“Okay! Now I need to actually get dressed” I said, as I got out of my bed for almost the first time in the day.

“Eh? You’re going somewhere, David? Isn’t it starting to get late? Never thought I would see you go out like that when you don’t have classes.”

“You’re not wrong, but I have classes in a bit” I laughed at Cristophe’s comment.

“It’s rare to see you have late classes, are you sure it’s not a date?”

“I wish it were. Sadly, it’s just regular socio economics with Mr Greenhall.”

Joking with my roommate really has become a habit in the small 2 years I’ve been living in the dorm. I’m really glad I live with someone this interesting.

Now fully clothed in our school’s uniform, I head out of our room.

“Hey! Don’t forget you owe me 5 bucks, so take something to eat at the cafeteria when you come back!” Paul said while I closed the door.

After reaching the door, I see a strange notice affixed reading:

Congratulations! Your planet has been chosen to host one of the Systems participating in the Ezro-Hoktan System Tournament.

You will now be attributed randomly one of the different Systems

Processing…

System #489 now have been attributed.

Good luck.

I turn my head to look at the reception desk to see what’s with this strange joke. They shouldn’t allow that type of notice here. However, even after moving, the notice is still in front of my eyes.

“Ah! It disappeared.” I hear the receptionist say under her breath. “Damn, another thing now. System #489?”

As she said, the yellow notice has been replaced by a grey one.

Welcome to System #489.

You now have been given Stats according to your actual physical and mental conditions.

You can consult them in your Profile together with other information.

Your world will now change to assimilate the System’s energy and allow you to evolve in order to participate in the higher rounds of the Tournament.

You will be attributed a Class in 7 days based on your accomplishment.

Congratulations! Due to special actions, you have been awarded the Sang-Froid (Uncommon) Lv1 skill.

We hear a rumbling coming from the ground. We hear cracks as if thunder was roaring but it happened just around us. The grass outside is changing colours. It went from the usual verdant green to a more subdued grey, as if it lost its time awareness. The nearby forest's trees also lost a bit of their colors, but they are also growing in size.

“What the fuck is happening?” I hear the receptionist, now to my side and looking out of the window.

“The world is changing.” I say confidently, not knowing myself where this confidence came from.

“We are in the matrix!!!! This is a game everyone try saying status!!! It’s my time to shine!!” Comes the voice of our recognized geek, from the couch he was sitting on, playing yet another Japanese strange game on his NSP. The panic I didn’t quite notice before died down with the comment.

Thinking it costs nothing to listen, I try what John said.

Health:

60/60 (+5.43/h)

Stamina:

60/60

(+2.22/min)

Mana:

60/60 (+3.36/h)

Identity

Name:

David Louis

Age:

21

Sex:

Male

Class:

?

Lv?

Human

Stats

Strength

6

Agility

4

Perception

4

Intelligence

6

Control

8

Constitution

6

Endurance

6

Dexterity

4

Concentration

5

Aspects

Form

Skills:

Sang-Froid (U) Lv1

Paths:

“It really is like a game…” Says the receptionist, under her breath.

Refocusing on reality, I notice the color came back to nature and the changes stopped.

“How the fuck is there a wolf in the forest? Isn’t it too big too?” Says the receptionist, still looking out of the window. “Fuck! It’s coming over here!”

Upon her interjection, the panic comes back.

“Okay everyone!” I scream on top of my lungs, for everyone to hear me. “Let’s calm down and think! We are in a building, the wolves can’t enter inside! Let’s all stay on the upper floors, find weapons or something to defend ourselves!”

I’m not sure how I can think like that, but all this spells trouble and danger, I’m sure we are better off with some sort of way to defend ourselves.

“We should also barricade the stairs, in case those wolves are a bit more ferocious than expected!” I add, the people looking in my direction, nodding at the end. And a new message appears before my eyes again.

Congratulations! Due to special actions, you have been awarded the Leadership (Uncommon) Lv1 skill.

“Oh? Looks like I’m now a leader, eh?” The receptionist that was searching under her desk for something turned to my comment. “It’s nothing. Oh yeah, what’s your name again?”

“Lea. And you were David, right?” She briefly asks, finally finding what she searched for. Should be her bag.

“Yes.” I acquiesce. “Seeing how you were able to see the wolf, you might be helpful in preventing other dangers,”

John interrupts me: “I guess you have a high perception stat?”

“Could you describe the wolf you saw?” I continue, thinking that John might be useful in understanding the System.

“Certainly. I have 9 in perception, whatever that would mean, but if 5 is the average, then I guess it is high... “ She admits, now moving towards the stairs. Following her, she continues, “It looked like a regular black wolf, just the size was different. You saw how the trees grew up in size, right? The wolf had the same size as regular ones compared to the trees…” She shivers. “It might have been around 3 meters high.”

Having reached the first floor, other students heard us.

“Don’t worry guys! With this barricade over the stairs and with weapons, the wolf will have trouble attacking us!”

Congratulations! Your Sang-Froid skill is now Lv2.

Congratulations! Your Leadership skill is now Lv2.

I guess that’s where all this confidence comes from. We got a long road ahead, let’s hope John has some knowledge about how all of this works, but maybe that class we will obtain next week will let us rest a bit.