What A System Is? / 9

After what felt like an eternity, Chai finally left Zodiac and went home for the night. It was already getting dark but he was still getting calls from Kei. Surprisingly they had his contact number.

"What does he want at 8 PM?.."

He groaned, heading over to the coffee table and grabbing his phone, answering the call while putting it on speaker phone. "It's way too late for you to be calling at this hour.."

Kei only laughed wholeheartedly, before responding back. "My apologies Zodiac. I wanted to discuss more about your situation in the association. We know you still have your school to attend to but we already took care of it."

"You.. Took care of it?" Zodiac was curious and intrigued after hearing that.

"Yes. Luckily the school you were attending has one of my business partners as the principal. So you are now free to do whatever you want without getting question why you're not attending."

Zodiac was pretty much shocked, he didn't expect a guy, from Japan, to have connections even from his country, making him laugh nervously.

"That's greatly appreciated Mr. Kei.. What else did you want to discuss about?"

"Oh, right. Since you were the 21st SSS Rank. Some of them are interested to meet you. Right now."

Zodiac was shocked to hear that he was already gaining even more attention, from other high ranking system users as well, making him stutter his words before asking.

"A.. Already? B.. But I don't even know who they are!"

Kei chuckled, responding back with confidence. "Dear boy. That is why we want you to come over here, please do understand the reason."

The call ended, with Zodiac looking at the screen of his phone with a sigh. Until hearing an unfamiliar noise behind him. Just behind the couch, there was a blue portal casually sitting there open.

Then his phone would receive a notification, bringing it up to him as he took a look, only to see Kei's message with the words:

"If you see a blue portal right in front of you, that is one of the SSS User's System ability. We are waiting for you."

Zodiac would sigh, putting his phone aside before muttering to himself. "I really want to have some time alone for myself.." Then walking into the portal, closing once he vanished into it.

---

A blue portal would open in a hidden facility. There came out Zodiac, walking out of it, to see Kei in front of him as well as four different people behind them, he didn't really focus much on them and just kept his gaze on Kei.

"Glad that you could make it Zodiac."

"Yeah.. Thanks for bringing me here."

Zodiac chuckled nervously, with Kei having a relieved smile. Suddenly, one of the people behind them would scoff and walk towards Zodiac. His height towering over him easily, most likely 6'3 at least, while Zodiac was 5'10 average at most.

"So this is the kid that gained the VN System? Seems like the system chose you instead of you choosing it."

The man laughed with a grin, Zodiac felt a bit intimidated, they were more physically built, tall, and worst of all. They were old. His white hair already growing past their neck, as well as having a nicely shaved facial hair. While wearing casual clothes such as a white shirt, and some long blue jeans.

Kei would clear his throat, walking to the side before gesturing his hand to introduce the man, speaking in a well mannered tone.

"Sorry about him Zodiac. He's Athan Camero. The S.O.S's first ever SSS Rank from North America. He is also, The Strongest System User out of all of us."

Athan just stared down at Zodiac, the both of them sharing sharp glares, before breaking it off with Athan laughing happily, patting Zodiac's head.

"I like this kid! He has some guts to stare eye to eye at me. You got moxie bud."

"Thanks for the compliment.. Wait, the strongest?"

Zodiac turned to face Kei, they simply nodded in response to their question. Before turning to face Athan, he never expected this old man to be the Strongest out of everyone. Before asking bluntly.

"How old are you?"

Athan was surprised at the answer but was glad at the same time, he smiled with a. nod while answering. "You could say that I'm.. 2,309,891 years old."

Zodiac blinked twice, his expression nonchalant and chill before changing to an embarrassed one, asking once again. "Aha.. Come again?"

"2,309,891 years old."

"S.. So.." Zodiac paused, clasping his hands together then bringing it to his mouth, breathing in and out deeply with his eyes closed. Pulling it away from him as he stared up at Athan's eyes. "You're telling me? That you're over a million years old?"

Athan simply nodded, his expression unchanging with a kind smile. "Yes."

Zodiac would turn to Kei, trying to find any hint of jokes or tomfoolery, but nothing. Kei had the same expression as before, meaning that this guy, Athan. Was telling the truth.

Athan would just pat Zodiac's shoulder while speaking in a upbeat tone. "Don't sweat it kid! Besides, you're not the first person to be surprised at my age. Look at these 5 behind me, you think they weren't shock?"

Zodiac would turn to the side, to take a look at the other 5 people. With Kei immediately standing at their side so he could introduce them because he enjoys doing so.

Athan would walk and stand behind Kei, giving Zodiac and the others some space, as he began introducing them.

"My apologies. This woman here is Elena Esmeralda. She is the South American's first SSS Rank as well."

Zodiac would look at them, noticing their ethnicity, almost hispanic or maybe even latina? He wasn't sure yet.

But she had pretty emerald hair, her eyes showed light like the sun, which is yellow of course. And her skin was almost tan to perfection. Wearing a black crop top with tight short shorts, while she was chewing on bubblegum.

She walked towards Zodiac, their height being the same as she spoke. "This the kid that got the system eh? Well niño, the system ain't always going to save you ya know?"

Speaking in fluent english, despite her accent being almost close to spanish, he understood her while nodding. Holding a hand out to her with a gentle smile. "Nice to meet you too Elena.."

Elena looked down at his hand, smirking devilishly before grabbing Zodiac's wrist, her face getting close to his while whispering. "Hey niño.. Ever been with a latina before?" She said while slowly guiding his hand to her chest. Then he noticed. She had an F-Cup, and his hand was closing in.

His face began getting hot, forcefully pulling his hand away before it could even reach it, laughing nervously. "I.. I think I'm fine.."

Elena kept her smirk, letting out a low growl of interest before whispering into his ear. "Just hit me up whenever you want."

Before pulling her head away, giving him a wink as she stood beside Athan. He looked at her with a concerned expression before leaning his head down to whisper. "Why did you have to do that.. You know he's younger than you right?"

Elena looked back at Athan, that devilish smirk still plastered on her face before whispering back in sheer confidence. "I'm just toying with him viejo!"

Athan wasn't sure if he should believe her or not. Especially with the things she did in the past till now. Sighing in response before leaning his head back up to stand straight.

With Kei continuing the introductions, he would gesture his hand to another person.

"And this is Gustavo Marcelo. Europe's first SSS Rank. You can see that the people here are mostly the first SSS Ranks now right?"

Zodiac nodded. "Yeah.. I can't believe they wanted to meet me." He felt a bit flattered, and a bit scared at the same time. Knowing that these people are the strongest in their own continent, makes his spine shiver at the thought of it.

The man Gustavo would approach Zodiac, his height almost towering him since he was 6'1, whilst wearing some standard.. sports clothes? The shoes even looked authentic for kicking balls. It was what they called, the Kit. Or the regular sportswear for football players.

"Nice to meet you Zodiac, it is a pleasure to finally meet the man himself." Gustavo said with a kind smile, holding a hand out with Zodiac happily shaking their hand back in a relieved manner.

"It's nice to meet you too sir. And I'm guessing you're a huge football fan?" Zodiac asked with a chuckle.

"Huge? Oh I am a MASSIVE fan of it! The game is so fun and so entertaining! Tell me, have you ever tried playing it?"

"Unfortunately no.. I only play basketball and baseball as my sports so not really used to using my feet."

Gustavo would nod, feeling a bit disappointed and sad. "That is a waste.. But if you ever have time, call me so you can practice, got it?"

Zodiac smiled and nodded, finally glad that he met someone normal for once in this group, although that won't last long.

As Gustavo would move and stand beside Elena, Kei would introduce the next person.

"Now this is Asia's first SSS Rank. Anita Kizuki. She is the one responsible for creating the portal to bring you here."

Anita would step forward to Zodiac, the both of them staring face to face, her gaze was intense and a bit serious, he can tell that she wasn't easy to get along with. Making him chuckle nervously while offering a handshake.

"Nice to meet you Anita.." He said with a composed smile, trying to be at least comfortable around her despite being a little close.

Anita sighed, pulling herself back and just shaking his hand while speaking in a harsh tone. "Your potential is being wasted by that system." She said while keeping her serious gaze at him.

Zodiac was confused about what she meant, tilting his head to the side while crossing his arms after the handshake. "Excuse me? What do you mean?"

Anita scoffed, turning to Kei with an eyebrow raised. "You seriously didn't tell him? What he's capable of and what he can do with it?"

"Please, Anita. This is after all, the right time for us to explain it ourselves." Kei just smiled, before turning to look at Zodiac. "The reason why you are here as well is because we wanted to give you an explanation of what is currently happening."

Zodiac gulped, before a huge holographic screen just above them would be shown. A video began playing and it was guy wrenching to see.

Once Zodiac looked up to see what it was, he saw multiple people dead, their bodies sliced clean. The ones doing it were something he has never seen before, speaking in question.

"Are those.. Monsters?"

Kei then chuckled lightly. "You can say that it is similar, but those are what we call Bugs. They can only be found inside Glitches, depending on the difficulty is the color."

"I see.." Zodiac nodded, a hand on his chin before asking. "What was the Red Glitch then?"

Kei then continued. "The Red Glitch was the second hardest. Every Glitch is color coded in the form of a rainbow. Indigo and Violet being the easiest. Green and Orange are at least mid difficulty. Red and Yellow being difficult for an average System User. Whilst the Blue is the hardest to clear of all."

"I understand. But what was that video you showed to me about?"

"That video is what would happen if a System User doesn't clear the Glitch properly. Allowing the Bugs to roam freely and wreak havoc on Earth. That is why our duty is to protect and make sure that don't let that happen.."

Zodiac now felt a bit overwhelmed, not knowing that if he had died in the Red Glitch and fought himself, or the Bug. He could've caused a mass murdering spree on his neighborhood.

"But of course.." Kei would continue speaking, making Zodiac curious as to what he has. "Now that we have you here, we have nothing to be worried about."

"What does that mean?"

"That is because-"

Before Kei would speak, Athan interrupted by putting a hand on their shoulder, leaning his head and whispering something on his ear. Leaving Kei baffled at their thought, it made him sigh with Athan leaning back and standing back behind him.

"Unfortunately, I cannot explain it to you, for now at least."

Zodiac was a bit concerned about what that was about, it's as if he's not meant to learn about it. Whatever it was, it got him intrigued and interested, but that's for another time. He sighed with a nod before speaking without a care.

"Yeah yeah whatever, so do you just want me to handle the Glitches whenever I find any?"

"Yes, it is your responsibility as a System User now. Of course, you'll be rewarded handsomely."

"Hm.. Alright, I'll make sure to protect my city."

Kei smiled in relief, before gesturing to Anita, she nodded and immediately opened a portal behind Zodiac just by closing her eyes.

He turned to walk towards it before stopping himself, looking back at them and smiling, then jumping inside the portal, heading back home.

Once the portal closed, Kei along with the other 3 Users would turn to look at Athan, their expressions confused and left with wonder, as Kei asked.

"Why didn't you want him to learn about what he can do?"

Athan sighed, his expression showing concern and worry. "Kei, you have to understand he's still young, despite being almost an adult now, I doubt he can handle the truth."

"About what?" Kei's tone shifted into slight anger. "That he can't handle the truth about his system, being able to manipulate and bend reality to its will as long as it gives him the choice to do so?"

Athan clenched his fists hard, retaliating with the same tone of voice towards Kei. While Elena, Gustavo, and Anita were watching at the side, not bothering about interrupting.

"Yes!" Athan exclaimed. "He's still young! The chaos he can do if he learns that he basically controls almost everything! He can maybe even defy death, obtain immortality, and even more. You understand how much pressure that gives to a young man like him?!"

"I do. But if we convince him and control him-"

"Control what Kei? Control the way he uses it? The kid's only interested in being left alone and enjoying the thrill of a fight. I saw it in his eyes. He's not a God, Kei."

Kei would grin his teeth hard, both Athan and Kei staring at each other hard, as Kei sighed, turning to the side and giving up.

"I understand.. But if he does go rogue, what should we do?"

Athan's expression softened, his tone of voice now unsure and concerned. "I'll.. Handle it. When he does and if he does. I'm your guy."

Kei chuckled, smiling at the response Athan gave, adjusting the suit he had before leaving the room.

Elena whistled, walking slowly before leaning her arm against Athan while giggling. "Well well well, look how responsible you've gotten! Is it the old age?"

Gustavo laughed wholeheartedly. "Please Elena, he's always been like that."

Anita sighed. "I can't believe you two are worrying about some kid with the most overpowered system. He doesn't even use it to it's full potential!"

"But isn't that a good thing?.." Elena asked while tilting her head.

"That's.. You're right, but the kid may get even more dangerous, powerful even." Anita complained while scoffing, crossing her arms and turning away from Elena.

Athan just stared at them before trying to deescalate the topic. "Alright alright, for now we know that he isn't going rogue or breaking bad. For now, let us focus on protecting our countries."

The three of them nodded, with Athan sighing in relief. His expression now serious and determined.

"Besides, we can always do something whenever we have a problem or are in trouble.. Because we can see the system."