4 The First Day of School...Wait System, Why Are You Here? (1)
The bunk bed creaked as it was pushed against the wall. Before, both bunk beds were pressed against each other in the middle of the room. What if someone who normally rolls over to one side falls off! Or worse, rolls onto someone on the other bed...
I finished fixing the room. I now could put my things into my room.
I piled my blankets on top of my bed. I've claimed the top bunk on the right side of the room. There wasn't any particular reason.
'Done.'
I don't need to clutter the room with my personal items. I can just keep them in my storage space. As for decoration, I don't really need it.
Oh right, I should call Asidus. I had the System move him into my dorm, as he was my best friend.
I kept in touch with Asidus. After a couple of months since GSAD, I could contact him. We called each other weekly.
Unlike me, his neighborhood was fine. The Experts who razed my neighborhood were apparently immature teenagers wanting merits for the army. Other squads didn't destroy entire blocks just for one person. If a retired soldier was found by any other squad, at most only the soldier would die. Other incidents like mine happened, but they weren't common.
There were other survivors in my neighborhood, but since their homes were gone, they moved.
I turned on my iPhone 22 and tapped on Asidus' contact. Tring, tring.
"Keltrex! Which dorm are you in?"
Now Asidus is a full-on otaku. Although, he did get rid of his social awkwardness.
"Room 241." I pretended to not know that he was in the same room.
"What really?!" Asidus' surprised voice crackled through the phone. "Me too!"
"It's not that surprising. After all, there are only around 150 new students. Most kids aren't going to school since high school isn't compulsory. Plus, with four people in each room there was a high chance that we would be grouped together."
"You're right! But still, it's pretty lucky for us to be in the same room. Oh right, I met one of our dorm mates. We'll be there in a minute."
"Okay, see you then." The phone clicked as the call ended.
I fixed my sheets a little as I was waiting. I've already checked my schedule.
[Year One—Keltrex Sakiza
1. Science and Social Studies: 7:30-8:30
2. English and Math: 8:32-9:32
3. Physics and Chemistry: 9:34-10:34
4. Freedom!!!: 10:36-11:36
5. Lunch: 11:38-12:38
6. Monster Hunting: 12:40-1:40
7. Loot Collecting: 1:42-2:42
8. Quests: 2:44-3:44
9. PvP: 3:46-4:46
10. Go Home!: 4:50
After school activities and clubs start at 5:00 pm.]
What's with the weird names? The academic classes and the new classes are fine, as the System already told me about them, but why is free period "Freedom!" with exclamation marks? Why is "Go Home" even listed?
Should've expected this from the System.
The door opens. "Hey Keltrex, this is our new dorm buddy!"
The boy behind him is...
Should've expected this for the System.
"Hello, Keltrex!"
The boy behind Asidus looks like a younger version of the System avatar that dumped Valyn onto me. He's wearing a light blue shirt that says "Best in the Omniverse."
You guessed it, it's the System.
"Huh, you know each other already?" Asidus looks at me, then the System.
"Yup, after Keltrex's parents died, my dad took him in. I live at his house now."
What dad, that's you! Why are you not only possessing my dad but also posing as a student?!
Besides, didn't you have a restriction?!
"That's really nice of your dad!" Asidus believed the System readily. "But wait, wasn't Keltrex's house destroyed?"
"That's true, but it was rebuilt recently. Keltrex buried his parents in his backyard." For a being that doesn't understand how friendship in this world works, it's a really smooth liar.
Well, lying is an intelligence thing anyway.
"Oh." There was a moment of silence for my parents. 'Don't worry Asidus, they're happy in the System's space. They can even view Earth.'
Most people are sad about their parents because they're worried that their parents are suffering. They hope that their parents are happy, but can never be sure about it. However, with both the System and Death as friends, I made sure my parents are happy. I got over a month after their death.
Although, because of world and death laws, I cannot contact them,and they cannot contact me. They can see me, so they don't have to miss me.
"Let's claim bunks! I already took the top bunk on the right, but you get to pick any out of the rest." I said to break the sad-only-for-Asidus silence.
"I choose this one!" The System picks the bunk under me.
"Then I'll take the other top bunk!" Asidus climbs up the ladder and dumps all of his stuff onto his bed. After all, most people still cling to how it used to be, even after it's been close to a year. I guess it's because life hasn't really been normal enough for anyone to change their views.
"By the way, do either of you know who the last person is? I could be someone we know! I mean, just look at this ridiculous coincidence! We're all friends!"
Yeah System, just me and Asidus is pushing it, adding you to the mix makes it extremely unlikely. That's even with fewer students than last year.
"Nope." I shook my head. 'The System knows though.'
"Then we'll just have to wait and see. I'll play Taruto X Renari: Ninja Fight while we're waiting." He pulls out his iPad Sky and starts up the game. It's a crossover game about a popular anime and its sequel.
I scoot over to the System. "What did you tell him your name was? It probably wasn't 'the System.'"
It sits on the bottom bunk. "I said it was Systema."
"Isn't that a martial art?"
"It's an unarmed killing art," it says nonchalantly. "That's not why I named myself that. I just added a "A" to System. No one suspects that I am the actual System of the Omniverse. I've tried this before."
'How did that even work? It should know that will never work in this universe...' I then thought, 'Oh right, this universe is an anomaly.'
Worlds are also called universes. Generally, there's things like alternate universes where the setting is the same, but something different happened. That something could be small or big, depending on how "close" that world is to the Core Universe. All alternates spiral out from that universe.
Alternate universes are created by the Core Universe. The closest universes are actually the closest to the Core Universe in the dimensional plane. It's like how similar looking houses are next to each other in the suburbs.
This also means that if the Core Universe is destroyed, all other alternate universes are destroyed.
Other Core Universes and their alternates from your own are called different universes. Each Core Universe and their alternates are what people call the multiverse. All together, it creates the Omniverse.
There's different types of universes too. The most common type is called the Common Universes. The alternates of a specific Core Universe make up only a little less than half of the total universes. With infinite universes being created and an unimaginable number already in existence, the Core Universe of the Common Universes is crucial. If it goes down, the entire Omniverse dies.
This is also the universe that my phone has information on. The Core Common Universe is the most heavily guarded universe. There's a impenetrable shield surrounding it, so the <World Destroyers> don't destroy it. Not that they would. They want to live too.
You may ask, if the System can create barriers, then why can't it create one for your universe? Because apparently, this world is an extreme anomaly.
First of all, this is a Core World. This is although heavily restrictive, not unusual.
It's restrictive because Core Worlds have special laws that stop ultimate beings from doing whatever they want.
First of all, no one can be revived. Unless it's allowed by something native to the world, people will stay dead.
Second of all, time travel is not allowed. People within the world must use their own devices to time travel. The System cannot interfere with time there, but can still see the future. That's why it actively sought out my universe when I was born.
Thirdly, omnipotent beings can not directly exist on the world. There are other laws, but I can't remember all of them off the top of my head.
The real reason why this world is a anomaly is because this world...
Has no alternates.
That is absolutely impossible as a Core World. As long it has existed for a period of time, there should be some alternates, what-ifs on what could've been. There's also the fact that this world has a minor cloaking shield. As long as no one deliberately looks for it or something on it, they will not find this world. This is also why the System didn't see this anomaly right away.
Oh right, the System flouted the laws and incarnated as a kid!
"Wait a minute, aren't you breaking the laws of Core Worlds here?"
"Nope. I found a loophole! Remember Valyn?" I nodded. "You mean the poor kid you starved and then dumped onto me?"
"I just created him, remember?" it reminded. After I summoned all the characters, I also talked to Valyn. It turns out that the System just created him just to give him to me. He looked skinny because he was just born. As a non-human, he didn't need to eat anyway.
"It was a joke. What's the loophole?"
"Well, Valyn's a character and he's also created from me. So he's related to me. I just tricked this universe into thinking that I'm Valyn's brother and I come from another world like him. I'm not an omniscient being according to it, but rather a character."
"And this is why you're the System." I sighed. "Your creativity knows no bounds."
Asidus checked the time on his iPad. "Hey guys, it's 7:25. We should pack up and get going to our first class."
"I guess the other guy's late. What class do you have?" I ask.
"Science and Social Studies," he replies.
"Me too!" the System pipes up.
Not again! Having the same classes as two of my dorm mates is just too coincidental!
"I heard that people in the same dorm goes to the same classes!" the System explained. It whispered to me, "You can hang out with your friend and I all day!"
So that's why. Reasonable.
"Let's go then." I pack up nothing and leave the dorm. I follow the minimap—yes, there's a minimap now—to my classroom.
The classroom looks normal. Desks in rows, the front desk with the teacher's materials, and the glitchy smart board in the front. After all, this is one the classes that stayed the same.
Several other students were sitting at the desks. The teacher was pulling up the lesson on the smart board. It seems that we will be learning science first.
I take my seat at the desk the teacher indicated. Asidus and the System enter the classroom soon after.
When the clock near the door shows 7:30, the teacher closes the door. She says, "Class is starting. Say 'here' when I call your name."
She starts roll call. "Mazuto Bakerson."
"Here."
"Elijah Lopez."
"Here."
And so on. Until she calls the System's name...
"Systema Onivern."
'That's too conspicuous! If any of the <World Destroyers> were here, your cover would be blown!'
"Here," it says, aware of my thoughts but not caring.
"Kirara Polox."
"Here."
"Westor Panami."
"Here."
"Keltrex Sakiza."
"Here," I say, still giving the System a glare. It sits right next to me. Did it mind control the teacher?
It sits to my left while Asidus sits to my right. That's definitely not a coincidence. Our last names are not in alphabetical order. System...
The teacher finishes roll call. "Welcome to Science...and Social Studies. My name is Raisa Tirin. This year, classes are very different. Science will be taught for the first half of class. Then we will start the curriculum for Social Studies. The curriculum is the same as last year, so don't worry about classes being harder."
She pauses, then continues with, "Open your textbooks to page 2."
I materialize my textbook from my inventory. Most of the others take their textbooks from their bags physically. Only weird people like the System and I take it out of inventory. I don't know why they wouldn't use the storage space. It's something out of a webnovel, but it's more convenient.
Class quickly blurs by. I didn't learn anything. Next was English and Math. Then Physics and Chemistry. The only thing worth noting was the fact that the System turned off physics for a second when someone challenged it to a physics face-off.
For my free period, Asidus wanted to check out the new areas. We first visited the monster areas. There was a panel with different monsters and levels. The environment was adjusted depending on the monsters. Asidus chose the level 30 dire wolf area. He's adventure level 52 with his average character level at 25. He wanted to challenge himself a bit.
"Systema, Keltrex, join my party!" He sends a party request to us. In <Otherworld Online,> you could party with others to level up. I never used that option as I was the only one in the server.
But this is a problem. The party panel not only shows the adventure level, but also the character level. I could use one of my quest characters, but they are still max level. There's still my adventure level and the System...
"Sure!" The System accepts Asidus' request.
Oh that's right, it can manipulate the panels. There shouldn't be any problem.
I accept as well. The party panel pops up. It shows only our adventure level as we haven't summoned anyone yet. The System is listed as level 54, and I'm listed as level...
24?! Did the System just remove the "5" from the number?!
The "5" reappears. Then disappears. Then it appears again. "Keltrex, your level is glitching. It says your either level 524 or 24, both of which are absurd. Unless you were in grief over your parents."
'SYSTEM! WHAT IS GOING ON?!'
'Apparently I can't change your information completely. It's already pushing it by removing the "5,"' it telepathically messages me.
I leave the party. 'In that case, are you going to make my characters level 20? It's either too high or too low? I would rather just stay out of the party.'
"Sorry Asidus, something seems to be wrong with my party function. I'll just level by myself."
"That's okay." Asidus assures me. "But what about you? Will you be alright?"
"Don't worry about me, I can't die anyway."
"Okay then! Let's go!" Asidus presses the button. Lights flash as we teleport out of the room.
//////////
We appear in a forest at night. Ghostly howls can be heard all around us as the artificial moon hovers above.
"Wow!" Asidus cries in amazement. "How did the school get their hands on this futuristic technology? I thought the Experts only had slightly more advanced technology?"
"I heard that the System created the technology itself," the System says ironically.
"You hear a lot of things. Is your dad in a high position?"
"No, he's just a normal office worker," the System corrects. "Now let's slay monsters!"
It runs off like a madman into the dark forest. "Wait for me!" Asidus yells. He summons two of his characters that I can't get a good look at before he dashes in the same direction. 'Stop being so reckless! I mean, the System has infinite health, but won't you die immediately? At least bring some light!'
Now what should I do? Run into the shadowed forest that looks more like a cave—which is full of weak monsters—or game on the ground?
I pull out a chair, materialize a side table, and sit down to game while chomping on french fries. The desolate howls of the pitifully weak wolves echo throughout the forest. The moon glares down at me, as if it is saying, "This is a monster area! Fight some monsters, don't just game like a salted fish!"
To that I reply, "But those monsters barely give any XP. I'd rather game."
"Don't think you can just laze around like a couch potato!"
Hold on, I was really talking to someone?! I pause the game and look up.
A silhouette outlined by the shining moon defied the laws of gravity above my head. I couldn't really tell was the person looked like. All I could see was a long black cloak like those MCs from webnovels.
"Who are you?" I ask calmly.
"Apollyon, rank two Multiverse Killer," he proclaimed arrogantly.
"Pretty impressive." I was expressionless.
I know I said that, but my real thoughts are, 'Oh sh*t, I'm doomed!'
