Episode 1: My First Day! Again?! (2)
I stare at Hendrix, completely dumbstruck. How? Didn't we both die? What's going on?
I try to say something. For some reason, I can't move. Only my eyes can.
Nothing else is moving either. Hendrix, the clouds outside, the trees, nothing. Is this some sort of post-death limbo that makes you stand in one of your memories forever? What is this?
I take a moment to calm down and process this situation.
Now that I've calmed down somewhat, I notice three rectangles with words in them floating in midair. That wasn't there before.
Wait a minute. Is this my ExtrA?
ExtrA, or ExtrA Ability, is an ability all humans are born with. ExtrA are not activated at birth, though. It generally activates at puberty, but there are some exceptions. The latest someone's ExtrA ever activated was at 18.
ExtrAs are all unique to a person; there can be similar ExtrAs but none are exactly the same.
For example, if someone can produce water, that does not necessarily mean that they can control water. If someone can control water, they may not be able to create water. These ExtrAs are similar, but different.
My ExtrA hasn't activated until now. I assume that the pre-requisite to activate my ExtrA is death. ExtrAs shouldn't need pre-requisites to activate though. I guess that's just another way I'm different from other people.
Now to read these blocks. They're lined up vertically. The top one says Difficulty: 1 (Hard)
Rewards: B (1st), C (2nd), E>
The middle one says Difficulty: 0.3 (Easy)
Rewards: F>
And the bottom block says Difficulty: None
Rewards: None>
What is this? "Difficulty?" "Rewards?" Is this like a video game? But why is this system using numbers AND letters? Just stick with one rating type!
What should I do now? I guess I should choose the tutorial option since I have no idea what's going on. But how? I try to mentally click on the bottom option.
Oh, it worked. A white holographic screen pops up. Text appears on it.
[Welcome to the TV World Game System. I, the system, exists to help the player survive in the TV world. I changed this world to one that follows the laws in TV shows.
Changes to current world are trivial things like minor character changes, minor motivation changes, and ignorance of TV cliches. Other people will not recognize TV cliches in the world. In addition, events that more closely resemble TV laws and cliches will begin happening.
The word, "TV" relates to live-action, animation and anime. Reality shows do not count. Questions?]
'Uh yes, I have a lot of questions! Like, did this system just change the entire world?! What kind of system can do that?! And is this like a game system? And WHAT DID THIS SYSTEM DO TO THE WORLD?!
Cliches? Will there be plot holes and main characters? If there are, that means there are villains! How do I protect myself? And about this situation, why am I back here ALIVE, but with time paused? Is this a super-overpowered system?'
I mean seriously, this system not only changed the world, but it also revived me and froze time!
[...That's a lot of questions. To start, yes, I altered the universe to follow the laws of TV. Yes, I'm a game system, you may see my functions later.
What I did wasn't much. Existing places or people will not suddenly become cliches. For example, the government will not suddenly create a conspiracy of mind control or anything like that.
This world has been following the laws of TV since approximately one month ago. There will be cliches and plot holes in future events. They will mainly be sci-fi cliches due to this world being classified as "sci-fi."
As for main characters, you will see labels above each person stating their names and their status in the TV world. I will help you protect yourself against villains and dangerous cliches.
I could be considered overpowered.
You are here due to your passive ability, The difficulty is rated from 0-10, with 0 being the lowest. The rating after the number is how hard the difficulty is based on your current level.
In certain choices, you get a Mission Item to help you complete your choice. You can repeat the choice as many times you want, however if you die more than once, you will not be able to keep the Mission Item after completing the choice. Rewards are also better on the first try after choosing the choice.
Any further questions or can we move on?]
I take a minute to digest what the system just told me. I really am in a sci-fi cliche. "Kid with mysterious parents goes to elite sci-fi school!"
And choices? So those blocks were "choices." I guess they're like missions. It seems that the higher difficulty gives me a better reward. There were also numbers after the ranking of the reward, "1st," "2nd," and then just an E.
'System, what do the numbers after the reward rankings mean?'
[They are the number of tries that you are eligible for that reward. The B reward in the first choice can only be obtained after the first try. Any more than that will result in you losing that reward. The E has no number, meaning that you can obtain that reward from the third try onwards. You can only get one reward.]
That sounds reasonable. I guess I don't have any questions for now. Oh wait.
'System, are you my ExtrA?'
[...You can say that.]
'What does that mean?'
[I come from a different dimension. I was installed in you by your parents.]
WHAT?! Different dimension? My parents? But wait, if they got this system, then that means they went to another dimension!
'What do my parents do? Like, work-wise.'
[Information unknown. I only know that they probably possess the ability to travel between dimensions at will. They possibly came to this dimension from another.]
Wait, that would make me a trans-dimensional baby! Okay, I know I'm not a baby, but I could have superpowers that are not ExtrAs!
[Not likely. The majority of nearby dimensions do not have any type of magic.]
Wait, it heard was I was thinking? Well, it makes sense. Technically I'm thinking when I talk to the System.
'What do you mean by nearby?'
[Dimensions are structured in a plane, much like this universe. The dimensional plane expands much faster than the universe. Not to mention dimensions are much bigger than planets.]
Well, that makes sense. Actually, everything makes sense now. I was wondering why my library at home had technology much more advanced than anything anyone else has.
While Earth has expanded to different solar systems, it hasn't expanded out of the Milky Way. The library has ebooks on warp drives, with can travel instantaneously. Earth definitely doesn't have anything like that.
'I'm done asking questions.'
[Okay.] The screen disappears, replaced by the top two blocks of text from before.
I should choose something now. Standing in one place is a little weird.
Let's go over the options. I don't want to save anyone, but the top choice has better rewards. The bottom choice is safer, but it has less rewards. I wish I could get one of those Mission Items.
[Mission Items are unlocked in System Lvl 1. The current System Lvl is 0.] Now the System is using a robotic voice to communicate.
'How do I upgrade the System?'
[Complete one choice.]
Well that's easy. I was going to do that anyway.
Now what should I choose? Save 23 people? Or should I just save myself?
After a long period of thinking, I choose the top option. Saving my class doesn't take much more effort than saving myself in this situation. I just have to get out more quickly.
The choices disappear. Hendrix looks up and says, "Oh you're early. Did second period end yet?"
"Nope." I say.
Hendrix gives me strange look, but doesn't question me any further. Seriously, how is he a teacher here?
I now notice a white, glowing label above Hendrix's head. WTF?! How is Hendrix the protagonist's mentor? Aren't they usually old guys or kind and friendly people?
Oh wait, there's another cliche. "Lazy-looking Guy is actually OP and a great mentor." That was used in Naruto. Makes sense now.
I head towards the desk I sat at before I died. Streaks of what I now know as someone's ExtrA flash. They must be attacking the college sector of the campus.
Ian comes in. He once again sits next to me. I look above his head to see what label is floating up there.
...You've got to be kidding me. Him? Wait a minute, if I already met him before I got the System, does that mean I'm a supporting character?
Well, I don't have enough time nor the means to check.
I follow the script of greeting and chatting while thinking of a quick way to get out of the school. Using an alternate exit won't work. They're all too far away. We could run I guess, but what if a piece of debris hits someone? There's only one way...
The rest of the class comes in. I count 22 kids and one teacher. Exactly as the choices said.
Hendrix turns the holoboard on. The slides start showing again. Last time, we were hit when the slide for lunch behavior was showed. I get ready.
Boom!
The power cuts out. Here we go again.