บท 6: No System Book For Max

Max and Finn positioned themselves in two separate lines, waiting for what would come next. At this point, Max was thinking about last night when the demon almost tricked him into accepting a creepy old system book that wouldn't even open. Additionally, the demon wanted to possess him.

Max just wished that his mom would never find that book and utter the words engraved on it. He feared she might get hurt or even become possessed if the demon that calls himself Ryan is set free.

Max's father hasn't been around for months now, and whenever he comes back, he spends no more than two days. Max's mother practically raised Max as if she were a single mother, which was one reason she couldn't do much to prevent Max from getting into fights.

****

The DNA registration procedure began and the first three students at the front of the lines walked towards the Turnstile checkpoints.

"Place your wrist on the dashboard." One of the soldiers commanded the first three students and they did.

[Ranger 1]

< Name: Ethan Liam >

< Rank: D1 [Standard Ability user] >

< Ability: Pusher [No Upgrade on Air Ability] >

< Age: 19 >

****

[Ranger 2]

< Name: Bella Logan >

< Rank: C1 [Strong Ability user] >

< Ability: Wind [First upgrade on Air Ability] >

< Age: 17 >

****

[Ranger 3]

< Name: Caleb Aubrey >

< Rank: D [Plain user] >

< Ability: None >

< Age: 16 >

****

Out of the three students who stepped forward, only two were allowed to pass through the Turnstile checkpoints and enter inside the mantrap doors. The other student was directed to stand aside for another set to step forward.

Of course, the student who was told to step aside was Caleb Aubrey, the Plain user.

Max and Finn's turn was next in line, so they moved forward. The person on the third line who went forward with them was the same girl who had broken someone's fingers for trying to lay a hand on her.

She was indeed breathtaking and charming. Max couldn't blame the boy who approached her. He would've done the same if he had the boldness and the friends who would push him into it."

****

Max was the most excited person in the building. "It's happening!!!" He screamed in his head and a grin danced around his face. Max looked at the student who had been told to step aside and waved at him. Shockingly, the student was frowning and disregarded Max.

While Max and the others were at the turnstile checkpoints, they were able to observe the first set clearly and witness the entire DNA registration procedure that took place inside the Mantrap doors.

The students' identities would be read once more, and then the small screen on the wrist of their suits would undergo some system operations. Seconds later, a sample of the person's hair would be taken to analyze the final process as part of the DNA sample. Finally, two System Books would appear in front of them, and they would grab them.

"So this wasn't a prank after all!" Max voiced in his head as his excitement reached an extremely high level.

"Place your wrist on the dashboard," the same soldier commanded."

****

[Ranger 4]

< Name: Finn Oscar >

< Rank: B1 [Vigorous Ability user] >

< Ability: Rock [Second Upgrade on Earth Ability] >

< Age: 17 >

****

[Ranger 5]

< Name: Scarlett Jayden >

< Rank: B1 [Vigorous Ability user] >

< Ability: Frozen [Second Upgrade on Water Ability]>

< Age: 17 >

****

When it was Max's turn, he already knew what the dashboard was going to display. The features being shown by the system were the same as those that had appeared in the creepy old book the previous night. However, all he cared about was the System Book he was about to receive, so he didn't mind revealing his miserable identify to them. Exhaling heavily, Max placed his wrist on the dashboard for the check-up.

[Ranger 6]

< Name: Max Hernandez >

< Rank: D [Plain user] >

< Ability: None >

< Age: 17 >

After the check-up, the Turnstile gate opened for Finn and Scarlett to head towards the Mantrap doors. Max was confused as his own gate didn't open for him to go through.

'Is my own gate broken?' Max questioned himself.

Soon the beard soldier who was conducting the check-up asked Max to join his friend over there, referring to Caleb Aubrey.

Max thought that maybe the process required two people to step forward and one to stay back for the time being. When Max got in close range with Caleb Aubrey, he introduced himself.

"Hi, my name is Max," he said stretching forth his hand for a handshake. But he didn't get any response from the frowning Calab.

Max was curious to find out what was wrong with him; however, the stubborn Caleb wouldn't say a single word.

Minutes later, Finn and Scarlett also registered their DNA and collected their own System Books. Finn was super excited and he came over to join Max.

"I'm now a System user!" Finn rejoiced. However, he kept the celebration part for later until Max also got his.

"Hi, I'm Finn," Finn introduced himself to the silent Caleb, stretching forth his hand for a handshake as well.

Max silently signaled to Finn that Caleb doesn't talk. He already assumed that Caleb was deaf or hard of hearing, whereas that wasn't the situation here.

Scarlett joined the first two students who had also received a System Book. Even after obtaining a System Book, her expression didn't brighten in the least; she still looked both frightening and beautiful. It's kind of hard to capture her appearance in words.

The checkups and DNA registration for all two hundred and one students finally came to an end after three hours.

"Max then discovered that the process didn't follow his theory. If there were 67 sets in total, the students who were supposed to join him and Caleb should've been 67, but instead there were only five in total, and Finn already had a System Book, so he doesn't count.

Just as Max was about to head back to the turnstile checkpoints for answers, the hologram lady announced again.

[I believe we've kept our promise to you. These System Books are now yours to keep and use.]

Just when Max was about to ask his question, the hologram lady continued, and he was forced to hold his peace. He knew better than anyone else to stay silent when the Lady is speaking.

[For those of you who didn't received a System Book, here's the reason. It's because you're a D-user and can't use the System Books. The System Books are given according to your abilities, and we don't know what your abilities might be, so it's best we hold on to those System Books until you've discovered your abilities.]

"What! No System Book for me?!"