Suddenly, a soft chime sounded in Desmond's ears, jolting him to reality.
[Ding!]
[Synchrony completed.]
[Host, Desmond Woods, has synchronized with his character, Desmond Quill.]
[Awakening of Host's Gift: 01.0%]
[Time remaining: 1 hour]
"Freaking hell…" Desmond muttered, startled as a faint, holographic blue silhouette flickered to life in front of him.
"What was that, honey?" Martha asked, not getting what he muttered as she released him from their embrace.
"I just meant… I love Dad too," Desmond replied quickly, recovering his composure. He offered her a reassuring smile, hoping she hadn't noticed his shock.
She chuckled softly, brushing a hand over his cheek. "He knows that very well."
Letting go, she stepped back, her gaze warm. "Alright, go get some rest. You look a bit tired."
Desmond nodded. "I think I'll head up to my room."
He managed one last smile at her before he turned and jogged up the stairs, feeling a pang of guilt mixed with excitement.
This is unreal, he thought as he made his way up, his mind reeling from the unexpected alert.
A system? In Crown of Glory? That's new. He'd read plenty of novels with protagonists who had "systems," so while it wasn't completely foreign, it was an unfamiliar addition to this world.
As he closed his bedroom door, he sat down on the edge of his bed, staring at the miniature blue figure hovering in front of him. Guess I should talk to it.
How should I address you? he asked, his thoughts a mix of curiosity and caution.
[You may address me as Kenny] The silhouette's voice resonated inside his mind, calm and clear.
Alright, Kenny, Desmond thought, relaxing a bit. So… why me? Why was I chosen as your host? And… how exactly were you created?
He was aware this was likely connected to his new goal, but he wanted answers. Part of him couldn't shake the feeling that some powerful, ancient force was lurking behind this twist.
[Due to your unfortunate fate in reality, your destiny clashed with your new role in the novel world—contending with the protagonist for the kill of the final antagonist. This created a glitch, resulting in my formation. Originally, your role in Crown of Glory was meant to be that of a Bystander. However, the goal assigned to you by Lazy_Nerd changed your fate, and thus, a gift was required. My creation was necessary to facilitate this].
Desmond let out a slow breath, absorbing Kenny's words.
"So, because my life's a mess in reality, it's screwed up here too… and that's how you were created?" He slumped back on his bed, the weight of Kenny's explanation sinking in.
"Well, that… sucks," he muttered, letting the absurdity and bitterness wash over him.
Deep down, he'd secretly hoped he was some kind of chosen one, a hero destined to save reality with the system's power.
But the truth was less glamorous—he wasn't the chosen one at all. He just needed the system to even stand a chance.
[If you require any more information, I'm here to assist you] Kenny's voice chimed, his tone calm yet oddly provocative.
Yeah? Well, screw you, Desmond snapped, frustration surging through him as he raised his middle finger to the blue silhouette. The absurdity of his situation was hitting hard.
[Hahaha!] Kenny's laughter echoed in his mind, surprisingly animated.
A small percentage counter appeared beside Kenny's holographic figure, slowly ticking upward.
Desmond's irritation turned to a mix of curiosity and confusion as he stared at the counter.
Five minutes passed with him just watching it climb, and eventually, he shifted his attention back to practical matters.
Alright, I need a story about how I suddenly got a gift. He leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
None of the characters in Crown of Glory ever awakened their gifts after their sixteenth birthday, he mused, so there's no blueprint I can use.
[You can chalk it up to luck] Kenny advised, interrupting his train of thought. [Act shocked, scared, and excited. No matter who they call in to check you out, they won't find anything unusual].
Desmond frowned, skeptical. Are you sure? There's no one who can detect your existence?
He wasn't taking any chances.
Crown of Glory had no mention of a system before his involvement, and the last thing he wanted was to draw negative attention from the Alliance or—worse—the Sovereigns of the Eaters.
[I'm certain. I don't exist outside your imagination] Kenny assured him, revealing something intriguing in the process.
Desmond's tension eased slightly, though the uncertainty lingered. Great. Just gotta hope I don't end up as some science experiment in the meantime.
He leaned back, closing his eyes to gather his thoughts. Better get my head around everything I know about this world.
For the next forty minutes, he mentally retraced every detail he could recall about Crown of Glory, piecing together knowledge of characters, politics, and the threats that lurked in this world.
When he finally finished, his gaze drifted back to the floating percentage counter, now almost fully complete.
Three minutes left, he thought as the percentage counter ticked closer to completion, his anticipation building with each second.
He leaned forward, watching the numbers climb, holding his breath.
[Ding!]
[Awakening Complete]
[Host has awakened the gift - Envisioning]
[Envisioning: Bringing to reality the Imaginations of the Mind]
[Skill Level: Level One - Level Seven]
[Level One - Unlocked]
[Skill: Weapon Manifestation - all weapons imagined manifest with the power and defense of a Star Two Jury's Gift]
"Incredible!" Desmond exclaimed as Kenny's voice read out the notifications. The details scrolled by in his mind, clear as day.
This gift, Envisioning, hadn't even been written into the original Crown of Glory novel. It was his alone.
He could feel an energy within him, buzzing at the edges of his awareness.
Following what he knew about the novel's power system, he focused on his Celestial Fluid, the source of energy that allowed gifted individuals to channel their abilities.
Within a minute, he found it, took hold of it, and felt it flow under his control.
"It would be insane if anyone knew I sensed and controlled my Celestial Fluid in under a minute."
A grin crept onto his face.
[Awakening two months after your birthday, and now perfectly controlling your Celestial Fluid—you'll face two paths if the world learns of this. Either you'll be trained to the peak with the best resources, or you'll be hunted down by enemies who see you as a threat] Kenny remarked, seemingly reading Desmond's thoughts.
Desmond's grin faded as the weight of Kenny's words sank in. But an idea quickly formed. "You're right… but I think I have a solution."