Pedro slept on the flat hill that night. That damn Alfir left him here with a freaking tent. Alfir left for the academy rooftop, saying that he wanted to sleep there.

"That guy! Sheesh. What can I do? He's now my boss. But I must say, this system thingy is amazing."

Pedro packed the tent into a bag as he tweak the system. It's a set of white lines containing data about himself.

[SYSTEM INTERFACE

User: Pedro Picard

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

SP: 100%

POWER VALUE— 212 points

STR: 30% (63.6)

AGI: 25% (30.25)

INT: 10% (21.2)

SPD: 11% (23.32)

DEX: 11% (23.32)

END: 13% (27.56)

MUTATION— Savage Heart

Mental Technique: Level 0

Genetic Potential: 42%

EXP: 0%— empty.]

It's complicated, but Pedro already had some results after some experimentation. The exp was 100% full a while ago. Pedro thought of using it, then was given options of what should he spend it to potential, technique, or power value.

The biggest surprise to Pedro is the name of his mutation, it gave him some insights into his direction. This thing in front of him is a miracle. Alfir told him to see him on the rooftop today at noon, so that's where Pedro is going.

After class, he immediately went to the rooftop. Damn his lunch, Alfir is his bigger priority now.

Another surprise to him is that he can now detect the Power levels of others. Nika, her seatmate has a 199 power level. That didn't come a surprise to Pedro but the 'special 6'? They are monsters. Yeah, that's what he calls them now thanks to his small talk with Alfir recently.

Pedro focused on his stair hike as he entertain the almost infinite possibilities of this system. Alfir said that it isn't technology but a combination of his Special Ability, psychology, and sciences. Pedro has no clue about this science, but he can relate it to the engineering and related research subjects in the academy.

"Eh? Someone's already here? Wait, Zia?"

Zia stood by the door, watching something in the gap.

[Detected Ally— The Synopsis.

Would you like to add her as a friend? Y/N?]

Aaaa... Sure, why not?

[Zia rejected your friend request]

Ouch.

"Shhhh... I assume Alfir recruited you? Be quiet, some harsh stuff is happening right now."

No wonder, she's acting shifty. Looks like a life-changing event also happened to her.

Zia is sweating bullets. She has been here since Alfir started his massacre.

"Hey, why did you reject my friend request? It looks like we are on the same team."

"I am still exploring it. Just be quiet, I am watching here."

***

[SYSTEM INTERFACE

User: Zia Zaratul

HP: 100%

MP: 100%

SP: 100%

POWER VALUE— 257 points

STR: 13% (33.41)

AGI: 32% (82.24)

INT: 12% (30.84)

SPD: 15% (38.55)

DEX: 20% (51.4)

END: 8% (20.56)

MUTATION— Inimical Thoughts

Mental Technique: Level 1

Genetic Potential: 41%

EXP: 52%]

Zia can't sleep that night. She suddenly found herself in front of an alien sight called the system. She is still confused as to why Alfir showed her his memories. She can remember him going berserk for her seeing a glimpse of his mind, and now...

She doesn't know what to do anymore. She knows this system. Searching in her memories, she found games and light novels Alfir usually played and read. There are some gaps in the memories, but the important information still remained.

What is just Alfir?

Zia can't wait anymore until noon, though there are only 15 minutes left until class dismissal.

The freaking professor Marius is actually teaching today, which is both a surprise and annoyance to Zia.

"Prof. I don't want to listen to the lecture anymore. Can I go out?"

"Sure."

That, easy? Well, if the professor says so.

Zia ran to the rooftop without any reserve. She wants answers, then there she saw. The very same brutality Alfir displayed during the Combat Assessment. No, this is beyond that.

Alfir is committing murder.

[Detected Ally— The Author.

Would you like to add him as a friend? Y/N?]

Author? So that is Alfir's code name... Zia clicked yes. This is her way of expressing her presence. She was about to reveal herself to inquire only to receive a prompt.

[Alfir rejected your friend request]

[Alfir sent you a friend request. Y/N?]

What the fuck? What is his problem?

She halted her steps. Zia selected No, then sent another friend request.

[Alfir accepted your friend request]

[Chat prompt—

ALFIR: Don't reveal yourself. I am trying to recruit someone here.

ZIA: Why did you reject my request?

ALFIR: I was testing it.]

Zia's eagerness was doused by Alfir's ludicrousness.

Shortly, Pedro arrived. He sent Zia a friend request which she mercilessly stomped with a no. She already knows that he is an ally with her system actively indicating that he is, during class.

Pedro is just too focused on assessing the 'special 6', thus he wasn't able to divert his attention to his other classmates.

They watched Alfir's display as he make quick work of the blind girl's eyes.

"What is he doing?" Pedro asked, his killing intent accumulating. He's fine with Alfir murdering their classmates. They are unappreciative of them anyway. But Pedro can't tolerate something like this, torturing another. Call it chauvinism, or crooked chivalry. Pedro doesn't care. What he knows, is that the sight of Alfir gouging the girl's eyes is unpleasant.

"Stay there, he is recruiting her," Zia spoke unconvincingly, but she held Pedro quite tightly. Even Zia can't believe her own words, but her instinct to obey is strong. This instinct nurtured by the duke remained with her, even after Alfir changed her perception.

"What's the other four doing here?" Pedro asked in his feeble attempt to change the mood.

"They have been harassing me this morning. Rodney was very pissed when he learned Alfir dated me."

"That's why they are absent today. They are cutting classes, huh? You dated Alfir?"

AAAAAGH! IT HURTS! IT HURTS!

AAAAAGH! PLEASE STOP! STOP!

PLEASE! I DON'T WANT MY SIGHT ANYMORE! I TAKE IT BACK!

Oh fuck. That looked painful. It is Zia's habit to curse inwardly, especially in situations like this.

What followed next scared Zia to death. Alfir scooped his eyes with his fingers, one by one.

Zia was about to dash away when Pedro grabbed her arm tightly. First, is the right eye. Alfir placed it over the blind girl's right eye socket. Then the second eye, which followed justly to the blind girl's left eye socket.

Tendrils were growing from the whites of the eyes trying to feel the blind girl's hollow sockets. It was as eerie as logic-breaking as what is the norm of Special Abilities.

[Chat prompt—

ALFIR: Keep your guard up; this will take some time. Do everything possible to thwart any intruder.

PEDRO: Understood.

ZIA: Do you need help?

ALFIR: Eliya will take care of it.]

Eliya? So that's her name. Zia remembers the blind girl quite clearly. After all, she kind of bullied her in the past. More accurately, she tormented her. She remembers it because just after that, it was Zia who was brutalized then. At the hands of Alfir not to boot...

What Zia doesn't understand, is why Alfir is recruiting this Eliya.

Eliya is weak. Alfir even gave his eyesight to Eliya. Why go to such lengths?

Eliya can finally see. Rodney's groan can be heard by Zia and Pedro. The events that follow are as heinous as Alfir's slaughter of his enemies. They did nothing while Eliya made a mess of Rodney and extracted his eyes.

Rodney Vitriol, another character the Duke asked Zia to watch is now dead.

Alfir took the eyes with Eliya's assistance but that is not where it stopped. Alfir also took Rodney's powers. Its function changed a little bit, but more than that, he still STOLE IT! An ability that allows you to steal powers? Is that even possible?

Blue flames scattered as Alfir turned the four poor aristocrats' remains to ash.

"Zia. This is perverse. He can steal Special Abilities."

"I can see that, idiot. I am not blind. Heighten your senses. We are asked to stand guard, and not to peep."

"But it's you who are with detection powers, right?"

"..."

"Yeah, yeah... I am sorry. I will also do my part. Just let me see, you are hogging the front seat."

Pedro faltered at Zia's gaze. He has no choice but to tiptoe to see whatever is going on.

Zia watched as Eliya speak sweet words to Alfir. Get a bed! Zia's sarcasm aside, she is feeling jealous. She knows this emotion too well since envy itself is a mass of negativity— a kind of emotion Zia usually sees in her victims.

[Chat prompt—

ALFIR: Reveal yourselves. It's time for an introduction. We are safe. The principal won't be able to see us here with Eliya on our side.]

There's an interference ability that strong? But Eliya is not yet at Ability Grade? Zia is confused, but Pedro thinks differently.

Potential Grades are not everything after all.

"Eliya, let me introduce you to our colleagues."

***

[SYSTEM INTERFACE

User: Eliya Endshire

HP: 32% (Loss of blood during eye transplant. Full recovery at 32 hours.)

MP: 50% (Willpower stopped further decrease on mental power. Full recovery at 6 hours.)

SP: 21% (Exhausted from the physical pain of the transplant. Full recovery at 8 hours.)

POWER VALUE— 152 points

STR: 17% (25.84)

AGI: 12% (18.24)

INT: 23% (34.96)

SPD: 23% (34.96)

DEX: 12% (18.24)

END: 13% (19.76)

MUTATION— Singularity

Mental Technique: Level 0

Genetic Potential: 33%

EXP: 100%— full.]

This appeared before Eliya suddenly as the flames slowly dies out.

"Relax. It's my gift to you. This system will give you a new path to strength. It will also help you achieve more freedom as you grow stronger."

Alfir gave Eliya a reassuring smile.

[Alfir sent you a friend request. Y/N?]

[Pedro sent you a friend request. Y/N?]

[Zia sent you a friend request. Y/N?]

Eh? What is this?

"Eliya, let me introduce you to our colleagues."

The two in question arrived. Pink hair and brown hair. Eliya knows the former. Even though this is her first time seeing her. Pink hair is very uncommon for first years. Even a blind person can learn what a person looks like if they hear enough gossip to get a picture of someone.

Eliya manipulated her system clumsily, but with her willpower, she succeeded anyway.

A yes. A yes. Then a no.

Eliya can see Zia's forehead pop with her veins. She gave a sly smirk to Zia at an angle where Alfir can't notice.

"Thank you Pedro for coming. You too Zia."

Alfir shook hands with Pedro. Alfir also wanted to shake hands with Zia, but instead, Zia bolted into a run, then hugs Alfir.

Ooookay? Isn't that too much for a greeting? Eliya doesn't really know.

"Nice to meet you, Ped." Eliya greeted.

"Pedro is fine. Ped sounds like a pedophile, so please don't give me that nickname."

Eliya followed Alfir's example with her most friendly self. She shook hands with Pedro, then she hugged Zia.

"Hello there, (bitch!)" Eliya said deceptively, alas, Zia heard it loud and clear

Zia reckoned that Eliya did say 'bitch' in her mind on purpose. Zia as vindictive as she is, hugged back, with more pressure than usual.

It hurts, but Eliya endured.

Alfir is confused, while Pedro is amused. It's not Alfir's fault that he didn't know Zia and Eliya already met once, and have developed bad blood against each other.

Once again, even as the author of this damn novel, Alfir is not omniscient.

Eliya retreated from Zia. She winced from the pain of the recent confrontation. She is already so pitifully thin. If not for her thick clothes and scarf, Eliya's frail figure would have been more obvious. Alfir knows this, so he gave a worried look to Eliya.

But Eliya misinterpreted this as some chummy concern. She then sneered at Zia, which the pink-haired lass took bitterly.

***

[SYSTEM INTERFACE

User: Alfir Fearing

HP: 21% (Loss of blood, nerve damage, and torn fibers. Full recovery at 124 hours.)

MP: 12% (Mind fatigue for shutting down the nerves. Full recovery at 8 hours.)

SP: 10% (Physical fatigue for muscle overexertion. Full recovery at ten hours.)

POWER VALUE— 273 points

STR: 17% (46.41)

AGI: 18% (49.14)

INT: 19% (51.87)

SPD: 15% (40.95)

DEX: 15% (40.95)

END: 16% (43.68)

MUTATION— Mind Over Body

Mental Technique: Level 3

Genetic Potential: 41%

EXP: 0%— empty.]

I looked at my system with embarrassment. Fearing is a quirky surname, but seeing the childish antics of Zia and Eliya is more embarrassing.

A rooftop is a place that people rarely visit. I have been hanging out here for a straight week, and I have seen no one yet other than me who hangs around in these parts.

I collected the dead's ash and their gear then stuffed them into my inventory bracelet. I can't gather all their ash as the wind dissipates them. There are some bones and flesh left from them, I took them too since these things can be sold on the black market.

"I shall start our briefing."

I summoned chairs from my inventory bracelet. One for each of us. I smuggled this stuff from the canteen. It's lame, out of style, bland, and lacks taste. But these chairs are all I got!

"As you can see of the murders I have committed. What you are getting into, are scary serious stuff."

I don't know how to initiate a professional meeting, so I just have to be honest like how I am trying to win their hearts from the get-go.

"If you already realized it. It's not a coincidence I invited you to this rooftop, then had you witness that one-sided slaughter. If you choose to join me, you will see this kind of killings much more frequently."

There were a lot of theatrics involved, there were manipulations which they are aware of, then there's the system.

The system is my trump card in all of this. My petty tricks are nothing but appetizers to motivate them. The system is the clincher, the real game-changer.

"I am in. I have seen much blood in my childhood. I don't want to live an obscure life as a small grunt." Pedro's answer came fast and succinct. His gaze is stern and his spirit is full of resolve. The 'system' convinced him.

"I am willing to do everything for you. From my flesh to my very core, I will be at your service. Please use me." Eliya's words flowed like the river, without hesitation and only pure intent. Understandably, it's not the system that convinced her, but gratitude, her gratitude to me.

"You have shown me your ambition, mission, and vision. I am willing to devote myself to you until this world becomes what you desire." Zia said with an affirmative gaze. I convinced her in a rather roundabout way, using fear, sympathy, and curiosity as a medium.

The memories I gave Zia are like shackles that bind her fate to mine. The grace I extended to Eliya is like a debt she will never be able to repay. And the awe I instilled in Pedro is like the sweetest of temptations, which he will not even consider resisting.

They kneeled one by one. It's quite dramatic. Far from bland, it has quite the flair.

"You have my gratitude."

I stood feeling bad from their kneeling. Come on, why kneel if there is a chair to sit in?

"The system is where we shall start. From now on, we shall be known as [The Tome]. We have one goal, World Domination! No forces in this world will see us coming. We shall be this era's herald of change.

Stand, rise, and accept your seats! Synopsis, Prologue and Epilogue. Become my strength!"

***

TRIVIA!

The Tome— An organization Alfir established. Its upper echelon is composed of elusive figures that never revealed themselves. They are even more mysterious than Zentury. They have the mysterious power of giving Special Abilities to normal humans.