Chapter 3: Unveiling the System
The night seemed to stretch on forever as I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind buzzing with everything that had happened. I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that hollow-faced creature, felt the sickening fear as it lunged for me. But more than the memory of the creature itself, it was the system's voice that haunted me—cold, mechanical, indifferent.
Containment Points. Missions. Consequences. It sounded like a twisted game, but the stakes were real. I hadn't asked for any of this, but somehow, I was part of it now. I rubbed my eyes, my thoughts a mess. There had to be a way to figure out what I was dealing with.
"System?" I whispered, half-expecting silence. But instead, the screen materialized before me again, filling my room with an eerie, dim light.
"Player Leo," the voice intoned, as if it had been waiting for me. "Status: Mission one complete. Current status: Inactive. No new missions available."
I hesitated. "I… I need to understand what's going on. What exactly are these missions? And what do you mean by 'inactive'?"
The system responded immediately, its voice as calm and unfeeling as ever. "You are currently between assigned tasks. During inactive periods, you may access system functions, allocate Containment Points, or perform status checks."
My eyes narrowed as I tried to piece together the fragments of information. "So, I can… what? Use the points I earned?"
"Affirmative. You have accumulated ten Containment Points. These may be used to unlock system functions, purchase containment tools, or acquire anomaly skills."
Containment Points. CP, I thought to myself, trying to grasp how all of this worked. I glanced at the screen, noticing a small icon blinking in the corner—a shopping cart symbol. I took a deep breath and selected it.
Instantly, the screen shifted, displaying a list of items, each with a CP cost beside it:
Containment Sphere - 5 CP (Single use)
Spectral Vision - 10 CP (30-second duration)
Minor Health Boost - 8 CP (Limited use)
Anomaly Skills (Tier 1) - 10 CP (Randomized skill extraction)
I scanned the list, my mind racing. Each item was tempting, each one giving me a sliver of control over this chaotic situation. But one option caught my attention: Anomaly Skills. I remembered how that first creature had almost overpowered me, and the idea of being able to fight back more effectively was too appealing to ignore.
Without overthinking it, I selected the Anomaly Skills option.
"Deducting 10 CP. Beginning skill extraction…"
A twinge of anxiety hit me as the words flickered across the screen. I watched, feeling like a fool for spending all my points at once, but it was too late now. The screen flashed, and then a new line of text appeared.
"You have acquired 'Spectral Grasp (Tier 1)'."
My brow furrowed. Spectral Grasp? "What does that do?"
The system responded, as if reading my mind. "Spectral Grasp allows the user to momentarily interact with anomalies in physical form. When activated, it grants the ability to grapple or briefly immobilize an anomaly."
I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "So… I can actually touch them? Like, hold them in place?"
"Affirmative. Duration is limited to five seconds per use. Recharge time required between activations."
Five seconds. It didn't sound like much, but I remembered how helpless I'd felt against the last anomaly, swinging uselessly with the flashlight. Having a skill like this—even if it was just five seconds—could make all the difference.
I got up and paced around the room, restless, still trying to make sense of it all. "And what exactly are these anomalies? Where do they come from?"
The system's voice turned strangely cryptic. "Anomalies are manifestations of residual energy, entities that disrupt the natural order. They do not belong in the physical world."
"That doesn't answer my question," I muttered, feeling frustration bubble up. But it was clear I wouldn't get more information. I took a deep breath and decided to try something else.
"System, is there a way for me to practice… this Spectral Grasp skill?" It felt ridiculous saying it out loud, but I needed to get a handle on this power before I faced another mission.
"Simulation mode available upon request," the voice intoned.
A simulation? I hesitated, but I knew I had to try. "Alright," I said, steeling myself. "Start simulation."
The lights around me dimmed, and suddenly, the walls of my apartment faded away. I blinked, my heart skipping a beat as I found myself standing in an endless, dark void. The only thing breaking the darkness was a small, glowing circle beneath my feet. The silence was thick, pressing in on all sides, and for a moment, I wondered if I'd made a mistake.
But then, a figure appeared in the darkness. It looked like the anomaly I'd fought in the alley—same elongated limbs, same hollow eyes. The sight of it made my pulse quicken, my hands clenching instinctively.
"Prepare for activation," the system's voice echoed in the void.
The figure moved toward me, slowly at first, then faster, its limbs twitching as it came closer. Panic surged through me, but I forced myself to focus, remembering why I was here. I took a deep breath, concentrating on the system's words.
"Activate Spectral Grasp," I whispered, and as soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a strange surge of energy pulse through my hand.
I lunged forward, reaching out as the creature swung its clawed hand toward me. My fingers connected with its arm, and for the first time, I felt solid flesh beneath my grip—a cold, sickly sensation, like holding a piece of rotting wood. The creature struggled against me, but my grip held firm.
Five seconds. I counted silently, feeling the creature's writhing form resist me. The moment I reached "five," the creature dissolved into mist, slipping from my grasp as if it had never been there.
My hands were shaking as the darkness faded, the walls of my apartment reappearing around me. I staggered back, pressing a hand to my chest as I tried to calm my breathing.
"Simulation complete," the voice intoned, as if it was no big deal.
But my mind was racing. Spectral Grasp wasn't just some trick—it was real. And for those brief seconds, I'd had control. A small taste of power, but power nonetheless.
Still, a nagging feeling ate at me, and I couldn't shake it. I had gained something, but at what cost? The idea of becoming more powerful was tempting, but the system was too cold, too detached. I couldn't trust it, not entirely.
I took a deep breath, running a hand through my hair. "So… what now?" I asked, though I didn't really expect an answer.
But the system surprised me. "Your next mission will be assigned when a new anomaly is detected. Until then, you may continue practicing or exploring available upgrades."
Exploring upgrades. The phrase stuck with me, a reminder that I'd just spent all my points on one ability. And while Spectral Grasp might be useful, I knew it wouldn't be enough in the long run.
"Fine," I said, the words steadying me. "I'll keep going… for now." But a thought lingered at the edge of my mind, one that left me feeling both terrified and exhilarated.
Because no matter how this played out, one thing was clear: I couldn't go back to the person I'd been before. And maybe, just maybe, that wasn't such a bad thing.