Kaiza paused, staring at the word 'EXPLAIN' on the screen with a stern look. He had no words to say. He was completely rendered speechless. He had thought he could just choose an option just as he did earlier, but the system had a twist this time.
Kaiza reflected on this and then realized. Since it was a new level that means there might be some new challenges. Perhaps, at this level it required him to explain his answer, in order to convince the system and not just randomly pick what he felt like.
Just as he settled on this idea, he heard a faint metallic clink. Ahead of him, a small section of the floor opened, and a stand was seen coming out. Once it settled, then a floating screen appeared on the stand.
Just then it was conveyed to Kaiza that he ought to use the laptop-like floating screen to input his answers. The system wasn't reading minds this time.
Kaiza matched forward, placing his hand on the keypads about to operate it. This device wasn't a new thing to him. Floating screens are common devices used in different parts of the city, even some rural areas have a few.
Standing before the screen, Kaiza tried to push aside his vengeful self, pause his drive for power and focused on getting the power. Or just being the hero the game wanted him to be.
But this attempt wasn't easy. Because he could still vividly picture the last moment of his father and half-conscious mother in his mind. With these thoughts it became harder for him to concentrate. A sudden sharp headache jolted him. He shut his eyes trying to get himself to answer the question before his time runs out.
Just then he thought about the timing, he was certain the time would have been reduced by some certain high amount of seconds, perhaps fifteen. He then quickly glanced through the big projected screen ahead of him for time. The timer showed 5/20 seconds left. His time was almost up. Realizing this, Kaiza gave up. Not only because of the time, but because of his headache, he couldn't think of a thing to type in. And also knowing he had enough points to keep progressing. So with that in mind he gave up on this question.
As the timer hit zero. New messages popped up on the screen and the question scrolled away. Kaiza watched as his stats updated.
[Level 2 - Intermediate; 2Q]
[ Number of questions - 5]
[Number of questions asked - 3]
[Questions answered correctly - 2]
[Questions answered incorrectly - 1]
[Incorrect answer - wo marks deducted]
Kaiza's eyes widened as he watched this happen. His brows shot up in curiosity of what that message meant. Just then the battery bar was deducted by two. Falling from seven to five bars. Only now did Kaiza realize if he missed a question the point supposed to be added would be deducted from his total already earned point.
Kaiza who had assumed even if he got the question wrong he still had enough points to get the rewards was surprised to see the bar fall back at five. He couldn't believe a missed question meant a subtraction from his total score. Things in this game were so different from what he had experienced. It was just a new and strange game.
Kaiza then determined he won't let his anger and vengeful rage overwhelm him in return making him lose what he wanted. And also end up dying. Dying wasn't an option now.
As the screen scrolled up. It revealed the next question.
[What is the greatest war looming that humanity is about to face?]
A smile curved on Kaizas lips as he glanced through the question. To him this seemed like an easy question. Even a five-year-old would answer this question without thinking for long. It was everywhere that humanity was about to face once conquered war again. The war against the Dowolf Beast.
Then options floated in... This got Kaiza wondering for a while. He had thought at this level he had to explain his point to pass the test. But this question was a multiple choice question. That was the least of Kaiza worries when he began to read the strange and confusing options that was displayed on the screen
[The struggle to maintain humanity compassion and empathy] and [War against the Dowolf Beast]
The options got Kaiza into a state of empuzzlement. The answers were much similar. As a matter of fact to him he considered the answers just the same. During the war humans tried not to become monsters just to save themselves but it was impossible as they had to fight their Nemesis. Also the war against the Dowolf Beast was another option he considered correct.
However as he thought about this more, it started to sink into his mind what the game was trying to make him think. As a hero he must try to maintain his humanity when he becomes more powerful. Like most heroes when they gain power, their mind becomes corrupted and makes irrational decisions. A decision that was inhuman.
They would become monsters through gaining powers because they lose control over their mind and the beast within them which this power has unleashed.
In the case of Kaiza why he wanted power was against being a true hero. He was blinded by revenge, and had lost his humanness to it. If he gained these powers he wouldn't be the hero the world needed but become the villain the world never saw coming.
To Kaiza understanding and assumption this question was from a heroic experience. He assumed a hero who had used the power, had used them wrongly to his own doom.
"The struggle to maintain humanity, compassion and empathy" Kaiza thought in his mind and this option was bordered on the screen with blue.
After, the stats were updated. Kaiza had gotten two points for getting the answer correctly. Then after the system came with a twist in the next question.
On the screen was written;
[Next question would be asked from your future as a hero]
[Dear player, place your palm on the palmprint on the screen]
As the message was typed in. The keypad on the floating screen shape shifted into a flat surface with a large palm print on it.
Kaiza wasn't as hesitant as before. He laid his palm proportionally on the large print and waited for what was going to happen next.
As his hand met with the screen, the print resized to fit his hand, sending a strange, tingling sensation through his palm into his body.
Just then questions were generated flashing rapidly on the screen, changing every millisecond as if the system was scanning his future.
Then Kaiza wondered what the system means by question would be picked from his future? Was this screen he laid his hand against going through his future right now? Could it really read his future?
Loads of questions like this flooded Kaiza's unstable mind. And with that, he instinctively removed his hand. Just then the generated questions disappeared. And a red light and a dangerous sound illuminated the room just after that. Then a message followed.
[Player palm not detected]
[Player went against the rule]
[One point deducted from players point]
[Dear player, place your hand on the screen. Last warning!]
As these appeared on the screen, Kaiza's jaw dropped in amazement. The screen was actually reading his future. What technology was used to develop this. This only happened in fictional worlds. Kaiza's mind was not focused on the point deducted but rather he was amazed by the advanced tech used to develop this. Or was this actually a joke?
Taking a deep breath, he then placed his hand on the screen again. The print resized and fitted to his hand, scanning his hand and releasing the same tingling feeling into his body again.
As this happened. What appeared earlier on the screen did. Questions generated rapidly flashed on the screen. But this time it didn't take long to settle on a question. Finally a question was picked.
[Your wife was at the point of death. Simultaneously, a citizen is also at the brink of death! As a hero, who will you save first?]
Options: [Wife] or [Citizen]
[Player answers within ten seconds. Time starts now.]