If looks could kill, I’d probably be dead, mutilated, and horribly desecrated to the point where even an autopsy wouldn't be able to identify me.
At least Lucia isn’t looking at me like the other three, though I don’t know if that makes me feel any better.
“Answers Now.” Alice who I’d thought to be the calmest of the group when they first showed up had none of her previous calm in her voice, leaving behind a woman who had no time for nonsense. The other two girls slowly nodded their heads in agreement at the elf’s words.
Sighing internally at all the shit I had to deal with I felt the remnants of the rage from before finish trickling away. I wasn't one to stay mad for long, and nothing exhausted me more than holding a grudge. It just wasn’t in my nature.
That is excluding my aunt. Fuck that bitch.
“How about you tell me how to interact with this damn system you brought with you because I sure as hell have to no idea how it works.”
Confusion caused Alice to scrunch up her eyebrows as though she’d just been asked the most puzzling question of the century. The change on her face was much more captivating than the ‘I wanna disembowel you' stare she’d just been giving me.
“You don’t know how to access the System? That’s impossible, the system is a constant presence. Using it should come as easy as breathing for anything with a soul.”
I was just about to return her question with a sarcastic quip about how that apparently wasn’t the case in a different world when the walking neon-pink glowstick Reol responded. Her short stature standing out the most out of everyone here when you realized she was easily half a foot shorter than everyone else. I think she’d be lucky to reach 5’3” if she took off her boots.
“You talking about these unusual floating windows in the corner of my vision? Feel’s like I'm in one of those shitty VR games the Corps have been peddling to the masses recently.”
As though to show her deep displeasure at the Mega-Corps of her world the runt spit to her side.
Right onto my bed….
Boy, she was not gonna like the economy of my world.
“It is indeed peculiar. They appear to be performing divinations with a level of mastery that it does not release even the faintest trace of heavenly essence.” Xue spoke of more nonsense that I couldn't understand. I'd been into anime, not Xianxia back then, so I’d have to have Marvin give me explanations as to what the hell this girl was talking about.
I felt the mountain of pressure on my shoulders lift as the three girls ignored me for a second to try and comprehend what the system had to do with them being here.
“Are you girls just eye candy without brains? Did Lucas here not say he summoned you all?”
Speaking precisely what was on my mind my Doppelgänger pulled the three girls out of their pondering.
“That's awfully haughty of someone who’s in the same boat as us don’t ya think bitch?”
Ooo that's a sassy little gremlin.
It didn’t affect Lucia at all though as she only smiled wider, my own confident smuggness finding itself right at home on her facial features. Well, I guess she was me, and I sure did love hanging information over others like a cruel master refusing to feed its pet.
Though it did get me on Eva’s lousy side more than once, I just couldn't help being an ass at times. I’m just one ball of fucked up, aren't I? I barely stifled a chuckle at the thought, I sure didn’t pay any serious mind of the dangerous situation I was in, despite the throb in my kneecap telling me that wasn't a good idea.
“I happen to know exactly where I am, who Lucas is, and why all of us were chosen for the summoning.”
Aren't I just the perfect avatar of smug? Because it sure does feel like it.
“Is that so, then do please explain to us in detail our current circumstances.” Alice wanted answers and that short dagger she pulled from who knows where is an indication she was tired of waiting.
“Well, it's easy, your're no longer in your own worlds! I’m Lucia his lovely Doppelgänger, and as to why we were chosen as his summons isn't it just obvious?”
Oh, I did not like where this last line was going, I could feel it. Right behind the pain of my shattered knee.
Orbs of Emerald, Frosted White, and Royal gold stared intensely at Lucia as she made her proclamation.
“He must have been horny when he summoned us! Otherwise, why would every single one of us be girls, especially attractive girls? Isn't it just odd?”
She’s fucking trying to kill me! Indirectly! I was no longer feeling smug, no I was just feeling pure fear for the first time since these girls arrived!
If the room had been stifling to be in before the chill that now permeated every corner could freeze over even hell.
“She’s spouting shit!” I screamed in frustration. My words falling on deaf ears.
Yet I didn't even believe my own words. I ‘had’ been planning on some ‘special’ time after examining the book but why would a supernatural summoning spell that could reach across the very fabric of reality possibly use my hormones as an indicator of what I wanted.
That’s bullshit!
Unless……. what I wanted…. was power…... but I neglected to specify how it would be packaged and given…
Fuck me.
Wurm! Do the Wurm to the door, Lucas! Work those hips! Ignore the shattered knee, and agonizing pain!
Shadows soon loomed over my wretched self, and I was stopped in place. I cursed myself, and my other-self. Myself because I hadn't thought to ask if I could choose what I summoned, and Lucia because it was apparent she was getting a sick kick out of this!
“System! Initiate! Activate! Start! Open! Status! Info! FUCKING AVAKADABRAH!!!!”
They can’t kill me but who knows what these crazy girls might do my little guy! So I yelled everything I could think of that would allow me access to the system until some higher power finally smiled on me and I got it to work.
-((Lucas Rivan, Interdimensional Hero Summoner) (HP-73% MP-3% SP-81%) (Status Effects- Agility debuff due to injury))-
“I got the system to open just give me a second to find the information on the pact!” Death loomed over my little guy in the form of Reol’s boot, but thankfully it stopped in place when I shouted. My voice carrying a pitch I'm ashamed to think about.
-(Access restricted. The system has yet to fully integrated. Personality Matrix required to gain early access to certain features)-
The hell did it mean by personality matrix!!?
Did it mean an AI?
..AH!! WINSTONE!
“Gremlin! Get me a piece of the shredded paper on the floor.”
Should have chosen my words better because not even a second after they left my mouth did Reol’s foot slam my head to the ground.
“Oi who the fuck do you think you're calling a gremlin you fucking perverted ape? Also, why should I even listen to you when I could crack a few eggs for dinner instead?”
“HAHAHAHA, look at you on the ground Lucas, you gotta tell me where your phones at. I've just have to take a picture!” The culprit of my misfortune sat on my bed laughing hysterically. Lucia apparently had more of a taste for pranks than I did. Very dangerous pranks at that. Clearly, we weren't as similar as I thought we were.
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Xue having heard me and decided I was serious waved her hand and all of the pieces of what remained of the journal few and landed in front of me.
“Here, now do what you must with haste. Otherwise, I’ll poison your yang leaving you unable to raise your little son ever again.”
I might not be well informed on Xiaxan terms but that sounded an awfully lot like she was going to give me erectile dysfunction!
-(Personality Fragment found. Would you like to convert into a Personality Matrix for use? A portion of the Fragments memories will be destroyed in the process. Is that acceptable?)-
I mentally smashed the Accept button and watched what remained of the book disintegrate into ash until only a flowing wisp remained which promptly rushed into my head.
The girls backed off unsure of what I was doing and unwilling to take a risk with the unknown factor.
-(Integrating Personality Matrix ‘Steward Winstone’)-
-(Integration successful you now have access to all the currently available features of the System. Withheld rewards will now be provided.)-
-(Title gained. Patient Zero)-
-(Minor Identify-(Type-Being) Acquired for being the first being to gain access to the System in a New Universe)-
-(Minor Identify-(Type-Being)- At the cost of (currently 30%) of your Mana you can Identify the name and species of any being you target. Keep in mind this ability is Minor so it is easily susceptible to deception. Your targets will sense you when you activate this ability.)-
-(Where am I?............. Boy what did you do to me?)-
“I turned you into an AI of sorts... I think. But that's beside the point I'm in danger and I need your help figuring out what the Summoning Pact terms and conditions are since you left out how important they actually were!”
-(It’s coming back to me….. The system………..Oh Boy I feel as though I have made a fatal error yet I can't remember why. This System….. This entity…..Arrggghh)-
Well, that sure as hell is ominous.
-(Boy, whatever you did you better find out how to undo it one day because I do not enjoy a mindless entity breathing down my neck every time I want to explain something I shouldn't to you)-
Now I got to worry about some cosmic entity that treats reality like an RPG. Great……...
“Ok I got it I got it, now can you somehow explain what the Summoners Pact is to me and these girls before one of them curb stumps my family jewels?”
-(Hahaha. Well you might just deserve it Boy for taking my soul fragment and shoving it into this…. Whatever this place is.)-
“Yes! Just get on with it!”
-(Boy we will work on your manners after this. If I have to operate as your personal AI you will learn how to properly respect your elders.)-
A defeated sigh left me as I once again answered: “Yes sir.” I was just too tired at this point to argue any longer with the annoying bastard.
-(Good. Now since they are all your summons would you like to use the link Systems function? It would make it a lot easier for all of them to read the pact as I explain it.)-
“Please and thank you.”
-(I can’t tell if that's sarcasm or not but I'll accept it anyway, Rome wasn't built in a day.)-
-(Summoner Lucas Rivan would like to invite you to his communication link. Would you like to accept?)-
All the girls accepted without an issue as Winstone showed us exactly what the Pact expected from all of us.”
-(Summoners Pact- Summoning Spell Grade XXX- One Summoner, Five Heros. #$$%p#w#%&$Y##^m#^#bp^$##^#^&^$%#^$^%#oe#&#&##^$fo%&#^#oncp&##%^%%*#^#^#wnc%^$Y##^#^##e#*$Y#$$^%^**&e*$##%Y#*&$&%*^^^#^#%^#%^#&^$#%#&#%#$#*%e%#*##%^#*#^##%^adiwc%#^$^%#^$#)-
The hell? Where’s the rest of the explanation? It wasn't just me, the girls were also reacting badly to the sudden tease after finally receiving some answers.
-(Apologies that appears to be some sort flavor text. Whatever it is apparently they system deemed as unnecessary for you to learn. Here what is allowed to be shown)-
-(Summoners Pact- Summoners Vows- The Summoner Vowed to watch over his Summons. To Support them when they need it. Comfort them when they require it. To Reach the pinnacle of strength together. The Summoner cannot kill them or force them to do anything they don't wish for otherwise severe punishments will be enacted. You have taken responsibility for them. Their actions are your actions. Their enemies your opponents.
A collective sigh from all the girls including even Lucia echoed throughout the room. Did they really think so bad of me?
-(Summoners Pact- Vows of the Summoned- The Summons who were but mere moments from death or giving up on life were given a chance. To walk the path of Victory together. To conquer, to protect, to teach. To kill the one who gave you a second chance at life would be savagery that deserves strict punishment.)-
Thank god its finally over, I thought as the tension that had built up over the last fifteen minutes dissipated.
-(You ladies are probably stunned trying to figure out what the Pact means when it says you where all on your deathbed. From what I'm able to piece together and I'm allowed to explain to you, all of you had the memories last few days of your lives suppressed. When they return, even I'm unable to predict.)-
.........................
“I require somewhere to rest,” Alice asked her voice quiet as a mouse. She was listless, and I could see her swaying lightly as though a slight breeze could knock her down.
“I need some alone time. I'm going to use one of your rooms for some privacy.” Reol’s hair looked dull and, the energy it once held nowhere to be seen. Her voice scratchy with emotion she was trying her best to hide. She likely lost some friends and can't even remember it happening if those tears in the corners of her eyes were any indication of her true feelings.
“I will find somewhere suitable to rest for the evening. The change in the density of heavenly essence has caused a deviation in my cultivation base .” The arrogance once held in Xue’s eye’s had disappeared to show a troubled young lady who did not know what her future would hold.
Seeing them all lose the fight in their eye so suddenly was quite depressing despite how they'd been treating me. Like I was an asshole, but not that type of asshole.
The only one not seemingly unaffected by the revelation was Lucia. She didn't look like it did any mental damage but she was silent as she laid in my bed admiring her nails.
-(I’m closing the connection now, though I will be shared between all of you since you are their Summoner. As for you Boy remember your Pact. These young ladies are your responsibility now, so it's your job to try and see what you can do to lessen this burden that's been laid on them)-
The room quietly emptied until just Lucia, and I remained.
“So why are you so unconcerned with the fact that you were killed in your own world. It seemed to really shake the others, yet you took it in stride.” I was curious as to why Lucia was acting so unperturbed.
“Well when you know you were going to die for months in advance, whats a few days of memories matter?” She smiled at me, yet it contained not a hint of what makes a smile joyful. Just regret and sadness reflected of it.
“May I ask?” I asked considerately. I knew it must be something deep and personal where even I as her other self couldn't casually probe.
“Maybe in a few day’s, For now, I'm tired from laughing my ass off at you trying to crawl away from those girls like human caterpillar.’ Lucia tumbled back down on my bed in another fit of giggling.
This asshole! I wanted to shout, yet I found myself laughing with her instead.
I was an asshole too so why should I be hypocritical.
“Anywho come here I better heal that leg of your before we end up making you an amputee.”
“You can heal it?” I just realized she must have her own power if she comes from a carbon copy of my universe.
“Hmm, my powers are a lot weaker than I remember them being but I should still be able to do this.”
Then strangest thing then happened. Two arms burst forth from within Lucia's chest, but the fountain of blood one might expect from such an action never came, instead like a disturbed pond of water ripples extended all over her body.
Like some sort of sick horror movie, an exact duplicate of Lucia pulled itself out of her.
“That's some freaky shit…..” I said in wonder.
This time instead of one girl falling into a fit of giggles they both did.
“God he’s too much.” The New Lucia who was a perfect copy of the original.
“You're right me number 2 he really is too much!” They rolled around each other for a few minutes laughing.
Without realizing it, I watched with rapt interest as their shirts moved aside and exposed their midriffs while their tight jean’s dug into their crotches.
Talking about crotches, mine was swelling despite knowing I was essentially watching myself play with my other self.
Parallel realities are weird.
I hadn’t noticed, but I’d gotten a little closer than I should have.
The two Lucia’s suddenly turned their focus on me and said one very accurate word that described me at that moment.
“Perve!” They smiled at me, but no more laughter occurred like I thought it would.
Instead, Lucia’s duplicate suddenly jumped into me like a diver into a pool, her entire self easily disappearing into my chest.
I felt the pain in my kneecap flare up as though I’d just broken it again. The pain burned for an entire minute before the clone exited but now with a limp in her step.
The pain in my knee completely gone as though it'd never been there in the first place.
“Did she just?”
“Yep it’s its but a part of my amazing power. I call this specific ability Pariah. Allows me to shake off life-threatening injuries by having my clone take the injury in my place. Though it only works on myself.”
“But then why did it….. AH I get it.” It dawned on me why she even bothered trying if it only worked as personally self-healing ability.
“You would have been shit out of luck if that hadn’t worked on you.”
“Well, thanks for the assistance. Hope you’ll do me a solid and heal me again if I end up having any more accidents with the other residents.”
“Only if those injuries don't happen too often hahaha. That clone’s out of commission until it heals though.”
“Really, thank you. I'm not sure how I can repay you.” I spoke with sincerity from my heart, something I rarely ever did.
“Well I do happen to like this bedroom since it was also my own, so how about we share it?” A glint of mischief in her sky-blue eyes.
Unfortunately for her Just as she’d been playing me, I knew exactly how to respond.
“Of course. I'll get you the spare mattress so you can sleep in the corner.”
“You're no fun.”
“We both know that not true.”
I was just going to the closet when I noticed something on the floor.
“Hey Lucia, I think I might need your help to move some goods.”
“Like what?” She stood up from my bed and walked around and saw what I was looking at.
There was a pause, and then Lucia just fell to the floor, a silent quake of laughter shaking her entire body as tears flowed down her face and she struggled to breathe. If all her laughter from beforehand been fake, this definitely was as real as it got.
Laying on the floor with bloodshot eyes ready to burst was Alsha the mighty dragon. Completely forgotten in her punishment.
Sometimes the jokes in life just write themselves.