Dominic felt the weight of reality settle over him as he stared at the miniature hologram floating in the air before him. Only moments ago, he'd woken up with bloody hands and a mind clouded by fear. Now, he was confronted by a piece of technology that seemed more suited for a futuristic realm than the strange world he inhabited. Whatever *Operation TWNS* was, it felt like it was only the beginning of something much larger.
He took a deep breath, steadying himself. The warmth of the stone in his hand felt strangely comforting, though its glowing, swirling surface suggested secrets he wasn't sure he wanted to uncover.
The mini golden robot cleared its nonexistent throat—a small but somehow realistic sound. "Congratulations, Dominic," it said in a tone that was oddly formal yet unmistakably cheerful. "You have been selected as the Primary User for *The World's Newbie System* (TWNS). Your initiation phase begins now."
Dominic blinked, his mind racing with questions. *Primary User? The World's Newbie System?* The name sounded mythical and novel-like but somehow matched the tiny robot floating before him.
"What… what do you mean by initiation phase?" Dominic managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper, the weight of uncertainty hanging in the air.
He wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer, but curiosity tugged at him. "Did Natalie accidentally put me in a novel? And even at that she didn't put me in an interesting transmigration instead she put me in one of those cringy, lame-ass high-budget transmigration stories people are always obsessed with," he thought, shaking his head. "You know what? I don't even want to find out," he muttered, letting out a defeated sigh.
Finally, the hologram tilted its head—almost as if considering his question—and responded, "The initiation phase unlocks the foundational abilities needed for the functioning of the TWNS system, customized to the unique strengths of each user. For you, Dominic, it will assist in unlocking powers related to your core, guiding you as you develop your skills—"
Before the robot could finish its statement, Dominic interrupted, his frustration bubbling over. "Blah, blah, blah! Stop saying words I don't understand. What the heck is a core? No, I don't want to know; just tell me how Natalie is connected to this so I can decide if I'm signing up for it or not!"
The robot ignored his question and continued, "Would you like to proceed with an initial assessment to identify your current abilities?"
*This robot is a stubborn one,* Dominic thought, irritation sparking within him. "I need to know about Natalie and this stone," he demanded, his voice firm. The robot replied coldly, "I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question. It's outside my data parameters, and I can't process information beyond that."
As the robot's words sank in, Dominic's heart pounded. He thought of Natalie, of her cryptic messages, the way she'd flicked his forehead as if awakening something inside him. So this was why she acted that way in the void, but why did she connect him to this robot?
Dominic hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him. He barely knew what was going on, let alone if he was ready to dive deeper into the mysteries Natalie had set before him. Yet the idea of understanding his powers—of gaining a hint of control over his fate—compelled him to move forward.
"Go ahead," he finally replied, his voice steadier now, a flicker of determination lighting his eyes.
The robot's face brightened, and a cascade of light poured from it, sweeping over him in gentle waves that felt like a whisper against his skin. Dominic closed his eyes, feeling an unfamiliar warmth flow through him, wrapping around him like a shield.
The hologram hummed and announced, "Assessment complete. You possess a dormant core of *Universal Affinity,* an extremely rare attribute with vast potential, but underdeveloped. TWNS will now tailor your training and guidance accordingly."
Dominic barely had time to process the robot's words when the hologram shifted, its face adopting a more serious expression. "Incoming message from Mrs. Natalie."
His heart skipped a beat as her face appeared as a large, realistic hologram, making her look as if she were truly there, her eyes holding a hint of mischief and something softer—perhaps pity—while still maintaining her usual serious demeanor.
"Since you're seeing this, Dominic, it means that you've completed the first phase the robot gave you. This robot will be your guide, but only if you're willing to trust it—and trust yourself, even if you can't trust me."
Dominic's heart clenched at her words, a mix of apprehension and longing welling up within him. He continued to listen, desperate to understand.
"You may be wondering how this holographic robot and TWNS came to be. You should know that I, your father, and a few others created it when we discovered the existence of the world you came from. We made it for people like you who would come into this world. This system is only given to those we have close relationships with, and you, our son, are one of them. Note that this path won't be easy. There are others from your world like you, and your journey may cost you more than you realize. But power is often born from sacrifice. Remember that." As she said this, her image flickered for a moment before she added, "The robot is going to give you some quests to help you survive here. Complete them to increase your chances of living. Remember that you're living in *The Wild*, where it's survival of the fittest, especially in this war—a *war of royals*."
With that, her image vanished, leaving Dominic alone with his thoughts and the small golden figure hovering before him, its eyes watching him with an unreadable expression.
Dominic's mind reeled with thoughts such as
"Why was TWNS created? And why is dad involved? What is Natalie's big plan and how does dad have to do with it, where do I come in? He asks himself as he absorbed her words. The stone pulsed in his hand, reminding him of its presence and the power it held, waiting for him to claim it.
His initial instinct was to put it down, to escape the weight of responsibility and Natalie's convoluted schemes. But something within him—a quiet, determined resolve he didn't fully understand—urged him to continue.
With a sigh, he glanced at the golden robot and murmured, "I'm ready. Show me what I need to know and do to survive."
The holographic robot nodded, and Dominic braced himself, feeling as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff about to plunge into a world he'd never imagined.
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*End of chapter*