Books were stacked precariously on every available surface, some were open, while others were forgotten under a pile of fictional novels. The faint smell of sweat and old pizza lingered in the air.
The room's wall were white, with smart technology that allowed them to shift colors and patterns at a touch, creating a dynamic atmosphere that could change with the mood or time of day.
A large, curved window was by the right side, with a view of a the crowded street and morning filtered. Screens were on the street wall displaying adverts. The window was equipped with smart tinting, adjusting automatically to control the amount of sunlight streaming in. a floating platform served as a bed, its surface was made of a memory foam-like material that conformed perfectly.
Despite the high-tech surroundings, the space was a whirlwind of disarray. Clothes were scattered across the floor— hoodies with, slim-fit pants, and a sneaker. A high-tech desk was cluttered with holographic devices and gaming gear, the surface barely visible beneath a mountain of crumpled virtual reality game printouts, snack wrappers, and energy drink cans.
A tablet was on the desk, displaying a paused game, while tangled charging cords. A small drone hovered around the room, to retrieve an item from the floor.
Micheal stood up from the bed and started wondering how he got home. He scanned the room before moving closer to the desk beside him. He sat down on the chair and turned on the search screen.
"Okay search wizard. Tell me if someone had ever died and rose up from the dead, then a fuckin system appears."
The search screen had transformed rapidly after the first war. It was a neural interface that connected directly to users' thoughts, projecting information into their field of vision. Holographic results appeared in 3D, allowing for manipulation through gestures. The system adapted to the user's context and emotions, providing multi-sensory feedback that engaged sight, sound, touch, and scent. Collaboration was effortless, enabling real-time sharing and exploration in a vibrant virtual space.
Micheal was immediately teleported to a white virtual space after he put on a white helmet. A full white and empty space. A screen appeared and displayed the search logo, he typed onto the keyboard below it. "Brought back to life with a system." Micheal muttered as he typed. The search results were unrelated to what he had made up in his mind. It displayed, ^Zombie: How to turn into a zombie."
"Stupid. I hate when i search. It always brings up stupid answers." Micheal said as he left the virtual space. He started wondering if there was a way he could open up the system screen. Immediately, it appeared in front of him.
[Name: Michael Turner]
[Race: Human]
[Level: 1]
[Exp points: 0/100]
[Agility: 10]
[Strength: 10]
[Health: 15/15]
[Speed: 10]
[Abilities: None]
Another screen appeared beside the formal:
[Beast Hub Unlocks at level 5.]
"So how do i know what kind of system is this? Normally. I don't have any ability. So maybe it is a system that would help me aquire one just like in those fantasy books." he wondered. Another screen popped up again.
[Main quest: Become The Blood Monarch]
[Daily quest: Exercise]
[Reward: 10 Exp]
[Push ups: 0/20]
[Squats: 0/20]
[Sprinting: 100m. (Count: 0)]
[Punishment for not completing quests is death.]
Michael stared at the screen for a while, shocked. "Is someone playing a prank on me? Okay dude. Wherever you are. This is good. You can stop now."
He scanned his room, went up to the window and checked if anyone was watching him. No one was. He then realised that he had no friend. So nobody is responsible for this. Fear etched onto his face.
"I never wanted a system. I just wanted to live. Curse you." Micheal exclaimed, kneeling to the ground and hitting it hard. Suddenly, blood started dripping from his cloth. He felt a sharp pain. When he looked down. The wound had appeared again.
[Last warning. Complete the quest]
Micheal immediately ran outside after changing his clothes. He began the exercise immediately. After 20 push ups, 20 squats and a 100m sprint. He was sweating buckets. Two screen popped up in front of him.
[Quest completed]
[10 Exp rewarded]
[Exp: 10/100]
[User is advised to stay away from sunlight]
[Sunlight shield is activated. 100%]
[Shield is decreasing]
[User might turn into ashes. Stay away from sunlight]
"Now I know how it works, it just loves fantasy, telling me to stay away from the sun like i'm some vampire. " Michael paused. He remembered how the system almost killed him.
"Time to go back home. I don't know why this is happening but i will obey. I don't wanna die."
He ran back to his room. When he arrived at home. A man was leaning against the wall. A large, muscular, with blonde hair, wearing a white uniform, symbolizing the Teraim academy.
"I almost forgot that it was today." Micheal thought. After the first war, Every citizen who turned seventeen where required to attend a school for four years. The school decides who they were to pick.
They were to be taught about their abilities, the war, the invaders. Some times, they go on weekly raid to other planets. More like a hunt for the beasts that harboured the planets.
Micheal had done a lot of research after he received a message that informed him about the school choosing him.
There was a name tag on his uniform that displayed "Tom Alix."" He seemed to be the person that would escort him to the school.
"Oh. The crockroach decided to come back. Now let me give you the full picture. Pack your stuff up and let's go. I don't have all day." Tom said moving up close to Micheal and pointing at Michael's room door, indicating that he should go in and pack up.
He thought that Micheal had run away so as to avoid the school. After all, that's what most students engaged in. After being chosen, they run away before the school comes for them. Because, the training and engagements were considered super hard.
But incase you didn't know, that was Michael actual plan. He had planned to take off before he attained common sense that the school was made to train students and increase the chances of humans defeating the Makisis.
He immediately went in and packed up. The man removed a tablet from the side bag he wore. He typed, "Present." This was compulsory so as to confirm that the student was being brought to the school without a problem.
Micheal came outside with a small bag. He was quite broke so he never had much. The only thing inside the bag was few clothes. About 4, and his favourite tablet. He had digged a hole underneath his bed to keep the other stuffs inside since he won't be needing them. But he doesn't want to abandon them. Because to him, they were to expensive even though it was super cheap to others.
Tom led him to a car packed outside the apartment building. Micheal was confused on how to open the car door since he had never been inside one.
"Don't tell me...You haven't been inside a car in your whole life." Tom asked, opening the car door for him.
He threw Michael inside like he was kidnapping him, and went to sit beside the driver. Another man was inside the car. He wore a cap and a uniform also.
"Start the car." Tom commanded the man, who immediately start the car. Tom turned to Micheal at the back, "We are headed to the academy now. So hold on tight."
"I know. Am not some high tier fool." Micheal thought.