2023-05-02 20:31:34***
System activated!
Would you like to play the tutorial?
***
I just finished drying my hair when the notification came. It makes me gasp in excitement because now I can really know what exactly it is.
I hang my blue Pingwy towel around my neck and sit on the bed to prepare for the experience.
“Yes.” I said. The interface then expands. It shows me the galaxy and something that looks like a comet. It’s big, blue, shiny, and it’s flying across the galaxy like a shooting star. Then a voice speaks, boyish like but there’s a feminine tone in it, telling me a story.
[Once, there is an entity that roams the world… It’s an unknown creature that goes from one world to another, searching for a host. When one has been chosen, it helps the host understand the world and everything inside it. The ‘System’ as your previous world call it, would help those in need of its power to reach greatness. And now… It’s helping… You.]
I raise my eyebrows. ‘Kind of dramatic but still okay.’
The screen shows me different kinds of world in which the comet passed by. There are many kinds of creature in those worlds. Some of which are ‘chosen’ by the comet or the ‘System’ and could do the things it normally couldn’t. Like using magic when it couldn’t before.
For someone who plays video games a lot, this is not that bizarre to see. To me, it’s just like watching Star Wars and Marvel movies, or well, the intro of a game.
Only the fact is… This IS a game. And I’m in it.
I admit, it’s certainly quite nostalgic to watch this. This is something that only happens to superheroes in movies, but it’s a bit weird to know that I’m going to be one of them as soon as I abuse this system thing. If it helps me to get home that is.
“The System, huh? Well, I don’t really care about being great, I just want to go home…”
Then I see the comet leaving the body of the hosts and continuing its journey to another world, finding the next host.
[It has helped many kinds of people, both good and bad. Because the world needs its balance. Which are you?]
Then the screen turns black. I wait a few more seconds just to make sure, but nothing comes on. I frown. “That’s it? That’s not a tutorial.” I said.
Then the screen returns to its original transparent blue and a bunch of things appear on it. First, there’s a picture of my face. Sorry, this body’s. The blonde hair, the golden eyes, and face features are the same as the one I look into the mirror every day. Then there’s a detail list on the right side and downward.
***
Name : Terrence Blair , Host : *****
Age : 18
Level : 5
Affiliation : Orion Terrace
Hometown : Chertan Town
STARs rank : -
Job : Terrace Student
Status :
- STR: 32 - MAG: 40
- LUC: 100 - VIT: 55
- WIS: 77 - AGI: 45
- DEX: 50
Active skills: There is no active skills.
Passive skills: Gameplot knowledge
Weapon: Gun
Items: 5 Potions
***
I narrow my eyes as I read my stats. “What the frick—what’s with all these stats? They’re so low! Even Lynette’s basic strength is 58 or so. How can MY Strength be lower than average students?!”
[Would you like to know the description of the stats?] The boyish voice asked—which I assume is the system’s consciousness.
There’s something much more important to ask than that.
“No. But you must tell me why I have these stats as my basic number. Why are they so low? And what’s with that ridiculous Luck?!”
[These stats are the basic stats of Terrence Blair. They are low because Terrence Blair is not very athletic when he was alive. His Luck is conjoined with the your Luck, thus, it is high.] The system explained.
Oh right. I’m not in my own body. I’m no longer myself in this world. I’m Terrence Blair. That is the persona I’m currently stuck with, the one I have to live right now. But there should be a reason I’m here and this system thing is the only one that can help me answer it.
It answered my questions just now, so it should really have conscience, right? It’s obviously conscious, so I should try asking it something else.
“Hey, system, how can I get home?”
It’s not related to the system at all, but it’s a personal one that I need to know.
[You can take the carriage heading to—]
Realizing it was trying to tell me how to get to Terrence’s home, I cut it. “No. That’s Terrence’s home. I am not Terrence. I have different home. Tell me how to get home.”
Two seconds passed before it replies. [You are home.]
I frown. “I am not home. I belong on Earth. This is not Earth. So I’m not home yet. Tell me ‘how to get home’. To Earth.”
The annoyance in my voice should be clear by now. I don’t know why it’s so hard for it to understand what I said.
A few more seconds passed in silence before it replies. [Earth is 1,111 light years away. It will take you 9,999 years to get there with your current abilities. If you are able to build a space machine that has acceleration force of 5,5 x 10”5 and negate the galaxy pull, provide enough fuel to cross 333.069.421 kilometers, and provide enough food to last 10,200 years, you will be able to reach there in 10,200 years.]
Four corners pop up on my forehead as I reach the edge of my patience. “10,000 years?”
[10,200 years.]
“No one can live that long!” I snapped.
[Then you can travel to the nearest planet first which is 200 years away—]
I grab my Pingwy towel and slap it on the bed. “Listen here, you little twerp. I got taken here against my will. I. Want. To. Get. Home. If you don’t help me get home, I refuse to be your host.”
A few seconds passed in silence again before it replies. [You cannot refuse me.]
“And why not?” I glare at the profile screen.
[I already chose you.]
“So? What if I don’t want you?”
[I cannot leave until you finish your role.]
“I’m not a part of this game! What kind of role do I possibly have?!” I yell at it.
[You are now. Unravel yourself and do what you think is right.]
“What?” This system is getting insane by the second.
[Would you like to know the description of the stats?]
I grab my towel tightly with both hands. My anger peaks up before I shuffle it into my mouth and scream. Thankfully, my Pingwy towel is rather thick, so my scream is muffled. Then I take it out and sigh.
I know this will not get anywhere. So I’ll leave it as a mystery for now. I’m 100 percent sure it’s hiding something. I just don’t know what that is. But I’ll find out one day, I’ll make sure of it.
“No, thank you.”
[You can tap on the screen if you want to read descriptions of the stats or anything else in the menu. Do not worry, only you can see the menu.]
“What if I can’t tap on it, say, my hands are stuck to my sides because of embarrassment from touching nothing in mid-air?”
[You may ask me to explain it to you.]
"Would anyone else nearby hear your voice?"
[No.]
"Great. So everyone will think I'm a freak."
[If you'd like, we can communicate through your mind. We are connected.]
I feel so dumb. Of course. It's inside me, surely it can hear my thoughts. I should try it now.
'Hello? Can you hear me?'
[Yes, you are heard.]
Even though all of this don't make sense, this is what I have to accept. It's hard to believe, but I'll waste more time trying to make it say the truth. Moreover, I should look at my current condition.
I'm weak. All I can do is hit and run. For now, I have to make peace with myself and this system thing. Maybe I can get home when the game ends and the credit rolls. But to reach it, I need to be there and make sure it really does happen. And I can't do that by doing nothing.
Thus, I have decided.
"Can you help me get stronger?" I asked the system.
[Yes.]
"How?"
[There are some things you can do to raise your physical stats such as...]
I sit on the bed crosslegged and listen to its lecture. I guess I won't be sleeping tonight.
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