Chereads / Surviving our New Reality / Chapter 3 - A dream?

Chapter 3 - A dream?

I feel as if I'm slowly waking from a long dream. Still in the back of my head I hear the sound of fighting echoing across the darkness. 

As my eyes open, I struggle to move, I look around lost and confused. 'Was that a dream?' I ask myself. I'm in my bedroom as the glow of the rising sun peeks between my fluttering window curtains. The wind blows softly as the smell of flowers permeates the air. 'Dream', I think, 'a weird dream'. Even as I collect my bearings, I can see the chaos and destruction behind my eyes. 

Although I hear the sound of vehicles as they pass across the street and the honking of cars, I can still hear the sound of wailing and screaming blending with the sound of weapons clashing and bullets being fired. For a split second it feels as if my dream and reality are slowly starting to mesh as I unintentionally recall the details. I picture the newspaper that I saw with the date written on it. A date that seems so near, and yet so far. I wonder if it really is a dream. Just as I am about to get out of bed, I suddenly recall the mechanical voice which echoed before I woke up. 'System recognizes the player'. My eyes open wider as I struggle to remember and try to understand what's going on. I'm in slight awe, wondering if it's what I think it means, 'this… this can't be real can it?'… "what's going on?" I ask aloud. 

"Response, the host has experienced an echo of the future. To survive, the system has been sent to the host. Upon completion of tasks, the host will be able to awaken as a survival for the new world, the host has lived an unremarkable life - a shadow that would have faded away".

 Upon hearing this I think to myself. 'Yes, this is true… not just an unremarkable life, I'm one of those people easily forgotten. My so-called friends don't even contact me. I see pictures of them going out, having fun and living life. I try reaching out but even if I do, I get nowhere. The other friends I had; I have mostly lost touch with. I feel easily replaceable, as if I'm one of those people that others just easily pass by. Is it even worth it? Am I even alive? Often, I feel as if I can disappear and no one would care, like it wouldn't even matter. Maybe the feeling of emptiness is self-made. I don't know how to interact with people. I often feel like an outsider, no matter what I do. It feels as if there is no one with whom I can relate to. I live but feel as if I'm not even alive.' I think to myself. I often feel like the reality I'm living in is nothing but black and white. 

"System?" I ask out loud. "What does that mean?"

"I am a system which exists to strengthen my hosts. In a way I function as a created entity similar to a computer program, however I do have a form of intellect and can communicate as humans do. While my existence is similar to a program, I am also very similar to an intelligent lifeform.

In the near future humanity as you know it will cease to exist. In order to preserve human survival, I have been created. It is only possible for a host to be found if they are predisposed to my main function. I have had to traverse through time and space. Only someone compatible can awaken me. I have traveled a long time, asleep but aware. I have been floating in a void of sorts. My predominant function is linked to dreams; therefore my host has to be someone predisposed to being a dream seer. At the moment, the information I can give you is limited as it would be beyond the acceptable knowledge you will need, and you can understand. 

You have awakened me during your dream; therefore, you are my host. A series of quests will be distributed to you for completion, upon which I will help to reshape your body for optimal survival. For your own sake, the exact date for your new reality will not be told to you. Your main task will be to focus on leveling and stockpiling supplies until then. Failure to do so will result in your death, as you originally would have died upon the end of the world. While you would have awakened, your abilities without my help would prove almost useless for survival due to being unable to be fully utilized and understood. Because the dream ability is prophetic in nature, the few who will be able to awaken it have already started to manifest. There are already people who have awakened and have been driven to madness. There are also those who have created literature or art based on the predisposition of the future. Of the awakened dreamers your gift is the strongest. Upon awakening your genetic code was scanned and compared, resulting in a 99 percent probability of being the strongest dreamer. You have the highest probability for a dream seer and will have the potential to awaken clairvoyance.

Worry not, although humans will be the main cause of destruction, it is not the only reason. All life will undergo transformation, people will be given powers in order for humanity to stand a chance of survival. But just as humans will evolve, so will plants and animals. Anything with a life. Monsters will be born, the likes of which you can barely fathom…. Those chosen will have the chance to rise above their circumstances. Like all dynasties, a new one will be born. The question is whether you will be a part of it or fall to the cracks. I exist for you, together we are partners. 

There are multiple worlds in this universe that exist in the same plane as yours. The earth that you know is protected, which is why monsters do not exist. When your world ends due to all nations going to war, which will start soon, the protection your world was granted will end. 

Humans will no longer be deemed creatures needing protection. Monsters and creatures will invade. The earth will become a war zone, at the end it will belong to those who survive. I was created to help humans stand a fighting chance; dungeons will eventually appear as well to provide training for everyone. My creators do not want to see the world destroyed or overtaken by monsters.

As you grow, you can upgrade the system, you will be able to gain access to knowledge and strength, the likes of which one can only dream about. As a system I will mostly serve as a guide for you, but I have also been given spacial abilities for your use. You currently have access to half an acre of space. After 5 levels, you will have an acre of space. The more tasks you complete, the more upgrades and higher your abilities will reach. But your quests will eventually become very demanding and tough. It will be easy to level in the beginning, but once everyone awakens, your ability to level will significantly decrease, although you will still have the potential to level quicker than most.