Sami lifted his gaze and began examining his room. This was the place where he would spend most of his coming days. Now that he had become Bound, he would live here in the "Colosseum", where the Bound spend their first year to adapt to their powers and learn to control them.
Sami's room wasn't beautiful or comfortable; it was just four gray walls containing a small desk in the corner, a simple bed beside it, a black chair, plus a wardrobe. It was clear there were similar furnishings on the other side of the room, meaning it was shared.
Sami rubbed his forehead in annoyance:
"Damn, I really hate living with others... but it's fine. I just need to rest and prepare for the assessment test. Let's see what I got from this damned ordeal... and please, me, stop reminding me of what happened."
---
Sami summoned the System's name in his mind. This was common knowledge for everyone. Thanks to the System, the Bound could know their weapons and abilities, even get brief explanations for them. Credit for this goes to the "Programmer", the founder of the "Open Book" clan that rules the continent Sami lives in. He didn't know much about the Programmer or how he created the System, but he didn't care; all that mattered was that the System was useful to him.
His personal list appeared before him:
Name: Sami
Race: Human
Age: 16
Rank: Unbound
Acquired Creatures: 450
Primary Ability: Eternal Winds
"Since time immemorial, in the eternal mute desert, a lone wind resounded. This wind, the universe will not stop."
Ability Features: (Punishing Winds) (Gloomy Tempest) (Wind Shackle)
Additional Ability: The Lone Choice
"Will we ever become free? Are you a chooser or one who is chosen? A lone sage once pondered this with his friend, but will you find the answer?"
Ability Features: (Perpetual Choices) (???) (???)
Possessions:
[Desert Heart Pendant]
[Skullcrusher Sickle]
[Desert Armor]
[Moon Sword]
[Unfathomable Well]
Negative Ability: {***************}
+The soul Name: {---------------}
Sami froze in place when he read the last line:
"Whaaaaaat? Why can't I read my soul name or know my negative Ability?! What kind of joke is this?!"
---
A Name is one of the most important features of the Bound. How could he not read it? And the Negative Ability is the person's fundamental weakness. But that wasn't the only strange thing.
"What does 'Additional Ability' mean? I've never heard of someone having more than one aspect! And... why is my rank 'Unbound' instead of 'Bound'?... This is very strange! Throughout all my years of reading in my family's library, I've never heard of anything like this!"
A strange gleam flashed in Sami's eyes. He rubbed his hands together, then sat on his bed and let out a joyful cry:
"Aaah!! Does this mean I'm the main character?! This is a cliché manhwa scenario! When the protagonist's system is different from others, it means he's special! Right? So, I'm special! Finally, I can live like a fantasy battle protagonist, defeat sects, build my clan, gather a huge harem, and become the strongest in the world..."
He stopped suddenly and took a deep breath.
"Wait, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit. Just because my system is different doesn't necessarily mean it's good... Let's analyze things calmly."
He tried to organize his thoughts:
"My name being unreadable is a problem, but I can deal with it. Some celebrities aren't known by their real names; it might be related to my Negative Aspect. As for being 'Unbound', that's weird, but not necessarily bad."
His system was full of secrets and illogical things, but that wasn't unexpected for Sami—or rather, he expected it.
But what preoccupied him most was his Additional Aspect and his Negative Aspect.
"My Primary Ability is clear; it's the same as the clan leader's aspect, and it seems I inherited it from my mother. But the Additional Aspect? 'The Lone Choice'?! What does that mean? And its definition is stranger..."
He read the sentence again: "Will we ever become free? Are you a chooser or one who is chosen?"
"What kind of philosophical nonsense is this? Who cares?! But it seems promising... I think it's related to my first ordeal. Let me not think about it now."
He looked at its features:
"(Perpetual Choices) (???) (???)... Why are there hidden things in my list? This stupid system! 'Perpetual Choices'? I don't understand its use, but it might be useful somehow. Well, I suppose I'll discover it over time."
As for his Negative Ability:
"This is completely unfair. Not knowing my Negative Aspect is a huge weakness. I need to find a solution for that as soon as possible!"
---
While he was immersed in his thoughts, someone entered the room, and Sami immediately noticed him.
"I don't want to know who my roommate is. I just hope he's a quiet person, doesn't talk, doesn't come to the room except to sleep, and doesn't ask me anything... Please, be like that..."
But wishes don't always come true.
"Hey, kid... are you okay? You seem lost in thought. Anyway, hi, I'm your new roommate. Aren't you going to welcome me?"
These were the words of a blond boy, who seemed a bit taller than Sami, slender, wearing the same black uniform. He was carrying two overly stuffed bags.
Sami looked at him with weary eyes, his shoulders slumping in disappointment, then turned his back to him, saying:
"Ah, yeah, whatever... Pick a spot for yourself in the room, and please don't talk to me."
"Damn... he seems social, unfortunately... Why do I never get what I want?" Sami muttered to himself, then sighed and returned to his bed.
The other boy gave him an indifferent look, then went to his own bed as well.
And thus, Sami's life as one of the Bound began!
---