The notification sent his calming heartbeat racing once more.
He had just been getting a feeling of peace from finally being safe, only to be hit with this.
But alas, it wasn’t a false alarm.
║The system has scanned a 250-meter radius of the Host’s surroundings and found bestial creatures, the weakest of which are about twice the Host’s current power level.║
║The majority of these bestial creatures have also been recognized as nocturnal, with no problem climbing trees.║
║Does the Host understand?║
He was hiding in a tree, in a jungle filled with powerful nocturnal beasts, and night was rapidly approaching.
Of course, he understood.
’The night is already almost here,’ he thought, watching the sun dip lower.
’I can never run fast enough to escape this jungle.’
’I don’t even know how big it is, and running might only push me into a beast’s territory and get me killed even sooner.’
He analyzed silently.
’All I can do is either hide well... or fight back.’
’Hide? Against creatures who can see at night as clear as day? I’ll be discovered.’
’Fight? Against creatures at least twice as strong as I am? I’ll be killed.’
’Then...what do I do?’
He was still relying on the only thing he believed he had, his intelligence.
But then it occurred to him, as his eyes drifted to the golden panel still blinking in the corner of his vision.
’Right, the golden panel, how could I have forgotten?’
"Hey...Mech Devourer System?" he called.
║Host may simply refer to me as ’System.’ ║
The notifications so far have revealed a couple of important things to Everlearn about the system:
Firstly, it was an intelligent module.
Secondly, it held enough to bring him back to life, and also scan a quarter-kilometer radius.
Everlearn himself could barely see thirty meters ahead of him.
This was a sign that the system potentially held great power.
And right now, that was a coefficient that needed to be brought into the equation of his survival.
A flurry of questions spun through his mind.
What kind of technological module was behind it?
A fully transient grade of technology? or semi-transient?
But all those questions vanished as quickly as they came.
After a few seconds of silence, Everlearn asked instead:
"May I understand why you’re helping me, and what you seek to gain in return?"
He had been killed, sliced through the skull, and the System had brought him back with the Life Rebirth Card.
Such an artifact must have been a priceless treasure.
And on top of that, it had helped him out of the corpse pit and even warned him of danger.
He was more than grateful, but the darker thought still clawed at him:
Why was it helping him?
Nothing good in this world ever comes free.
So what exactly did the System want in return?
║The Host is being aided because he is the current bearer of the System. ║
║Like a familiar to its summoner, this is only natural.║
║As for what the System expects... ║
It paused. Everlearn’s ears perked.
║The true answer has been determined to hold no value for the current power level the Host is in and may even place him in danger. ║
║Therefore, it is deemed unnecessary to reveal.║
Contrary to fear, relief washed through Everlearn.
Having something unknown fuse with him was dangerous enough.
But something that fused with him and claimed to want nothing back?
That was the true evil to be immediately wary of.
║For now, the System’s objective is straightforward: to maximise the Host’s chances of survival until he becomes able to pursue the System’s true goals║
As far as common sense went, that path only benefited him.
"I appreciate that. But... the situation looks quite bleak right now," he muttered.
The panel flickered, then new lines quickly appeared, reading:
║The System possesses the necessary tools for the Host’s survival and growth. To activate full functionality, please call out║
"Initiate MDS Protocol!"
Everlearn repeated the words, and immediately the panel flickered, a new set of words appearing:
║ SKILL AND ABILITIES ║
║ SHOP {UNAVAILABLE – LEVEL TOO LOW} ║
║ MISSIONS ║ ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝕟𝕖𝕥
He followed the System’s instructions on navigation, and like guiding a hand, his will magnified the first tab.
The interface unfolded before his eyes.
╔══════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [ SYSTEM INTERFACE ] ║╠══════════════════════════════════════╣
║ ▸ Name: Everlearn Snowfall ║
’This... this is like those old game interfaces,’ Everlearn thought.
’Level 1 is the normal beginner stage.’
’EXP, or experience points, is what is needed to advance to the next levels.’
His stats looked ordinary for the most part, except for Intelligence, which was abnormally high, double the rest, but that wasn’t a surprise to Everlearn.
He knew he was gifted intellectually.
His Charm stats also stood out, though he was still unsure what that truly meant right now.
’If I need EXP to level up... then how do I gain EXP?’
║ The host is advised to check the Mission tab. ║
║First Mission: Kill 1 Nocturnal Beast║
3. +1 Ability Upgrade Card
║Mission Difficulty: Insane! ║
║Remark: The weakest nocturnal beast should have at least double the Host’s stat points. Fighting one is tempting fate!║
The sight of the mission made Everlearn’s eyebrows twitch.
He stared at it for a long while before brushing his hair back and exhaling a long sigh.
There wasn’t much to think or ask.
The mission was pretty straightforward.
In the end, only one idea came to him.
He quickly gathered himself and focused his will on what he believed could determine his success, or at least improve his chances:
║ SKILLS AND ABILITIES ║