After school, the boys hurried to the park, buzzing with excitement. As soon as they reached a secluded spot, Liam turned to Kane, practically bouncing on his feet. "Can you summon it again? The system, I mean. Let's see if it'll come back!"
Kane took a breath, focusing. Almost instinctively, the glowing screen appeared in front of him, clear and vibrant, as if he'd always known how to summon it. His eyes widened with a mix of awe and pride, while Liam and Leo watched his reaction with anticipation, though they couldn't see what Kane was seeing.
On the screen, the same message displayed:
[Synchronization with host is at one hundred percent]
Liam and Leo could only guess what was going on, but their excitement was infectious, especially for Liam, who was practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "This is so incredible! We're witnessing history here, guys!"
Just as Liam opened his mouth to propose another of his big ideas, another message flashed onto the screen.
[General Quest: Lay siege to your power]
Kane frowned and muttered aloud, "Lay siege to my power?"
Liam's eyebrows shot up. "What? Lay siege? What does that even mean?"
Kane shrugged, just as confused as Liam. "I was hoping you'd know. It's like…a prompt from the system, but it's pretty vague."
Liam scratched his head, lost in thought. "Maybe it's some kind of challenge. Or maybe…" His eyes lit up with another idea. "Wait! Since this is an AI system, maybe you can talk to it. You know, interact with it directly!"
Kane considered it, feeling a bit ridiculous but willing to try. "Uh… System? Can you explain the quest?" he said out loud.
Nothing happened.
Leo, trying to be helpful, nudged him. "Maybe try asking it again, but, I don't know, louder?"
Kane sighed, feeling a little silly. "System! What does 'lay siege to your power' mean?"
Still nothing. Frustration began creeping in. His gaze drifted, and he muttered under his breath, "C'mon, please work…"
Just then, the screen flickered to life.
[Host should note that mental communication is crucial for uninterrupted discussions between the user and the system.]
Kane's eyes widened. He glanced back at Liam and Leo, who were watching him intently. "It worked! I think… it reads my thoughts."
Liam's jaw dropped, a new wave of excitement washing over him. "This is insane! Alright, maybe you should take some time alone with it, see what it can tell you."
Kane nodded, grateful for the space. While Liam and Leo moved a bit further away to give him privacy, Kane focused on the screen once more, his thoughts steadied.
[Full analysis of host has been completed. Host status will be deployed in 3…2…1.]
A detailed breakdown of his stats appeared before him, visible only to Kane.
Status
Name: Kane? (Just Kane)
Age: 16
Race: Human
Allies: 2
Level: 1 (0/100)
HP: 10/10
Energy Pool: 10/10
Strength: 10
Speed: 10
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Wits: 12
Abilities: 2
Stat Points: 0
Skill Points: 0
Kane stared in amazement, wondering what each stat meant and feeling the weight of this new, hidden potential.
__________
Kane settled into a secluded corner of the park, watching as Leo and Liam practiced throwing punches and flipping stances a little ways off. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, and the sky was starting to turn shades of pink and purple, but his focus was entirely on the screen floating in front of him.
It had only been a few hours since he'd actually known how to use this mysterious "system" that now seemed rooted inside his mind, and he was burning with questions.
With a deep breath, Kane centered himself and thought deliberately. "System, let's start simple. Can you tell me what you are?"
The screen flickered momentarily, and then words began appearing in clear, blocky text:
[System: A user-interface designed to assist the Host in managing and enhancing newly unlocked abilities. Provides data, guidance, and mission assignments. Some might think of me as a computer AI, but with appropriate use, I could be a fatal weapon]
Kane's eyebrows rose. "So, you're like… a personal assistant for powers?" Not minding it's last few words.
[Inaccurate. The System is an operational intelligence created to monitor, analyze, and aid the Host's progress in harnessing abilities derived from Essence energy.]
Kane scratched his head, rolling his eyes at the response. Always so formal.
"Alright, alright. So, about this Essence energy—what is it, exactly?"
[Essence: A unique energy source originating from the galaxy cluster Andromeda. It binds with certain individuals, granting them access to latent abilities.]
"And the prism? That's Essence too, right?"
[Correct. The prism is an Essence stone, a concentrated form of this energy, utilized by Hosts to activate and amplify abilities.]
Kane leaned back against the tree behind him, processing this. So that's why the city's elite are always flaunting their abilities; they had resources to boost their powers further, while they just left the poor to lick their boots.
This was how the world today was, dog-eat-dog, every man for himself. Kane didn't know if he had been lucky enough to be born a noble, whether he would still be irritated by their act and he didn't care. All he knew was that he was not so lucky and was suffering for that. He just cleared his thoughts and decided to focus on the task at hand for now at least.
He thought for a moment before glancing back at the screen. "What about us? I mean, why can my friends and I draw power from the prism, even without a power hub? We definitely didn't buy it."
As if to mock him, the response was simple and familiar:
[Access Denied: Host is not authorized for this information.]
Kane ground his teeth. "Typical." He muttered under his breath.
Switching tactics, he moved on to another line of questioning. "What exactly do all those stats mean? Like, is there a cheat sheet?"
The system seemed to hesitate for a moment before producing a list of stats with definitions, each one appearing in a sharp, almost clinical format.
[Strength: Determines physical force in combat and ability to lift or push objects.
Speed: Defines movement and reaction time; enhances evasive maneuvers.
Agility: Increases reflexes, balance, and nimbleness, useful in quick recovery.
Stamina: Measures endurance, enabling prolonged physical activity and resilience.
Wits: Sharpens cognitive speed, aiding in problem-solving and decision-making.
HP (Health Points): Overall health and ability to withstand physical damage.
Energy Pool: Supplies power for active abilities and endurance in combat]
For a moment though, kane felt a little stupid for asking that question "I can't believe I actually asked that, it was so obvious" letting it go, he continued
"So these stats basically determine how well I can use my abilities?" Kane thought aloud, scratching his beardless chin.
[Correct. Stats allow the Host to measure physical and mental capabilities, enabling strategic enhancement for more effective ability use.]
Kane nodded, his curiosity still far from satisfied. "And what are stat points?"
[Stat Points: Earned by leveling up. Can be distributed to boost specific attributes, allowing the Host to tailor their growth according to needs and goals.]
He felt a surge of excitement at the idea of leveling up. For a moment, he could see himself as a sort of city superhero, swooping in to protect people, powered by a perfectly calculated mix of strength and agility, but he knew how unnecessary that was, the reason was clear, practically every one had abilities. But just as quickly, he remembered the reality of his situation—they had no way to earn these points yet, not until they figured out what they could do.
And that led him to his next question. He glanced over at Leo and Liam, who were messing around, trying to perform tricks and flips they'd probably never pulled off before. He watched them for a moment, then turned back to the screen.
"What are our powers, exactly?" he asked, hoping the answer would clear up his doubts once and for all.
Without hesitation, the system displayed a brief but fascinating description:
[Leo's Ability
Electrokinetic Reflexes: Leo can harness electrical energy to enhance his speed and reaction time, allowing him to move at lightning-fast speeds, especially in combat.
Liam's Ability
Kinetic Field Manipulation: Liam can generate fields that absorb, redirect, or amplify kinetic energy. This allows him to block or deflect attacks, as well as amplify his own strikes by charging them with stored kinetic energy]
Kane couldn't help but let out a low whistle. That explains a lot, he thought, recalling the strange incidents when Leo seemed faster than usual and Liam's being able to protect them from the rogue pole.
But what about me? His gaze locked onto the screen, and he waited, holding his breath. What's my power?
Only one line appeared:
[Lay siege to your power]
Kane's face twisted in frustration. "What the hell does that even mean?"
The system's response was as maddeningly vague as ever.
[Access Denied: Host is not authorized for this information.]
"Fine, don't tell me then!" he hissed, feeling ridiculous for arguing with a screen in his head. He ran a hand through his hair, taking a moment to calm himself before moving on.
"So why are you even in my head?" he asked, trying not to get his hopes up, noting that the system could be a pain the ass most times.
Once again, the response was a familiar stone wall.
[Access Denied: Host is not authorized for this information.]
"You've got to be kidding me." Kane took a few deep breaths, using all the power he could muster to fight back the urge to throw relentless insults.
His frustration made him feel a little impulsive, so he fired off a series of questions, hoping one would stick. "How did I get these powers? Why can't I see my own ability? What am I supposed to 'siege'? And why do you keep denying me every other answer?"
He braced himself, but only one answer appeared:
[Host must complete General Quest to unlock further abilities.]
"Right, 'lay siege to my power,' whatever that means," Kane muttered, deflating a little.
He cast a glance back at Leo and Liam. Part of him was tempted to tell them everything—every detail about what he was seeing, all the secrets locked away by this damn system—but another part of him held back. Maybe he wanted to prove himself first, to figure out his own role in this strange new reality.
With a resigned sigh, Kane slumped back against the tree, closing his eyes for a moment, collecting his thoughts. Just then, he heard footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes to find Leo grinning at him with an almost manic excitement.
"Yo, what's up? Any new revelations from the 'Magic Screen'?" Leo teased, making air quotes.
Kane smirked, crossing his arms. "Nothing concrete, but I know a little more than I did before."
Leo's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Care to share?"
Kane hesitated, then gave him a small nod. "You've got something called 'Electrokinetic Reflexes.' Basically, you can move like lightning as it said, speed up your reflexes. You'd be unstoppable in a footrace."
Leo's jaw dropped, then a smug grin spread across his face. "Oh, hell yes. That's what I'm talking about!" He shot a look over his shoulder at Liam. "Hey, Liam! Guess who's the Flash now?"
Liam rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. And what about me?"
Kane nodded. "You can control kinetic energy. Create fields that stop attacks, redirect force. You're like a human tank."
Liam's eyebrows shot up in surprise, then his face broke into a small smile. "Interesting."
Both of them were on fire with excitement, but Kane still felt the gnawing doubt in the pit of his stomach. They didn't need to know about his mysterious "General Quest," about the words haunting his screen: "Lay siege to your power."
For now, he'd let them bask in their discovery. But one thing was certain—the system had answers, and he wasn't going to stop asking until he unlocked them all.