Call of the System

As what seemed to be an eternity for me ever since my mind went dark, I suddenly heard a heartless, mechanical sounding voice that awakened me from the void.

[FOR HONOR SYSTEM: ...INITIATED. AWAKENING HOST'S SOUL.]

As soon as the voice finished speaking, I suddenly got newfound strength as my mind kicked back into gear. However, not much changed visually as I was still surrounded by darkness as I was when I was asleep, just that I was awake to consciously feel the darkness now.

"Where... Where am I?"

As if that mechanical voice heard my voiceless plea, it responded.

[HOST'S SOUL IS LOCATED IN A REALM BETWEEN THE DEAD AND THE LIVING.]

"What the hell?"

I was utterly confused with the situation that I was facing as numerous thoughts popped up in my mind. However, I shook all those useless thoughts away as I asked the most urgent and important question to me at that moment.

"Uh, sir, is there any way for me to get out of here?"

I asked the mechanical-like voice as the void around me really started to make me uncomfortable. I couldn't feel nor see anything and because of this, fear started to encroach my mind.

[FOR HONOR SYSTEM: HOST WILL NATURALLY BE EJECTED FROM THIS PLACE ONCE HE FINISHES SELECTING HIS CHARACTER.]

As the voice ended it's speech, a screen containing about 26 figures resembling that of the For Honor character selection screen appeared in front of me.

"Uhhh, I'm supposed to select only one of these figures?"

[HOST IS CORRECT. ONCE THE HOST CHOOSES HIS CHARACTER, ALL OTHER CHOICES WILL BE FORFEITED AND THE HOST WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO ANOTHER WORLD.]

After hearing the voice's explanation, I went into thinking. Among the numerous figures on the screen, I saw the Dark Prior, Valkyrie, Aramusha, Highlander and all the rest of the characters present in For Honor. Among all the characters, the only ones I really considered to choose were Centurion, Lawbringer, and Warden. After contemplating for a while, I decided to get rid of Lawbringer from my choices. In the game, I really loved Centurion before getting into playing Warden so I really had a hard time choosing between the both of them. As I couldn't rap my head around which one I should choose, I decided to ask the system.

"Sir, is it impossible for me to choose more than a single character?"

[WITH ENOUGH KARMA, HOST COULD HAVE CHOSEN MORE THAN A SINGLE CHARACTER TO USE. HOWEVER, AS HOST ONLY HAS ENOUGH FOR A SINGLE CHOICE, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MORE THAN A SINGLE CHOICE.]

I scowled at the voice's response as I deeply regretted not doing more good things in my previous life. After a long bout of contemplation, I sighed and finally decided on my choice.

"Sir, I choose Warden as my character."

Then, as soon as I finished speaking, a figure suddenly materialized in front of me out of nothing. Finally, when it finished materializing, I realized that it was a Warden. However, this one in front of me wasn't simply a warden with basic armor and weaponry. This was an utterly majestic Warden. His armor which shone a gold-like tint, accompanied with spikes on many different areas on it. The most majestic piece of his armor, however, was the crown which adorned his helmet. Then, he suddenly spoke to me in a grand and majestic voice.

"The Wardens, members of an ancient order, fallen into dust. Sworn to defend the weak, masters of the longsword, their origins lost to history. Still, they fight for what is right, driven by duty, devoted to their people... but only few may join their order."

He spoke as he then seemingly stared into the deepest part of my soul.

"You, whom seeks our order. Are you worthy of the creed that which we Wardens follow? Are you ready to defend the the weak and to fight for what is right? Are you ready to devote yourself to fight for your people til death grant you rest?"

As he finished his grand-like speech, he continued to stare me down to the very fiber of my being, as if to determine whether or not the words that I should choose to speak were false or true. Then, I decided to speak out my thoughts truthfully as I knew that doing otherwise would result in some very serious consequences.

"You wardens whose origins have been lost to history, whose order has long since fallen into the dust, whose very people that you have sworn to protect have betrayed yourselves. I ask you, is the creed of which you speak of one that is worthy of yourselves? For whatever you may think, I am assured that it is utterly not worthy of myself as I will not choose to serve others that would turn their backs on myself. I will not choose to defend those whom refuse to defend themselves. I will not choose to devote my life to fight for people that wouldn't fight for themselves. What I seek is power, power that would allow me to take control of my life. The power which will take me to the summit of my destiny. Should I not be able to follow these ideals of mine, then I'd rather crumble into nothingness than to take the creed of which you Wardens have sworn to follow!"

I shouted my most true and heartfelt thoughts as I clenched my fists and closed my eyes to prepare for the possible consequences of rejecting the creed of the Wardens. As I was fearfully waiting for the Warden's response, I then heard him laugh. He then proceeded to put this hand on my shoulder.

"Then I shall wish you luck on your endeavors young Warden."

He spoke before I abruptly got transported to a faraway place.