System

Levi twisted and turned his arms, studying the little and insignificant tiny movements the wires and veins made. He even checked his privates, surprised it was covered flatly. "Is this some kind of system?" Levi asked quietly, unsure of what emotion to express. 

[If you would like to call it that, yes]

Levi mouthed 'woah', still engrossed at his appearance. The break in his head caused by Chase had been healed. "I've been a fan of system my whole life. Watched and read a lot of movies and books on it." He asked quickly, "No one else can hear your voice, right?"

[Only you can, Levi]

"Cool."

[I'm glad you're taking it this way. A really good start]

"Are you a female? You have a feminine voice."

[I am a genderless construct, given a feminine voice for easier socialization]

"So what can I do? I just saw you take down three red academics. This must be a really strong system, isn't it?"

[Extremely. But you are still at ground level Levi]

[Right now, I don't see you capable of doing anything. If I merge with you for more than 5 minutes, you will die. And if I take charge of your body for the same period, you will die]

[Constant adaptation would lead to the increase of your core. Which is your ability to merge anytime you want and the powers that come with]

[At full Core, techniques like Speed, Strength, Duplication, Technology manipulation, Limbs transfiguration, Flight, Indestructibility, Extreme Senses and lots more are available.]

Levi listened closely. "And, how do I increase my core?"

[Daily training and... completing a few tasks. This would help your body get used to the power pumped by me, thereby increasing your core]

[Two minutes, twenty-five seconds left to end our merge, Levi]

Levi could feel his heart starting to pace up and the balance in his body tweaking. "Don't you have a name?" Levi asked.

The synthetic voice took a long pause before replying.

[I'm afraid I don't] 

[You can start your adaptation now by divesting our merge. And someone is coming]

"How do you know someone's coming?" Levi asked, unwilling to give up the merge.

[I can sense vibrations and waves from a 100 metre radius.]

[If we have a high interrelationship, you could sense it too. Now relieve the merge, no one should see you this way]

"Why not?" Levi asked.

[Just do as I say. Feel the same way you did when we merged, it won't be difficult.]

There was a knock at the door. Levi concentrated and as it said, it wasn't difficult. The veins creeped back into hiding, the hardened cover melted back into scales and they all retreated back to his neck, revealing his normal skin.

The knocking came again, really impatient. Levi grabbed a new T-shirt and put it on quickly. 

[Say nothing about this to anyone]

He opened the door to see his best friend as he faked his most reassuring smile.

"You're in big trouble Levy," Brody said.

Levi's smile faded. 

---

Levi walked behind a woman claiming to be the secretary to the Director. He was definitely going to be punished for sure. They exited out of the main building and into a taller one, the height of a skyscraper. It was a skyscraper.

Unlike the school-like building, this one was bustling with office affairs. Levi never knew much men and women in black and white, dark blue and just in black were in The Academy City. 

The secretary led him into an elevator, tapping on one of the highest floors. 

"If only I had you when I was in school, math would be so easy," Levi whispered.  "You must be very smart, right?"

[Yes. I can give you a 99.9% correct data, limited to my last update]

The elevator opened with a ding after a long trip. The secretary led the way into a beautifully decorated hallway, with brown expensive walls and golden chandeliers. It had The Academy's signature glass exterior wall with little ornamental plants in vases to upscale the aesthetics. It looked like it was a mix between one's home and workplace.

[Wow]

"It's very ravishing isn't it?" Levi asked the construct. He followed right behind the secretary who was outwalking.

[Probably. But I'm rather impressed about the tight security in the area]

[In the walls are automatic .357 patlettes fueled by Meetegen gas, cameras you can't see, sighting every angle. Very impressive]

Levi wanted to speak back but the secretary held out a hand directing him to a door she just opened. A comfortable lounge office was revealed with a man sitting behind the table.

The man walked up to the secretary and gave her a short kiss on the lips. Levi found that weird. He read the nameplate on the table, 'Dir. Robert Lance'. 

"We meet again, Nine." The man said seeing the secretary off as he closed the door. "Please sit."

Levi slowly sat on a comfy furniture across the table and the man's chair. He is the same man at The Den and The Colosseum, Levi noticed.

[He has a weapon in a drawer] 

"You haven't been here up to a week and you have caused a lot of detriment," Robert said, flinging himself to his comfortable chair and placing his feet on the table "I know you're a little bit cuckoo," he added, rotating his index finger next to his temple. "But, I cannot let this go on."

Levi sat still with his legs together. 

"I mean, beating up your fellow mates?" Robert said, shaking his head.

"They attacked me fir-" Levi tried to explain but was cut off.

"I don't care who attacked who first. You dislocated the arm of one of my best academics. Now, how's he gonna exert his super strength without a right arm?"

"And I won't forget how you disrespected me at the auditorium earlier." He got up from the chair and poured himself a cup of wine from a shelf nearby. "No one disrespects me Nine."

Disrespect? Levi thought. He only wanted to leave the place and that's disrespectful? Was it all this was about? To scold him on respect? 

[What an infantile man]

"I didn't mean to-"

"Shut up. Say nothing."

Robert took a long drink before returning to the table. He opened a drawer and pulled out his raeger, placing It on the table. "You know what this is?"

Levi's heart started to race. He has seen it a couple of times, often held by top security services. Once, when he was in the West Wing, he witnessed a man's head blown off into smithereens.

"Good. I can tell you know what it is," he returned the raeger. "I could fire that weapon at you, but I wouldn't. I guess that will be unfair because I'm sane."

He sat back down on his black chair, placing his feet on the table again. "Have you ever been to the South Wing?"

Where was this man headed with these questions and schemes? Why the hell would he ever be in the South Wing? Levi has heard a lot of things about there, destruction, darkness, creatures.

The man continued, "Once a while, a few designated academics, usually the strong ones, are sent there for a sort of training and test. What's a better way of getting ready for something than facing a similar thing head on?"

"Out of my generosity, I'll recruit you with the ongoing team. If you make it out of there alive, good. If you do not, good."

What? No way he was going into The Cavern, said to be full of regenerated creatures from the raid.

[He wouldn't dare]

"This is The Academy, remember you owe us your life."

Levi mustered the courage, "And if I refuse?" 

"Aren't you listening?" Robert said quickly as he pointed at the drawer containing his raeger. "And don't bother trying to run when you get there. For some reason, any academic who tries to escape always ends up with an exploded head." He finished with a devilish smirk.

[He's right Levi, there's a tiny spall fixed in your brain]