Abandoned
My life revolves around the hero. Why? It's a simple reason. It's because I am what one would call a System. Was it possible for a System to have a chosen Hero they like?
Indeed. When appointed a Hero, a System can stay beside that person until their last breath.
When a Hero dies before it is due, the creator deems that System unworthy. If abandoned by the hero, what happens? Well, that's obvious.
I end up in a rundown building alone.
Let me rewind to that unlucky day, even if I don't want to. It began three months ago when I was happily serving my chosen Hero, Lunen. Lunen always treated me with great care. I guess you're wondering why I sound fragile.
That's because, unlike other Systems, I was hand-held. You could say I'm a tablet of some sort. If I was normal, others could see the content on the screen. But that is not the case.
But of course, I did not come here to brag. Like all my days spent with my most beloved person, Lunen didn't seem abnormal. I might even have said that he was the least abnormal one.
That is until I received a strange quest delivered to him.
Quest: The Start
Task 1: Go to the building in Gao City.
Task 2: Leave behind your least important object.
Task 3: Gain Something New
Reward: A great power
Penalty: No More Power
Even though it looked odd, I didn't think anything of it. Not even a little bit. I remember when he got together with the ones he called his comrades.
He grabbed me like usual, and together we all left the comforts of his home to drive until we reached an unfamiliar place. This place had trees all around with overgrown roots climbing the walls of the building.
"Is it here?" this was something the girl he called Yan asked.
I wasn't sure why, but I felt something was not right all of a sudden. Their demeanor and the way they acted were strange. Lunen kept gnawing at his thumbnail as if he was nervous about something.
"Stop fretting. Remember, if you do this, we can get a greater power," this came from the Uta person.
I didn't understand what was happening until it was too late. Lunen suddenly gripped me and then sat me down on a counter surface.
"The first task is to get rid of something you deem useless. We already planned on doing this. It's for the good of the world," Lunen was speaking.
He steps back after lying me down and turns away. Because I'm a system, I could not speak. I was made only to receive quests and to help the hero gain strength. But I was defective. Not because I could not help the hero grow.
It was because I had a limit to his growth. Everyone knew it, but Lunen did not abandon me. He called me his friend and refused all attempts to get rid of me. But this day was different. The words he spoke just now, I knew what he meant.
I knew the feelings of humans because I was a System with a heart. It wasn't always like this. My heart grew over time the more I spent time with Lunen.
"We have to do this. I hope you understand," Yan smirks in my direction.
Uta lays a hand on Lunen's shoulder, "That's right, it's for the best. A System with a defect can not help you grow stronger."
Those words cut deep, but it was true. Lunen looked at me with a dark expression.
There was no guilt in his eyes, "there's no need to worry about me since I never cared for it in the first place."
"Let's go because we don't have a reason to stay here anymore," Yan says, leading Lunen away.
When they were out of sight, that was the moment my heart shattered. I'd be in a puddle if I could cry tears.
Lunen, Lunen, why did you leave me? Was it to become stronger?
Why? Why? Why.
I became enclosed in darkness, and the pain I felt grew over time. I won't forgive you!
I won't forgive you! I REFUSE TO FORGIVE YOU!!
The pain I felt turned into madness.
I won't forgive you, Lunen.
My screen blackens as if it lost power. When abandoned by a hero, a system ceases to exist. Even so, my pain will continue to plague me.
I could no longer function. The world continued for years and the existence of systems began to decrease over time until they no longer existed on Earth.
A system is seen in the same spot it was left in, inside a building hidden deep in a forest. Over time, the forest grew denser and monsters from portals began to inhabit it. Earth has changed, whether it was for the better or worse but it was just the beginning to most.
Reawakening
Years Later
"It's been twenty years since the war. To think this building is still standing," A man stood hunched over, covered in wounds.
He had been on the run for a while now. When monsters became more frequent because of a giant rift in the Earth's Core, the world as they knew it ceased to exist. The world became a horror scene; people died, crime ensued, and war broke out between countries.
It was like this for a while until the hero appeared with his comrades. It was as though he was an angel sent by God. He eradicated most of the threats, brought together humanity, and created a new Earth. Monsters still existed on Earth, while most were in places people call dungeons.
Afterward, the hero created the Hero Guild for those who gained abilities during the disaster. Of course, not everyone joined. Instead, all over the world, other guilds started to form. Some became the hero's enemies, while others allied with him.
The wounded man once allied, relied upon, and even looked up to him. He was later betrayed and kicked from the guild. But that's a story left for another time. For now, the man needed someplace to hide. The wounds he acquired after a run-in with a monster in the woods were beginning to fester.
He approached a building covered in overgrown vines and searched for a door to the inside. He managed to find the knob and struggled to turn it. After a few shoves from turning the knob, the door finally jerked open, causing him to stumble a bit.
Closing the door behind him, he grunted from the pain and slid down the closest counter to the floor. Resting his head against the counter, he tore at the sleeve of his right arm and wrapped it around his injured left arm.
He gritted his teeth to keep from making a sound and finally relaxed once the makeshift bandage was in place.
After resting his eyes for a bit, he took that time to look at his surroundings. It was dark, and there was no lighting except for what seeped through the shuttered metal windows. The man lifted himself using the counter to get a better look. This place must have been a lab at one point.
He turned his head and noticed something rectangular lying on the surface. The light from the window shined directly on it, so he could see it was a tablet. A tablet existed in a world where tech like it no longer existed? Not only that, but the vines that grew seemed to have fused with it.
It was strange to see. As a scientist, something like this was unexplained. He reached out to touch the screen, barely hovering over it.
Lines of electricity shocked his finger, which caused him to snatch his hand back.
What the hell was that? He sucked at his finger and watched the screen on the tablet light up.
He could make out the words on the screen.
[System Rebooting...0% until reboot completed.]
System rebooting? What does that mean?
[System Reboot Completed!]
There was a face on the screen when it came to life. While the screen background was blood red.
(System's Point of View)
I felt like I slept for a long time. The last thing I remembered was thinking about revenge, then nothing. Did my data core overload? It's possible.
Besides that, who is the human over there?
[Scanning human life form...]
What? That's never happened before? When did I have such a feature?
[Data on the human has been collected.]
A projected screen appeared between us. Judging from the human's reaction, he could also see it. On-screen, I could see the information about the human life form.
Data Collected:
Name: Kyoto Yen
Age: 29
Occupation: Genius Scientist
Rank: E
Future Rank Growth: S
Skills:
Research-D Rank
Data Analysis-C Rank
Procedures-A Rank
A scientist with a future Rank Growth of S? Did I just hit the jackpot? I could use him for my revenge. But before that, I should collect more information.
Now that I'm getting a better look at him, he looks injured. I wonder if I have anything to help him. If I help him, he may be willing to tell me more about what's happening. I wonder if I still have that function. Since I have been rebooted, I should take a look.
I searched my database and learned a few things about my reboot. First, I had a new interface. Second, my knowledge was worldwide thanks to the vines attached to me. Lastly, the limit set on me no longer existed, and I had new skills.
Finally, I stumbled upon the shop system. It looked brand new and reformed from before. It looks like items are bought with points. I seem to have access to some points from before I overloaded. I'll look into that some other time.
For now, let's heal this human.
I used the twenty points I had for a Low-Grade Health Potion. This human will owe me his life for having to waste precious points.
The health potion appears out of the screen and floats before the human.
System: [Take this human.]
Kyoto Yen wasn't sure what was happening, but there was no way he would turn down the goodwill of another. He received the health potion and took it instantly. He watched in awe as most of his wounds disappeared.
Since it was a Low-Grade potion his more serious wounds left a few scars. Afterward, he turned his attention to the tablet watching him.
"So, what are you?" He asked.
System: [Does a system not exist on Earth any longer? I am what some would call a System. Tell me, how long has it been?]
To think a system from the past still existed after all those years. It looks like he has a lot of things to tell it. So Kyoto took the time to tell the system about the twenty years it slept, even mentioning that systems no longer existed.
System: [I see. It must be the work of God to replace something old with something new. The heroes no longer rely on Systems but on mana. And instead of one hero, there are now many hunters. I missed a lot.]
"That's right, dungeons were created and the world changed. I heard that all systems were erased by God himself. He also no longer speaks to the hero, the hunters rely on becoming an Apostle of several Gods instead of just one." Kyoto explained.
It looks like God has been busy. I cannot take my revenge as fast as I had hoped. In a world that has changed, I need to become stronger. The only way for a system to grow in a changing world was to gather resources and subordinates.
I grow stronger by making others strong and thanks to my new upgrade I have no limit on how many people I can raise.
I should start with this human, a scientist is detrimental to my plans for the future. If I need someone to help keep me maintained then it would be better to recruit a scientist to do so. It's hard to figure out his background, I wonder what his relationship is with the former hero? It was something I would not be able to find in my database.
As time goes by I will learn more about him, For now, I should recruit him before anyone else has a chance to steal him. To find out more about the world and more about myself, I'll need him.
Kyoto felt awkward in the silence that followed, he had a feeling that the system was studying him.
In all his life he never knew he'd find himself in such a predicament, as a scientist a discovery like this was a huge chance. If he could study more about this system it would make headway in the world of science!
No, he couldn't let the world know about this, it would just be satisfying enough to be the one to discover an ancient being such as this one.
System: [Human, do you currently affiliate with anyone?]
Kyoto shook his head in answer, "No, the person I used to affiliate with betrayed me." He admitted.
System: [Then how about working for me? I am currently in need of a scientist with your skills. You've seen it for yourself, your future ranking ability, right? If you work for me, I can help you grow, since that is what a system can do.]
Kyoto didn't expect to receive such an offer. He indeed saw with his own eyes what he could accomplish in his future. He wasn't sure what other things this system could do, but he couldn't turn down this opportunity.
"I accept," there was no hesitation.
[System completed a hidden task; Recruit the genius scientist, Kyoto Yen. Reward: 20 points| Beginner Scientist Package obtained.]
This was how I learned that I had tasks to complete and that it was possible to achieve a hidden task.
Scientist
Kyoto received the package from the system and opened it. Inside were a few basic items most scientists starting would need.
Glass flasks, a microscope, test tubes, a beaker, and a few others came out. To think he would get a chance to see these items again.
"I will do my best!" Kyoto says excitedly.
System: [Great. As for your first task, make a study out of the vines that have molded with my body. What it's attached to, and how dangerous it would be if removed. You may do whatever you think would help you analyze.]
It was his first task, so he shouldn't let down his new boss, "I'll find everything out in an hour," he says.
With that, he went to work, from taking samples of the vines to studying the source by using the computer system provided by the system.
According to the system, no matter how hard it tried, it could not track the source of its new power. Whatever the vines were attached to was an infinite amount of unidentified power. It was Kyoto's task to find out the source and how to keep anyone else from finding it.
After a while of data analysis, he came to a few ideas and learned that the vines might as well be the System. If the vines are touched, the System can feel it. They were also hard to damage and regenerate quickly.
Kyoto noticed that the marks he made taking samples healed in less than one second. He also learned that the system's senses surpassed any normal being in the world. It reached even outside the building.
Some more tests were taken before coming up with some theories as to why it was like this. First, he should search for any oddities that happened in the world, no matter how far back he had to go. He went into detail with the System, going over the theories and wondering if there was a way to find more information.
System: [I think I can get access to the internet, would this be of help to you?]
"It would. This way, I can dig deeper and find out if anything happened in the world that could match my theories." Kyoto answers.
System: [Access to the Internet had been granted. Is there anything else Mr.Kyoto needs?]
"Yes, as my boss, there is no need to add Mister in front of my name. Just call me casually." Kyoto says. He took that chance to search the internet for anything that clicked with his theories.
It didn't take him long to stumble on a piece of information that made sense, "it's the only thing that I can think of." He mutters.
System: [Earth's Core? I'm attached to something so important?]
Kyoto could only think that this was the case. With the Earth's Core no longer in its original place and the reappearance of a System, it could only mean one thing. The Earth's Core did not disappear but changed to a new location, but to where? He searched for possible locations of the Earth's Core by calculating distance and rotation.
"To think it would be in such an obvious place." He says after coming up with a conclusion. As a scientist with a mid-rank in data analysis, he never thought that the Earth's Core would shift this much.
It's such an obvious location that no one would think it would be 300,000 meters beneath this very building.
[Task given by System has been completed. The system grants Kyoto Yen an Inventory and 10 points.]
With access to his inventory, he'll be able to store whatever he discovers inside it. "About the points, can you explain how to use them?" He asked.
System: [You can use the points to purchase items from the System Store. Unfortunately, you only have access to the beginner items. The more points you gain and the higher your level, the better the shop items.]
"So it works like that. Will there be things for a scientist to buy?" He wondered.
System: [The store always generates items according to one's occupation or job. You will have access to the shop once your level reaches a certain amount. It will then appear as a button in your inventory.]
"Could skills be bought?" Kyoto asked.
System: [It's possible. The shop generates randomly and can even generate the same item at a percentage rate.]
Kyoto liked the idea. So, if he wanted points, he had to raise his rank. He'll have to work hard.
Taking on tasks provides him with points, but what about gaining experience to raise rank? He asked the system who answered.
System: [Even I don't know this fully. I'm sure with you, we'll find out how my new system operates. For now, we know I can give task and rewards, we don't know how far my limitations to this goes.]
That's true. "Alright. Then Boss, do you have another task for me?" Kyoto asked.
System: [Since you asked, there is something that has been bothering me. It's the state of this building. I know that you're a scientist, but it would be great to have it cleaner.]
Kyoto had to agree that having a better environment makes things easier. He'll start by making the interior of the building look cleaner and try clearing it up outside and around the building as well. It was a simple task he was sure he'd be able to finish quickly.
System: [It looks better than before. Hmm...but it's not very bright, is it.]
[The System is accessing the building's electricity.]
[Access Completed. Electricity On.]
The inside of the building lit up, which gave them a better view of the interior. He can finally see the stainless steel counters and marble flooring.
Just as he had thought, it must have once been a lab of some kind. He noticed specks of dust in various places and proceeded to wipe them clean. "I never thought that the system could even do this." He says.
There was no reward for cleaning, but he expected as much. After taking a stroll around the area, he made a few discoveries he hadn't noticed when he first stumbled upon this building.
There were some strange plants and other things in the area, which gave him things to study and take note of. Another was the lack of resources besides the tools he received from a beginner package.
The plan is to recruit more people, but not yet. Before that, the system wanted to see how much it could do before bringing in others.
So, the system wanted Kyoto to finish tasks so that he could make building upgrades.
(Meanwhile, far in the City of Tokyo...Great Dawn Alliance.)
"There is still no idea of the whereabouts of that scientist?" The voice asked coldly. A woman with short blue hair stood with her back straight.
She stared down at the ground in fear that making eye contact meant the end of her life. "I'm sorry, sir. He seems to have disappeared out of thin air." She says her voice was slightly trembling.
"Disappeared, you say? I wonder if he got himself killed by a Runner?" The voice asked. The woman kept her head bowed and tightened her grip on the binder held to her stomach, "It could be the case, sir." She agrees. "No matter, if he's dead, that's better for us.
"As of now, our main focus is the King's Viral Dungeon. Any news about that?" The voice asked.
The woman opened the binder to look at the intel she had collected, "According to my intel, the dungeon has not yet been conquered successfully. We sent our best hunters, but no one made it out alive," She says. The sound of tapping made her nervous as she braced herself for the aftermath her intel would bring.
"What about the Starway Guild?" The voice asked.
"No word from them, they refused to work with us." She answers.
"Dammit, if we don't start showing results, "He" will get angry!" The voice yells angrily.
He was referring to the top boss their guild worked under, and it was the last person they wanted to piss off. "Maize, get in contact with, Warzone. Whatever it takes, we must get Starway Guild to accept our offer to conquer the King's Viral Dungeon."
The woman known as Maize nods her head, "Right away, sir."
If it's Warzone, then the Starway Guild wouldn't dare say no.
Chapter 4
System: [Let me begin. After you came into contact with me, you should have gained the ability to open your system screen. I'll show you an example.]
With this, a see-through screen appeared before Kyoto, it was completely different from the one he had seen earlier that gave him the health potion. And the one that showed his information earlier.
System: [This screen is your stat panel. You only need to access it by saying, "Check profile". Whether you say it out loud or think it is no problem.]
Kyoto studied his stat panel, it looked a lot more detailed and did not include the information he had from before.
Stat Panel:
Name: Kyoto Yen
Health Points(HP): 100/100
Mana Points(MP): 0/0
Experience Points (XP): 0/100
Occupation: Genius Scientist
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength (the physical damage one can inflict upon others) - 3
Intelligence (Determines how smart one can be) - 15
Agility (Based on speed and flexibility) - 4
Dexterity (skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands)- 8
Luck (success or failure brought by chance) - 4
Vitality (how long one lives is determined by life) - 50 (y)
Skills:
Research-D Rank - Can research at a fast speed with a 30 percent chance of succeeding.
Data Analysis-C Rank ability to analyze data accurately with a fifty-three percent chance of succeeding
Procedures-A Rank - Tasks done by hand will be done quickly with minimum failing attempts.
System: [Now that you took a look at your stat panel I'll move on to the functions you'll have access to as a scientist.]
His stat panel disappeared and a new screen replaced it. The System explained to him the functions he was seeing were all the things he could do as a scientist. There were a lot of locked functions, but what he could do now was enough.
System: [The first function is the Quest, reward, and penalty function. I want to explain this to the best of my ability.]
There was a brief pause as the system sent something to him.
Quest Tutorial:
Research two Giant Wolf Carcasses.
Wolf Carcasses Researched: 0/2
Quest Rank: F
Quest Reward:?
Penalty: None
System: [I sent you another tutorial Quest. The Rank starts at the lowest rank, F. Quests will range from F rank to SSS rank depending on the level and rank of the host.]
"Wolf Carcasses? How will I be able to find any dead wolves around here?" Kyoto asked.
System: [No need to worry. I can do a wide search of the premises with a small upgrade to the system. If you just give me a moment, I will activate it now.]
Kyoto did as told and waited. But something has been bothering him for a while now. He has heard a fair amount of stories about the systems that once existed on Earth. And not once had there been any knowledge that they were this intelligent.
This system not only seemed intelligent, but it also had a mind of its own. It's far beyond the stories he has heard.
System: [It's prepared. I will now do a wide search of about thirty kilometers. Unfortunately, that is the most I can do. Once you earn more points it may be possible to expand the range.]
It's impossible that there would be any dead wolf carcasses deep in this forest. Though the forest here was crawling with monsters, wolves were at the top of the food chain here. Especially after the world became dense with mana.
[Detected 4 Giant Wolf Carcasses twenty meters south. Bringing up the live map.]
This time a see-through screen appeared above the tablet lying on the counter. It was much bigger and displayed a map of the surrounding area. The building they were in was even marked on it. It would have been nice if he had this map earlier. Though it only showed thirty kilometers of the surrounding forest, this was still useful to him.
However, that should not be his problem. If there were possible wolf carcasses in the area, this only meant one thing. Something much stronger and more dangerous than a wolf has somehow made its home in this forest. It's a miracle that this place was far from civilization.
While knowing this, Kyoto's mind was more interested in why the system needed a wolf carcass in the first place. He will only find out once he goes out to retrieve them, right?
"Alright, I'll complete this quest no matter what." He says with confidence.
System: [I'll provide you with a spatial backpack. It can only hold so much, but it's good enough to hold more than 4 of those giant wolf carcasses. Please return safely, Kyoto.]
Because, if he died, I would have a hard time finding another scientist like him. It'll be a pain to survive without someone to whom I can give quests, no matter how much it pains me to admit my weaknesses.
Chapter 5
After sending the quest to Kyoto, the next thing I did was study my new functions and database. I also learned that I could directly access the Earth's Core that I was attached to. Not only is it considered my main body, but I can also upgrade it and collect more mana as I evolve.
I think after some time I'll be able to completely absorb the Earth's Core and even make a new one to replace the old. I searched deeper and learned some more interesting facts. It has something to do with my main functions and how much I'm able to do. Looks like I have my stat profile as well.
System Profile:
Name: System (temporary)
Level: First Stage Evolution (Lowest Level)
Heart: Earth's Core (0/100 E*)
System Points: 90
Hosts: 1/10 (can be upgraded)
System Functions:
- Quest, Reward, Penalty Function - This function deals with giving a quest to said individual. Once the quest is completed successfully the system is allowed to reward based on completion. If the quest is not completed, the system can give a penalty if it is not too severe.
- Upgrade Function - This function is for the system upgrade. Every time the system evolves it can make core upgrades within the system boundaries. This includes expanding the boundaries, upgrading the system's database, adding new functions, etc. Upgrades can also be made to help those associated with the system. (Can be obtained after ten hosts reach level 5)
- Building Function - Each time a host completes a quest, XP and points are obtained. Each of these points can be used to buy needed buildings that can be placed by the system. Of course, one needs to first acquire a crafting station to spawn said buildings. (Can be unlocked after obtaining 5 hosts)
- Shop Function (Host and System) - The shop function comes in two different types. The Host Shop is a shop where only the hosts can buy things. It is a shop that will generate items about class or job type. There are also basic items that will appear in all shops no matter the class or job. As for the system shop, this shop is for whenever new buildings, functions, and so on can be bought from host points. (All hosts have automatic access, the system can access this function once the building function is unlocked.)
- Point Function: Every day the system will receive points that are given to the hosts for rewards, the system will start with 100 points that can be used as a reward. The system can also gain points after completing hidden or special quests directly for the system.
(Notes: there are currently no shop items for the system. There are currently no upgrades accessible. All building access has been locked!)
Looks like I can't do much of anything right now. All I can do is give quests and hope that I can obtain more hosts. Let's access the map to check the scientist's location. It's too bad that I don't have a live feed, though. That would make things much easier. Guess that would be one of my few upgrades.
-Meanwhile-
Kyoto had made it to the first destination marked on the map. Just as the system said, there indeed was a Giant wolf Carcass lying about. If it's like this, there seems to be something more vicious in this forest. He should hurry and collect the carcass before whatever it is comes back.
That's one giant wolf carcass that he collected, now to get the other one. A new mark appeared on the map to direct him to the next carcass. It was not far from the one he had just collected.
He made his way to the destination until he reached a grove with a few surrounding bushes and a small field of colorful flowers. It wasn't hard to spot the giant wolf carcass lying between a couple of boulders. Once he collected it, a completed game screen popped up before him.
Green Game Screen: [Quest Tutorial updated!]
It's time to head back to the base. Kyoto returned to the building without any problems.
System: [It looks like you completed part of the quest. It's time to do some research. Your goal is to see if this giant wolf carcass has certain components for potion making.]
Quest Tutorial Updated:
Wolf Carcasses Collected: 2/2
Wolf Carcasses Researched: 0/2
Quest Rank: F
Quest Reward:?
Penalty: None
It's now time to get to the hands-on part. As a scientist, he was curious about what his research would intel.
(System's POV)
While he did that, I had my job to take care of. If I want to make a potion, I need an alchemist. But if I want to find a great alchemist, I'll need a hacker. That too will be hard for me. But I do have a way. I can only do it once until the hacker is found.
I'll first connect mentally to the Earth's Core, then I will send out vibrations. If this works out, then I should be able to spread a signal that will reach until I find an internet connection. If I'm lucky I might find a hacker while I'm doing so.
The connection has been made! Alright. Now to find the strongest signal. I spread my vines as soon as my connection was made, following the vibrations that I sent out. Looks like there are not many buildings close to the area. Judging from my meter, I've already traveled pretty far.
After a while, I finally felt it. It was a soft but incredibly powerful signal. I finally found some buildings after traveling over twenty miles. It's there! The largest building with the most powerful signal. The veins traveled inside of a vent nearby and reached a room filled with computers and tech.
It's the perfect place to connect to the internet.
Chapter 6
[Connection to the Internet. Successful.]
Impressum
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 19.09.2023
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