I woke up in a world of flames. There was fire everywhere. Scraps of metal and burning corpses were scattered all around me. What a dream. I started to close my eyes. A blue screen at the top right of my vision caught my eye. Not a dream.

03:49

Holding my head, I stood up. There's a slight pressure in my head causing a slight headache. I observed my surroundings. In a three-foot radius around me, everything is serene and peaceful. No fires burned in this area and no scrap metal made it in. A few of them did come close though, stopping just outside of the calm area bending at awkward angles. It looks as if they hit a steel wall. Looking further beyond my invisible shield, I saw a scene of devastation. The subway tunnel was caved in at one end and it looked like the train had exploded with bits and pieces all over the area. The train wasn't the only thing in bits and pieces as I observe a few body parts decorating the site. The whole scene was lit up by large swathes of flames. I know that I should be thinking about my next course of action, but my mind is still on the most pressing question at hand. How the hell did I sleep through this? I looked at a few of the burning corpses turned my way, wondering whether the incredulous expressions frozen on their faces were about my sleeping skills or my invisible shield.

I stepped out of my circle of serenity, watching with interest as the flames in front of me vanish as if they are simply incapable of existing in my area of influence. As I continue to move forwards, the flames lept back into place, closing the path behind me. Suddenly, I heard voices coming ahead. I crouched down, moving towards the voices. It looked like the train didn't explode far from the previous station. I directed some of my attention to the timer.

00:01

What the-? Already? I just finished the thought when a bright flash of light blinded my eyes. When I could see again, I found myself on the train station platform staring down the muzzle of a gun. I froze for a sec. Then my survival instincts kicked in as I grabbed the gunman's wrist with my right hand and pulled him towards me as I pivoted clockwise on my left foot. The man stumbled, slamming his face into my conveniently placed left elbow. I kneed him in the balls for good measure. He dropped like a sack of flour. I picked up his gun. It was only then that I noticed the blue boxes in my mind...and the other two armed people currently pointing their guns at me. I frowned, glancing towards the edge of the platform and the tunnel where I was previously hiding. Is the system messing with me? I dropped the gun and joined the small group of people kneeling on the ground without a word. I focused on the blue boxes while the gunmen started shouting at each other while pointing at me. I turned a deaf ear to their voices but not before they said something. "The train exploded too early!" I narrowed my eyes slightly but continued to focus on my mind.

Downloading Administrator packages...Complete.

Greetings Administrator. You have been teleported to the Tutorial Zone.

The Silver System has been initialized. After analyzing this realm's Laws, and this planet, the System has created a training regime suitable for strength-gaining. The System has noticed a 96.32% similarity between the 'fictional' monsters of various books and movies. In addition, the myriad different celestial bodies have environments that can give rise to these monsters. It appears that this realm is another training facility much like the Silver System, though much younger and of a higher grade. Many of the descriptions of 'magics' and 'mana' are very similar to the power of Laws. Something appears to have gone awry in the Golden System and now the only sentimental race currently observable is using these bloodthirsty creatures for entertainment.

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The Silver System has reshuffled the geography of this world and decided to adopt the concept of 'gaming'. The System will 'spawn' monsters for the trainees to practice battling the Unknown. The System  has been able to reach a consensus with the Golden System which will now help with your growth. The System will now unlock the Sense which will allow you to absorb the lingering energy of slayed foes. Along with other benefits. Please get into a comfortable position. Time remaining:

00:01

Hey now. What the fu-. I blacked out as a torrent of smells, sounds, and images assaulted my senses.

~~~

I sat on a golden throne, staring blankly ino space. Behind me, stretching far above and below my throne was a slowly revolving golden tower. Occasionally, a red string would brush by my face. I blink, my gaze penetrating the walls of this universe. I got up, the movement causing the tower and space to rumble. I took a step, vanishing from the throne and appearing outside the universe within Chaos, not noticing the tip of the tower break off and began shining with a scintillating light. I looked around. Needles. Needles everywhere. I took another step, vanishing far into the distance. Still more needles, but they're thinning out. I took several more steps, each one taking me closer to the edge. Finally, I find that I could not take another step, as if a barrier was placed in front of me. I squinted my eyes. There is something beyond here. There is something beyond this boundary. I growled, a strong light seeping from my skin. I took a step, forcefully breaking through the invisible wall. I vanished.

When I reappeared, I was on a smooth surface stretching further than my Sense could reach. I feel the air. Nothing. There was simply nothing. It was different from the vacuum of space. It was different than anything I have ever seen before. Suddenly, a large shadow far above me started moving. I stared in shock as a grand structure seemed to teleport to almost right over my head. The pressure from the movement caused wild gales to buffet my body and suddenly I was sent flying off the surface, off the edge, and far into the distance. Finally, I was able to get a glimpse of what I was standing on. A clock? A large roar shook me from my stupor. I turned around and my eyes widen at the monstrosity I was currently flying towards. Its large form is indistinguishable. It was pitch black and though it has no eyes, I feel its bloodthirsty gaze upon my entire being. It gave off a feeling of devastation so intense as if it could wipe out anything in existence, including Time.

I quickly steadied myself and also roared, a golden light enveloping my body. The power of my Laws spread out, destruction and construction melding and becoming something else- something more. The light intensified as I swung my fist becoming a golden meteor crushing towards the thing. My hand made contact with its body. My face turned grim as I saw the light around my fist wither and grow weaker. The blob of darkness surrounded me with little arms reaching towards me. Flicking my wrist, I honed my aura into a blade, lining the edges with a sheen of destruction. I turned in a circle, slicing through a few tendrils of the dark light. Before I could do anything else though, two large pillars- larger even than the needle- slammed into me on both sides. I didn't have time to do anything else other than raise my arms to block. The golden light around my arms dimmed then shattered into fragments. Then the actual arms came next, dissipating into motes of light. The rest of my body followed suit and then my soul. The pieces of my body, having lost its power source, quickly faded into oblivion. My soul was also greatly weakened, rapidly losing the Sense.  Vaguely, before my consciousness dimmed, I sensed the severed tendrils of darkness and my soul fragments fall towards the clock, burning up the closer we go. The last thing I sensed before I blacked out was the image of a needle.