The Nightmare

Tuesday, January 6th, 2060

Aetherium Manor, Astra City, Aethelgarde.

In a room dimly lit in a soft dark light, a handsome young man lay on the bed, haunted by a nightmare. His body was shivering uncontrollably, and soon tears started pouring out of his closed eyes.

"No!" A dry scream escaped his lips as he shot up, sitting on the bed, panting heavily after successfully escaping from the nightmare.

"Babe...?"

As soon as he heard this sweet voice, inadvertently more hot tears started to flow from his crystal-clear eyes, and he finally turned to look at the beautiful girl who was sitting next to him on his large luxurious bed.

"Lyra...I...I...I am Sorry. I am Sorry...!"

While uttering this he proceeded to tightly hug her as if he is afraid that this is all just a dream and that she will fade away from his arms just like in the nightmare.

Lyra was taken aback when she saw her lover look at her with those tear-stricken red eyes. She had never seen him cry before, and she had known him for over 15 years now. Zayn was not a boy who cried. And she had a bad premonition in her heart.

"Baby, what happened?" She gently placed his head on her shoulder and asked while softly massaging his hair.

The moment she touched him, his body jerked, but soon he calmed down and managed to regain his bearings.

"I..I am fine, Lyra." He lightly spoke. "What time is it?"

"It's 3:51 am. Baby, a Nightmare? Wait here. I'll bring you some water." Lyra, soon got up from the bed and filled Zayn a glass of water and carried it to him.

"Here, Drink this. Calm down. It's just a nightmare. I am with you here. Right?"

Zayn nodded to her words and took a deep breath.

"Thank You! *Sigh* Yeah, It's just a nightmare."

After drinking water, He tightly hugged Lyra and proceeded to sleep again.

'Darius! I hope what I just saw is a nightmare. If it's not, I'll F****ing kill you!'

Since the nightmare just now is too realistic and because he was very tired and confused with the Situation, he soon fell asleep.

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Early Morning, Next day.

[Good morning, Br--*buzz* Host! It's 5:30 AM. Rise up!]

Zayn instantly jolted up, hearing this. Where did this Sweet, cute Voice come from? It's definitely not Lyra. Even though, she is a young girl, she still has a sense of maturity. Also, as a childhood friend turned lover, Zayn could easily distinguish her voice. But this sweet voice is different, it's cute and very Energetic and what's surprising is he feels a sense of familiarity with this voice but can't really pinpoint where he heard this. 

Zayn instantly looked around his spacious room and found no one. 

"Who is it?"

As soon as he said that a blue light panel lit up in front of him much to the shock of Zayn.

[Ding! The System has successfully merged with the Host. A starting Package has been sent to the System Inventory. Please open it.]

"W...What..t..? A Dream? Am I Lucid dreaming? Hallucinating?"

Zayn hit his cheeks and to his shock, this isn't a dream. But reality. Then, how is this possible.

[Host may think this as a dream or may think this as another Nightmare. But the truth is, this is the reality. Infact everything is more real as it has ever been.]

"Then the last night? Is it real too? And... you...? Who are you? Are you this blue panel I am seeing?"

[Yes, Host! Everything is very much real. As for who am I? *Buzz* You may refer to me as the System. I think you must know of the term, 'System' in fantasy novels written in, Xiansheng Nation. I recalled that you loved reading those books when you are still a little child.]

"Oh! So, I got a system? But---"

[Host! You may talk to me through your mind. I can hear you that way.]

{Ah! Ok. So...If Everything is real...Then does that mean, I time travelled...? Or am I reincarnated?}

[Everything is real. But why does Host thinks you time travelled or reincarnated?]

{You said just now that everything was real. Then that probably means the nightmare I saw was another life of mine where Darius f***ed up my whole life. And Now I am somehow back in past, because I still have Lyra with me. Probably I travelled the space-time continuum.}

[Well, host you surprised me. I first thought why you didn't even care about the yesterday's nightmare. It seems like you did think of this possibility but instead of thinking about it at that moment, you choose that time to treasure Lyra and sleep with her again. Because you did lose her in your, 'Other life'.]

{Yeah...So I am correct?}

[Kind of. But you didn't live another life or a parallel life. What you saw back then is just a glimpse of your future or rather the most probable future of you.]

{Hmm... That's why then! that's why I remember what will happens today. I remember it so vividly.}

[Yes, the Host knows what should be happening tomorrow. But with the presence of this System, your future has already started changing. You were never meant to wake up at 3:50 am in this morning.]

He understood what the system was trying to convey to him. He now knows what is going to happen in the future, and with him possessing this knowledge, the future related to him can be altered.

Zayn took a deep breath and looked at the Blue Panel in his mind.

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[The System: Level 1]

Host: Zayn Argent Aetherium

Age: 19

Race: Human and #%^!@$%

Status: Heir of the Aetherium Family / Young Master Aetherium / Heir of the Lux Solis Family / Young Master Lux Solis

Cultivation Rank: Baronet (Spiritual Realm)

Strength: 40 (40 is the Limit for Baronets)

Speed & Reflexes: 36 (40 is the Limit for Baronets)

Constitution: 35 (40 is the Limit for Baronets)

Charm: 100+ (100 is the limit for any human)

Fate: 666 (No Limit)

Personal Net-Worth: 70 trillion Lr

Family Net-Worth: 2.5 quadrillion+ Lr (Aetherium Family + Lux Solis Family)

System Wallet: 0

Skillset: Business Art (Master), Chess (Master), Driving (Master), Swimming (Expert), Music (Advanced) [Piano (Expert)/ Violin (Advanced)/ Singing (Intermediate)], Stock Trading (Advanced), Diplomacy (Advanced), Drawing (Advanced), Programming (Advanced) Cooking (Intermediate), Painting (Intermediate).

Note: The Skill Levels are Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, King, and God.

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{How exactly does this System Work?}

He asked after he went through all the information. He not only has the skills from this life but also from the one he had spent in the Parallel life or rather the future he has seen. His Business Art, Chess and Driving is an example for this. His cultivation rank which is at Level Baronet is a bit surprising though he was on the verge of breaking through. Maybe due to experiencing the future he directly broke though? It must be said that a 19-year-old Baronet is very rare in the whole nation of Aethelgarde.

Even if that life was just a dream, somehow, he had increased many skills due to him constantly trying to stop Darius from winning.

And he was happy about it.

[The System is there to serve and assist the Host against the unforeseen events. Missions will be eventually issued, and there will be corresponding rewards for completing those missions. From the experience you gain by completing the Missions, the System can be Upgraded, and each upgrade will unlock a new feature. There might be penalties that would be implemented if you fail a very important Mission, and the common penalty will be the loss of Experience Points that you have accumulated.]

{Hmm... Isn't this pretty much the same as those Urban Villain Novels...?}

[Yes, Host! It's similar, because I did research before appearing before you. Also, a friendly reminder that as long as the host can change the fixed situations you saw in the dream and alter your future, you will be able to unlock several new features.]. The system's female voice spoke up, and the system's voice was quite cute.

But Zayn was displeased that there were going to be penalties in case he fails a mission. He was not a person who liked his life being controlled by others, and he felt that the System will be controlling his life by issuing Missions that he does not wish to complete.

[The Host can rest assured that every Mission issued will only be to serve and assist the Host. The system cannot control your choices.]

Zayn was a bit surprised that this system can understand him so well. Even though he was still a little dissatisfied, he still replied.

{Ok, Got it.}

[Do you have any other questions or doubts, host? If not, let me give you the Novice Gift Package.]

[Ding! The Novice Gift Package received. Do You wish to open it?]

{Yes, Open.}

He nodded his head and then focused on the System Inventory in his mind. Soon, he found a Golden Chest there and then commanded it to open.

[Ding! You have acquired 10 trillion Lr. (Aethelgarde currency, Luminar)]

[Ding! You have acquired the Patronus Potion.]

[Ding! You have acquired a Aetherium Shard (A very rare material used for crafting and many other Uses)]

[Ding! You have acquired a Soulbound Weapon (A Weapon with no rank that grows alongside you. It is three levels higher than you. Currently a Baron's Weapon)]

[Ding! You have acquired a Mysterious Map]

[Ding! You have acquired the Skill: Medicine (Advanced).]

[Ding! You have acquired a Cultivation Manual: The Emperor's Sutra (Divine)]

[Ding! You have acquired two Skill Enhancement Cards (Silver)]

[Ding! You have acquired the Elixir Vitae. (Locked, Will be unlocked in 3 years)]

[Ding! You have acquired the three Divine Elixirs; Sanguis Draconis, Ascendance Draught and Luminaries (Locked, Will be unlocked in 5 years)]

[Congratulations! Host for opening the Novice Package and receiving some of the rarest gifts. The system will soon go into a hibernation for 3 years.]

{What?? Hibernation? For Three Years?}

[The Host gained the knowledge of the Future, which is far beyond the jurisdiction of the current level of the System. Additionally, the Starting Package also contains things that are also far beyond the control of the System. Therefore, the System will fall into a Hibernation Mode as a consequence. It will revive in 3 years.] 

"Oh..."

[Host! Would you like to upgrade any skills? Silver Grade Skill card can upgrade any of your two skills by two ranks. Its current limit is Master Level.]

Zayn thought for a moment and realized that he doesn't need any enhancements for the time being. Since childhood, he is a very diligent and a clever child. He never wasted his time and used it for studies and cultivation. And he has a very rare magic talent, therefore, he is already a baronet and also quite proficient in many skills. Although, with him experiencing the Future, he got some upgrades in his skill set, He was already better than many others of the same age.

Aethalgarde is the world's most powerful Empire with a very advanced technologies and very powerful cultivators. And to be a baronet in the empire he has to reach the cultivation level, 'Baronet'. The Baronet Cultivation level is also known as the Spiritual Realm where the cultivator connects with the nature. People who have reached this level will be able to start seeing the inner levels of the body and with time he or she would be ready to acquire mana, which will promote you to the next level, where he or she would be able to utilize mana. Also, there are specific cars and other instruments like Mobile phones created especially for them. (This is simply an immortal and magic cultivation world mixed with an Urban Setting.)

{I really don't want to upgrade any skills as of now. But if you were to hibernate now, will I not be able to upgrade them later? Also, what were the other gifts I received? The Potions, Money, a map and also a cultivation manual?}

[Even If I hibernate, you would still be able to upgrade those skills whenever you think it's convenient. Just think of the skill you want to upgrade and say upgrade. It would be automatically upgraded.]

[As for the Patronus Potion, I suggest you drink it now. Since, After I fell into the hibernation mode, you won't be able to access it again since it is in the system inventory. And the information about the other few potions will be given to you at the appropriate time. The map would be useful for you after the 3-year hibernation period. The Cultivation manual is of Divine Grade. It is one of the most powerful cultivation manuals in the current universe. Cultivating it will change your temperament to that of an Emperor and increase your comprehension. And practicing in it will change your body to cultivate in it's own. Host, please do cultivate it to find out the effects by yourself. It would be automatically stored in your brain. When you cultivate next time, you would automatically learn it.]

[As for the 10 trillion Lr, would you like it to be deposited in your account or would you like it to keep in the System Wallet for the time being? Worry not Host, the source of the money will be adjusted and there will be no legal repercussions against the Host.]

"Transfer the money." He commanded and focused his eyes on the System Inventory and saw a small vial that contained a sparking Silver Potion inside it. And as soon as he willed it to appear in his hand, it disappeared from the System.

[OK, Host. The 10 trillion Lr. has been transferred to your bank account.]

As soon as the system said it, he glanced at his phone and saw a notification pop up in his phone. and instantly his Net worth increased. More Importantly his liquid assets increased. And then he proceeded to drink the Vial containing the Patronus Potion.

[The effects of the potion will be activated in a month's time. The System is falling into Hibernation Mode now. Take Care, Host! And... *buzz* Happy Birthday, Bro...*statical noise* th...*Buzz*er!]

{Yeah...}

Due to all those things that happened today, He forgot that today is his birthday.

'But what was that system said at the end? Well, Let's ask her when it reawakened. Now I must start dealing with Darius. I will end you, Darius and take everything away from you that you were proud of. There's no way that I will allow you to win this time.'

He vowed to himself in his heart.

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In a Far corner in the Universe

There is a couple sitting near a Pond gazing at the stars above. 

The elegant and majestic looking man uttered, "It seems like we will see him, soon."

The Beautiful fairy like girl who was leaning her head on the man's shoulder also uttered, "Our Dear Sparky, my most precious Zane. We are waiting for you..!"

Without both of noticing, a warm tear slid down both of their faces.