"HAHH! Hahh.. Fuck. Wher—I'm in my room?.. What happened? Urgh.. another headache. And this pain.. System what did you do to me?!" Sam hurriedly checked the logs. And then he tried to not slap himself, as he realised it was his own mistake.
"Fuck. So it was like that? If I don't follow it properly I'll receive some serious backlash huh... Wait! What?! NO! You can't punish me like this system." He noticed that the Healing Potions he had just received as a reward from the System, Three of them were gone.
"What the hell.. No waayyy! I thought it wasn't that serious. You took three just for healing the core and soul orb... When I just read from your own information that it could heal on its own.. Hahh.. Fuck me. Anyways, I shouldn't get too angry since this system actually helped me... I guess I should first focus on improving in the Destinies from the basics huh... Although that Fireball was awesome no matter if I lost those potions. My first step to actually doing something... It feels so real and unreal at the same time.. I'm sure I can do even more impressive stuff later on.."
Sam averted his gaze over the room, the windows let in the fading sunlight and he could finally process the strange devices. "What the.. did someone break in? No... How could I be so stupid. Ugh.. they must have assigned me a roommate without even asking me, just taking me being asleep.. anyways, I'll see to them later, whoever they are.."
He wanted to check upon the system before getting up. But the sight shocked him so much that he didn't had the strength to get up. "What the actual Fuck?! So Many Zeroes!! Where does it end? Or much more.. Just how much is there to make Progress in?!" He was looking at the Status Page and the other half showed One Zero, then a Decimal, Then so many zeroes that it almost went out of the screen, at last it was a One With a Percentage symbol. This was just for the Magic Progress, as Sam was about to faint from the amount of zeroes on the Collective Progress.
"Oh my goodness... This is going to take so much out of me.. I want to atleast have a life! Alright?! This will take almost decades, if I want to even accomplish 10 percent or even less if that's how it says. And that's just for Magic. The Fuck System, what do you want me to do? Give me immortality or something if you want me to even complete half of it.. Fucking hell.. This hurts my self-esteem even more.. Please System... Get this out of my sight.. please... Or atleast Change it before I cry!" Before Sam dropped a salty tear, he heard the familiar robotic voice.
[ Confirmed ]
[ Adjusted Variables according to Sam's Subconsciousness ]
Collective Progress : 1 Skill Unlocked
Magic Progress : 1 Spell Unlocked
Fire Element Aspect Unlocked (Fireball Spell Proficiency - 0.1%)
Cultivation Progress : 0
Demonic Weapon Progress : 0
Enlightenment Progress : 0
Destiny Points : 5
———
"Ahh that's much better. Thanks for listening to me this time system. Still I gotta clear my mind from the jumpscare you gave me.." Sam said as he stepped outside his room.
***
The Academy was already brimming with Vitality and Excitement, as the Youths filling it up were exploring and mingling with each other. The Grassy fields were filled with the jungle of activities of every kind, the gates opening up a few times to let the new ones with dreams and hopes to explore inside.
"Hey, What do you think happened here?" Someone asked within the group of five boys gathered around the charred ground.
"Is it a Spell?! Or a Cultivation Technique! Who do you think did it?" An excited nerd asked.
"I bet it was one of the teachers.. you know they get their screws loose sometimes." A boy said while digging his ears.
"Nah, I think it's one of the seniors trying to impress someone." Another boy said and he added, "They are so few in this Academy right.. Maybe one got pent up with all of us new ones coming in huge amounts and talents to spoil their image."
A noble kid added hesitantly, "Do you think it could be one of us, like someone who just got selected?"
Silence ensued within the group. And then laughter.
"Oh.. Hah! That was a nice one dude. As if, without even going through the academy's training that someone managed to pull even a small fire off." A bully added while slapping the noble boy lightly.
"But! Look at the remnants of the explosion. It's just like of someone for a White Mana Core, I read it in a book my dad gave—"
"Oh stop it dude. I would have believed if you said it was just a fire lit by one of us. Like do you believe this? A Fireball like Spell.. Hahaha. I can't believe you are fooled by something as simple as a fire.." The scrawny boy said out loud.
The conversation faded as Sam rushed away from the site. 'Motherfuckers.. How could they figure out so quickly? Oh I read it in a book Like shut up nerd.. Good thing you got some dumb friends to remind you of your way.. or I would have done it myself. Phew..' As Sam observed the atmosphere of this Academy, a few doubts kept ringing in his mind.
He finally formed it into one coherent thought and voiced it to himself. "Hm.. If I'm correct, then shouldn't I have no need to be in this Academy any longer. I already have the system, and considering how it helped me with the Fireball Spell.. I can just leave right?" At this point the pop-ups from the system rang crazily.
[ Warning : This choice may lead to rough consequences. You should not rely on the System solely, because Solo Progression is much harder according to how the System adapted to this world. ]
"Oh.. Now you are talking so much huh System. And why would that be the case?" Sam asked, knowing that the system usually didn't answer his questions that much and he had to figure it out himself, but it still did.
[ According to the Adaptation of System in this world. The Empire has been hoarding off resources for over a decade due to being informed previously by an unknown situation. Moving forward with this special Fate Selection that took place after the announcement by the Emperor, the other continents would also be naturally aggravated by it. Debates or Fights may start in the background, for procuring Resources all over the world by the other Continents, which would make the supply even less. Most of the resources are allocated within the Empire right now, so it's in best interests of Sam to Stay in The Imperial Academy. As Progression in the Four Destinies are dependent heavily upon resources, Solo Progression would be hard enough. ]
[ Adapting to this new and different approach of Solo Progression would require... 2 Days of Processing. Would you like to start with the Solo Progression Mode in the System? ] - [ Yes/No ]
"Woah. Woah. Stop. Jeez, I didn't knew you would answer it so abruptly. No! I do not wish to go on this new method or mode or whatever it is. I was just testing and thinking you know, I didn't knew you would lash out like that. I'll do what you say, just stay in this Academy..." Sam then thought more and asked with a slight grin, "Although I would like it if you could also answer like this for more of my questions. You know like what are those destiny Points for.. What is that locked tab. Hey, System, come on now. Answer me now please. I will really do that solo method or whatever if you don't. Please system, tell me now..." Sam asked persistently.
***
Sam entered back into his room with the small key he was given by the Dean's assistant, but it was unlocked already and he was greeted by someone else. Glasses, Nerdy, Wierd, Wearing a very simple attire, the most average looking kid was rummaging through his bags of stuff.
Sam took the initiative, "So, You must be my new roommate..."
He replied while turning to look at Sam, "Oh! So you are the one who was sleeping before? Wow, must have been so tired huh.. That said, I don't see much of your stuff.. or more like any.."
"Uh.. Yeah.. I haven't bought much you know. I can survive fine enough with less. I mean I tend to live a simple life, hehe... Anyways, I'm Sam. I'm from the... Empire. I harmonized with Magic And Cultivation. So What's your story?"
"Two! Wow you must have gotten really lucky dude. Although you don't quite look like someone from the Empire... Yeah, but anyways, I'm from the Southern Continent. So you can pretty much guess.. I only got the Enlightenment Destiny..."
***
After a few more minutes or about an hour of conversation, the two boys got comfortable with each other. Sam couldn't share much about him, so he made up stuff like... how he grew up in the boonies and just got here or something. The Roommate seemed to share less of the personal stuff, but more of the Southern Continent in a kid like manner, which pretty much excited Sam enough to listen and learn.
The night was already upon them, so they decided to sleep it off in their separate beds against the opposite walls. Sam knew that playing with his system might cause problems with his roommate.
So he made up something else and spoke out while turning to look at him. "Hey bro.. I kind of talk in my sleep and usually talk out loud to myself about you know.. some things... Hehe... So that won't be a problem, is it?"
His roommate replied with a thumbs up while reading a book. He smoothly said, "Ok Bro. You do you."
Sam thought to himself, 'Phew.. I didn't knew that my roommate would be so... Uh.. what is that word again.. Chill! Like bro is so casual. I guess them southerners are like that huh.. and I guess we'll get along well, since he must be smart enough to not behave like a kid, so he wouldn't mind much me not behaving like a kid... Although he didn't share much about himself.. what was his name again?' With that thought Sam dozed off peacefully, as his overthinking had tired him out.