[Host would be given super strength if he accepted the mission]
Jake eyes widened in shock as he stared at the eerie, glowing text that suddenly appear in his view, hovering before his face.
He was so surprised. This was the first time he was seeing this system thing he read in books. First, it came through his head and now, he was literally see it life! Who would believe this?
Wait! The system just mentioned super strength.
"Super strength? Are you fall real?" his voice burst out in a disbelieving yell, echoing off the cold, damp walls of the cell. He didn't even realize that he leapt up to his feet, his heart was just racing with a sudden excitement.
"Wait! Hold on. Like, seriously? You're telling me I'll be like...ummm..Superman or something?" He laughed again, the sound was a little bit hysterical though.
He couldn't just believe he was going to have super strength. That would be cool.
Jake's gaze darted around the cell, as if searching for some hidden camera or proof that this was all just a wild joke. But hell! The only response was the faint hum of that freaking glowing text, pulsing with an otherworldly energy.
Wait! So this system thing is real!
He took a step forward, his fists clenched in anticipation.
"Fuck, yeah! This is awesome! I'm going to be a freaking superhero!" The words tumbled out in a breathless rush, his face split by a wide, goofy grin. He was hell crazy now.
[Do you accept or decline?]
The glowing blue text pulsed out with an expectant energy.
"I accept...I fucking accept!" He pumped his fist in the air, laughter bubbling up from his chest. The smirk in his face faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of giddy anticipation. He suddenly seems to have gain some strength just at the hearing of the word 'super strength'
[Super strength initialisation...] The text flashed again before his eyes, and a low hum filled the air.
Jake's eyes was just so locked onto the countdown, his excitement building with each passing number.
[Initializing process...]
[50....]
[55....]
[60....]
[65.....]
[70.....]
"Wait…..wait…. wait..." Jake cut in, he held up his hand, his eyes narrowing as if he'd just remembered something crucial. Maybe he did.
[What's the matter, host?]
The system's voice was like a gentle breeze on a summer day, but Jake's scowl deepened. He look worried. He scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"Ummm, what's the mission all about?" His voice trailed off, and he glanced around the cell as if searching for an escape route. He felt stupid that he was asking this now after accepting the mission already. He should have ask that earlier, right?
[Your first mission is to get a golden amulet from Lord Shan's inner chambers.]
Jake's eyes widened at tge hearing of that, he took a step backward, his hands suddenly raised by itself in a defensive gesture.
"What?"
[Getting the amulet from his chambers would earn you 20% durability to physical pressure and attack.]
The system's voice was matter-of-fact, but Jake's face paled. The mission didn't seems appealing to him at all.
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
"Wait! Hold on. Who the hell is Lord Chan?" His voice trembled a little as he question. He then turned and glanced around the cell walls as if expecting Lord Chan to suddenly materialize out of thin air.
His eyes darted back to the glowing text, his pupils where literally constricting with fear. He was hell scared, and his body language screamed it–his tense posture, clenched fists, and his gaze that darted around the cell like a trapped animal.
[That question would be answered as soon as the initialization process is complete.]
"Seriously? Can't I at least know what or who I'm up against in this mission?" He slammed his fist against the cold stone wall, the sound echoing through the cell.
[Yes, host! You'll know who the anomaly is as soon as the countdown process is complete.]
The system's responded, the system voice was quite calm, but jake's glare could have melted steel. His eyes narrowed at the little thing floating before him. He felt like choking it right in the air because that shit was clearly dictating his life now.
[Can I continue the initialization process?]
"Yes, you can. Just be fast with it." Jake stated, looking so pissed already. He just hope the so called Lord Chan wouldn't be a big problem for him to handle.
And fucked! Why amulet? What's the point of that? Such should be for princess. And he wasn't one.
Why not some cool magical sword or gun, or maybe some elemental powers. Why amulet? Was he going to put it on when he finally gets it from Lord Chan?
"An amulet? For a guy? Fuck! This is so silly. I swear." He muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
[90....]
[95...]
[100….]
[Congrats host. Your strength are now enhanced with 10 percent. You're capable of doing stuff like; lifting rocks of about 400 pounds, lifting a chariot, punching rods of about 40 inches and lifting a horse.]
"Wow!" He stumbled backward, his mind went reeling with the implications. He looked down at his hands, half-expecting to see some visible change, but shit! They looked exactly the same. No change!
"Whoa! You don't mean that!" Jake exclaimed, his voice was laced with a mixture of excitement and a little bit of skepticism. "But why the hell didn't I feel anything in my body during the...ummm...initialization something?"
He looked around the cell, as if searching for some hidden mechanism that would explain the sudden boost in strength.
[It's not really compulsory that host should feel any form or surge of energy while in the initialization process.]
"Okay, so who the hell is Lord Chan?" he asked, his voice was sounding firm and determined. Who the hell was Lord Chan?
[Well, lord Chan is the chief emperor of the elite army's. He had conquer 167 battles in the pass 35 years. He's from the akiana race but has a humanoid feature. Several kings has...]
"Wait! Hold on. You said, he's an Akiana something. What's that?" His voice was laced with fear even as he tries to hide it.
[The Akianas are group of people who where blessed with some elementary powers from the gods. They're consider one of the most prominent and cruel race in earth 503. They dominant several régions in Everia. And….]
Fuck!
Jake's face contorted in outrage, his fists went on clenching at his sides. Was this system joking? Seriously?
"Wait, you mean Lord Chan is some kind of freaking evil villain, and you want me to go into his fucking chambers and get an amulet from him? Seriously?" His voice rose to a near-shriek, echoing off the cold stone walls. He didn't even realize that he was shouting now.
He threw up his hands in frustration, pacing back and forth in the small cell like a caged animal.
I can't even imagine myself doing that! It's insane!
[Yes Host! You can't reverse the mission. You have to make a move on how to steal the amulet.]
Jake's face suddenly turned beet-red with rage. What the hell did that thing just said?
"Fuck! Steal? Jeez, I thought you said 'get it' from Lord Chan!" He slammed his fist against the wall, the sound echoing through the cell again.
He didn't even realize that the wall he was slamming on, was getting cracked due to the force he used on it. Seems like the super strength thing was real and it was working.
He spun around again, his eyes still blazing with fury.
"You're telling me I have to steal from some evil villain? Are you kidding me?" His voice dripped with venom, his body language was literally screaming hostility. You could tell from the face alone.
[My bad. You have to steal it from him. If you don't steal it, it means you lose Mission 1, and that will decrease your chance of leaving this planet.]
Jake's face fell, his eyes widening in horror. He felt like he had just been punched in the gut, his breath seems to have knocked him out as well. He threw up his hands in exasperation, his face was still twisted in confusion.
"Jeez! So how the hell am I supposed to steal Chan's freaking amulet? And why does he even wear an amulet? Isn't that something for girls or something?" He shook his head in frustration.
Seems like this wierd lifestyle of males putting on female stuff had been in existence long ago. Cuz why the hell would he be wearing an amulet?
[The amulet belongs to his late wife–Empress Sheila. She died 5 years ago, and ever since then, Lord Chan has worn the amulet in remembrance of her.]
Jake's expression softened at the hearing of that, his eyes clouding with a mix of curiosity and sympathy. He kind of felt bad for him.
"So, you're telling me that Lord Chan still wears the amulet because it reminds him of his dead wife?" He paced around the cell, his hands on his hips. He was so confused now. How the hell would he take off the amulet from Chan neck like that? That won't be easy. Especially now that he was still wearing it about.
He stopped pacing and turned to face the glowing text, his eyes still narrowing.
"So, why the hell do you want me to steal it from him? Can't you see that it's all he has left of his wife? Plus, I don't get what this has to do with you, or with me, for that matter." His voice was laced with frustration and confusion.
[It has nothing to do with me, host. But it does have a lot to do with you. Your life, to be precise.]
"What? My life? How?"