System

Will opened his eyes only to find himself standing in a dark space. Looking far ahead he was able to see the vast expanse of darkness, with dark mist swirling below the ground.

"What's this place? Did I die already?" It was as if he was floating in midair with nothing to support him.

"Death?" A mysterious voice came from an unknown direction. It was as if the voice was coming from all directions simultaneously. 

"Are you giving up so easily? Do you really wish to die?" 

"Who is it? Is there anyone else here?" Will asked, upon hearing the mysterious voice.

He got no response to his questions. 

Suddenly his surrounding started changing. Will felt as if he was falling from a high building. Falling for four straight minutes, his body started slowing down before he ultimately stopped.

He felt the wet grasses brushing against his skin. He was finally standing on something solid instead of floating amidst air. The sky above looked to be crimson with traces of dark mist swirling atop. Will lowered his face and checked his surroundings. A peculiar expression engulfed his face as he gazed downward.

A cluster of ethereal orbs hovered weightlessly in the air, casting a mesmerizing glow that illuminated the surrounding space. Each orb contained a captivating scene. As his eyes scanned the array, he reached out, his fingers delicately grasping one of the orbs. In an instant, he was pulled into its depths, his surroundings shifting and transforming until he found himself standing amidst a lush garden, its vibrant blooms and fragrant air enveloping him.

In the heart of the garden, a young boy with a crown of obsidian hair sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in deep meditation. Beside him, a magnificent beast, its massive form curled up in peaceful slumber, radiated an aura of tranquility. The air hung heavy with stillness, as if time itself had paused. 

"What is this place?" For what seemed like an eternity, Will wandered through the garden's enchanting pathways, his footsteps barely making a sound on the soft earth. The vibrant flora whispered secrets to him, their petals brushing against his fingertips as he passed by. The sun cast dappled patterns of light and shadow, creating a dance of colors that painted the scene with ethereal beauty.

Just as the silence began to weigh upon him, a subtle shift in the atmosphere caught Will's attention. From the depths of the beast's shadow, a form began to emerge, growing larger and more defined with each passing moment. A sense of anticipation tingled in the air, as if the garden itself held its breath, awaiting the revelation of this mysterious presence.

A man with flowing red hair covered in dark armor from his head down, materialized from the shadow. HIs aura disrupting the tranquility in the garden. He held a knife which glinted dangerously under the vibrant rays. His intention apparent in his crimson eyes. 

"No!" Will's voice echoed through the garden, his body springing into action with a desperate urgency. With lightning speed, he launched himself, his hand striking out to intercept the menacing trajectory of the man's hand. But to his dismay, his hands passed through the man's, as if they were nothing more than insubstantial wisps of smoke. The knife, its deadly intent undeterred, continued its deadly descent towards the vulnerable expanse of the young boy's neck.

In that heart-stopping moment, the very fabric of the garden seemed to shift and thicken. A palpable darkness oozed from the depths of the boy's being, enveloping the knife in its malevolent embrace. The blade, upon impact, began to corrode and disintegrate, as if consumed by an unseen force. The air crackled with an otherworldly energy, as the dark aura emanating from the boy repelled the imminent danger.

"Arghhh!" The man fell on his knees as the mist reached his side. His armour slowly corroded, turning into particles. Looking at his hands, he screamed in pain. His hands had shrivelled up spreading straight to the rest parts of his body.

The man fell down within seconds, his shrivelled corpse slowly broke into particles. Right from the moment everything happened the boy appeared unperturbed, his eyes tightly shut.

As he observed the unfolding scene, a realization dawned upon him - he was just a passive observer in a memory long forgotten. With a surge of curiosity and a hint of trepidation, he made a conscious decision to delve deeper into this enigmatic garden.

His eyes remained fixated on the boy, unable to tear away from the magnetic pull that drew him closer. Step by step, he ventured further into the lush surroundings, his senses heightened with each stride. 

As he neared the boy and his faithful companion, a sense of anticipation mingled with a touch of apprehension. There was an unspoken connection between them, an invisible thread that seemed to bind their fates together. With each passing moment, the distance between them diminished, until finally, he stood mere feet away.

The boy's eyes met his, and in that instant, time seemed to stand still. His obsidian eyes were shining in an otherworldly glow. Although young, his eyes betrayed years of vast knowledge and experience.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity, he yearned to uncover the truth behind this inexplicable connection. What secrets lay hidden within the recesses of his memory.

He can't see me right?" Will thought as he stood transfixed, staring deep into the abyss-like eyes. 

He slowly positioned himself directly in front of the young boy, his body moving as if guided by an unseen force. As he settled down, his mind became a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and thoughts.

There was an inexplicable connection that tugged at his heartstrings whenever his gaze fell upon the boy, a sense of familiarity that defied rationality. It was as if their souls shared a hidden bond, woven together by the threads of destiny. With each passing moment, the intensity of this inexplicable connection grew, enveloping him in a web of curiosity and intrigue.

"I am you," he heard a voice in his head that shook him down to his core. "Did he just read my mind!?"

"Follow my steps," echoed the voice within his mind, coaxing him. In response, Will obediently squeezed his eyes shut. "Release the shackles of your thoughts, all the answers you seek shall be answered. I have awaited your arrival, for so long."

Will adhered closing his eyes and started breathing through his nose. He shut down all the questions raging in his head, atoning to the tranquility in the garden.

A surge of vitality coursed through his veins, as he focused his thoughts and allowed his mind to clear. In that moment, a profound connection formed between them, intertwining their consciousness. As their minds merged, he became acutely aware of the boy's pent-up emotions, a torrent of feelings that threatened to overwhelm them both.

His own body trembled as fragments of memories flashed before his eyes, like shards of a shattered mirror piecing themselves back together. In one vivid recollection, he found himself standing amidst a throng of formidable beings, his very essence drenched in the crimson hue of battle. Yet, there was a striking difference - the figure he saw had long, dark waves cascading down to his waist, a stark contrast to his own appearance.

Just as another wave of memories threatened to engulf him, a radiant surge of golden energy washed over his vision, pulling him back to the present. The ephemeral glimpse into his past had left an indelible mark, a tantalizing taste of forgotten truths that begged to be unraveled.

Opening his eyes, he saw the garden slowly disappearing as waves of golden energy consumed everything in its path. 

"I think it's time for you to go, we shall meet again," the boy's voice echoed within his mind as he faded away.

Will slowly stood up, his face covered in confusion. The wave of golden energy finally reached him, drowning him. He felt the energy entering every pores in his body. Deep within him, his core started pulsating, the outer shell began to crack. A faint golden glow covered his body until his core completely cracked. 

As his core fractured, a powerful surge of energy erupted from within him. Gradually, a new core began to take shape while the overwhelming wave of energy gradually subsided. Simultaneously, his form began to disintegrate into minuscule particles, signifying his gradual return to consciousness.

Opening his eyes, he found himself on a large bed with machines beeping loudly, at the corner of the room. 

"Urgh," he groaned, his hands instinctively grasping his aching head. The throbbing was so intense that it made him feel disoriented, his surroundings spinning in a blur. Just as despair threatened to consume him, the door to his room creaked open, revealing a woman clad in a nurse's uniform. She glided over to his bedside, her presence radiating a soothing aura.

With gentle grace, the nurse reached out, her hand hovering over his fevered brow. A soft, ethereal glow emanated from her touch, spreading warmth throughout his weary body. As her hand connected with his skin, a serene tranquility washed over him, gradually easing the torment that had plagued him moments before.

The room echoed with silence, the once-persistent beeping of machines fading into oblivion. With each passing second, his pain dissolved, replaced by a newfound sense of well-being. As the nurse withdrew her touch, he attempted to sit up. 

" Your body still needs to rest, before I inform the commander." She said slowly pushing him back to the bed. She walked to the window pulling the shutters which blocked the rays of sun from entering. She then made her way towards the door, locking it after she passed.

As Will lay motionless on the bed, his brows knitted together in a perplexed expression. The events leading up to this moment were a hazy blur, his memory fragmented and disjointed. He vividly recalled the terror that had consumed him, the imminent threat of a merciless beast about to tear him apart. Yet, against all odds, he found himself now within the sterile confines of the school's hospital, surrounded by the faint hum of medical machinery. 

But it wasn't just the change in his surroundings that left him bewildered; it was the inexplicable surge of vitality coursing through his veins. Every fiber of his being tingled with an electrifying energy, as if a dormant force within him had been awakened. It was as though he had been granted a second chance at life, a rebirth that defied all logic and reason.

In a moment of dazed confusion, his eyes caught sight of a pulsating blue light flickering at the periphery of his vision. Curiosity piqued, he focused his attention on the enigmatic glow, only to find himself confronted by the sudden appearance of a holographic screen before him. Words materialized across the screen, their message searing into his consciousness.

"[ You have been granted the Angel System ]"

He read the words silently in his mind, his thoughts echoing in disbelief. A system? His mind raced, trying to comprehend the significance of this unexpected revelation. With rapt attention, he examined the holographic screen, noticing additional tabs nestled in the uppermost corner. Like a seasoned gamer, he instinctively summoned the tabs with a mere mental command. 

"[ Tab ] [ Skill ] [ Store ]"

As the tabs materialized before him, he couldn't help but remember the countless hours he had spent immersed in virtual realms during his free time, conquering foes and navigating intricate systems. This surreal encounter felt akin to stepping into a grandiose game, the boundaries between reality and fantasy blurring.

"Just like those games, it would have a system status, right?" He thought to himself. "Let's see... System Status!" he called out. 

System status 

[ Name: Will Sonoma ]

[ Race: Human ]

[ Level 1 ]

[ 0/100 exp ]

[ Energy: 100/100 ]

[ Hp: 50/50 ]

[ strength: 15 ]

[ Agility: 17 ]

[ Endurance: 15 ]

"Whoa," he exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise and anticipation. Just as he was on the verge of delving deeper into the intricate system, the door swung open with a forceful push.

Emerging from the threshold was none other than Jason Parker, the esteemed head of the academy. His lustrous brown locks cascaded effortlessly onto his neckline, adding a touch of rugged charm to his already striking appearance. With piercing eyes that held a hint of danger and a jawline that exuded confidence, he possessed an alluring yet formidable aura.

"I can see you're already awake," he remarked, his voice carrying a tone of authority. With a swift motion, he pulled a chair closer to the bed and settled himself into it, his gaze fixed intently on the task at hand.