Adam didn't hesitate to return back to the realm of the living but before he could make his move, Osiris attracted his attention.
"W...wait!!, I almost forgot. Take this."
"What is this?" With the blue hued light seeping out of Osiris head and heading towards his, Adam inquired just for safety precautions.
"Oh, it's nothing. It's just a little present from your fairy godmother."
"My what?!."
"Stop asking questions and just get out of here!"
Hearing Osiris's words, Adam's astral form vanished without a trace and just a few seconds later Pride appeared in front of the treatment room and seeing that Osiris was the only one present in the cell, Pride became angered by the fact that he was too late.
"Ahh!!" Pride couldn't help but yell in indignation for all he could do now was hope the culprit steps into the spirit realm uninvited once more and then he will bring an end to his misery (literally).
Meanwhile Osiris shifted his gaze away from Pride and towards his lonely prison room.
'You are one lady I would surely not want to mess with. I truly commend you for predicting this turn of event long before it actually happened but isn't the timing a little earlier than expected?' Osiris looks up as he thought those words before muttering to himself.
"Oh well, I've done my part. I hope you are happy Athena."
It turned out Athena had expected Adam to reject the offer of being used as a vessel for Lust insatiable urge for coition. She had devised a plan with Osiris to present Adam with a gift which would aid in facilitating his future tasks.
She decided to do this based on the fact that she still couldn't trust Inanna and Jiutian and as a contingency plan, she could only hope things eventually fall into place.
Though with things happening earlier than expected, clearly it seems the goddess isn't omniscient towards Adam's future paths which also paves the way for future uncertainties. All would have to wait to see how the future eventually unfolds.
********
'Yikes. I really thought I was going to die back there. Note to self, never act tough in front of strangers again.'
Adam thought he had finally reached his culmination when he faced against Lust, but he knew he had to man up lest he accepts a parasite into his life that would eventually be the end of him. Still, all events that occurred could only be described as luck because Adam had no assurance that lust would be killed if hurled with a spear.
Also, it seemed luck had its way once more, as Adam didn't expect the spirit core to materialize on his palm just by thinking about it. If he had allow the spirit core to fuse with his body over the course of the next few days, then he alongside Lust would have been killed. It was a primary risk that came with its reward and consequences.
With all said and done, Adam could only heave a sigh before....
[[SCRUTINIZING HOST'S HEALTH STATUS.]]
[[MINIMUM DAMAGE SUFFERED BY HOST.]]
[[HOST ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]]
[[ HOST'S HEALTH STATUS:- NORMAL.]]
[[COMMENCEMENT OF SYSTEM'S SYNCHRONIZATION WITH HOST ]]
[[SYNCHRONIZATION COMPLETE]]
[[FIRST OUT OF FIVE STAGES UNLOCKED]]
[[DO YOU ACCEPT THE SYSTEM OR NOT]]
"Eh?! System?! Don't tell me the present I got is a....."
*Ding*
Aghast by the sudden realization that unfolded before him, Adam couldn't believe he now had the very thing he despised the most. 'A system.' But before he could affirm his still lingering suspicion, the system replied with a ding sound.
"So you mean the fairy godmother Osiris made mention of was actually..."
*DING* The system made a ding sound indicating that Athena was indeed the godmother Osiris had made mention of.
"No...No!!...Why!!...Why does the universe hate me!!" Adam yelled in indignation with his dissatisfaction made bare for all to see.
[[HOST SHOULD DECIDE NOW, DO YOU ACCEPT THE SYSTEM OR NOT]]
"Of course not. I'm not interested in partaking in this futile game of the gods,"
Though the system couldn't speak, all messages were relayed through a blue holographic screen to which only him could see and read.
[[REJECTION IS NOT AN OPTION. SHOULD THE HOST REFUSE THE OFFER ONE MORE TIME THEN THE HOST
WOULD HAVE HIS SIGHT REMOVED, HIS LUNGS DAMAGED AND HIS LEGS CRIPPLED FOR ETERNITY.]]
"What?! You just said I could decide, why the hell are you now...." Adam was about to express how angry he was by the whole situation but was made to shut up as he unwittingly fell to the ground when he saw the holographic screen in front of him once more.
[[COUNTDOWN BEGINS IN 10]]
[[ 9 ]]
[[ 8 ]]
"What?!" Seeing that the system wasn't kidding around and that his life was clearly on the line, cold sweats began to accumulate on his forehead and he was scared.
The words said to Lust about not being afraid to die was clearly all a bluff but this system doesn't seem to care if he was bluffing or not. If he doesn't make a choice now then he would really die.
Looking back at the timer, he saw the countdown had reach three, Adam had no choice but to....
"Okay...okay I accept."
[[ACCESS TO SYSTEM'S FIRST OUT OF FIVE STAGES GRANTED]]
[[THE COMBAT SYSTEM IS NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL]]
[[THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.]]
"Cooperation?!... You just forced me into accepting your offer and now you are thanking me for cooperating?. That's not cool man,"
[[HOST SHOULD PLEASE FOCUS ON THE IMPENDING DANGER AHEAD]]
But the system didn't reply to him and the only way it could diverge Adam's attention was by reminding him of the still motionless tigers in front of him.
Sensing the motionless tigers won't remain in their stagnant deportment anytime soon, the system warned him to which Adam shifted his gaze towards the paralyzed streaks.
[[DUE TO HOST'S AFFINITY TOWARDS GLASS, THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP VARIOUS ELEMENTAL ABILITIES WHICH WOULD AID IN THE GROWTH OF THE HOST. WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE.]]
"....." Adam remained silent as he was still ired by the fact he had been granted a system. After pondering for a while he finally spoke.
"No!"
[[HOST SHOULD PLEASE.... OH FUCK IT!!...YO DICK HEAD YOU BETTER ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT A SYSTEM. YOU'VE BEEN GRANTED A ONCE IN A LIFE TIME OPPORTUNITY TO FINALLY MAKE THINGS RIGHT FOR YOURSELF. SO MAN UP AND ACCEPT IT.]]
"What?!...I thought systems were supposed to be nice."
[[SORRY TO BREAK IT TO YOU BOY BUT I'M NOT NICE. I TRIED TO EMULATE THE SYSTEMS YOU WERE FAMILIAR WITH IN YOUR HEAD BUT EXPRESSING MYSELF LIKE A ROBOT SUCKS ]].
"Huh?!..." Aghast by the system's displayed words, Adam could only exclaim.
[[OH? WAIT!! WERE YOU EXPECTING SOMETHING LIKE, HI! I'M THE SYSTEM WHO'VE BEEN ASSIGNED TO YOU BY THE GODDESS ATHENA TO GUIDE YOU ON YOUR PATH TOWARDS BEING A HERO FOR MILLIONS OF SENTIENT LIVES ACROSS THE FIVE REALMS. WELL SORRY BUTTERCUP CAUSE I'VE BEEN AUTHORISED TO END YOU IF YOU BECOME TOO OBSTINATE TO HANDLE.]]
"..." Adam gulps down his saliva.
[[YEAH YOU HEARD ME. AND NOW BASED ON THE FACT THAT I AM FULLY OPERATIONAL WITHIN YOU, YOU'VE GOT NO CHOICE BUT TO ACCEPT IT AND AS AN INITIALIZATION REWARD, YOU'VE BEEN GRANTED AN ELEMENTAL WEAPON AND TWO ELEMENTAL ABILITIES WITH A COMPLEMENTARY BONUS OF 1000 MP]]
[[HERE THEY ARE]]
[[ELEMENTAL WEAPON:- DURANDAL]]
[[ELEMENTAL ATTACK:- RAIN OF DESTRUCTION, DREADED SERPENT]]
Though Adam was ired by the system's insolent remark, still he couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"Hahaha hahaha!!"