"Woah . . . " I said looking around the place it was the desert. Miles upon miles was just pure white sand, mounting and forming wave-like patterns.
Opening the bag and grabbing a snack, I looked around the place.
Even though this was my first time in a desert, it wasn't the sea of sand that caught my interest but what was in front of a giant wooden structure.
It was all entirely made of wood and was about the size of a two-floor building. In the center of the thing was a giant wooden cube; on either side were giant rectangles attached to it tilted downwards, on each side of the big wooden rectangles near the top giving it aerodynamics. On each rectangle were several giant wooden wheels, each one the same size as me; the front of the center cube was a huge deck-like area attached to it, and and even had some furniture for a person to relax on. At the very top of this, there was what looked like a command-like tower where one would pilot this thing, it even had glass for the pilot to see from.
Walking behind the structure, I saw an opening with a staircase leading up inside. Further inspecting this thing, several walkways and ladders led to several parts of it.
Staring at this strange structure I couldn't help but kinda see it as a horse despite not even resembling one.
Around this wooden thing were ruins of something scattered about here. Remnants of something ancient are now reduced to either rubble or small bits of it.
There was a giant sandstone road that led somewhere far. "So I guess this is the thing I need to protect."
I went inside through the opening at the back. After checking around the wooden structure, I found that, I found that there wasn't any other entrance, either me to enter, either.
I was in some kind of hallway, in the middle there were even more stairs leading to the upper floors, and on either side of the stairs were some rooms. I checked out of the room; it was a bedroom. The entire room was pretty crap, like if I stood in the middle and my arms could teach either side of the wall. There was only a bed and a cabinet–I checked the cabinet to see if there was any loot.
Nope, there wasn't anything in the drawers. "Dang that sucks, I wonder if the other rooms are the same."
In the next room, yep they were the same thing as the previous room, even having no loot. If this one was the same the other rooms probably are too. I climbed up the stairs and it led to a big open space, there were some wide tables and chairs, cabinets, and a few walls. On the walls were windows with no glass, each window evenly spaced out–a light shining through the frame making the dust visible.
This place felt abandoned, like long ago some mighty heroes had lived here and now all of them are gone leaving this place to rot in the sands of time. Staring at this place it was like somebody's abandoned childhood home.
Walking around the place sliding my hand over the tables, and looking at it dust that had entirely covered it–a testament to how ancient this place is. There was a ladder that led even higher.
I looked up to see where the ladder went. It was very tall before I reached the opening. I guess this was the tower part I saw outside. Though there were several doors and hallways I didn't explore, I had a gut feeling there probably wasn't anything noteworthy to find. I began to climb up the ladder quickly.
It took a while to climb, the further I climbed the more I was submerged in darkness. Eventually, everything was pitch black, a few times I had even forgotten where the ladder handles were. Finally reaching the top–I was greeted by a stunning view of the desert landscape and a beautiful sunset.
It was a pretty big area, behind me was a hallway leading to two more hallways in a split section, and on either side of the hallway were two rooms.
In front of me was a panel that had only a couple of buttons, levers, and in the middle of it all a giant steering wheel.
[THOU DESIRES TO BEGIN THE MISSION?]
"Oh it's you, sure," I frowned as the screen appeared.
[STILL ACTING LIKE A ZANY CHILD?]
"Shut it ok? I just want to finish this quest."
[FINE, IF THOU INSISTS]
Another screen appeared; this one asking whether I was ready to start the mission. At the button, there were two options: Ready or Not. I pressed ready.
I had a hard time keeping my balance as suddenly this thing moved, a large creaking noise rang throughout the massive wooden structure; as if I had just awoken a beast from its eternal slumber.
The dust had flown all over me from the sudden movement, covering me in it. "Damn it I'm all dirty."
Then all of it suddenly disappeared, the creaking noise and this structure's movement. "Why isn't this thing moving?"
[ONE CAN NOT EXPECT A BOAT TO ROW ITSELF]
"Wait, I have to drive it!" looking over the panel, trying to understand what button does what though I didn't have a lick of sense of what to do. God I wish there was a manual around here I could read.
[DON'T BE A MORON, ALL THOU NEEDS TO DO IS TOO PRESS THE LEFT BUTTON NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL, PULL THE LEVER OF THE UPPERMOST RIGHT CORNER THEN DRIVE THE STEERING WHEEL]
I did what the System told me, Pressing the button made the entire thing once again shake, and the creaking noise returned too. Pulling the lever down made this thing move. As it began to move it turned pointing sideways–right control with the steering wheel.
Gripping it tightly I turned the steering wheel, pointing this thing straight ahead. A screen popped up showing a tiny blue dot–which was an easy guess that was supposed to be me–following a very long white to its green-colored goal. Seeing how long it was, maybe it'll take two or three days to get there at the rate I'm going.
Hopefully, if I ration my food correctly I would starve to death, my back shivering from the notion of it. Getting starved to death was one of my biggest childhood fears even now it's still terrifying.
________________________________
It has been a day since I arrived here, it was a pretty uneventful drive in the desert. Slowly night began to creep in; the stars showing themselves for this empty world. "Man, it's getting boring to just drive around."
Now that I have time maybe I should talk with the System. "Hey System we need to talk," I called out. A moment later it appeared.
[WHAT DOES THOU REQUIRE MY ESTEEMED SELF?]
"We need to talk."
[I'M LISTENING]
"I want you to promise me something."
[WHAT?]
"Don't keep secrets from me, especially something big like me transforming into a monster!"
[IS THOU STILL FUSSING OVER THAT?]
"Of course, I'm still mad, I turned into a monster and could've hurt the others!" Hearing how seemingly arrogant sounding the System was despite the fact it can't even talk made gripping the steering wheel harder.
[BUT YOU DID NOT]
"What if it happens again, huh? What if something stronger appears and I'm transformed into that monster again!"
[IF THOU IS SHAKEN BY THAT MERE FACT I WORRY ABOUT THY DEVELOPMENT]
"Answer my question!"
[FINE IF IT CALMS THOU'S MISPLACED RAGE, I'LL ADVISE YOU TO RUN. BACK THEN I HAD WARNED YOU TO RUN AWAY]
"So what? Abandon my friends!" The sheer notion of it being so foreign it seems like an alien subject no matter what I can't abandon people I care for.
[YES FOR THOU'S SELF PRESERVATION]
"That's bullcrap!" This is getting nowhere, the longer we argue the more the subject is lost. I need to be calm or else It'll be forever an unresolved conflict.
"Just promise me to not keep secrets."
[WHY DOES THOU NEED TO KEEP PESTERING ME? I AM OLDER THAN THOU, THE FOOL SHOULD NOW TO ALWAYS FOLLOW MY ORDERS]
"You know what shut it! I don't need to follow your orders!" Anger flooded my entire body on how unreasonable it was acting.
A screen suddenly pops up, what the heck? On the top it said structure integrity and in the middle of it was a very long green rectangle. The health of this thing–looking closely the health was being depleted by a tiny bit.
Crap it's being attacked! Reinforcing my legs with Mana, I got down to the deck because it had been a high Vantage point. I can clearly look around the place to see where the base was being attacked. What's attacking the ship?
The noises of something can be heard, were those grunts? Yeah pretty sure the sounds of grunts and loud smacking noises. Going to the side of the base where I had heard it coming from, peering down there were some creatures there bashing their wooden weapon against it.
Each of them looked the same; they looked like kids with how short they are, pure black bodies, and a mask. The mask part is what sets them apart from each other. Each mask had a different pattern that vaguely resembles a face. It reminds me of Hawaiian tiki masks, on top of the mask were different colored feathers.
Looking at these creatures they were like minions from an old video game with their miniature stature and practicality that had the same appearance as one another.
Jumping down I immediately took action.
A sword getting unsheathed.
The azure blue flames lit the area, the first creature that saw me was also my first target striking it square into the face launching it far awand ay. Not wasting another time grabbing two of these things and smashing them together. Something sharp had tried to stab me from the back.
It was one of those creatures–probably the last one, holding a wooden spear pointing at me. Using Mana Reinforcement on my legs kicked the monsters which immediately took it down. Despite the fact it hurt like hell I didn't see any wound, heck it didn't even leave any mark.
Checking around the place to see if there were any more of those things, so far it was pretty much clear.
"Better hit the hay I'm getting tired," Going back to the wooden tower traveling through the hallways, from what I've seen of this base, it's more like a ship of some sort. If this is a ship then I must've been going to the captain quarters.
Well if this was a ship or at the very least based on some kind of ship, how did the System know to make this? Did it based it on my memories from a spaceship I had seen while watching tv, or did this thing based on its memory, its own past. Did this thing, the System, have its own past? Is this thing even alive? Must've been because I'm sure as hell this thing has a conciseness and a personality. Just what is this thing?
Right now my theory–as uncomfortable as it is. The System was some kind of Demon or maybe even a ghost; if Demons exist maybe ghosts too better ask Hana in the future.
Passing the window, seeing the vast landscape and the land beyond my view, another thing whenever the System makes these dungeons how big are they: like right now what if I travel in a straight line would there by a barrier? Or the ground would just end only leaving space? Or would it be infinite? Does the System create an entire planet every time I raid a dungeon, if so how powerful is the System.
Among all the questions of the System I have, the one I want to ask the most is what's its purpose in picking me, why does it want to help me reach my potential. So many questions yet I damn well knew it won't answer any of them, being tramp in the dark about this was honestly frightening; just what does this thing want from me I knew it probably wasn't doing this out of the goodness of its heart or whatever equivalent this thing was.
Maybe it's trying to turn me into a monster? Maybe that's why it's so determined to help me reach my max potential?
Dammit all I need to get some sleep, Also I'm getting hungry. Maybe I should eat some of the snacks I brought.
________________________________
[SINCE TIME IS PLENTY, THOU SHALL PRACTICE THY FIGHTING STYLE, THERE SHOULD BE A TRAINING DUMMY]
I ignore it, who fucking cares what the System says, thinking they know what's best. Just keep steering the ship.
[THOU BETTER NOT INTENTIONALLY IGNORING MY WISDOM]
"Yes I'm ignoring you if you promise to not keep any secrets from me."
[THOU IT IS WISE LISTEN TO MY ADVICE]
"The thing about advice is that I can ignore them."\
[THOU SHALL LISTEN TO MY ADVICE, MY WORDS ARE KEY TO THYSELF IN REACHING THEIR MAX POTENTIAL]
"System answer me this, why do you want me to reach my potential? Why did you choose me? What is my purpose?"
[IT IS NONE OF THY CONCERN]
"Dammit! What's with you keeping secrets!"
[THOU SHALL LEARN MY ESTEEMED SELF KNOWS WHAT'S BEST]
"Then what's the reason then! Tell me something!"
[THOU'S LESSON SHOULD BE KNOW AT WHAT TIME TO STITCH THY MOUTH]
"You know what, just shut up. I can't stand people keeping secrets, especially since it involves me!" I need to get some fresh air, maybe even eat something I haven't eaten in a while. Grabbing the bag I went down to the deck-like area to relax . Afterall I should really take advantage of this free vacation.
Sitting on the chairs, getting a nice clear view of the landscape around me, it was still breathtaking as ever and it wasn't hot actually, a nice cool breeze washed over me.
[DO NOT TRY TO IGNORE ME]
Trying to not focus on what that damn System wants, searching through the bag to find where I had put all my snacks; it should've been in this bag yet I can't find it. Surely I didn't finish this all right? Please tell me I didn't actually finish all of it last night.
Empty, the bag was empty–just great, it seems today is especially great for me. "What am I gonna eat now?"
[WHY IS THOU SO VEHEMENT ABOUT THIS? I DON'T NOT UNDERSTAND!]
I broke.
"Because I'm scared ok! I'm scared that I could have hurt my friends! I'm scared my body is changing into something! Just what do you want from my body, what is your goal!" The floodgates have opened, I can't keep it together all that frustration and anger was at a melting point bursting into a giant explosion.
[WHY DOESN'T THOU TRUST ME? I AM DOING WHAT'S GOOD FOR THOU]
"Of course I can't trust you! How could I when you kept something big like me turning into a monster! What am I gonna turn into a monster right now!"
[Calamity Point: 99]
"I'm scared for my body, I'm scared that I'll become some kind of monster . . . I . . I trusted you know? I thought you were a godsend, probably the greatest gift I had ever received. After all it was you that saved me from dying."
[THOU KNEW?]
"Well yeah, I'm not a total dumbass. It wasn't hard to piece it together, honestly I thought I could've trusted you."
Waiting for the System to respond, yet nothing happened there wasn't another screen that popped up it just seemingly vanished. A small sigh let out, A number one priority is to look for food now since bringing up my screen showed I was still half way there, pretty confident I can't survive until then but I really want to find something to eat.
Maybe there was something in the shop that could be eaten. I wonder what food from the shop tastes like? Going into the shop screen typing in the search bar food only to find nothing. "Great . . . That only leaves out one option."
A sword being unsheathed
Jumping down to the ground, using Mana Reinforcement so my legs won't break. Began to walking in a straight direction, since this place was a desert. Maybe I could find an oasis or something like that with fruits.
Kept going in a straight line to make sure I didn't get lost, occasionally looking back at the wooden base to really make sure I wasn't lost.
The feeling of hunger was getting to me. I really want something to eat, please dear god there is something out here I can eat.
"I need to . . . Power through! . . Find food!"
Spotting something in the distance, now way, it can't be can it? Reinforcing my leg with Mana immediately running to it as fast as my legs would allow me it was getting more clearer, it was my paradise! There was a lush green oasis, it looked perfect with many different trees surrounding a clean crystal blue lake.
Spotting an apple dangling on one of the trees, a second later I had entirely eaten the apple. "Thank you God!"
Looking around there so many different fruits here like apples, pomegranate, fig, and plums. Actually my elder sister Silva had taught me these types of fruits can grow in the desert just fine. Further cementing a theory the System creates things from memory or I'm just looking way too into it.
"Huh what is this?" There was something in the ground but the tall leaves were blocking the view. It was something brown. I picked it up. It was a wooden spear? Why was there a wooden spear here and it looks oddly familiar.
Hearing a twig break behind me, turning around seeing one of those tiki mask-like creatures charging at me, these guys again? Reinforcing my arm with Mana I punch it in the fast sending it flying.
Crap, I better get back to base luckily it was still relatively close as I can see it as a big speck. Unluckily that means the monsters can get there faster.
I got launched into the trees. "What the hell!" looking up I saw what had hit me, it was one of those tiki masked creatures though instead of a small chubby body it had a lean athletic black body. Both of its hands were covered in this white and purple mist. Just looking at this thing tells me I'm going to have a bad time.
My hands lit a flame with the azure blue of Critical Strike. The one that made the first move was me, in a flash I was in front of it, punching it in the face. It dodged my attack and threw a punch to my stomach.
Gasping for air I held my stomach in pain, the tiki masked man grabbed my throat and slammed me into the ground, it began to pummel me in the face over and over again.
I can't breathe, or even speak. Being on the verge of passing out I tried to stay awake yet every punch made that harder. I cough up blood, more blood, even more blood that my face was probably covered in it. Not once did it stop for less than one second it was like a machine perfectly repeating it over and over again . . . I can't think straight, I can't stand up . . . I can't . . .
Everything around me was black.
__________________________________
[Name: Jackson Maverick]
Level: 36
Title: Incel|Loser, Bloodied Survivor
[STATS]
Points: 0
Strength: 51
Speed: 49
Defense: 39
Mana: 20
Calamity Point : 100
[SKILLS]
---
---
---
-Critical Strike-
-Mana Reinforcement-
[QUEST]
[SHOP]
________________________________