Chapter 6 - The System

[11:00 AM; Saturday, 29th of April, 2024]

"Haa…"

Surrounded by the protective walls around me, with the abundant sets of meals at my disposal, I sat on my bed and awaited the 'Announcement' that would officially start everything.

>DING!<

Exactly as it played out in my dream, a System Window manifested in front of me, revealing the same thing I had seen multiple times already.

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

{The realm of the gods, Paradise, will be revealed to the chosen humans. Overcome the 99 Floors and reach the Final Realm.}

{Your mission is to survive the Tutorial so you can be qualified to enter Paradise. Time Left until the end of the Tutorial: 168 hrs: 00 mins: 00 secs}

"I-it's really started…" I gulped, feeling my body shake a little. However, after the announcement vanished, the most surprising thing occurred.

"H-huh? My headache is gone…?" The same went for my trembling body.

For some reason, it felt like I was perfectly normal—in optimal condition. My head seemed to have cleared, and my body felt lighter than before. My racing heart slowly returned to its normal pace; even the fear stopped.

It all felt amazing.

"Haa… is this maybe a Skill?"

In my dreams, the ones I used to have in the past, the world had things like Status Windows and Skills. Those dreams felt awfully similar to this current reality I found myself in. They had to be one and the same.

"That means I should have a [Status Window], right?"

The moment I said this, a screen appeared in front of me, displaying contents that should have completely flustered me, yet for some reason, I wasn't too shocked.

It almost felt like muscle memory.

"Weird…" I muttered, looking at the screen with unperturbed attention.

[STATUS WINDOW]

- Name: Mikey Rael

- Race: Human

- Level: 1

- Life Force: 3/3

- Energy Level: 1/1 

- Combat Ability: 2/2 

- Stat Points: 0

- Currency: 100

- Role:

- Authority:

- Titles: , ,

- Skills (Exclusive):

- Skills (Non-Exclusive):

- Items Equipped:

- Alignment: Neutral Good

[Additional Information]

You can experience the events of the world through the 'other plane'. It is a coveted power worthy of desire, but a scary one to possess.

[End Of Information]

"Well, I suppose this is to be expected." All my Stats were very low, and I was only in Level 1. This was probably what everyone started with.

My eyes trailed to some specific parts in the information provided. They were areas I discerned to be of utmost importance.

"It seems my Life Force is like my HP? Then Energy Level should be MP. As for Combat Ability… well, I'll just assume it involves things like Strength, Dexterity, Agility, and stuff."

The System didn't explicitly state them, so they had to be meshed into the Combat Ability spot.

This world really operated like a game, didn't it? I mean, I figured it did, considering I always thought my dreams were the same. The whole concept felt similar to those kind of role playing games that defined player ability based on explicit information and numbers.

Speaking of numbers, though…

"Zero Stat Points, huh? Do I get more when I Level Up? I suppose so…" I had only played one or two games, but I knew that to grow stronger, you needed to level up.

I also saw something called 'Currency.' "That's like coins. It's pretty self-explanatory."

Everything after that was uncharted territory, though.

"Role? Authority? It has to do with my Exclusive Skill, right?"

All of those three had something to do with dreams. I guess it was safe to conclude that this was something similar to like a Class or Job, right? But did that mean there were other 'Dreamers' like me?

'No, I think I'm the only one. One of my Titles is . I guess that has to do with that last nightmare I had. Is that… like the end of the world?'

A little shiver ran down my spine once I thought of that.

"No, no. Let's focus on the present. Let's find out more about what I can do and how I can survive."

So far, I had very limited combat ability, and it seemed my other Stats were very low too. I had three Titles and one Skill, so I had to learn more about them if I wanted to figure out how to use them to my benefit.

"Elaborate Titles." I spoke, almost in reflex.

[Titles]

: The user is calm and level-headed in situations that would otherwise cause severe mental distress. This composure isn't absolute, though. Severe mental attacks and traumas can still cause the user to break his composure.

: As someone who has reached the end, dreams and fragmented memories can sometimes be imparted. Instinctive reactions such as muscle memory, and a few other symptoms may be experienced

: Just like everyone who didn't get turned into monsters, The user has this title because he's a candidate that can enter the Tower Of Trials to reach Paradise.

[End Of Information]

"I see. I see."

Everything slowly made sense to me. It was no wonder I suddenly felt calm, and also the dreams I had been having began to get clearer. I also wasn't too confused about all of these strange things even though it made more sense that I would be.

'This is good in its own way, I suppose.'

As for the last Title, , it was the reason I was still human. That meant… all the monsters that roamed around were really former humans. I already kind of figured that out, but it still didn't make the reality any less scary

'Just how many percent of humans got turned into monsters? How many of us were chosen to remain humans?'

I didn't have the answers to those questions, so there was no point in asking. My time was best spent focusing on what I had direct control over.

Then, what about my Skills? I only had one, but…

"Elaborate Skills."

[Skills]

(Exclusive)

: Allows the user to experience future events in the form of a dream. These future events are basically the user's experience. Trauma could be experienced as a result of this Skill. {Note: User may not take his own life to intentionally use this Skill. It will not activate.}

(Non Exclusive)

"Ah… wow." I had already figured out this much, but seeing it spelt out for me gave a completely different feeling.

'So, anytime I dream… it's a version of me that died? That's brutal.'

Did that mean time was being turned, and I was still the 'me' that died? Or was I not 'me' anymore?

'The fact that I have the memories of the one in my dream… I can surmise that its me. Yes, they're all me.'

Thinking of it any further would only make my brain hurt.

'The fact that I can't intentionally choose to reset a reality is also a very hardcore limitation. Looks like if I have to die, it'll have to be unintentionally.'

Moving on, from what I could understand by 'Exclusive', it seemed I was the only one who had access to this. Well, it could also mean it was Exclusive to the 'Role' and 'Authority' I had, and it was possible that I wasn't the only one with them.

'But why do I have a feeling that its like that? Well, I'll just go with that.'

It seemed I could obtain Skills that weren't related to dreaming, thanks to the Non-Exclusive section of my Skills. That was a relief, considering , or pretty much any Skill I could derive from a Role wasn't really going to aid in combat.

"Then, I could eventually get Items. I don't see a Shop yet, but there has to be a way to spend the 'Currency.' I guess all of that will come in due time."

Finally, there was one thing that worried me the most.

"The [Additional Information]... what it says."

Apparently my power was coveted, but also scary. If it allowed me to see through the events of this world, did that mean I could see the past too? Would I be able to see through more eventually?

I had a lot of questions, but I suppose that would have to wait.

"For now, let's just relax. Maybe eat something."

The lights in my room were turned off, so it was kind of dark, but not unbearably so. I made sure everywhere was locked tight and secure, so it didn't seem like I would be disturbed.

'I just have to—'

~H-heeellppp…~ A whisper suddenly echoed in my head.

'H-huh?'

~P-please… h-help mee…~ The voice became louder and more pronounced.

Suddenly, I heard a soft knock on my front door. It sounded hollow, yet urgent. I felt a sensation course through me that resembled fear, but it was quickly suppressed.

The knock continued. Slow, steady… desperate.

~I'm right in front of you. P-please… help!~

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[A/N]

Thanks for reading!

Another survivor enters into the picture… or is it something else entirely?