[00:00:00]
Marx was about to find out what the internet was when the countdown clocked 0. He sighed and got up. At least he got the boost. He was about to stand when on the screen appeared a new tab.
[User Marx's stats.
Strength- 1
Speed -1
Agility-0.1
Reaction-0.1
Stamina-0.05
Coordination-0.1
Intelligence -5
[The Maximum stats normal user can have is 5.
Stats required to have unlimited access to the system 10.
Continuous undertaking of missions increases your stats.
Increasing your intelligence requires outer worlds knowledge.
[To acquire system's help in leaving the planet, you are required to achieve the stats of =>2.
Estimated time =>1year.
During this time, user should acquire as much of remaining knowledge pn earth as possible. System will certainly help in the process.
[D:365
[23:59:58]
Marx wanted to laugh at the countdown. It should at least ask him if he was ready. Looking at the seconds trickling down, he laughed wryly. So he was supposed to always watch the countdown to [0] 365 times.
"Could you please hide the countdown?" Marx begged. It would feel like forever if he watched time being counted for him.
[23:59:03]
The days countdown was excluded but the hourly was pushed above the corner. It was like a watermark. It was much better for it acted as a clock for him. Seeing there was no other notification, he decided to head back home.
Marx was shocked that the system knew that this planet was the original planet. Maybe it knew things that even the the other planets did not know. Maybe something of important had been left here on earth. Or maybe something had been overlooked.
He walked and ran and when he reached his home, he found a crowd of about ten people. The elders had been summoned. There was also a priest and a basin filled with water. He was not sure why there was going to be a ritual and walked to the crowd.
On the compound, there was usually a huge tree with red leaves that was said to have been planted years ago by the chief when he founded the village. It was supposedly a sacred ground.
Marx reached the tree and suddenly, he felt his world overturn. He felt himself hanging on one leg. The ground was five meters below him. He swung and tried to reach the rope but it was impossible. How had he fallen for a petty trap like that? He was going to have to improve his agilty and reaction.
He stopped when he heard the shouting coming from all over. It felt as if they were charging towards a battlefield. He looked from side to side and saw everyone in the village charging at him.
He was horrified when he saw that each of them had a basin of water. He shivered. Why was he tied up? He suddenly felt a liquid trickle down from his feet to his head. It was the 'holy' liquid!
People only knew that salt was combine with other herbs and formed the 'holy' liquid. He was now having a slight idea of what was happening. He watched as everyone stopped and the priest stood infront of him.
The 'holy' liquid was now trickling down through his hair and hitting the ground. He had his eyes closed so that the liquid would not get into his eyes.
"Open your eyes," a commanding voice said to him but he just shut them tightly. "I said open your eyes!" This time the voice was not only commanding but it demanded to be obeyed.
Marx did not even have control over his body as he felt his eyes open. The liquid got into his eyes as he screamed. He felt some get into his nose and seeped down. He felt tears fall on their own.
He now knew what was happening. It was an exorcism.
"Tell us what makes you believe that he has been possessed by a demon," the priest spoke. Marx felt his eyes were blurry. The tears did not seem to help for they were always washed away.
" Lately, he has been behaving oddly," he heard his mother speak. " At first, I was not sure. He has been coming home late at night recently and last night, I checked his room and he was not there. But when I was about to lock the door, I saw him appear on the bed.
"His body was having a blue glow and his face appeared bruised. But he was healed up in seconds. Today, he stormed out of the house and he did not even listen to me when I called him. My son would never ignore me. Am sure that he was fully possessed last night. He does not even recognize his name."
Marx heard his mother break down in whimpers. So she was the one who had called the priest. He had seen the priests doing several exorcisms and he always wondered why the victims screamed.
He was now inveiling the priest's true colours. He was going to make sure no one fell victim of the priests torture again. What he did not know was how he was able to command someone to open their eyes.
"Demon, what is your name?" The priest asked. Marx laughed when he heard the question.
"I am Entropy," he said and laughed loudly. He had gotten used to the pain. He could hear the people taking steps back after hearing his laugh.
"Why did you possess him. You are supposed to leave him alone," the priest said. He was holding a wooden rosary pointing it at him.
" I condemn the forces of of evil inside you in the name of JahGod. I command you to pack your stuff and leave the body of the innocent boy. May your soul burn forever in the flames of hell. In the name of Jaysus."
The priest then picked the basin and stirred it with his hand. He closed his eyes and purified the water with a silent prayer. Everyone was silent and had their eyes closed. "Amaen." The priest said after finishing his prayer.
"Amaen." The crowd said and all opened their eyes.
The priest then threw the water in the basin at Marx and spoke again.
"May the holy water burn the sins you caused him to do and take you to hell," the priest said as the water landed on Marx.
Marx wriggled himself and screamed with gritted teeth. He opened his mouth once and screamed but forced his pain tolerance to the limit. He knew that there was something in the water. His body seemed to be steaming.
He went still and the priest commanded everyone to throw the water in their basins at him. The water was normal and cleaned the effects of the 'holy' liquid. The water that trickled from him was foamy. It took some several minutes before the last of the water was poured on him.
The effect on his eyes had almost finished but they felt numb. His nose also was burning. Although his body had cooled down l, he could feel the aftereffects of the liquid on his skin. It was all itchy.
"What is your name?" The priest asked. Marx felt like after he was set free, he would punch some morals into the priest. He could only thank the system's healing ability because he felt all the aftereffects wash of.
"Marx." He said.
Everyone cheered when they heard his reply. Yet another successful exorcism.
"Get him down," the chief said and the rope was cut. Marx could not agree to fall on his face and he fell on his feet.
Marx looked at the priest who was five meters away from him. He smiled at the priest who returned his smile wider. Marx shot towards the priest and held him by his neck. The priest dropped his rosary and Bible.
"The demon has still not left him!" Someone in the front shouted and people took a step backward.
"Save the priest!" Someone said and they got to their senses and charged at him.
Marx lifted the priest by his neck and shot a glance at the charging crowd. They stopped when they saw him lift the priest.
"Anyone dares to move, I will kill the priest," Marx said to the crowd which stood like it had been paused.
"Now back to you fake exorcist. Do you mind telling me just what herbs you used to make me open my eyes? Am sure that it is not in your powers. Also tell me what herbs you used to burn the demon? I will not hesitate to kill you if you dare lie to me."
The priest shook and lost his voice. He was going to feign ignorance and put all blame on the demon then exorcise him again. Marx entered his hand into the sleeves of the robe of the priest and removed a white powder in a clear bottle.