He only got a glimpse of the notification when he realized he was on a bike. He was distracted and that was not a good thing. He looked infront and saw the bike heading off the road.
Marx did not get the chance to read the notification because the bike was crashing into a wall. He was too late to react and the bike slammed with the front wheel first. He was then shoved forward to the wall.
He did not realize how but his hands were open and so were his legs. If someone saw him they would think he was trying to hug the wall. He slammed into the wall and half of his body was stuck inside it.
Since the speed he was riding was at 100km/hr, he was stuck into the wall halfway. He strained himself and pushed himself out of the wall. Looking at the wall, he could not help but laugh.
It was like he had been curved on it. He had stamped on the wall with his body leaving an imprint of his figure. He felt that it was a miracle that he had not been turned into minced meet. Looking at the bike, the front wheel had been flattened. And there goes his ride.
He scratched his head and looked at his hands. There were several cuts but they were not bleeding. He could see them healing he felt a burning sensation on the wounds. A blue light washed over the cuts healing them completely leaving no scars.
He tested his body and did two push-ups. He felt no pain and he knew that he was good to go. He had also not heard what the voice had said to him. He felt like punching the wall.
How was he ever going to get it powered up again? It had taken almost all of his luck to manage to activate the After Entropy. He felt like he had wasted his one in a million chances to have it functional.
Looking at the bright side, he was now sure that he had successfully acquired it but on the dark side, he was going to use it after a very long time. He was not sure if he would ever get the speed he had ever again or maybe the requirments would rise.
He shut his eyes tightly and suddenly the mechanical voice came.
"Your presence is still required to activate Entropy Seeker," the words at first did not make sense but when he opened his eyes, there was a screen.
NEW USER DETECTED. PERMISSION REQUIRED TO ENROL YOU INTO THE LIST OF USERS.
ACCEPT_
DENY_
Marx did not understand what this was all about. He did not think much and said in a whisper.
"Accept." There was a new notification immediately he said accept.He was jumping in his inside. He did not have to risk his life again to activate it. It was now running. He laughed in his mind and opened his hands as if he was waiting for someone to hug him.
ENTER YOUR NAME_
ENTER YOUR AGE_
ENTER YOUR GENDER_
The dashes were empty rectangular boxes.
Marx did not hesitate and said his name.
" My name is Marx, currently 15 and obviously I am Male." The empty boxes were instantly answered and a new screen appeared.
USER NUMBER_ 999
USERNAME_ MARX
GENDER_ MALE
AGE_15
MARX DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THE SYSTEM:
PARTIAL CONTROL_
FULL CONTROL _
Marx was hesitant. He could not allow that thing to have full control over him. He also was confused that there had been 998 users before him. Was it not that he was the second after Kelly? Something was hidden here.
"Partial control." He whispered. There was a new screen immediately and it was not written in capital.
[Marx has successfully been registered and accepted as host. Partial control means that you will only be able to use Entropy Seeker to a percentage of 0.01%. This is because that is all you can manage with your current body functionality.
[To unlock more features of Entropy Seeker, you will have to improve your body and intelligence. Your intelligence seems to be very high but you are currently not using its full potential. Improving involves doing activities given by the system. Incase of failure punishment will be issued to you. Permission is compulsory to enforce these rules.
ACCEPT_
DENY_]
Marx read the rules several times before he finally accepted. What could possibly go wrong? Was it not just a threat? Also he could do anything if it meant that he would get full control of it without it taking over him.
The screen cleared and new notifications appeared.
[You are going to receive several missions daily. You are tasked with running ten kilometers everyday. Also you are supposed to do 100 push-ups everyday and 200 sit-ups for beginner.
[Note; system boost will not be available during exercise. Countdown for you to complete the mission: 05:59:59]
Marx saw the notifications and laughed his ass out. Did it take him for a fool? Now him, running around like a fool just to please a system. What a joke. Was it even for real?
" Six hours my foot. I am the one in control," he thought arrogantly and stared back at the bike with a flat rim.
It was not like the village was far. Just fifteen kilometers. He would just set off early after exploring the city. He had come to realize that he had superstrength. Maybe, he could break the glass doors and have a look at the computers.
Excitedly, he headed to the buildings he had seen the computers. He stood at the glass and zoomed his fist. Concentrating as much strength as he could in that one fist. He punched at the glass and he felt something crack.
He looked to see the broken glass but it was not even showing slight sign of weakness. He shivered as he thought of what might have probably broken. He felt his blood boil as a sudden pain engulfed him.
Looking at his hand, it was broken at the wrist which was now hanging loosely. He grit his teeth as he screamed in his mind. He never had felt such pain before. He wanted to jump but he held his ground.
He sat on the grounds and leaned on the glass. The notification had not left him even once. It was like it was in the side of his eyes. He laughed when he saw that it was still counting.
[05:54:13]
Marx once again started laughing. At least the joke distracted him from his pain. He bit his shirt and tore it. He then bit on the piece he had tore. He held the wrist and bit the clothe piece hard.
He closed his eyes and restored the wrist in position. He then used the clothe piece to tie his wrist. His eyes appeared red from the pain and his pupils had shrunk. He was breathing slowly and he closed his eyes drifting into sleep.
When he woke up, he was greeted by the notification.
[03:11:45]
He could not beleive that he had fallen asleep for almost three hours. He cursed it for taking away the boost in strength and healing ability. He stood up and headed outside the city. He walked sluggishly and it took almost one hour before he left the city.
[02:20:55]
He entered into the woods and increased his pace. If he kept the current pace, he would reach the village at sunset. He ran at some parts and a notification had appeared.
[Ran 500m]
On top of the screen, the countdown was still running. He was starting to have a bad feeling about this but what could possibly go wrong? He took a rest at the base of a tree.
Everytime he would unfocus his mind, he would see the countdown.
[O0:55:12]
He rested for five minutes and resumed his journey. He reached Kelly's grave and paid his respect.
"I am here to report to you that After Entropy is now in safe hands. It might be misbehaving currently but I promise to get it in line. Soon I am going to have full control over it. Watch over us," he said with a lazy tone. Again, his eyes landed on the countdown.
[00:00:10]
He yawned lazily and stretched his back. He felt hungry. He reached his back pack and removed a wooden bowl carrying rice. He removed a spoon and dipped it into the food. But the countdown kept distracting him.
[00:00:00]
Marx laughed. What was supposed to happen, him losing a limb? Dying? Electrocution? Leaving him? He tried to move his hand and have a bite but he could not. His mouth was wide open and his eyes wide open. But his vision was blurry and he could see nothing.
Instead, the screen was red an a notification in red appeared.