CHAPTER 3: AWAKENING THE SYSTEM

The next thing Kael knew, he was surrounded by an endless, white void. In the middle of it stood a tall, dark figure, resembling a man clad in heavy armor knightly, like the heroes from the stories he had read. The figure's presence was imposing, radiating a power that made the air feel heavy and make him suffocate. 

"Hello there, boy child," the dark figure greeted, his voice deep and commanding.

Kael's mind raced. "Who are you? Where am I? And what the hell am I doing here?"

The figure chuckled. "Calm yourself, boy. Your questions will be answered. I am the almighty Sebastian Blaze, the undefeated knight who once slew a hundred monsters alone." As he spoke, he flexed his muscles, as if expecting admiration.

Kael raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Never heard of you. And flexing does not make you look cool it just makes you look ridiculous."

Sebastian placed a hand over his chest, feigning pain. "Ouch, that stings. But let us put my glorious reputation and what you just said aside we don't have much ti....."

"What do you mean, we do not have much time you are the one who is supposed to answer my quest...?" Kael began, but the moment he spoke, his lips sealed shut as if by an invisible force.

Sebastian sighed. "Hold your tongue, boy. Interrupting your elders is disrespectful. Now, listen carefully. Right now, you are inside your own mind inside the System. You died, but fate had other plans. You have been given a second chance to prove your worth by the Gods and the world, it is like you were reborn at death's door. And that, my boy, is a sign. A sign that you are destined for greatness, to achieve feats no man has ever seen and become the greatest there ever was."

Kael's eyes widened as Sebastian continued.

"You now possess something extraordinary the Legendary System, something that is powerful. It grants unimaginable power and will take you to great feats if you work hard and do not walk the wrong path. And you, Kael, are the only one in this world who has it and who has ever had it in the world's history."

Before Kael could react, Sebastian's form began to fade, the white void darkening around them.

"Remember, boy with great power comes great responsibility. Grow stronger. Survive. Perhaps one day, when you're worthy, we'll meet again and do not tell anyone about the system cause from this day on as you get stronger people stronger than you will be after you and unfortunately you are not ready yet to face them."

Darkness swallowed everything.

Kael's eyes shot open. He was back in his apartment, sprawled on the floor, his head pounding like a drum.

"What in the bloody hell was that?" he muttered, rubbing his temples.

Glancing at the clock, his eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "Only three hours?! It felt like an eternity!"

His stomach growled loudly. "Well, whatever that was, I need food first. I could eat a whole buffalo right now."

Kael scrambled to the kitchen, devouring a quick meal before washing the dishes. He took a hot bath, the warmth soothing his tense muscles, and finally collapsed into bed.

"What was all that?" he wondered aloud, his mind racing. "And who was that guy and what did he mean by the Legendary system...?"

As if in response, a translucent screen materialized in front of him.

"No way, this can not be real right now, is this really happening, am I dreaming,was I that out cold..." Kael's breath hitched. "This is just like those system novels I read online. This is insane!"

Curious, he reached out. "How do I open the system menu?"

Instantly, the screen expanded, displaying various panels. Some were greyed out, locked. Others, like the skills panel and inventory, were ready for use. One in particular caught his eye "Essence Panel."

Excited, he tapped it, only for a notification to pop up:

[ERROR: ESSENCE PANEL LOCKED. OBTAIN ESSENCE TO UNLOCK.]

"Figures out that much," Kael muttered. "Okay, but how do I get Essence?"

He tapped the description under the Essence Panel in hopes of finding a way and a clue on how to obtain Essence, and the robotic voice of the System echoed in his ears:

[ESSENCE PANEL DESCRIPTION: THIS PANEL DISPLAYS YOUR CURRENT ESSENCE AND ESSENCE POOL CAPACITY. TO INCREASE ESSENCE, COLLECT ESSENCE PARTICLES AROUND YOU.]

Kael smirked. "Now that's more like it. But I'm exhausted. I'll check it out in the morning."

Way early in the morning before even the earliest bird had stirred, Kael was already awake, seated cross-legged on the floor beside his bed.

"Alright, let's do this. How do I gather Essence? Do I meditate like those protagonists in cultivation novels?"

Closing his eyes, he focused. He emptied his mind, reaching out for the Essence particles the System mentioned. Minutes passed. Then, finally. He felt it.

Tiny specks of energy floated in the air, invisible to the naked eye. As he focused, they drifted toward him, drawn in as though responding to his will. Then.

[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE OBTAINED +1 ESSENCE. YOUR ESSENCE POOL HAS INCREASED.]

[CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE OBTAINED +1 ESSENCE. YOUR ESSENCE POOL HAS INCREASED.]

The notifications kept coming. Ten, twenty, fifty

A hundred.

Then...

A sharp, unbearable pain tore through his stomach. Kael collapsed, curling up on the floor, clutching his midsection as agony coursed through him.

"W-what's happening?! Why does this hurt so much?!"

Minutes passed, though it felt like hours. Eventually, the pain subsided, leaving him gasping for air. Dazed, he turned his head toward the clock and his heart nearly stopped.

"Oh no. I'M LATE!"

Panic shot through him as he scrambled to his feet, frantically throwing on his clothes. His mind was still reeling from everything that had happened, but there was no time to dwell on it now.

"Master Orin is going to kill me!" he groaned, rushing toward the door. "First, I get a System. Now, I might get my head chopped off by my instructor and worst of all today is the day of the Talent Awakening and I'm already running late. Great start to the day!"