Boom!
The moment the diary touched the glowing light, a wave of energy exploded outward. It wasn't destructive—no heat, no force, just a surge of raw power that made the air vibrate. Jack stumbled back, shielding his eyes as he watched in awe. The two lights intertwined: The First System, a blinding brilliance, and the reddish aura of Jon's A.I. System.
For a second, it seemed they were merging, but Jack quickly realized the truth. The First System was absorbing the A.I. System. The reddish glow intensified, blood-red energy streaming from the diary into the light. Slowly, the bright core of Jon's system faded, shrinking as it was drawn into the center of The First System. The hum rose to a crescendo, then settled into a steady, resonant pulse.
The blood-red glow withdrew from the light, seeping back into the diary, leaving it dull and lifeless. The bright light of The First System now contained a small, glowing sphere at its core, as if it had always belonged there.
Another wave of power erupted, and the light drifted toward Jack. Before he could react, it touched his chest.
Jack gasped as energy flowed through him. He felt weightless, his body rising from the ground, levitating. But it wasn't painful. It was… euphoric. Pure, soothing warmth filled every corner of his being. He closed his eyes, lost in the sensation. 'This… is incredible.'
Slowly, the light dimmed, and Jack floated gently back to the ground, settling onto the dirt floor of the hut. He opened his eyes, breathless. 'I expected… agony. Not this.'
Before he could gather his thoughts, the diary on the floor pulsed. The reddish aura flared one last time, then shot into his chest. Jack felt it seep into him, like a final puzzle piece clicking into place.
A soft ding! sounded in his mind.
[Welcome, User.]
Jack blinked. The voice echoed in his head, calm and clear. A panel appeared in his vision, translucent and glowing.
[This System was abandoned by its Creator before completion, for reasons… unknown to me. Its incomplete state made it unusable, and it was lost to history. The Creator's son designed a secondary System, meant to find and be absorbed by me. Jon's System was that creation.]
Jack's heart raced. 'It's talking to me… explaining everything.'
[Now that the integration is complete, I require a name. What would you like to call me?]
Jack blinked. A name? He hadn't expected this. "A name…" he murmured, thinking. His mind wandered back, memories surfacing unbidden. Sun-soaked beaches, salt in the air, the rush of catching a perfect wave. Koa's laugh. The man had been more than just a surf instructor; he'd become a father figure when Jack needed it most.
Jack remembered how he had only planned to stay for the summer, escaping the emptiness of his life back home. That summer turned into four years, each one richer than the last. Koa taught him not just how to surf but how to live. 'You don't fight the waves, Jack. You ride them. Flow with them, and they'll take you where you need to go.'
Tears welled up as Jack smiled. "Koa," he whispered, the name echoing in the quiet hut. That was it. That was what he would call the System—the force that would guide him now, just like Koa had back then.
The panel glowed brighter.
[Koa… Name accepted.]
Jack swallowed hard, feeling a strange peace settle over him. "Now what?" he whispered. "Can I… use your power?"
[Not yet. You must fully merge with me to access my abilities. This conversation is powered by the remaining blood aura from the diary. It will run out soon.]
Jack frowned. "Fully merge? How?"
[Like any other System: enter the Cycle of Reincarnation with a System attached to your soul. Upon rebirth, we will be one. You will retain your current memories but be born on a random planet.]
The weight of it hit Jack hard. "Reincarnation… and I'll remember everything?"
[Correct. You have two options: wait to enter the Cycle naturally when you die, or I can use the remaining energy to send you now. It will be painless.]
Jack sat in stunned silence as the panel flickered.
[Preserving energy. I will shut down now. Take your time to decide.]
The panel vanished, leaving Jack alone in the dim hut. He stared at the diary, his mind a storm of thoughts. 'Reincarnation… a new life. A new world.'
Days turned into weeks. Jack explored the island, tending to the basics of survival—finding food, making a fire, and sheltering from the rain. But every quiet moment, his mind returned to the choice.
'Stay here, wait to die, and merge naturally… or take the leap now. Start over.' He weighed the risks and rewards, the fear of the unknown battling the lure of something extraordinary. The island was beautiful, but it was a prison. 'I can't just… exist here forever. Not when I have a chance to do something more.'
He stood at the shore one evening, staring at the endless horizon. The sun dipped below the waves, the sky ablaze with color. He heard Koa's voice again, as clear as if the man were beside him.
'You don't fight the waves, Jack. You ride them.'
Jack closed his eyes, breathing deeply. "I'm ready."
Back in the hut, he sat cross-legged, facing the spot where the light had merged with him. "Koa, Do it," he whispered.
The air shifted, a soft hum filling the room. Warmth spread through Jack's chest. A gentle flame ignited around him, roaring softly, enveloping him in light. It wasn't fire—it was pure energy, comforting and calm.
His eyes closed, and consciousness began to slip away.
'I wonder… what's next?'
A roaring, soft flame engulfed him, gentle and warm. As he lost consciousness, a peaceful smile touched his lips. The light grew brighter, the hum fading to a whisper as everything dissolved into darkness.