The academy's massive grounds were surrounded by a vast expanse where the students resided.
Upon registration, Dora was assigned a room number and entered a dormitory building that surpassed all others in size.
Dora, being a commoner, would never have had the opportunity to step foot in this place.
However, due to his agreement with Elizabeth, he was granted a special permission, a prestigious scholarship from the most strongest.
Initially, his intention was to confront the nobles who opposed his presence and put his immunity pact to the test, however, following a particular incident that occurred during the day, his plans took a different turn.
(Gamma body)
The entrance was swept by a powerful gust of wind, causing a stir among the students who were engaged in conversation as they made their way through the building, navigating stairs and hallways and catching others off guard. As it arrived at the expansive desert expanse, the wind swirled around before vanishing without a trace.
The entrance was hit by a forceful gust of wind, disrupting the conversations of the students passing through the establishment, making its way through stairs and corridors and surprising those in its path.
Upon reaching the vast desert floor, the wind twirled around before taking a human form.
(Sigma Body)
Dora began walking, and as he took each step, my body seemed to sink into the ground.
It was as if his body turned into a shadow, gliding across the floor, passing by several doors before returning to its original form in front of one of them.
After a deep breath, he placed a black card in front of a small screen that flashed, unlocking the door.
Stepping inside, his expression tense, he found his suspicions confirmed.
Midgard was reclining on a large bed, engrossed in a book. Upon seeing him, she greeted him with her trademark smile.
"Hydra, by Deüs Krönor, is the story of a crew of sailors who face a monster with several heads, each with a different power and capable of replacing itself. Thus, it can survive by sacrificing one of its heads, usually the most useless, and as long as one head remains, it won't die, Isn't that interesting?"
All of a sudden, a massive shadow materialized beneath Dora, giving rise to numerous arrows that encircled Midgard, with three positioned menacingly under her throat.
"Ah, such vigor... Are you maybe angry because I spoiled the story? I didn't tell you how the monster died..."
"One more stupid thing and I will introduce you to the afterlife. Who are you and what do you know about the system?"
"Hmm, why are you always so violent? I come in peace. If you continue to doubt me, you will really upset me, my adorable toy."
Five more arrows approached her neck, she closed the book and sighed.
"Good, good, you win, I'll tell you everything but I prefer civilized discussions, withdraw your weapons."
"No."
"... So persistent. Alright, you're the strongest here so you set your rules. You want to know how I know your system right? Maybe this could help you."
Dora was completely paralyzed when a blue screen, resembling that of the system, appeared after the woman raised her left hand.
"So you can see it too? As I thought."
Dora was utterly surprised. How could this be? He had been using the system for as long as he could remember and had never come across anyone else with a similar feature.
To him, it was a distinctive trait, his own unique ability. How was it possible that she possessed it?
"Could you take away your attack now? Now you have a reason to listen, and you can trust me, you want to know what I have to say."
Dora, still reeling from the unexpected revelation, hesitated briefly before withdrawing his attack.
Midgard then assumed a more relaxed position and gestured for Dora to take a seat on the bed.
"Could you just tell me who you are? For fucking sake!"
"Don't be so hasty, I will tell you everything you want to know. First of all, let's make it clear, You and I are the same, we are both using a similar singularity, in the form of this system. We are the same, but we are also different, my dear toy, you are an Avatar and I am what we call a 'Player'."
Upon receiving that information, Dora decided to take a seat on a sofa positioned in front of her.
"Don't worry, it's normal to be lost in this situation, It's not your fault, neither mine. The one at fault is this world... Have you ever wondered why you are called an Avatar?"
"... I... You mean because I can use many classes?"
"Branches, the definition here says that if you're able to use many branches, you're an Avatar, but why this word? A finger, a hand, why should the upper class be called Avatar? Why not a body? People take many words out of their context and use them in very inappropriate ways, this is part of the imperfection of humanity."
As she rose to her feet and approached him, his senses heightened.
The familiar sensation of being pursued by a predator, which he often experienced during hunts, overwhelmed him.
However, despite this instinctual response, he remained motionless. The predator's claws delicately rested against his cheeks.
"You, on the opposite, are different, You are what we define as a true Avatar, not because of your powers but because of this thing that only the likes of you and I can use: the system. This is what makes the difference between them and you. They are mere frauds, jokes of a living being, but you, you are perfect, you can use every ability, you can use the system... You are a perfect avatar."
"Wait... Let's say that I believe your story... How do you know that? What are you? What is a player?"
She gazed directly into his eyes, her pupils contracting. She then let go of his face and approached the window, where she observed the sunset.
"What a beautiful sight... It's a shame that it's fated to annihilation."
"What do you mean?... Are you talking about the rifts?"
"Little toy, let's play a game will you? From this point onwards I won't ask you about your privacy, your goals, your life, I won't interfere with whatever you do, but in return, don't ask about my origins. I'll only tell you what you need to know."
"I thought you were gonna try to convince me, seems like you're not really motivated."
"One should never play all his cards before the end of the game, dearie. And you're not suicidal, so you'll be motivated. Tell me, as an Avatar, for so long, how come you're still E-rank?"
"... Is this related to the rifts?!"
"Hm-hm, what did we say about no rushing? But no, let's put it another way, you must have played video games... Oh, but you were a peasant, do you even know what it is?"
"Jerk."
"Ah, Good. So imagine a character, in a game of... RPG, you train him a lot and one day he reaches max level of a job. Now for him to go further, you need to change to a further class. Imagine that, he is a knight, and you want him to become a paladin, how do you proceed?"
Dora nodded, slightly confused.
"I change his class? Is that the answer you're... You're... Wait, what?"
"You finally get it? An avatar can't evolve alone, because he is a program of the system. You are not allowed to make any decisions. You are a slave. And this is where I come in action."
She opened her screen again where a message appeared, 'Select your Avatar'.
"My system, the one from the supremes one gives me access to everything the system has to offer. I am a Player, I can see and control everything, but I can't exploit it, I can open a quest but I can't do it, I can activate a virtual shop, but I can't buy anything. And this is where you, the Avatar, come into action."
She stood before him and shut her eyes, a resolute expression unfamiliar to her.
"Soon, this world will face a succession of disasters that will wreak havoc on all creations. I am not allowed to say anything, but I can assure you that what you and I can do is the closest thing to a possible solution. So, Avatar Anesidora, I, the player Midgard, wish to make a pact with you: Let's fuse our power to take revenge on this world and thus, create the purest version of the system, You want power and freedom, I want to see how far we can go, so become my Avatar and let me be your Player."
Night had descended upon the world outside. Midgard extended her hand towards Dora, wearing a smile that exuded assurance and affection, no longer the chilling grin it once bore.
"Now this is really going too fast."
"It only means that we've been late."
"... You don't look like someone trustable too."
"I'm pretty sure that you've been betraying people's faith for a very long time too, We are both monsters and monsters don't eat each other."
"Sounds fair... But since you're going to be my Player, doesn't that mean that you're going to possess me?"
"Absolutely not, Like I said I can't use the system, but I can control the events. We will just share our power. I can't give you a better example yet but be sure that for me, you are more precious than the world."
"This is the second time that someone threatens me with an invisible menace to make me do their deeds..."
"... Maybe, but this is hardly a regression, this is an evolution. So, my little toy, are you ready to bite the forbidden fruit?"
|Character selection activated: |
|Select your Avatar 0/1 |
"...You wicked snake, let's get this over quickly."
Dora extended his hand in response, initiating a handshake that symbolized a pivotal moment in history.
|Character selection activated: |
|Select your Avatar 1/1 |