[Aiden’s POV]
The blue-colored, golden-rimmed screen was in front of me, and it felt like something unique was happening. I tried to touch the screen, but it passed through just like that of the Aetheris Record. It was not causing me any pain, and I didn’t feel anything threatening from it, so I just looked. But on the inside, I was freaking out.
The screen pulsed further.
[Congratulations, Host, for bonding with the Origin Gacha System.]
It finally stopped, even after I waited for a few seconds until it turned to a minute. I hurriedly removed my T-shirt to see if that glow caused any changes in me.
As I started looking, I heard an almost robotic voice.
[That glow was to make your Origin Heart stable after your almost-at-the-death-door breakthrough.]
"Who?" I turned around to look, but nobody was there. I was very spooked due to recent events. Then I saw the same words I heard in front of me on the screen.
"You can talk?" I nervously asked. I have never heard of a talking screen.
[Yes, Host.]
"How can you talk? I never heard of Aetheris Record talking to anybody." I blurted out the first thought that came to mind.
I was in a totally new situation here, and I just wanted answers.
[Calm down, Host. You can have all the answers; that’s why I am here.]
[And for that planetary system of yours, don’t lump me with it. I am much superior.]
"So, you have ego and personality too. What are you?" I slightly relaxed after seeing the way the screen was talking to me.
Although I haven’t seen or even felt anyone around me. There are spirit weapons & soul-bound artifacts in the world who can talk to their masters, but no screens so that was new.
[I am spirit of Origin Gacha System]
"Okay...but like, what? How? And why me?" I just put all the questions together, seeing if I can get some answers out of this ’system.’
[Host, I told you I would give you all the answers. You should be less suspicious of me. I will never do anything that can harm my Host.]
"Oh...okay, that’s good to know...wait, you can read my mind?" I panicked; in all my knowledge there are few things capable of reading someone’s mind.
I stood up quickly and looked through the window of my room, but there was no one outside or any type of commotion.
’Is this done by some Arclight elder? They are trying to silence me even after exile. But I never even heard of our family having such an artifact in possession,’ my thoughts ran wild.
[Host?]
"Well, if you can read my mind, then answer my doubt," I asked.
[Hmm...I read your memories and your whole life, but you were never this doubtful or distrusting.]
"Well, when you are betrayed by almost everyone you know, you tend to doubt and distrust more, especially when a glowing screen starts talking," I shared my reasoning.
[Okay, I can see that. So I am going to tell you some basic things you doubt. I know you don’t want to believe me and think I have ulterior motives, but if I had such, I would never have told you anything and just stayed silent.]
I stayed silent for a few seconds; the system was right. I didn’t even notice this change in myself.
"Okay, go on. I am listening," I replied.
[It’s a good change, Host. You were too trusting in the past.]
"Will you stop reading my mind every running second?" I objected.
[Noted, Host.]
[I am Spirit of this system made by my master at his last moments. Before you say or think anything else, no my master is truly dead.]
[I currently can’t tell you much about him. It will do you no good and useless to you. You are not someone Vessel or puppet.]
[I am here to assist you in achieving your dreams and help you in your journey.]
"So, I can really trust you, like really-really?" I asked just to be sure.
[Yes, Host]
"So what can you do to help me in my current situation?" I asked. I thought if this system wanted to harm me, it would have done so. I was in no situation to defend myself.
If there is a chance, I could do what the system said. It would truly be a miracle. I can’t always try to kill myself every time I try to break through; I will not always be so lucky.
[Now you asked the most important question, Host.]
[It’s very simple; the system can grant you anything you desire or need at a certain price through Gacha pulls.]
"What’s the price?" I immediately asked.
[Don’t worry, Host. The cost is not something sinister you may think of. The price for every pull will be Origin points.]
[You should try saying or thinking ’System,’ and the interface of the Origin Gacha System will be manifested before you.]
"Hmm...okay. ’System,’" I said, and the screen in front of me increased in size a bit, and text after text started to appear in sequence.
===[ORIGIN GACHA SYSTEM]===
[HOST – Aiden]
[STATUS – Active]
[FUNCTIONS]
– Gacha
– Aetheris Record
– Missions
– Inventory
[GACHA INTERFACE]
– Permanent Gacha Banners
1. Skills & Techniques banner
2. Resource banner
3. Summon banner
4. Dimensional banner
– Temporary Gacha Banners
Available according to events, places, and host choices.
*NOTE – Minimum threshold for all Gacha rewards is S-Rank.
Every gacha pull requires 10 Origin points.
[RESOURCE]
Origin points – 50 points
Free pulls – 1 pull per day
=====================
My emotions were already on the mountain after the breakthrough and this new interaction.
However, after reading the details, I realized that emotions went to the upper limits of the sky.
I quickly asked, "First, are you sure you are System and not some kind of god? Second, I almost understood everything, but can you tell me what inventory, summon, and dimension are? They don’t mean what I think, do they?" My last words were laced with disbelief because this was too much.
[Nope, I am not a god. I am just a spirit.]
[They mean exactly what you think, and you can check details about particular options by focusing on the option.]
I was stunned. Slowly I focused on all three options, and their details appeared in system panels.
[Inventory – An imaginary space where you can store anything]
[Summon banner – This banner allows you to summon beings, spirits, and beast companions. Their loyalty ranges between loyal and neutral, and they cannot do anything to harm the host]
[Dimensional banner – This banner allows you access to the Dungeons, Portals, and Realms. Their ranks will relate to the Host, although there is also a chance of variation]
"I am pretty sure someone who can do all this can be considered God," I commented. I couldn’t even comprehend that I have got access to such a thing; if used wisely, even my F-rank ability and heart won’t matter.
"So, can I use these 50 points for 5 pulls even now?" I asked, and now I just wanted to try this and experience this gamble, which has the authority to completely change my pathway and future plans.
[Yes and no. You can surely use these 50 points for manual pull. But I would suggest using these points on a starter pack pull.]
[It will be only available this time and will benefit you greatly.]
"Okay, if you say so. After reading and seeing all this, I just want to use this Gacha for once to see the result," I answered.
[Would the host like to use 50 Origin Points on a starter pack Gacha pull?]
"There’s nothing to lose anyway. Hit it," I enthusiastically said.