The field was a bustling hub of activity, with a diverse array of individuals and technologies on display. Hundreds of round drones buzzed overhead, their sleek forms darting and weaving through the air. Meanwhile, a contingent of personnel in black uniforms stood guard by the stadium, their presence a reminder of the importance of security.
On the left side of the field, a massive platform with three giant screens dominated the landscape. The screens displayed the images of the few dozen individuals who were present on stage, their faces illuminated in vivid detail. Among them, an elderly person stood out, his bald head and white beard a stark contrast to the vibrant colors around him. His head, gleaming with oil, reflected the sunlight so intensely that sometimes, when he moved, the screens turned white. Despite his distance from me, his voice resonated clearly from the drones flying above, carrying his words to every corner of the field.
"You have all come to Phoenix to become the human race's future. Every single one of you has been selected as the best of the best seed for a brighter future. Your objective is to be glorified and brighten our names. You guys are the protectors, the saviours..."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the hero's speech. Glorified protectors and saviours? More like glorified workhorses. I looked around the crowd and saw how proud everyone was of their accomplishments. They must be thrilled to have been accepted into the top hero academy. But not me. I'm not into this glory and shit. Whenever someone says anything like this, it means they're going to work you to death.
One of my class teachers had a habit of giving speeches about morals and other such things before holidays. He'd start by praising the students, telling them how to be proper men and women, proper humans. By the time he finished his excellent speech, everyone's heart was warm, and they were filled with energy.
But then, just as we were about to bask in the afterglow of his words, he'd drop a load of homework on us for the holidays. The students didn't even get the chance to throw a tantrum after listening to his speech. We called it the "hero speech." It was a masterclass in taking advantage of our emotions. Looking back on it now, we should have sued him for child labor .
I returned to the bus, feeling the eyes of some of the people in black uniforms on me, curious about my reason for leaving the speech early.
"What? Never seen someone leave a boring speech before?" I shrugged off their looks.
I returned to my seat, adjusted it to a sleeping position, and pulled out my blanket from my bag. The air conditioner turned on automatically. Ah, what a delicacy. I really love this world filled with AI technology. They make everything so easy. So I said to my own AI,
"System, wake me up when the baldy finishes his speech."
[Yes, Host] it replied.
I hardly got any sleep last night as I was doing my research. And the seat was so comfortable that I fell asleep again within a minute.
***
After 30 minutes, the metallic voice spoke inside my head.
[Wake up, host. The speech is coming to an end.]
When I awoke, the elderly man shouted something, and the crowd of people began to cheer. They appeared more tired than before, and the majority of them seemed bored. The old man then returned to his seat and devoured a complete bottle of water in seconds, as if he had finally managed to get some water after seven days of wandering in a hot sand desert.
"System, did he reveal anything important that I should be aware of?"
[No, he just mentioned how awesome Phoenix Academy is in a roundabout way.]
A graceful woman graced the stage, adorned in the distinguished uniform of Phoenix Academy. She seemed to be a senior, radiating confidence and poise.
"I extend my gratitude to Sir Jackson for his inspiring words," she began, her voice commanding attention. "Now, it is my honor to introduce Sir John Maxwell, who will share his invaluable insights with us today. Let's give him a round of applause."
As another gentleman stepped forward, the audience erupted in applause.
"Before I delve into my speech, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to Phoenix Academy for this opportunity," he began, his voice resonating with sincerity. "I also want to extend my congratulations to all those who have been selected for the Phoenix..."
I drifted back to sleep, only to be roused again by the system as the speech concluded. The same woman returned to the stage once more.
'System, did he say anything significant?'
[No, he also mentioned Phoenix Academy in a roundabout way.]
When I looked around, I noticed that everyone was sleepy. Some of them were enraged, wondering why the lecture hadn't ended yet.
"This time, we'll get some advice from our favourite Vice President."
I went back to sleep and awoke after 20 minutes. I was expecting the Principal to arrive soon and put an end to this. But then there were the PE teacher, the nurse, the doctor, the sweeper, the gatekeeper, the wicket keeper, the Grim Reaper, the tooth fairy, the Easter Bunny, and even the local pizza delivery guy all lining up to give speeches. It was like a never-ending assembly line of professions!
'Okay, that it system. Now, wake me up after every f*cker finishes their speech.'
[ Confirm ]
***
It was already midday when I woke up again, this time not due to the system but because of the chaos outside. The sounds of people yelling and fighting echoed through the air. The security personnel were outnumbered, struggling to contain the brawls erupting among the children. The person on the loudspeaker was constantly shouting at them to stop, but it seemed like no one was paying any attention.
"What in the world is happening out there?" I wondered aloud.
Various objects were flying through the air, and kids were screaming. Weapons clashed, and students used their abilities against each other. It was as if the entire area had suddenly transformed into a battlefield. The chaos resulted in the destruction of numerous drones, and the ground was cracked in many places. Many students were injured, and there were occasional loud explosions.
Meanwhile, I observed everything from the safety of the bus window. Thankfully, the bus was bulletproof, and I remained unharmed. I pulled my blanket closer and closed my eyes.
"System, wake me up again when all this shit is over."
[All right, (I'm a system. Why am I being used as an alarm?)]