The Day He Knew He Was An NPC (Hiatus)

"Rain, rain, rain. Fuck the rain."

I grunted, grinding my teeth in frustration.

Hearing my discontent, one of the two guards stationed outside my cell glanced in my direction, his curiosity piqued by the sound of my disgruntled muttering. His gaze briefly met mine as he sought the reason behind my frustration. But just as quickly, he averted his eyes, returning back to his duty without offering any acknowledgement or response.

As I lay there on the hard slab, shivering in the cold, I clung tightly to the thin piece of cloth they dared call a blanket. 

"It's so damn cold," I muttered under my breath, my voice laced with annoyance.

It really was cold, far colder than I had anticipated. Even though I hadn't seen the sun in what felt like eternity, the biting chill seemed unusual for this time of year.

My eyes started to tear up involuntarily, a reflexive response to the harsh cold. But before the tears could roll down my cheeks, they froze at their place, turning into icy trails. The frosty tears obscured my vision, adding a layer of fog to my already dismal surroundings.

"Fuck this…"

Cursing under my breath, I grabbed the hem of the blanket, and blew on its surface to warm it. With a trembling hand, I gently pressed the cloth against my eyes, hoping to alleviate the frozy haze.

"Is it still raining outside?" I asked the guards, while still pressing the cloth gently against my eyes.

They didn't reply, their silence weighing  heavily in the air. Normally, they would at least respond to such a question.

"Now, you won't even reply. How pathetic…" I chuckled to myself. Finding my current situation somewhat amusing.

"What the…!"

However, as my vision cleared, I was startled by what appeared before me.

A floating message.

Blinking heavily, I attempted to open my eyes wider, my gaze fixated on the surreal sight hovering in front of me.

At first, I questioned whether I was hallucinating. It seemed too surreal to be true.

To confirm my suspicions, I glanced over at the guards stationed outside my prison cell. Their once impassive expression flickered with recognition as their gazes locked onto the floating message.

It was a confirmation I hadn't expected— the fact that others could also perceive the message suspended in the air.

[System Alert]: Cataclysm Warning - Dark Magic Surge Detected.

[Description]: Attention all inhabitants, a cataclysmic surge of dark magic has been detected in the world. This marks the beginning of the apocalypse, as the fabric of reality unravels and darkness engulfs your once peaceful existence. Brace yourselves for unprecedented magical anomalies, escalating danger, and the imminent collapse of society as we know it.

My heart skipped a beat.

I didn't know what to feel or how to react—It was just too absurd, too overwhelming.

But then, a calculating smile crept across my face, a glimmer of opportunity shining in my eyes as I read the instructions:

[Recommended Actions]:

[1]: Find immediate shelter in secure locations capable of withstanding magical disturbances.

[2]: Stockpile essential supplies, including food, water, and protective equipment.

[3]: Establish communication networks with trusted allies to exchange vital information and coordinate survival efforts.

[4]: Seek out individuals with knowledge of dark magic and its origins to better understand the unfolding apocalypse.

[5]: Prepare to defend yourselves against the Horrors that emerge from the shadows.

[6]: ...

The list was long, though I read it patiently.

Why wouldn't I? The outside world was calling me, telling me there's not much time before I will be free, one again. 

The cataclysmic surge of dark magic was not a cause for fear, at least for me; it was a chance to gain freedom, provided by whomever—doesn't really matter.

However, there was something that unsettled me—the warning mentioned at the end of alert.

[Warning]:

As the dark magic gains strength, it twists the minds and bodies of those exposed to its influence. Trust no one blindly and remain vigilant for signs of corruption among your fellow survivors. Betrayal and deception are unfortunate companions in these dire times.

Remember, your collective resilience and determination will shape your survival. United, you may find a glimmer of hope amidst the encroaching darkness.

Stay strong. Embrace the trials ahead with courage and resourcefulness.

* * *

"So cold."

It has been a few days since the initial prompt from the system. And even though I patiently waited for another, the system never made a second prompt.

It was weird enough of a situation.

Yet, I couldn't shake that certainty that the initial message had been real. How could I? After all, I have already heard the hushed conversations of the guards, their murmurs of a national emergency sparked by the floating message.

The incessant rain, persisting for weeks was another telltale sign. Confined within the prison, I had no knowledge of any natural disasters or cataclysms occurring outside. But the continuous deluge hinted at something amiss, an abnormality that couldn't be ignored.

In the confines of my dimly lit, icy-cold prison cell, with nothing else to do. I tried to cope with the bone-chilling cold by diverting my attention, attempting to communicate with the enigmatic system.

"Why has the apocalypse happened or specifically what caused the sudden surge of dark magic?"

[...]

Silence greeted me once again. I was neither frustrated nor disappointed at the silence.

"What are the Horrors that come out of the shadows? When will they appear, and how can I protect myself from them?"

[...]

At this point, It was normal to not get a response.

"What does the prompt mean by 'secure locations'? Are they locations marked by the system? How can I recognize them? Are they safe from magical disturbances? Can the entity called Horror enter a secure location?"

[...]

Despite the silence, I persisted. It was oddly invigorating, like solving a puzzle, trying to coax a response from the mysterious system.

"Is a place like Central Prison safe enough? Can it be identified as a secure location?"

[...]

I bombarded it with questions, just for the silence to wear my patience out.

In the past few days, I have asked it all kinds of questions. Starting with specific questions—the ones I just recounted.

When that didn't work, I moved to asking those same specific questions in a rather vague manner; I thought making it vague would offer the system more fluidity to what it could answer.

I simply hoped for simplified insights.

"What could cause the apocalypse or the sudden surge of dark magic? Are there any possible explanations or factors that might contribute to these events?" 

This was just one such example; a specific question molded into a vague one.

[...]

Though, my smartness didn't work. The system made no response and was as silent as always.

"What is the chemical formula of water?"

When, I confirmed that it was futile, I then altered my line of questioning one more, this time turning to the realm of common knowledge. Seeking answers to the questions that had long been established in the annals of human understanding.

[...]

Yet, nothing changed. My attempts were met with the same unyielding silence which had plagued me from the start.

Still, I refused to give in.

Upon further contemplation, a thought struck me: 'What if I provided my own answers to these questions?' 

Yes, perhaps the system, in its mysterious way, required not only questions but also assertions of truth. 

And so, I began to respond to my own unanswered questions, speaking with a firmness that belied the uncertainties that plagued my mind.

"The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, I know," I declared, the words resonating with a conviction that bordered on defiance. 

I continued to provide answers to my own inquiries, each one filled with an unwavering sense of certainty.

"Gravity keeps us grounded, I know," I proclaimed, my voice carrying an unwavering belief in the truth of my assertions.

But still…

[...]

…the system remained obstinately silent.

I thought that I was wrong once again… that I need to change my strategy once more.

At this point, I can't help but feel a churn rising in me–the surrounding silence getting on my nerves.

But even at this point—I wanted to continue.

'Just one more time.' I promised myself.

It was an empty promise, as I have previously said the same thing.

* * *

For the nth time, I changed my line of questioning.

'Maybe this time it will work.'

Instead of answering well established questions whose answers I already knew, I started answering the vague questions I had previously posed.

If before I had asked, "What is the meaning of life?" this time I responded with my own contemplation. 

"The meaning of life, my friend, is all about seizing opportunities and exploiting them to your advantage. It's about understanding the weaknesses of others and using them to climb the ladder of success. Survival of the fittest, that's what it's all about. In this cutthroat world, only the cunning and adaptable thrive." 

A crude way to state your point… 

[...]

Nonetheless, the system showed no sign of response, refusing to even offer a whisper of acknowledgement.

Still, I persisted. 

'I never said that this question was my last.'

Loopholes are everywhere, you just need to know how to exploit them to your advantage.

Technically, I wasn't going back on my words… I just never specified what 'one more time' meant for me. 

For me, 'one more time' meant the the last strategy not the last chance.

"What is the nature of our existence?" I had asked this question before, and now I answered it with unwavering conviction:

"We are but puppets in the grand scheme of view. I know."  I answered.

And then, as if in response to my unwavering conviction, the prompt finally sounded:

[System Alert]: Congratulations! You are the first person to grasp the depths of your being! As a reward, you are granted a chance to change one skill into an Attribute!

[System Alert]: Congratulations! Your Understanding has increased by 14.

But the surprise didn't end there. Another alert followed closely after:

[System Alert]: Truly Remarkable! Your persistent effort, curious nature, and unwavering conviction have awakened a Character-Specific Skill that resonated with you.

[Opening the skill panel]:

[Reality Affirmation]

[Type]: Character-Specific Skill

[Rank]: Initial One Star

[Description]: Reality Affirmation is a skill that showed resonance and was awakened within the confines of confinement, granted by the convergence of extraordinary circumstances and an unwavering belief in the nature of reality. It bestows the power to shape and affirm the fabric of the world through the sheer force of conviction. 

[Aspect]: (2/2)

[Basic Manipulation]: The character can manipulate minor aspects of their immediate surroundings, such as shifting small objects or altering the color of nearby objects.

[Object Enhancement]: The character can temporarily enhance the physical properties of objects, making them more durable, sharper, or lighter.

[Comprehension]: 0

Before I could even react, another prompt sounded.

[System Alert]: Do you wish to change the Character-Specific Skill - [Reality Affirmation] into an Attribute? [Yes/No].