Chereads / Guardian System / Chapter 2 - The System

Chapter 2 - The System

Sam wakes up early, the sun is  casting a warm glow through his bedroom

window. After days of grueling challenges and relentless battles, he finally

has a day to himself. His muscles ache, a reminder of the recent encounter with

the stone guardian, but his mind feels clear and alert. Today, he decides, will

be a day of relaxation and a chance to recharge before the next inevitable

trial.

He makes his way to the kitchen, where the aroma of freshly

brewed tea fills the air. With a steaming cup in hand, Sam settles into his

favorite armchair by the window. The house is quiet, save for the distant

chirping of birds outside. He picks up a thick, leather-bound book from the

side table, its title is Legends of the Forgotten Realms

The book is one he's been eager to read, full of tales about

ancient civilizations, forgotten magic, and legendary heroes. As Sam flips

through the pages, he quickly becomes engrossed in a story about a mythical

city that vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a handful of cryptic

clues. The narrative is captivating, pulling him deeper into the world of the

past.

Just as he reaches a thrilling part of the story, a soft sound echoes through the room.

Ding!

Sam frowns, looking up from the book. The sound isn't

familiar. Certainly not from any of the devices in his home. He waits,

wondering if he imagined it, but then it happens again, louder this time.

Ding!

Suddenly, a translucent screen appears in front of him,

hovering in mid-air. The screen is filled with lines of text, and at the top,

in bold letters, it reads;

[Welcome, Sam. I am the Guardian System, here to assist

you in your journey]

Sam blinks, stunned by the unexpected appearance. He quickly

closes the book and looks around the room, but everything else seems normal.

The screen remains in front of him, glowing softly. He reaches out to touch it,

but his hand passes through it as if it's made of air.

Shocked, "What… what is this?" he mutters to himself, still trying to process what he's seeing.

The text on the screen shifts, as if responding to his thoughts.

[The  Guardian System, is a helper sent by the gods to aid the host in his mission.]

[The Host is the chosen guardian from Kola chosen to bring balance in the Arcane Realms ]

[The host's recent trials have proven him worth, and now he prepare for greater challenges.]

Sam's heart races. "The Guardian System?" he says aloud, trying to make sense of it. "Sent by the gods? What do you mean?"

The screen responds immediately.

[As the chosen Guardian from Kola, it is your duty to protect the realm from the encroaching darkness. The gods have chosen you for this task, and I am here to provide guidance and support.]

[The Host is just a guardian starting from Kola but he can improve his ability and be the leader of the entire world]

Sam leans back in his chair, his mind spinning. He remembers the cryptic warnings he received from his granny, Maya  about his destiny, but this… this something

entirely different. "Why me?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ding!

As if it was listening to him, the Guardian System answers.

[You possess the strength, courage, and willpower needed to

restore balance. The trials you face will test your abilities, but they will

also help you grow into the Guardian the entire world needs. However, you must

understand that this is a solitary path. While you will have allies, much of this journey will require you to rely on your own strength.]

Sam's thoughts immediately turn to his friends. The idea of facing these challenges alone is daunting.

"How will I know what I am communicating with is my helper?" He asks, trying to wrap his head around this new development. "What if it's just the dark creatures trying to deceive me?"

The screen flickers for a moment before the answer appears.

[When I communicate with you, a blue light will appear on your sword. This will be a sign that the words you hear are true. Additionally, the  prompts will always appear in your mind, clear and direct. Trust in the light, and it will guide you.]

Sam considers this carefully. The blue light, it's something tangible, a way to distinguish between friend and foe. "I understand," he says finally. "What' should I do then?"

The Guardian System wastes no time, immediately displaying the details of the task.

[Your first mission is critical. A relic of immense power is hidden within the desert ruins, not far from the lost city you recently

discovered. This relic, the mystical Orb, must be retrieved before it falls into the wrong hands. You have three hours to locate and secure it. Failure is not an option.]

🤨Sam's eyes widen as he reads the description. The mystical Orb, it sounds important, vital even. "Three hours? But I'm miles away from the desert ruins…"

The Guardian System responds calmly:

[Time is of the essence. Use the teleportation stone in your satchel to reach the outskirts of the ruins. The Orb is hidden deep within the catacombs beneath the ruins. Be prepared for traps and guardians of dark creatures ]

Sam stands up, the book forgotten on the chair. His heart pounds with a mix of excitement and nerves. "I have no choice but to trust you," he says, more to himself than to the System. He reaches into his satchel and pulls out the teleportation stone, an item he's rarely used, but one tha has saved him in dire situations.

As he grips the stone, it begins to glow with a faint blue light, and the familiar sensation of being pulled through space takes hold. In

an instant, the cozy warmth of his home is replaced by the harsh, arid heat of the desert.

Sam stands at the edge of the desert ruins, a vast, sprawling complex of ancient stone structures partially buried in the sands.

The wind howls around him, carrying the scent of dry earth and old magic. The

ruins are eerily silent, the only sound being the distant call of a desert bird.

He takes a deep breath, steeling himself for the task ahead. "Alright, Guardian System," he says, feeling the weight of his sword at his side. "Let's do this."

The System's prompt appears in his mind:

Ding!

[The entrance to the catacombs is beneath the central obelisk. You must be swift, dark forces are already on the move]

Sam heads toward the central obelisk, a towering structure that dominates the ruins. Its surface is covered in ancient runes, glowing faintly in the dim light. He circles the obelisk, searching for the hidden entrance. As he does, the blue light on his sword flickers to life, guiding him to a narrow staircase carved into the stone.

He descends the stairs, the air growing cooler with each step. The passageway is dark and foreboding, the walls lined with ancient carvings depicting scenes of battles long past. As he reaches the bottom, he

finds himself in a vast chamber, the ceiling supported by massive stone pillars.

At the far end of the chamber, a large, ornate door stands closed, its surface covered in more glowing runes. Sam approaches cautiously, feeling the weight of the mission pressing down on him. The door seems to pulse with energy, as if aware of his presence.

Ding!

A blue flash light appears on Sam's sword followed by a prompt.

[The Orb lies beyond this door]

Sam tightens his grip on his sword, the blue light steady and strong. He takes a deep breath and pushes the door open. The chamber beyond is vast and dimly lit, the air is thick with the scent of old magic. In the

center of the room, resting on a pedestal, is the Mystical Orb.

The Orb is a sight to behold, a glowing sphere of swirling light, its surface shifting and changing colors. It hums with power, the energy radiating from it palpable even from a distance. But as Sam steps forward, the

ground trembles beneath him.

From the shadows, three large figures emerge; stone golems, their bodies made of the same ancient rock as the ruins. Their eyes glow with a malevolent light, and they move with surprising speed, positioning themselves between Sam and the Orb.

Sam holds his sword tightly and tightens his muscles ready to attack.

Ding!

[The golems are powerful, but they have a weakness. Concentrate to Identify and strike at their weakness.]

Sam darts to the side as the first golem swings a massive stone arm at him, the impact shaking the ground. He rolls to his feet, eyeing the creature. The golems are slow but strong, one wrong move, and he could be crushed.

He dashes forward, aiming for the joint at the golem's knee. His sword flashes with the blue light as it connects, chipping away at the stone. The golem stumbles but doesn't fall. Sam increashe needs to be quicker.

The second golem charges, forcing Sam to leap out of the way. He barely avoids a crushing blow, the ground cracking under the force of the attack. He regains his footing and slashes at the golem's arm joint, weakening its grip.

With the first golem still striking toward him, Sam realizes he can't take them down one by one, they're too strong. He needs to outthink them.

[Use the environment to your advantage.  The pillars around you are old, perhaps they

could be brought down to trap the golems.]

Sam glances around, his mind racing. The pillars are tall and sturdy-looking, but if he can find a way to weaken them, they could cause a chain reaction. He sprints toward the nearest pillar, the golems are hot on his

heels, then he slashes at the base of the pillar.