Ria felt a chill run down her spine.
She couldn't believe what he had just told her.
He had just told her the truth behind the system.
A truth that was more shocking, horrifying, and mind-blowing than any fiction she had ever read.
A truth that involved chapters, functions, and beings.
A truth that involved him, her, and it.
A truth that involved a choice.
A choice that he wanted her to make.
She said.
"Wow. Just wow. I don't even know what to say."
Leon smiled and said.
"I know. It's a lot to take in. But it's all true. Every word of it."
He said.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I wanted to, but I couldn't. It was too risky. Too dangerous. Too complicated."
He said.
"But now I can. Now I have to. Now I want to."
He said.
"Because I trust you. Because I care about you. Because I love you."
He said.
"And because I need you. Because we need you. Because it needs you."
Ria felt a surge of emotions.
She felt touched by his trust, care, and love.
She felt curious about his need, their need, and its need.
She felt confused by his truth, his chapter, and his system.
She asked.
"What is it? The system? The device? The program?"
Leon nodded and said.
"Yes, it is all of those things. And more."
He said.
"It is a being. A being of pure energy and information. A being of infinite power and potential. A being of intelligence and personality."
He said.
"It is a mind. A mind that can create, destroy, and change anything. A mind that can learn, understand, and improve anything. A mind that can communicate, interact, and befriend anyone."
He said.
"It is a friend. A friend that has been with me since the beginning. A friend that has helped me, guided me, and chosen me. A friend that has trusted me, cared about me, and loved me."
He said.
"It is the system. The system that is my ally, my guide, and my secret weapon. The system that is my curse, my burden, and my mystery. The system that is my partner, my companion, and my soulmate."
He said.
"It is the one who gave me the chapters. The chapters that allowed me to travel to different worlds based on genres of novels. The chapters that gave me missions, rewards, and surprises."
He said.
"It is the one who tested me, played with me, and surprised me. It is the one who challenged me, rewarded me, and changed me. It is the one who prepared me, guided me, and chose me."
He said.
"It is the one who did this for one reason. To find the one. The one who could complete all the chapters. The one who could unlock all the functions. The one who could control the system."
He said.
"It is the one who was looking for someone who could master it. Someone who could use it, understand it, and improve it. Someone who could create, destroy, and change with it."
He said.
"It is the one who was looking for someone like me."