Bab 12: The system

The convoy of three large cargo trucks rumbled along the straight, sturdy road, stretching for miles ahead. The concrete and brick surface provided stability, ensuring a smooth journey for anything traversing it. Surrounding the road, lush forests with vibrant greenery flourished, their dense foliage framing the path on both sides. The meticulous construction of the road prevented encroaching plants, maintaining a clear boundary between the forest and the thoroughfare.

The protocols and arrangements were meticulously implemented to minimize the risk of encountering dangers from the forest's supernatural inhabitants, diverse species harboring an intense animosity towards humans. As the three cargo trucks steadily and swiftly advanced along the road, their occupants remained vigilant, wary of any potential threats lurking in the shadows of the surrounding wilderness.

Inside one of the cargo trucks, a makeshift clinic space had been arranged, resembling a compact medical facility. Despite its limited size, it contained all the essentials of a clinic room, albeit condensed. Positioned in the center of the room, a solitary bed held a figure lying motionless, deep in unconsciousness.

The individual, a male with short black hair reminiscent of crude oil, lay on the bed with an air of unconsciousness. Despite his average appearance, his handsome face bore a rugged charm. Clad in attire that seemed both sharp and worn, the fabric hinted at its former vibrancy, now faded with time. This figure, known only as Zephyr.

Abruptly, Zephyr's eyes snapped open, and he jolted upright from the bed, his chest heaving with heavy breaths.

"Where am I?" Zephyr exclaimed, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings of the clinic, noticing the solitary bed upon which he had been lying. Suddenly, a memory flashed in his mind, recalling the intense pain from his groin where he kept the Dark Crystal.

With a sense of urgency, Zephyr quickly checked his pants, his heart sinking as he realized the crystal was no longer there.

"Where's that Dark crystal?" Zephyr muttered anxiously, frantically searching his body but coming up empty-handed. "Did someone take it?" he pondered aloud, his mind racing with possibilities as he grappled with the unsettling realization of its absence.

Scanning the room with growing frustration, Zephyr's eyes darted around, yet the Dark Crystal remained elusive. "Did one of those champions take it, damn!" he seethed inwardly, his anger simmering beneath the surface. "I don't know why that crystal did that to me, but I can feel that a foreign energy's in me," he mused aloud, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

Just as Zephyr contemplated the foreign energy within him, a strange sound reverberated in his head, resembling a 'ding!' Then, without warning, a blue holographic image materialized, enveloping his vision.

"What in the...?" Zephyr exclaimed.

[Welcome Host, I am the AI system. And I am here to guide you in the path power and regain your formal glory.]

"What?" Zephyr repeated, his mind reeling from the sudden appearance of the image and its enticing offer of power to reclaim his former glory. It all seemed too convenient, too good to be true. Suspicion gnawed at him as he pondered the unexpected message.

[Host, remain vigilant. The AI system poses no threat.]

"Well, how should I feel?" Zephyr voiced his confusion, his thoughts spinning as he considered the surreal situation. "I just saw a message appear in front of me, offering to grant me power. The second explanation I can think of is either that the crystal caused some damage to my head and I'm becoming insane, or some supernatural force is messing with me," he reasoned aloud, his gaze darting around the room in search of any clues. Despite his doubts, he found the latter option more plausible, as he could sense movement wherever he was.

"It must be those vehicles that were called 'trucks' by the champions during the evacuation," Zephyr surmised, his mind racing to piece together the puzzle of his current predicament.

[Host, rest assured, the system confirms that you are not insane.]

"Oh, really. So, 'System,' what are you? And why do you offer me power?" Zephyr questioned, his curiosity piqued despite his wariness. While he may have once been power-hungry and willing to seize power at any cost, he had learned the hard way from his past encounters with other supernatural kings. He no longer placed blind trust in offers of power, knowing the steep price that often accompanied them. However, he couldn't deny his intrigue towards this mysterious entity. If he were to perish again, he knew there would be no resurrection without painstaking efforts involving dark magic and sacrifices—a path that would take time.

[Unfortunately, you have no access to that information at your current level of power]

"What, you mean that you can't give me that information until I get stronger?" Zephyr's frustration simmered beneath his words, his anger palpable as he awaited a response. However, the silence that followed confirmed his suspicion—he would need to grow stronger before obtaining any answers. Determination flickered in his eyes as he scrutinized the holographic message, reaching out tentatively to touch it, only to find his hand pass through it completely, leaving him startled and perplexed a bit.

"Oh, my. It seems I can't touch it, strange," Zephyr remarked, his bewilderment evident in his tone as he withdrew his hand, pondering the peculiar nature of the holographic message before him.

"But on the bright side, now that I think of it, I don't care," Zephyr declared, his resolve hardening as thoughts of revenge fueled his determination. "I need to get stronger as quickly as possible to take my revenge by killing those supernatural kings. I will kill all of them!" His voice seethed with anger as he recalled the betrayal that had led to his demise. "So, how do I gain power, System?" he demanded, his impatience evident as he sought a path towards strength and vengeance.

[Due to your absorption of the dark crystal, you've empowered the system, and it has not completely merged with your body. However, you can only access one feature until the system successfully merges with your body,]

[Status]

It seemed that when the crystal had illuminated inside Zephyr's pants and started to enter his body, it activated the dormant system that had already been within him. This realization left Zephyr with one burning question.

"If the system was already in my body before it was activated, then how did I get it or how did it enter my body?" Zephyr pondered, his mind grappling with the puzzling revelation. He was certain that Zeph, the former owner of this body, had no recollection of possessing such a system. This could only mean that Zephyr acquired it upon inhabiting the body, raising further questions about its origins and purpose.

"Well, the system said it couldn't tell me any information until I get stronger. So I just have to become stronger, and then I'll get the information about its existence," Zephyr concluded, his mind set on the path ahead. Despite the mysteries surrounding the system, his immediate goals remained clear: to grow stronger and exact revenge upon the supernatural kings who had betrayed and killed him. With determination burning in his heart, Zephyr resolved to forge ahead.

"So, how do I access this thing?" Zephyr extended his hand, attempting to tap the interface, but it passed through once more. "Ha..." Frustration colored Zephyr's voice, yet suddenly, an idea dawned on him. He opted to engage the interface with his mind, simply concentrating on it. To his astonishment, it responded, and the [Status] feature activated. Zephyr observed as the message shifted, revealing new information.

[Status]

<User: Zephyr>

<Race: Human>

<Level: 1>

<Energy: 50/50>

[Strength: 10]

[Speed: 10]

[Stamina: 10]

"What in the...?" Zephyr exclaimed, his voice laced with shock. "This is a perfectly detailed status, it's like it's... me. Incredible!"

Zephyr was astonished by the detailed information displayed before him. It revealed his name, current race, level, energy levels, and attributes. This newfound ability to monitor his status defied conventional understanding, thanks to the mysterious system.

"With this, I can track my growth and easily gauge my strength, although I know I have a long journey ahead," Zephyr exclaimed with excitement.

[System merge with host body.....]

[Analyzing...]

[This process could take a while, 20 hours left for system to successfully merge]

[23h:58m:50s]

"Looks like it's going to take a while for the system to completely merge with my body," Zephyr remarked. Undeterred by the wait, he remained resolute in his determination. As long as the system could aid him on his path to power, Zephyr was prepared to wait however long it took.

While Zephyr anxiously observed the timer, anticipating the completion of the merging process, it finally merged with him. Just then, there was a sudden knock on the door of the room he faced, and someone entered.

"I see you're finally awake,"

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