beam of light. He glanced down trying to check his chest but all he saw was darkness.

“Response required within seven seconds. Non-compliance will trigger system failure, resulting in immediate termination." The system displayed another message again and after this a large countdown began. 

“Six.” The count down kept running 

Valor didn't understand what was going on and he was stuck trying to figure out what to even do. “What are you?” He wanted to say but the only sound that came out once again was; “Huff and Puff.”

“Two.” The system displayed again. This time Valor didn't think, he chose Yes immediately. 

"Congratulations. You will now commence integration with the Ultimate System. To minimize any inconvenience to your soul body, you will be placed in a deathless state until the integration process is complete." It displayed the message across as Valor felt an electric pulse within himself and everything went dark.

After an incalculable amount of time, Valor felt himself conscious again, however everything was still dark. The system displayed in front of him. “"Congratulations. The Ultimate System has successfully integrated with your soul body. I am XoXo. I am the language interface facilitating communication between you and the System. Initiating resurrection protocol." The system displayed.

“"Select a path," the system prompted. Three options appeared in bold, block letters: MAGI, CONFIGURER, ARTISAN. No further details were provided, yet Valor instinctively grasped their meanings.

In this world, there are people born with special abilities and they are divided into three paths according to what kind of abilities they can use. The Magi were mages, entities that integrated with nature and had the ability to shape reality using spells or something called the Ellipses. Valor didn't know much about magis because in his past life he was a Configurer. 

Configurers saw the world like a machine and could reprogram it by willing certain patterns and equations into reality to achieve desired effects. These equations took years to study as it was like the basic language of existence itself that they were editing and rephrasing. 

The last ones were the Artisans and they could harness powers that are already inside certain gems and artifacts. They were good at forging weapons. 

Valor, although he still didn't understand what was going on, decided to play along. He didn't want to be a Configurer anymore. If he was going to have a second shot at life he wanted to be something different. 

“Magi,” he said. 

“You have chosen the path of a Magi,” the system prompted. “Your statistical analysis is being compiled.” Three dots ran on the interface signifying that the system was generating something. 

Valor still thought this was his mind just playing tricks on him, although because of how real it felt, he began to think this was what everyone went through when they died. However he knew what was actually going on he just didn't want to accept it. He felt the warmness in his hand when he touched that device back then. 

“Analysis Complete;” The system then displayed a full analysis. 

NAME: ASHEN AZARIOUS

AGE: 14

GENDER: MALE

PATH: MAGI

TYPE: MAGE SUMMONER

BASIC AFFINITY: NECROMANCY

LEVEL: 1

MP: 100

BUFF: AWARENESS

Valor scanned through the message and wondered why his name was Ashen Azarious. He wanted to ask the system but a new information was displayed that answered his question.

[System Notification: Resurrection Protocol Initialized]

"You have been granted the privilege of resurrection through the authority of the Ultimate System. Your consciousness will now inhabit the vacant vessel of a soulless entity. It has been precisely ten years since the termination of your previous existence."

"Primary Objective: Attain the designation of ‘Ultimate Mage’ by fully integrating and optimizing the system’s capabilities. Failure to comply will result in eternal damnation."

“Do you accept these Parameters?” A confirmation prompt materialized before him, presenting two options: [YES] or [NO]

Valor didn't think about what would happen next, he clicked yes without any shred of regret. According to the system he was already dead, and a new chance at life isn't something he wanted to miss out on no matter the stakes. 

He felt the feeling of floating within him vanish and darkness overtook his world. Soon enough he began to feel some sort of aching on his side and also a little ticklish object seemed to be running along his arm, like a spider would. 

He flung open his eyes, breathing heavily. He was staring at a white ceiling. He glanced around to realize he was in an empty room. Several memories began to flood through his head and then he realized he was indeed in the body of a young boy. 

His name was Ashen and he was the third child of his family, however he was born with a terrible illness that seemed to have put him in a deathless state for a while now. He got up from the bed and began to struggle towards the door. Just as he was about to reach it, someone pushed open the door from outside and he stumbled on the floor. 

An elderly woman walked in, glancing at him, there was a pause and then the woman yelled. “He is Alive!!”