Mid Level: Third World, River Saves the Day

"System, are serious. Why do I have to run?!"

'A goddess has a perfect healthy body!'

Elliot saw Landen about to go on his usual nightly runs. 

"Hey, Landen, are you going to run now?"

"Yeah."

"Can I come with you?"

"Sure."

Elliot put on a jacket and shoes. They walked to the track field on campus. Which was near the dorms. A few other students were jogging and some friend groups were sitting on the grass chatting. Landen and Elliot started running. Elliot started panting within less than a lap.

"What's wrong with my body? I could run a few miles before."

"Your body's a girl now! Pace yourself and train your female body's tolerance for exercise!"

Landen had run ahead. After passing Elliot a third time, he checked up on him.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just tired. I'm going to walk. You can keep running."

"Alright, shout if you need me."

"Okay."

Elliot went to the grass and sat down. Trying to catch his breath. He felt faint and his body was heavy like lead. Elliot passed out on the grass. A lot of students had already left for their dorms and Elliot and Landen were the only ones on the field. Elliot had sat on the shadowy spot and so no one was able to spot him. Landen finished his last lap and looked around for Elliot. Not seeing anyone in the dark, he took out his phone and called Elliot. The sound of the ringtone of Elliot's was nearby. He turned towards the sound and walked closer to the sound. Landen found Elliot on the grass and bent down to shake him, thinking he had fallen asleep.

"Hey, I'm done now. Let's go."

Elliot didn't respond and Landen realized that Elliot had passed out. He picked up Elliot and noticed that his waist was small and slim.

"He's so light."

Landen decided to go to the tiny clinic on campus. On his way there, he had bumped into Cameron.

"Hey, what's wrong with Elliot?"

"I don't know. He passed out when I found him."

"Let's go. The nurse will figure it out."

"Yeah."

Cameron took Elliot out of Landen's arms. Landen had just run a few miles and was tired. So he passed Elliot to Cameron. 

'What a slender and soft body.'

Cameron thought as he held Elliot. They entered the clinic and the nurse told them to place Elliot on the bed. Landen went to the minimart next door and bought something to drink. Cameron was outside, smoking. They both went in and the nurse just came out of the room after checking on Elliot.

"So what's wrong with him?"

"Which one of you is her boyfriend?"

"Me."

The both of them said at the same time. They looked at each other speechlessly for a moment.

"Youngsters these days. Well, you have to treat girls with care. She strained herself too much and passed out. She's emotionally stressed and physically tired. She needs to eat more as well. She looks like she's been malnourished for a few days now."

"Girls?"

"She?"

The nurse told them to wait for Elliot to wake up before leaving together. Elliot woke up a few minutes later and saw he was at the clinic. He looked over and saw his two roommates. 

"Hey Elliot, I have a question for you."

"Me too."

Landen spoke up and Cameron followed. 

"Are you really a girl?"

"Was it my imagination that you went with Mason when he asked you to see that new video tape with him and his dorm mates a while back?"

"Wait, didn't that mean you. You know. With the guys…"

Elliot was silent and felt devastated. 

'You're gonna turn completely female soon anyways. Just admit you're a girl.'

'Shut up you stupid goddess system.'

"I-I'm a guy. But I have a curse."

"So…you're a girl now?"

"...yeah…"

"Aye, it's okay. We'll figure this out."

"Thanks."

Elliot cupped his face with his hands and sobbed. Landen and Cameron patted Elliot's shoulder and were there to comfort him. Elliot calmed down and they returned to the dorms.

"Hey River. I think I should tell you this. Since Landen and Cameron know."

"What's up? You can tell me anything. I'm your dorm mate, anything for you my best friends."

"I-I'm cursed. I'm slowly turning into a girl."

"Eh? You don't seem different."

"Should I pull up my shirt and show you?"

Landen and Cameron reached over and held Elliot's hand in place.

"No. You're a female right now. Even if you have a male soul, don't act like that with a female body."

"Yeah, it's not appropriate."

Landen and Cameron reasoned.

"I guess you'll have to trust based on their words. I'm really a girl River."

"Aw, that's horrible! Have you found any way to turn back?"

"No…"

The four of them decided to search more on curses.

'You're helping Elliot now? I thought you were going to let things flow.'

'Hey, do you think you can absorb that system?'

'Ew, you want me to do what?!'

'You know, eat it. Kill it. It's probably created by the world's energy, right?'

'Well, you do have a point.'

'I'm always right. Anyways, I feel bad to see him so desperate. Plus, Landen and Cameron are totally digging Elliot's female body. Is it because of the protagonist halo?'

'Based on the data from their behavior around Elliot. They have a crush on him right now.'

'Ohhh, damn. Do they like the female him or the male him?'

'I don't know.'

The four of them skipped classes and stayed up late to search for a way to remove Elliots curse.

"It's alright guys."

"What do you mean? Don't give up hope Elliot."

"..."

Cameron tried to support Elliot from his depression. 

'System, how long will it take to completely absorb the trash system?'

'I have to do it without the other system noticing. Cut me some slack. Once I have a certain amount of power from the other system, he won't be able to resist me when I destroy him all in one swoop.'

'Nice. Can you give me an estimated date?'

'Two more days.'

'Quicker than I expected. Okay.'

These past few days, River was busy with helping Elliot. So he didn't have time to do his usual greeting to Zaiden in the next dorm. River laid on his bed, contemplating his next actions with Zaiden.

"Hey River, you got a visitor."

"Got it, Cameron."

River got down from his bunk bed and went to the door. He opened it and outside the hall was Zaiden. Zaiden was leaning against the wall and saw River pop out.

"Hey."

"Zaiden! What's wrong? Do you need me for something?"

Zaiden looked at River's body up and down.

"What's on my body?"

"Nothing. Did you not sleep much recently?"

"How did you tell?"

"Your eyebags are dark. And your eyes show exhaustion."

"Ack, no~ Don't look! I'm probably ugly to look at right now!"

"You're not."

"Huh?"

"You're not ugly to look at. You're always beautiful."

River's face turned deep red. His face flushed with shyness. Feeling flattered.

"I have a big favor for you."

"What is it?"

"Can you…let me look at your nude body?"

"..."

Zaiden's eyes darken as he looked at River with heated eyes. River avoided his gaze, still embarrassed. Zaiden took River's hand and pulled him to their connected bathroom on the balcony. Locking the door, he slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Then he unbuckled his belt. He took off his pants.

"Is this enough or do I need to take off my boxer briefs too?"

River walked around Zaiden and looked for anything that would tell him that Zaiden was Kayden.

"Um, your boxer briefs too."

"..."

Zaiden paused before taking off his boxer briefs. River gasped. He found it. It was the mole on his right ass cheek. It was on Karimir, Kellam, Kyln, and Kayden. The exact same place.

"Hubby! I found you!"

River got so excited he lunged forward and hugged Zaiden. Zaiden quickly held River from his ass. River has wrapped his arms and legs around Zaiden like a koala. 

"Heehee~ I found you~"

River rubbed his face on Zaiden's chest. 

"Are you satisfied?"

"Un! Un!"

River nodded and got down from Zaiden's body. Standing before Zaiden, River giggled in excitement. Zaiden wrapped his arm around River's waist and River felt a certain meat stick poking his belly. River pulled back and looked down. 

'I should have just looked at his dick. Hubby always had the same huge cock. Even when he has three bodies in one world.'

'Ahhhh!'

System No. 369 left to the system space, where he wouldn't hear them do the dirty. The nudity was all mosaic blurs but the sounds were still there. System No. 369 had suffered every time. Each time he went out to check if they were done. They were not done. So he runs back to the system space. River was about to speak up but someone had knocked on the door.

"Who's in there? I need to use the bathroom badly!"

Zaiden put his clothes back on and they left the bathroom. River in front and Zaiden behind.

"Errr. River? Zaiden? Why were you two in there together?"

Lucca looked at them leave before remembering his bladder was about to burst so he rushed into the bathroom. The next few days, River and Zaiden were attached to each other. The rest of the dorm members on both sides just ignored them. Although, homosexuality was frowned upon. There were more and more gays being open about it. They all shrugged it off and continued their daily lives. Landen and Cameron saw their close relationship and it made them ponder. They might actually be bisexual. They imagined Elliot in nude and didn't feel disgusted. 

'I'm done! The trash system is completely obliterated. Go buy a little jade charm that has a one time flash trick. Then tell Elliot that it will get rid of his curse.'

'Nice! I'll do it now!'

"Elliot! I think I found something that would help you!"

River put his hand inside his pocket and pulled out the jade charm the size of his finger. Elliot took it and was questionable.

"Will it really work?"

"Try it out and we'll know."

"What do I do to make it work?"

"Hold it within your hands and pray really hard."

River, Landen, Cameron, and Zaiden watched as Elliot did what River said. They were soon blinded by a bright light and when they opened their eyes. They didn't notice anything different.

"So? Do you feel different?"

"Yeah…I feel the power of the curse gone."

"Great!"

"Thank you River!!! And thank you two for supporting me all this time! Hahaha. I'm gonna be a guy again!"

Landen and Cameron congratulated Elliot.