A man was silently looking at a bright screen, while occasionally switching positions from time to time. Dairy products were being consumed at a rapid pace while the man observed a local news channel displaying morning novelties.
"Strange corpses are being discovered throughout the world and their DNA are different from any know species on earth. This phenomenon caused a huge spark in many scientific fields. And today, biologist Mark Blenstein accepted our interview to try making us understand the origins of these deceased creatures."
Positioned like a cray figure in a crime scene, Blake, and his half closed eyes casually observed the black tv.
Blake, bored by the fancy terms the old man was spitting, turned off the tv and rested on his bed.
"The sage is starting to weaken." A sigh and Blake asked, "System, show me what you've got." A panel screen appeared and various items were shown before Blake's void like eyes.
Since taking 'care' of the group of 6, Blake also took his time checking the other rewards he received. One of the most impressive ones were the 1 million System Points. The man could barely hold back the first time, he set his eyes at the glistening objects in the virtual screen.
As someone who read countless stories during his past life, he knew at least the basics of having a system.
Most of the time, for example, the protagonist would obtain a way to stock items in the form of an inventory of sort. It is one of the first thing he took notice after he was shown the system shop.
A dimensional stockage, capable of housing around 50 objects and upgradable as well by using some SP, was proudly displayed on top of the best items. All for the modest price of 300,000 SP.
Although Blake felt cheated by the uncorruptible System, his painful expression could not dictate his body, and before he thoroughly thought about everything, his finger palpated the purchase button. His regret quickly vanished once he began playing with the dimensional feature. He discovered that no matter how hard he tried, he could not put two different items in the same slot but could however, stack similar items up to a 100 of them.
Moreover, by also using SP, he could expand the 'entrance', meaning the possibility of stocking bigger items.
The downside of course was its price;
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
An exuberant amount was needed to expand the box sized 'entrance' to the next level. The joyful Blake turned morose and hastily left the place where the generous group of 6 stocked their hard cash.
Scrutinizing the system shop once again, Blake looked at the multicolored panel separating items by groups such as consumables, weapons, skills and even...
"What the hell are trials?" Blake skeptically asked, looking at the ominous black and white panel.
[Trials are a way for Host to obtain unique skills, stats and Items unavailable in the shop.]
[Trials vary from price and difficulty,]
[Various trials can be either repeated infinitely, or only once]
[The more expensive, the more dangerous, and the more dangerous, greater are the rewards.]
"I see." Blake stood contemplative before the lines upon lines of trials. Some of them costing a few thousands to unlock while others reached monstrous numbers. The more Blake slid his finger downwards, the more it trembled.
"I thought a million was a lot, but now I see how stingy you are."
A man looked indignantly at empty air.
"At least, add some zeros to my SP. My lifetime training is worth more than that."
[Negative]
"..."
Flat out rejected by the voice, Blake gave up bargaining with his roommate and focused on the trials. Especially one that reminisced Blake about the old times.
____________________
[Trial: Vengeance of the Goblin Slayer]
(Non Repeatable)
[Hordes of bloodthirsty predators invaded countless cities, defiling females and children alike
Mercilessly murdering their victims as they quenched their primal desires, the beasts returned to their base, feasting from their successful raid
The night has fallen and a herald of death answered the lament of the abused souls
Avenge the massacred by slaughtering anything that breathes
Rewards:
+10 in all stats
Supreme Healing (Potion) x1
Anchor Tovnak Realm
Cost: 5,000,000 SP
____________________
Resigned to his fate of being compared to goblins, Blake asked.
*Sigh* "I would need some explanation about the rewards, What's an Anchor? Is it like the Zek'nir link I got?"
[Affirmative]
[The only difference is that the Link makes the world acknowledging Host as an inhabitant and an Anchor does not]
[The Host will have to use its own power with an Anchor, as he will not receive the world's blessing that all inhabitants have]
"What about the goblins's attack, are you sure they'll still be there If I buy the trial?"
[Affirmative]
[What the Host will experience is a World's memory, a long forgotten event that the world recorded]
[There is no particular difference between creatures in a record and real living beings.
[Except for the lack of soul, which the world compensates by controlling the empty shells and by simulating life into them]
"Uhh sounds creepy. I won't be able to buy the Trial soon enough anyway, so there's no need to know that much for the moment."
As he got up from his bed, Blake took his casual clothes and headed towards the door.
"First let's focus on this world, I only have a month to get ready."
Nearing the exit, his face began morphing as snapping sounds echoed.
"Before it starts, I have to go and monitor our little friend." A man opened the door and another closed it.
"If the description is correct, he is still studying at Krone high school, right?"
[Affirmative]
"Alright, first let's get a map, second, infiltrate Krone high school, and third...
save his friend'*ss. He is too damn useful.
Blake's figurative gears rapidly spun as he started to make plans in this alternative earth.
...