Amidst the tempest raging outside—bang, crack, rumble—a young boy named Kurt lay sound asleep under the sturdy roof of the local school. Despite the tumult, the rhythmic patter of raindrops against the window panes created a tranquil ambiance, lulling Kurt deeper into his cocoon of warmth.
Little did Kurt know, the storm was merely the prelude to an extraordinary journey. Outside, two ethereal beings streaked through the tempest at the speed of light, pursuing a shard of immense power—power so profound it could imperil the very fabric of existence. For centuries, they had hunted this shard relentlessly, their determination unwavering.
Suddenly, the shard plunged into Kurt's being, jolting him awake with a surge of vitality. Gasping for air, his heart pounded with disbelief at the inexplicable sensation.
The sudden movement caught the attention of the class. Mrs. Allen, the stern teacher, fixed Kurt with a disapproving stare. "Mr. Jackson, stop disrupting the class."
Apologizing, Kurt tried to collect himself, but his best friend Mark sensed something amiss.
"Dude, what was that? You sounded like you were having a heart attack," Mark whispered, concern etched on his face.
"Just a nightmare, I think," Kurt replied, hoping to dismiss the strange experience.
"At least try not to get caught snoozing by Mrs. Allen," Mark advised earnestly.
"Sure thing, Mom," Kurt quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.
Lost in thought, Kurt felt an unfamiliar energy coursing through him. Concentrating, he was astonished to see a system interface materialize before his eyes.
**[Congratulations, host, on acquiring the Nightmare Creation System]**
**[Accessing host bio]**
**[Status]**
- **[Name: Kurt Jackson]**
- **[Race: Human]**
- **[Age: 16]**
- **[Health: 10/10 - Lifespan: 70 years]**
- **[Mana: null]**
- **[Body (Strength, Agility, Dexterity, etc.): 5]** (average human)
- **[Intelligence: 6]**
- **[Wisdom: 3]**
- **[Nightmare Points: 0]**
**[Please claim the newbie package from your inventory]**
"A legendary system that can make people wealthy, powerful, or even a harem king?" Kurt mused, taken aback.
Glancing around to ensure no one else could see the status panel, Kurt relaxed.
"A system? What are your purposes and functions?" Kurt queried internally.
**[The system oversees dreams and nightmares across the multiverse, designed to anoint its host as the Lord of Nightmares and protect them from veiled truths.]**
"The veil? What's that?" Kurt inquired, bewildered.
**[It's a barrier concealing humans from the supernatural world.]**
"Wait, is this turning into a movie?" Kurt muttered.
**[This isn't fiction. In fact, only 3% of those in this class are fully human; the remainder are ###¥€€¢€£€€¢.]**
"What?!" Kurt exclaimed loudly, drawing the gaze of both his peers and the teacher.
"What now, Mr. Jackson?" Mrs. Allen snapped.
"Apologies, ma'am. Thought I saw a snake, but it's gone," Kurt offered.
His words caused several students to fidget uncomfortably in their seats, wary of the mentioned snake.
"Enough of your tales, Mr. Jackson, or you'll be sent out," Mrs. Allen cautioned.
"Understood, ma'am," Kurt replied.
**[Fear points collected from students: -25]**
Kurt stared at the system interface in disbelief. "This can't be real. And why's everyone so scared of snakes in this class?"
**[Fear points are crucial for system operations. Endeavor to collect more.]**
"So, scaring people gets me points? Like some twisted Halloween game?" Kurt muttered.
**[Precisely.]**
Shaking his head, Kurt decided to deal with this surreal development later. Glancing around, he couldn't help but notice Jerry, the class clown, wildly waving his arms from the back.
"Hey, Kurt! Joining the circus? That snake bit was epic!" Jerry called out.
Forcing a laugh, Kurt replied, "Yeah, just practicing my stand-up routine."
Mrs. Allen rolled her eyes. "Settle down, class. Kurt, focus on the lesson, not your imaginary friends."
Nodding absently, Kurt contemplated the sudden influx of responsibilities and information. As the lesson continued, he pondered the extraordinary path his life was now destined to take.