THE SYSTEM

Book 01

Eternal Slumber.

Chapter 01 – Bonds.

What makes a person slip into slumber?

Hard work during the day? Fights during the night? Exercise that strains your body? Or the emotions that strain your mind?

No matter the reason, sleep is a required reset button for us to regain the lost energy when we were awake. Lack of sleep affects every aspect of your life. Sure, some organs never sleep. I and Kile always suspected that if we found a way for them to rest up between sessions, we might get one step closer to–Immortality. With our technology, we have learned to live life faster. Now maybe by using the same technology, we can find a way to get some sleep.

No one knows or can describe how well they rested. Some give a grand description and we connect to them somehow. This is primarily because we live in a fast-paced world, where we all have been as tired as the dead, wanting to sleep for eternity.

If you are tired enough, a rock feels like a pillow until you wake up, obviously. But what about those times when you're forced to wake up by those wretched dreams?

Discovered or noted down during the 2500BC. Dreams are magical, to say the least. From being able to control them to wishing to wake up soon, hoping that you are stuck in a dream. Dreams are the one true magic we still own as earthlings.

Now throwing an overthinker into the mix. Knowing so little about the concept of dreams, one thing we do know for sure is that we can't dream what happens after death. Believers say God has that realm closed off from us mortals, while atheists say we can't experience something we never experienced.

I would like to place my fantasy dreams as a disproving point, for the latter part. I never had a near-death experience, but a killer tried to kill me in my dream. Make-believe dreams or continuing a dream is a weird phenomenon where you can kiss your crush, even though you have never kissed your whole life. This is your creative brain, meeting your dream powers. Lucid Dream is the tier-one stage of control over the dream world.

═─┈─{═3═}─┈─═

This is all fun and games until Kile brings out the obvious–according to him. What if we are creative enough to create a dream of death? Could you differentiate life from death? Will dreams become life where the dead dream to live? Or are you already dead, living a dream?

Step into bed with these ideals and you might never wake up again. Yet for all of these to happen, you need an extraordinary day when your body is tired enough to die and your mind is exhausted enough to run one last program. The program of a dream, set to reincarnation. Both myself and Kile had this at the end of our bucket list. We are not dumb enough to play out this experiment before we complete the less dangerous ones first.

And this bed is just perfect for our ultimate experiment. I've slept on many beds during our selection for our dream experiment. We had the time and happened to be in a matters store. Kile even tried out some hospital beds when his mom was admitted. His mom never visited a doctor after listening to Kile's explanation of why he wanted to sleep right beside her. Please don't misunderstand him. After listening to his explanation, you would've joined him. I did, so I know.

Back to this bed. My way to gain a point over Kile. I wish I could describe the way I slumber right now. But my overthinking brain can't even fathom or create new words to share this experience.

Behold, a bed crafted from the ethereal wisps of clouds, where dreams are cradled upon billows of celestial softness, a sanctuary for dreams to intertwine with reality. As you sink into its embrace, the clouds yield beneath your weight, molding to the contours of your body with gentle precision. Softness envelops you, as if a thousand feathery whispers caress your skin, creating a sensation akin to drifting upon a serene sea of air. Each touch upon its celestial surface evokes a sensation of weightlessness as if you are being cradled by the warmth of your mother. A delicate mist gliding across your skin, soothing and enveloping you in a blissful cocoon. It is a fantasy realized, a realm of tranquillity where slumber and enchantment intertwine, whisking you away to realms beyond the heavens' confines. A bed beyond the reach of dreams, fantasy, deities, and overthinkers.

Every dream that's too good to be true has to end.

[Initiation is about to begin.]

[Ding! No Natural found. No Natural talent whatsoever.]

"Man… This again! Go away… I am dreaming. Overthinking. Why does everyone interrupt my trains?" Tetsu pushes the dream within the dream away.

[No Affiliated Affinities found. No previous bonds. Severe lack of stats. Inferior being found…]

"Go away." He again forces the dream shut. "Where was I?"

[Warning! Forceful initiation of the system…]

"For Fu–"

[Initiation complete. Welcome to your Eternal Slumber: Tetsü K Tenco.]

Tetsu tried to lift his hands away from the cloudy embrace, but his entire body clung tighter to the cloudy bed. He wanted to punch himself and peel his skin off. Hopefully, at least then he can at least scream himself awake, but this bed was too good. Five minutes wouldn't hurt, would it? Tetsu bites his tongue, yet suffers no pain.

"How many five minutes have passed?" He had no clue. The ethereal bed too… "Darn it! Focus." Tetsu tries to control his flow of thoughts. "What would Kile do?"

Kile's image floats into Tetsu's vision. "Focus on opening your eyes," Kile suggests.

Tetsu focuses on his eyes. They seemed open, yet all he saw was darkness. "Focus." He scolded himself. "This bed might be a loop between reality and a dream." Tetsu dreamt about opening his eyes in a dream. Each dream leads to another dream. In every dream, he only dreamt about opening his eyes. He woke up a million times, not knowing if he was in a dream or reality. He focused on opening his eyes. Yet every time, all he saw was a void filled with emptiness. He didn't realize how long he was stuck here. He didn't even want to wake up. Yet he had to be determined to wake up from his slumber. He opened his eyes again, and again until a voice stopped him.

═─┈─{═2═}─┈─═

[The body and soul are too fragile to enter the newly initiated Earth. Do you want to integrate forcefully?]

[Y/N]

"Yes?" Tetsu gave a mental acknowledgment.

[Forceful integration is being processed…]

[Integrating with a fragile body can break one's soul–]

"No…!" Tetsu tries to send another mental command, forcing the system to stop.

[Integration halted.]

"Geez dude! Shouldn't you warn me before giving me a tempting option? And if I can't go back, why even give me an option? I should talk to whatever this is…"

Tetsu tries to command the system. "I want to talk to the manager." He gets no response. "Maybe this thing doesn't have a manager?"

[Commencing transfer to tutorial grounds…]

Tetsu could move his mouth, but he couldn't hear a word that came out. Used to talking to himself, he gave mental commands to the system. "That's not it. What's the catch?" He asked the system, and it revealed the clause.

[…We're body and soul are sent to grow strong enough to enter the newly integrated universe.]

"Like level up?" Tetsu questioned. He didn't get a response this time. "Picky ha! Too bad. It would've been nice to have someone else to talk to instead of just me and my other personalities."

Stars lit up the space around Tetsu. He found himself floating in outer space, with millions of stars floating around him. These weren't your normal stars. Each glowed with a different hue, complementing their neighboring stars and filling the space with a million different colors.

With little concentration, Tetsu zoomed closer and farther away from a chosen spot. He felt weightless. The ethereal bed still clung around him as he flew around just by the mere thought of moving. A misstep, and he knew he would fall back asleep. So, he concentrated on two different colors, moving back and forth between them, while taking in the mind-boggling scenery.

"I can get used to this," He acknowledges and immediately slapped himself mentally. "Glad that didn't hurt, but I am not going into another loop after getting out of one." He assured himself.

Focusing on moving closer to any star, he followed his instincts, heading toward the deep indigo section. The closer he went, the smaller the stars got. Soon his surroundings were filled with smaller crystal orbs, with different shades of deep indigo. After a while, he concluded he wasn't in outer space, but in a ridiculously vast room filled with billions of crystal figures.

The room is divided into thousands of colors, clustered in different places. Each color on closer inspection where crystals of different shapes and sizes. He stopped near a spiral-shaped crystal, which had many intricate details etched around its mysterious material. By looks, it didn't seem like any material to be found on Earth. On the other hand, carving an etched dragon crawled up into a ball is a simple task. Tetsu still used his mind to move or do anything. So, he imagines touching the figure as his hand moves and grabs the orb. It grew brighter, unwinding away from the ball and onto his arm.

Tetsu's primal instincts take hold, and he involuntarily lets out a scream. But as his senses remind him of his limited perception, he realizes he lacks any sensations except for sight. Doubt momentarily creeps into his mind, questioning the authenticity of what he is witnessing. Yet, he dismisses the disheartening notion and redirects his focus to the breathtaking live-action CGI spectacle enfolding his arm.

The dragon swirled around him like a snake measuring its food. With each fluid swirl, its size magnifies, defying every science lesson he loved. Unable to comprehend the transformation, his vision shifts to the creature's final form.

═─┈─{═1═}─┈─═

Iridescent scales shimmered, their hues unfathomable to mortal eyes, reflecting the cosmic wonders that enveloped the colossal beast. It stretched across the vast cosmic tapestry, its immense form intertwining with planets as if the very fabric of the universe bowed in deference to its magnificence. Beneath the creature, the encircled planets appeared insignificant, mere playthings that could be crushed with a mere shift of its whiskers. "Dragon," Tetsu whispered in awe before reaching out, hoping to touch it. After all, this massive image somehow fitted into his vision.

Once he realized he still only had his vision, he wondered about the myth of losing one sense while the rest heightened. By losing all his senses, did his sight reach some god-level state? That's still a pretty shitty deal, he agreed to himself, struck off an experiment from his bucket list, and moved on to the dragon's next feature. "I need to let Kile know before he goes through with that experiment." He noted to himself. "It's a top priority message. Better not forget." He reminded his brain.

Gaping back at the dragon, he spotted intricate designs flowing across the dragon's body, unfolding into a breathtaking display of wings. With each unveiling, a new set of wings emerges, stretching and curling in mesmerizing patterns. Any ill-fated planet caught in the path of its winged gust is reduced to cosmic dust. The dragon's entire being seems composed of interwoven wings, a unique species unlike any other.

Tetsu's mind races with the realization that this spectacle surpasses the creative bounds of any dragon ever conceived. Perhaps the sheer magnitude of witnessing it through his own eyes, unaided by any technological marvel, intensifies the awe-inspiring experience. If such sights were to encompass his eternal slumber, he would find solace in the thought of slumbering for eternity.

This time around, the system kicked him awake with another notification. Not into the real world, but onto the next step.

[Selected bond: Nyx'tay of the Drakorians race.]

"Bond?" Tetsu opens up a new tab with this question.

[Bonds are contracts between two entities. They help merge two objects as one or a completely new entity. One way to power is to choose a strong bond with an existing super-entity. Every bond is unique. Two individuals set rules for mutual benefit. Beware! Set your rules with utmost caution and accept others' terms with even more so. Breaking a bond will lead to dire consequences that can never be reversed from your records. A bond is a path you choose in this new reality. The right one can lead you to immortality, while the wrong choice can spell out your doom.]

"Sweet. Made no sense, but looking at this darn screen being the only constant in every scenario of my eternal slumber is reassuring weirdly. Also, shouldn't you warn me about a bond before the flashy temptations?" Tetsu dismays the system screen, heading back to his previous window.

[Drakorian 'or' Dragon as per humans are one of the strongest entities in the multiverse. This bond helps you to bond with the Nyx'tay of the Drakorians race, granting all of its glory, powers, wisdom, and guidance that will help carve your path in this new reality. Follow the Nyx'tay will until your dying breath, for all that stands before it might falter by its mere name... … … …]

The description went on and on about how a mere human can transcend to a dragon. Grow wings and fangs, breathe fire, and more dragon stuff down the line. Mere human part hurt, but, hey! We are talking about becoming a dragon here and bonds were like a shortcut or cheat key given before one had to face their new reality. Whatever that was.

Between all these jaw-dropping scenes, information, and being able to live a fantasy, Tetsu's overthinking mind couldn't focus past the 'follow the Nyx'tay will until your dying breath!' "Slave." The best word to describe the entire ordeal.

Dismissing the screen turned out to be a risky move. The magnificent creature's presence forced him to give in and worship the dragon. Who wouldn't want to be a dragon? Yet the concept of being a slave for the rest of his life.

He was also sure if he wasn't an overthinker and hadn't been activating his system every tenth of a second with the million doubts streaming through his mind, the warning window about the bond and its meaning would've never shown. And he would've selected the dragon slave option without a second opinion. A second opinion, as in his multiple personalities that constantly contradict his every move in his head.

And guess what! All of Tetsu's other personalities screamed and were on the same page for the very first time. "Slave? I'd rather die. Thanks." And even Tetsu agreed with them. During his many debates with Kile, he proved Tetsu was already a slave to the government, with an imaginary leash that made him feel otherwise. Tetsu made a pact with his other personalities that he would break out of this social chain. How would he do this? He sort of had a plan of being cooked up with the help of Kile.

This eternal slumber is a way to complete said dream. Another tick at the bottom of his bucket list. You might argue that it's all make-believe, but you can't prove it, as it all felt surreal. Thus, Tetsu gaped at the dragon for a few more hours or days. He had no concept of time and finally said his goodbyes, moving on to the next "Bond".

Millions of bonds to sort from and an eternity to do it—perfect!

═─┈─{═E═}─┈─═