Antares sat alone in his room, staring at the strange system notification. His mind raced. What did it mean? The word “System” wasn’t unfamiliar—he’d seen it in games, sure. But seeing it in real life? That was a whole new level of surreal. He reached out to touch the floating text, half-expecting it to disappear like a dream.
Instead, another message appeared:
**[System Activation Complete: Welcome, User Antares.]**
A sudden rush of information flooded his mind. His vision blurred, and he felt as if he was watching fragmented scenes—battlefields, unfamiliar powers, creatures beyond imagination. It was overwhelming, a wave of images and sensations he couldn’t process. Just as quickly as it began, the sensation faded, leaving him breathless.
Across town, Kai experienced the same awakening. For him, it was less shocking but no less intense. His hand gripped his bedsheet, knuckles white, as his mind adjusted to this new presence, a power he never knew he had. It felt ancient, raw, as if it had been waiting inside him all along, lying dormant.
The System chimed in again, this time with a list of skills. Kai’s eyes scanned the names, each one more cryptic and intimidating than the last: "Flicker Step," "Energy Manipulation," "Eclipse Barrage."
His breath caught when he read the final one:
**[Unique Skill: Time Rend (Locked)]**
“What… is this?” Kai murmured, still dazed.
Both boys, now immersed in this strange phenomenon, felt a pull deep inside—a connection they couldn’t explain. For reasons beyond understanding, they each knew they were no longer alone in this. It was as if someone else was guiding them, a distant but familiar presence.
*Scene Change*
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
The following day at school, neither Antares nor Kai could shake the feeling of the System’s presence. Trying to act normal, they went through their daily routines. But their minds were distracted, racing with thoughts of the new abilities they felt pulsing beneath the surface
At lunchtime, Antares leaned against the rooftop railing, gazing at the empty sports field below. The city stretched out in all directions, yet today, it felt strangely unfamiliar. Just yesterday, his world had changed with that mysterious "System" message, but he hadn’t told anyone—not even Kai.
The door creaked open behind him. “Lost in thought again, are you?” Rei’s voice was light as she approached, arms crossed. She was Antares’s closest friend, with an infectious laugh and boundless Energy.
Antares forced a smile, trying to shrug off his unease. “Maybe I am. Just… thinking.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You? Thinking this hard? That *is* unusual.”
Before he could respond, another voice joined them. “Antares, Rei—you guys hiding from class too?” Yuna, Kai’s friend since childhood, stepped out onto the roof with Kai following. Kai looked around, his eyes meeting Antares’s with an almost imperceptible intensity.
“Speak for yourself, Yuna,” he replied, smiling faintly. “And here I thought I’d find some peace up here.”
Yuna smirked, nudging Kai with her elbow. “Like you’re ever ‘peaceful.’ Anyway, what’s with you two today? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Kai chuckled, though there was a hint of distraction in his eyes. “Nothing, just… you know, exams and all.” But even as he spoke, he stole another glance at Antares, a flicker of curiosity crossing his mind. *I’ve got this ‘System’ now. But… did something happen to him too?*
Antares looked away, feeling Rei’s gaze on him. He wondered if Kai had received the same strange message. *We were both acting off today; maybe he got something like what I did?*
Rei leaned back, exchanging a knowing look with Yuna. “Sure, you two seem totally *fine,*” she said, her tone skeptical. “It’s not like you both look like you’ve uncovered some ancient mystery or anything.”
Yuna chimed in, “Exactly! You’re both acting way too serious. Something’s definitely up.”
Caught off guard, Kai shrugged with a wry smile, giving Antares a look that said, “play along.”
Antares glanced between them all, finally laughing a bit to ease the tension. “Maybe we’re just more complicated than you think.”
Rei rolled her eyes. “Oh sure, two mysteries right here on the rooftop,” she teased, nudging him playfully.
They shared a few more lighthearted exchanges, with the girls trying to get them to open up, but Antares and Kai kept their answers vague. Underneath their casual words, though, both felt a strange sense of connection, a silent agreement that they’d face whatever was coming together—though neither was quite ready to reveal their newfound abilities.
*Ending Sequence*
Lunchtime ended, and they parted ways, but the weight of their unspoken secret lingered. As they returned to class, both Antares and Kai couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. Somewhere beneath the surface, the System pulsed, as if waiting for the next chapter of their awakening to unfold.