"Welcome to the Interdimensional System's System Space." A male robotic voice resounded in Ethan's head. He didn't have the mental capacity to understand the voice because he was currently in excruciating and stinging pain that originated in his head.
'OUUUUCH! AAAAAAAAAGGHHH!' The pain was slowly subsiding, the keyword being slowly.
It wasn't known how long it took, but the pain slowly turned into a ringing pain losing its excruciating nature. Ethan exhaled with relief but the extent of the pain he just experienced was obvious from his fast breathing.
He opened his eyes to see a holographic screen that had the words "Welcome to the Interdimensional System. Press any key to continue."
'Press any key? What is this? Could it be a computer?' Ethan looked around and realized he was sitting on a comfortable leather chair with the biggest cushions he had ever seen. The holographic screen in front of him was quite big, and there was a... keyboard?
Yes! There was a keyboard and mouse, it was kind of like the dream gamer's setup.
Almost instinctively, he pressed the Enter key and the screen changed to show the words "Interdimensional System: [Status] [Library] [System Shop]." At the same time, the robotic male voice continued:
"Interdimensional System has initialized. Now entering Tutorial Mode."
"Tutorial Mission 1: Click [Status] to see your status"
Ethan used the mouse to click [Status] without pause. He saw a list of information just like the status screens he saw in games.
[Ethan]
System Authority: 0
Attribute Points: 0
Arcane Magic: None
Dimensional Magic: Initial Apprentice
Anchor Points: 1
Anchor Origin Nature: Point
Attributes:
- Mana: 0/2
- Dimensional Energy: 0/10
- Strength: 10
Talent:
- Arcane Talent: 5
- Dimensional Talent: ???
Spells:
- Arcane:
- None
- Dimensional:
- [Apprentice] Node
Skills: None
'Wow! It even shows my trash talent for arcane magic.' Ethan was once again reminded of his trash arcane magic talent. 'There is a question mark in front of the Dimensional Talent which does make me hopeful though.'
'In any case, this looks like one of those golden fingers given to people who transmigrate. I only received it after exploring my extra dimension for 1000 meters, so it might be that it's unrelated to the fact that I transmigrated.' Even after having confirmed he had trash talent, Ethan was very excited on the inside because this was a System! He tried his best to keep his cool while analyzing his current situation.
'I saw a System Shop as well as a Library. This might very well be just what I need to survive in this world.' Ethan was already thinking of the possibilities when the System's monotonous voice once again resounded in his head.
"Tutorial Mission 1 Complete. System Authority +1."
"Authority Upgrade: Host has unlocked System Points and gained 1 SP. Host has also unlocked Dimensional Energy Storage."
"Tutorial Mission 2: Think 'System' to turn on Heads Up Display while outside of the System Space."
'Interesting... I have to leave the System Space to complete this; I guess I'll learn about the other two buttons later on.' Ethan had to leave the System Space now, but he didn't know how to...
He first looked around the screen trying to find an [Exit] button. Nothing of the sort was there. Then, he tried looking around his physical surroundings, it was completely white. 'It could be said that this System is quite whitewashed.' Ethan was disgusted with his joke but he would never give up the bad puns, not even in the System Space.
After looking around for a couple minutes, he couldn't find a button on-screen or around his comfortable chair, so there was only one thing left to try.
"Ummm, System please put me outside of the System Space?" Ethan hesitantly asked out loud, looking up for some reason.
"Ejecting Host from System Space..."
Ethan felt a loss of gravity and then everything around him warped away, as if he was starting the warp engine in a spaceship. Just as everything had warped away, the wooden shack he was used to warped towards him and gravity came back. Ethan, who was still in a sitting position, suddenly found that the comfortable leather chair had disappeared, leaving air in its place. He naturally fell down on his butt.
'Ouch! This System! Why wouldn't it at the least warn me or something?' Ethan was kind of mad at the system for his predicament. Just as he was getting up, a blue screen opened up in front of him. This time, however, it didn't have any keyboard or mouse, and the status had opened up in its own window.
The HUD had opened because the System had recognized itself being referenced in Ethan's thoughts, be it good or bad.
"Tutorial Mission 2 Complete. System Authority +1."
"Authority Upgrade: Dimensional Energy-Attribute Point conversion unlocked at the rate of 10:1. Dimensional Energy Storage has leveled up."
"Tutorial Mode is now disabled, Host is on his own, please show efforts to reach the peak of Dimensional Magic."
"New Mission: Reach 1-Dimensional Sorcerer in two weeks. Mission Reward: Authority +1. Mission Fail Penalty: System detaches from Host."
'W-What! Two weeks! That is crazy!' Ethan knew some common knowledge about dimensional magic. Increasing in dimension was one of the hardest parts of dimensional magic. Rapidly jumping through the minor ranks were still possible if you were to disregard your foundations, but jumping dimensions were simply impossible.
Ethan calmed himself down and regained his composure. He was a student who had received countless impossible deadlines and managed to deliver them on time. His self-confidence would not be destroyed by a seemingly impossible deadline. 'I see. Then I shall use everything I have to my advantage, including this cheap system!'
It was now time to explore this System's features and make some calculations and research about how Ethan would go about his journey to the peak of this world. Would he fail this first task given by the System? He didn't dare entertain that thought as he started to explore the System.