Wake up a voice called to Jax, who remained asleep, even after a massive event transpired over the entire earth. Jax groaned, not listening to the voice for a moment, until he realized he didn’t recognize it. He rose in confusion, looking around himself, discovering he was no longer in his room, instead in an office-looking room.
Jax found the source of the voice to be from a woman behind the desk, who had gray hair and a very professional look about her. In her hands she held a file, open, with the face of it reading Jackson Emmory, Jax’s full name.
The situation was becoming more and more confusing and improbable. It appeared he’d been kidnapped, but why? Jax was nothing special, at least he didn’t think so. His parents weren’t well known or rich, and nobody he knew was of any note.
Jax, nervously, rose from sitting to standing. He looked at the older woman, unsure of how to proceed. Fortunately, or unfortunately, she looked up from the file into Jax’s eyes, nodding when he held eye contact. “You’re awake. Please sit, I have much to explain to you.”
Jax nodded and sat down in one of the two chairs opposite the woman. As he sat, he didn’t break eye contact, feeling like if he did, some fragile peace would be broken. Maybe that was just silly, but Jax felt cornered and alone, so he wasn’t taking any chances.
After a few seconds of silence passed, the woman set the file down and leaned forward, “To start, I apologize on behalf of the system, as this is going to be a lot to process, and an even bigger change to your current way of life. Before I properly explain everything, I want to answer any questions you have outright, so you can be more at ease when I begin my scripted explanation.”
Jax nodded, “Where am I, and why have you taken me?”
“You’re in null space, though that isn’t much of an explanation. Why we’ve taken you, is because this involves everyone. Not a single soul on the entire planet earth is not going through what we are doing right now. What else?”
“Where is ‘null space’, and how could you possibly say that all are going through what I’m doing right now when you’re right there?”
The woman smiled that pitying smile, and it made Jax cringe. He sounded like a kicked puppy. “Null space is difficult to explain even to gods, and I am not from earth.” She lifted a hand to point at her ears, which were pointed. “The proof is that I am fully Raced, unlike the enlightened of Earth.”
Jax looked at her ears, now noticing them after she’d brushed aside the hair covering their pointed ends, confused at the implications. She’d also said she wasn’t from earth, which was another massive revelation. The strangeness of the situation was making it all seem more and more possible in Jax’s mind. He looked down at his lap, thinking, then looked back up, “I don’t even know what else to ask… Are we being invaded or something? Taken over? Enslaved?”
The woman made an unsure shake of her head, “Those are all both accurate and inaccurate. I’ll begin my explanation, maybe it will help you. The system is spreading into your galaxy, which means it is technically invading. The system is indeed taking over all current laws that govern your entire existence, things like physics, technology, and magic. It is also taking every being with a soul and putting them under its influence, so enslaving isn’t too inaccurate. But, none of those describe what is truly happening. The system is without will or soul, so nothing about the autonomy of your existence is at danger.”
Jax held up a hand, interjecting a question, “What is the system? And how would it take over physics and technology? And what is your name?”
“My name is Harmony, and I’m getting to that. The system spreading to your world really only means more opportunity for those who are ambitious, as well as more possibility and growth potential. The biggest negative for the residents of this galaxy is temporary and unavoidable. Nothing is certain, society as you know it will change indeterminably, and lawlessness will ensue until some properly-intentioned people rise in strength to take the reins and reinstill order. Well, that is the most common method, but some planets choose to simply let an established faction come in and install its own government and rules. I highly doubt humanity will allow that to happen, unless someone claims a head-start in levels to force the planet to submit.” Harmony suddenly stopped, bringing a hand to her mouth. “I’ve said too much. Sorry.”
Jax was relaxing, in an odd sort of way, and he noticed that she had definitely done it on purpose. Taking note of what she’d said, Jax moved on to another part that confused him, “What are levels, and what's with your focus on power? I don’t really see how society is supposed to collapse.”
Harmony nodded, “The system is primarily a medium through which people may become better at anything, really. It just so happens that killing is one of the more idolized forms of growth, as it rewards the most experience.”
Jax shook his head, “What you’re describing is that our life has turned into a game. I don’t even think that’s possible.” Jax found it all a little far-fetched, as he had yet to see something truly impossible.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Harmony furrowed her brow for a moment before she came to a realization Jax couldn’t know. “I nearly forgot you were asleep, that’s why you remain skeptical. Repeat the words I say: Initialize system interface.”
Jax skeptically looked her in the eye, repeating the words while half-expecting to look like a fool. “Initialize system interface. I don’t know what that prov-” Jax’s jaw stopped when he saw a clear window spawn from thin air in front of him, with embellished borders. In its center, three dots blinked for a moment, and Jax was entirely absorbed in the window. He stared at it, stripped of even the most minute skepticism that this was possibly fake, or engineered as some crazy prank or revenge plot. He could both see and not see the window in his vision, as if the system were being “seen” by an entirely different sense than vision.
Before Jax could explore the odd sensation further, the three blinking dots swirled around and faded back into text on the screen.
System interface downloaded onto Jackson “Jax” Emmory. Basic system functionalities are barred until Harmony has completed the foundational system interfacing skills class.
Jax blinked, looking up at Harmony, “Well, that is pretty convincing.”
Harmony nodded. She grabbed a file and passed it to Jax, beginning another round of explanation, “I don’t have an infinite amount of time with you, so I’ll be blunt: You’re about to be thrown into some incredibly dangerous situations that require power to overcome safely. I am going to help give you a fighting chance. We’ll start with classes.”
“What are they?” Jax asked, feeling her urgency.
“They are the primary means of self-defense in the multiverse. Every single Human race has a class, and they are how we fight. You, as an initiate to the new universe, have access to six classes that form a broad base, allowing you to begin your path. Whether you want to be a defensive specialist who doesn’t initiate any combat, or a hunter, or a mage, you pick a starting point and develop from there. Allow me to show you the option now.”
Pick a starting class for your path:
Warrior(fledgling): Pick up a weapon and defend yourself in times of turmoil. Warriors have access to powerful abilities physical in nature.
Archer(fledgling): Whether you're at the back of an army or alone in the woods an arrow from afar is an effective weapon while keeping yourself safe.
Mage(fledgling): Control of the elements and Mastery of the Arcane makes you a force to be reckoned with.
Scout(fledgling): Undetected, swift, perceptive. Scouts are adept at all things stealth and survival, giving access to a broad range of abilities.
Barbarian(fledgling): Abandon your fear with a shout and destroy your enemies with overwhelming aggression, sometimes at the cost of your own vitality.
Self-Made(?)
Jax read each class, having trouble deciding which one to pick. He was a college student, having only worked a few jobs while in college and over the summer to make some side money. He’d played football and baseball in highschool, though he wasn’t an especially talented athlete.
Truly, in regards to combat skills, Jax would place himself firmly in the bar brawler category. Good enough to settle a conflict between laymen, but if a trained fighter got involved, he’d probably get put down.
He looked at Harmony, “What do you think I should take? And what’s with “self made”?”
Harmony nodded, “Self-Made is a class pretty similar to your race being called human, which is another aspect we need to touch on: Human is not a real race.”
“I’m sorry? I’m a human, through and through. How could that be possible?” Jax asked, not believing her.
Harmony nodded, “You’re no more or less human than I, as being a human, like you, is to be referred to in the multiverse as being a seedling race.”
Jax shook his head, “I don’t even know what that means? Are you saying humans aren’t real?”
“No, they are, just not in the way you know. Elves, dwarves, demons, angels, scalekin, and all those other races are Human races. You are a seedling human, which basically means when you reach your first evolution, you will have to evolve into a different race.”
Jax nodded, though he was disturbed by the thought of becoming something other than a human. Harmony spoke up again, “Self-Made is what I would usually only recommend to someone who actively pursued skills that would be useful in the multiverse, so I don’t think you should consider it. As for recommending another class, I cannot. The only one I am allowed to advise is Self-Made, due to its non-obvious nature.”
Jax just returned to the screen, trying to decide. He didn’t really know much about the options outside the obvious he would expect any American to know. But, the practical side of Jax won out pretty quickly, as it overall seemed like the most open-ended class, with the least prior skill required.
Warrior class, taken…
Updated.
Jax squinted, “That’s it?”
Harmony just looked down, “Yes, that is all. What weapon do you want?”
“A spear. And does it come with any armor?”
Harmony nodded, “You get a choice between chainmail and boiled leather.”
“In that case, I’ll take the leather armor.” Jax was getting goosebumps the closer to the end of this interaction he got. He felt like he was on an edge, where everything he had experienced until now had been an easy ascent, all leading to this tumultuous point in his life where he would be thrown into a veritable whirlpool of events.
Even after Harmony’s vague explanations, Jax still felt confident in his sense of unease.
Harmony stood, finality in the action. “Very well. Jackson Emmory, Human seedling of the 109th Link. You are now beginning your path, starting as a [Warrior], who wields a spear and dons light armor, without profession, and without Race. You have been initiated into the system. From now until three months from now, you will be within an initiation-event. You will either find your Path and live, or you will die, to be forgotten in these uncertain times. Go”
Before Jax could ask a question or even get up to leave, he felt the world around him warp and cave in, as he felt a sense of dread overtake him.