I lifted my gaze toward the blue window floating in front of me. The options remained there, apparently waiting for my response.
—This is like a… an RPG game!— I shouted excitedly, understanding what the window in front of me was.
—I know spiritual energy is important, but I'm not sure about choosing that reward. I don't even know how spiritual energy is used, nor do I know what having a skill slot means. Right now, what I need most… are answers.
After reaching this conclusion, I selected option two with my finger: "Direct meeting with the System."
The blue window disappeared after choosing the reward, and in the blink of an eye, the world vanished.
When I opened my eyes again, I was no longer on the street from moments ago. I was floating in an infinite space stretching in all directions, a sea of stars slowly shining, as if they were breathing, and in the middle of it all I felt a strange sense of calm and of being watched.
—Where… am I?— I asked the void.
Then, space itself answered me.
[Welcome, Kaito]
The voice did not come from any specific point. It was deep, serene, and carried an unsettling closeness, as if it were born from my own chest.
—You are… the System?— I asked, trying to hide my surprise.
[I am what you call the "System," but the correct way to see me is as a manifestation of spiritual energy and your desires]
The stars began to move slowly, forming patterns that fell apart before being completed.
—My desires?
[Your will to survive. Your desire to resist. Your longing to change. All your desires, even those you ignore, made me awaken and take form]
I remained silent, assimilating every word. "Desires I ignore…"
—Then what are these missions?
[Missions appear according to the situations you face]
—And the rewards? How is it that you can give them to me?
[They vary according to your current needs and the difficulty of the completed mission. I am pure spiritual energy; I can provide you with the selected rewards]
—So you're something like a god?
[I am not what beings like you call God. I am simply spiritual energy that gained consciousness thanks to your desires. You may understand me as one of your abilities]
—Wait, and what if I fail the missions?— "Earlier I only managed to complete the mission thanks to Pig. I have no idea what will happen if I fail."
[Currently, there is no penalty for failing to complete a mission. You will only lose the rewards associated with the mission]
After that, the voice paused briefly and continued.
[This meeting has already gone on too long. I hope you complete the missions; that way, we will be able to meet again]
The space began to fade away.
—Is that all? There are still many things I don't understand— I said desperately as a blinding light enveloped everything.
When the light faded, I found myself once again in the middle of the street, exactly in the same place where I had been before choosing the reward. The distant noise of the city returned all at once, along with the pain in my body.
I hurried home to explain everything that had happened to Tenzin.
When I arrived home, Tenzin listened to me in silence, just sitting in front of me, arms crossed, his brow growing increasingly furrowed. I tried not to omit anything: the alley, the System, the starry space, the missions.
When I finished explaining everything, the room fell silent.
—What you described… is not something common at all— Tenzin said, referring to the system.
—Do you know what it is?
—Yes. That system is your unique ability. Normally, these abilities only manifest during the second awakening, not before.
I opened my eyes in surprise.
—Then why do I have it when I can't even use spiritual energy?
—This is abnormal, but it could be an advantage for you if you learn to control it.
Without wasting time, Tenzin positioned himself behind me.
—Let's take advantage of it.
Tenzin placed the palm of his hand on my back and tried to guide the spiritual energy from the surroundings into my body. Although I felt the contact, I couldn't feel anything else.
Confused, Tenzin repeated the attempt, but the result was the same.
—What…?— he murmured, removing his palm from my back.
He remained silent for a few seconds, thinking intensely.
—Is something wrong?
—I have a hypothesis… your unique ability must possess an ego.
Confused, but barely understanding, I replied.
—An ego…? Like when a weapon has consciousness?
—I have no idea where you got that conclusion from, but it's somewhat accurate. For an ability to possess an ego is extremely rare. In my entire life, I've seen only a few cases. That would explain why I can't help you gather spiritual energy in a conventional way.
—Does that mean I can't train?
Tenzin shook his head.
—Not in the traditional way. If my hypothesis is correct, you'll only be able to grow stronger through the use and understanding of your ability, or in other words, through those missions.
At that moment, a blue window appeared in front of me once again.
[Main Mission]
Objective: Train your weak body
- 100 Sit-ups
- 100 Push-ups
- 100 Squats
- Run 10 Kilometers
Special conditions:
1. Training must be performed with double your body weight.
2. This mission must be completed daily for a period of 3 months.
I read the routine slowly. "This feels way too familiar."
—You… can you see this?
Tenzin looked at me seriously.
—Not at all. I can't even feel spiritual energy within you right now. But if you're asking me that, it's because another one of those windows appeared, isn't it?
—That's right. It's asking me to do a training list…
—It seems we've found the way to make you stronger. You must obtain more of those missions and acquire spiritual energy that way. Then I'll be able to teach you how it works. So let's get moving!— Tenzin said, noticeably excited.
—Yes… I agree, but first I need to sleep.
—What?!
As I listened to Tenzin yelling at me in the background from exhaustion, all I could do was lie down and fall asleep. "Everything will be so troublesome from now on…" but even as I thought that, I felt excited about what was to come.