Perfect Avatar

Chapter 22: The Truth of The System

The students resided in a large area south of the academy's massive grounds. After registering, I was given a room number and entered a large dormitory building larger than all the others.

A commoner like me could never hope to set foot in this place, but thanks to my agreement with Elizabeth, I received special permission, a royal scholarship from the strongest.

My original plan was to collide with nobles who objected to my presence and test my immunity pact, but after a certain event of the day, my plans changed.

(Gamma body)

A strong wind blew through the entrance, passing several students who were chatting and continuing their way through the establishment, crossing stairs and corridors and surprising people on their way.

When it reached a vast desert floor, it whirled around and did not appear.

(Sigma Body)

I started to walk but with each step, my body sank into the ground, or rather it was only an impression, My body became a shadow and slid on the ground, passing near some doors and finally returning to my initial form in front of one of them.

I took a deep breath and placed a black card in front of a small screen which flashed and the door unlocked. I finally walked in, my face tense, and saw my doubts confirmed.

Midgard was lying on a large bed, reading a book. As soon as she saw me, she gave me her characteristic smile.

"Hydra, by Deüs Kr?nor, is the story of a crew of sailors who face a monster with several heads, each with a different power and capable of replacing itself. Thus, it can survive by sacrificing one of its heads, usually the most useless, and as long as one head remains, it won't die. Isn't that interesting?"

Suddenly, a gigantic shadow formed under my body, and several arrows emerged from it and surrounded Midgard, three of them directly under her throat.

"Ah, ~ such vigor... Are you maybe angry because I ruined the story?"

"One more stupid thing and I will introduce you to the afterlife. Who are you and what do you know about the system?"

"Hmm~ why are you always so violent? I come in peace. If you continue to doubt me, you will really upset me, my adorable toy."

Five more arrows approached her neck, she closed the book and sighed.

"Good, good, you win, I'll tell you everything but I prefer civilized discourse, redraw your weapons."

"No."

"... So persistent. Alright, you're the strongest here so you set your rules. You want to know how I know your system right? Maybe this could help you."

She raised her left hand and what followed completely paralyzed me: a blue screen, similar to that of the system appeared.

"So you can see it too? As I thought."

I was completely taken aback, How the heck was that possible? I've been using the system forever and I've never seen or heard that someone else had something similar, For me, it was my specificity, my unique ability. How did she have that?

"Could you take away your attack now? Now you have a reason to listen, and you can trust me, you want to know what I have to say."

I was still in the shock of this revelation and hesitated one moment before retracting my attack.

Midgard took a more comfortable pose and motioned for me to sit on the bed.

"Could you just tell me who you are? For fucking sake!"

"Don't be so hasty, I will tell you everything you want to know. First of all, let's make it clear, You and I are the same, we are both using a similar singularity, in the form of this system. We are the same, but we are also different my dear toy, you are an Avatar and I am what we call a 'Player'."

After hearing that, I decided to sit down on a couch, What the hell was happening?

"Don't worry, it's normal to be lost in this situation, It's not your fault, neither mine. The one at fault is this world... Have you ever wondered why you are called an Avatar?"

"... I... You mean because I can use many classes?"

"Branches, the definition here says that if you're able to use many classes, you're an Avatar, but why this word? A finger, a hand, why should the upper class be called Avatar? Why not a body? People take many words out of their context and use them in very inappropriate ways, this is part of the imperfection of humanity."

She stood up and walked closer to me, As she advanced, all my instincts went on alert. I had the same feeling that I usually felt in my hunts, the feeling of being approached by a predator.

But despite this urge, my body didn't move, The claws of the predator rested delicately on my cheeks.

"You, on the opposite, are different, You are what we define as an Avatar, not because of your powers but because of this thing that only the likes of you and I can use: the system. This is what makes the difference between them and you, they are mere frauds, jokes of a living being, but you, you are perfect, you can use every ability, you can use the system... You are a perfect avatar."

"Wait... Let's say that I believe your story... How do you know that? What are you? What is a player?"

She stared right into my eyes, I could see her iris shrink.

She released my face and walked near the window then looked at the sunset.

"What a beautiful sight... It's a shame that it's fated to annihilation."

"What do you mean?... Are you talking about the rifts?"

"Little toy, let's play a game will you? From this point onwards I won't ask you about your privacy, your goals, your life, I won't interfere with whatever you do, but in return, don't ask about my origins. I'll only tell you what you need to know."

"I thought you were gonna try to convince me, seems like you're not really motivated."

"One should never play all his cards before the end of the game, dearie. And you're not suicidal, so you'll be motivated. Tell me, as an Avatar, for so long, how come you're still E-rank?"

"... Is this related to the rifts?!"

"Hm~hm, what did we say about no rushing? But no, let's put it another way, you must have played video games... Oh, but you were a peasant, do you even know what it is?"

"Jerk."

"Ara, Good, so imagine a character, in a game of... RPG, you train him a lot and one day he reaches max level of a job. Now for him to go further, you need to change to a further class. Imagine that, he is a knight, and you want him to become a paladin, how do you proceed?"

I nodded slightly confused.

"I change his class? Is that the answer you're... You're... Wait what?"

"You finally get it? An avatar can't evolve alone, because he is a program of the system. You are not allowed to make any decisions. You are a slave. And this is where I come in action."

She opened her screen again where a message appeared, 'Select your Avatar'.

"My system, the one from the supremes one gives me access to everything the system has to offer. I am a player, I can see and control everything, but I can't exploit it, I can open a quest but I can't do it, I can activate a virtual shop, but I can't buy anything. And this is where you, the character, come into action."

She came in front of me and closed her eyes, a determined look completely new to her.

"Soon, this world will face a succession of disasters that will wreak havoc on all creations. I am not allowed to say anything, but I can assure you that what you and I can do is the closest thing to a possible solution. So, Avatar Anesidora, I, the player Midgard, wish to make a pact with you: Let's fuse our power to take revenge on this world and thus, create the purest version of the system, You want power and freedom, I want to see how far we can go, so become my avatar and let me be your player."

Night had fallen outside. Midgard reached out to me, with a smiling face, but this time it was no longer a terrifying smile, she smiled with confidence and warmth.

"Now this is really going too fast."

"It only means that we've been late."

"... You don't look like someone trustable too."

"I'm pretty sure that you've been betraying people's faith for a very long time too, We are both monsters and monsters don't eat each other."

"Sounds fair... But since you're going to be my player, doesn't that mean that you're going to possess me?"

"Absolutely not, Like I said I can't use the system, but I can control the events. We will just share our power. I can't give you a better example yet but be sure that for me, you are more precious than the world."

"sigh This is the second time that someone threatens me with an invisible menace to make me do their deeds..."

"... Maybe, but this is hardly a regression, this is an evolution. So, my little toy, are you ready to bite the forbidden fruit?"

|Character selection activated: |

|Select your Avatar 0/1 |

"...You wicked snake, let's get this over quickly."

I held out my hand in return and thus followed a handshake marking a turning point in the course of the world.

|Character selection activated: |

|Select your Avatar 1/1 |