The live stream will start in 10. 9. 8.
The chat: Miss circle: I'm interested in that mask there on the front page of the screen, I wonder if he likes eating students! Miss Grace: Miss circle shut up! Miss circle: um, shut up. Miss Grace: You little bi-!
Miss circle and Miss Grace is kicked off the chat until 5 minutes has passed.
Everyone was talking and talking, not stopping until the count went to 3. Then everyone went silent because they were all curious about this screen.
Ding! The reaction has started, the future plot may begin.
When those words fell, everything went silent for 5 seconds until people started to become shocked.
The chat: Miss Sarah: Is this real...? Mister Demi: u-uh um u-um Claire: It has to be fake! Engel: I don't know, why would anyone put a screen around the world for a false reason? Chip: Oooooo! Cool! Oliver: I hope this is good or I'm suing the guy who made this! Edward: You don't even know who that is Oliver! Zip: Ahhahaha! I don't believe it! Alice: ....
While everyone was talking, the screen started playing. Everyone started watching, including Pezo. After all, he was the one who made this—or rather, he just gave the system some basic commands and waited for it to start. This is what Pezo put in the system:
First Character creation
Nickname 1: EnemyNickname 2: FriendRole: VillainCharacter: Obsessed with ending humanity and summoning certain demons, a guy who will do his goal no matter the cost. Has a twisted inhuman personality and a nice personality at random times, he is aware of it thanks to his intelligence. Can trick humans effortlessly when talking to them for a few words.Powers: Perfect prediction, pure luck, Super martial arts, monster body, genius brain, and firearm prodigy.Intelligence: Peak human intelligenceGoal: Ending humanity's existence, making himself the sin of humanity, and summoning his true goal: the Crow Demonic beings.Death: Unknown (System choice: Random)Sidekick: Core (system random choice: Not human)
Back to the main screen:
On the screen there were 3 words: 'Friend or Enemy?' It sounded childish and serious at the same time. That was thanks to the music in the background—some serious music and kid music mixed together. It was interesting, but nobody was focused on that. They were confused by the title.
Comments: Abbie: I-I don't get it... Oliver: Wow, what gave it away idiot! Engel: Oliver stop talking to Abbie like that! Abbie: 😭 Lana: it's okay Abbie, Shhhhh. Claire: Let's just focus on the screen, okay guys?
The screen continued to play. When the title screen was done, it showed a time skip of 1 year. The screen showed a broadcast about two people. One was the usual broadcaster reporting news, nothing new. But the other guy was wearing a purple suit and a weird sort of mask.
The news studio looked professional, normal even. But there was tension in the air that everyone watching could feel.
News Reporter: "We are here with someone who... requested to speak with the world. Sir, would you like to introduce yourself?"
The masked figure sat perfectly still for a moment, then tilted his head in an almost playful manner.
Friend: "Friend. Just call me Friend."
His voice was smooth, calm, even friendly. But something about it felt wrong, like honey hiding poison.
Comments: Miss Bloomie: That name is ridiculous. Kevin: Why does his voice sound like that? ☝️ Bubble: I don't like this... Claire: ... Engel: Claire?
Back in Claire's house, the three friends watched in silence. Claire's hands were clenched on the table, her eyes wide. Something about the way he moved, the way he spoke... it reminded her of something. Someone.
News Reporter: "Mr. Friend, you've certainly made an... impression with these worldwide screens. What is it you want to tell everyone?"
Friend: "Want? Oh, I don't want anything. I'm here to share a truth. A prediction, if you will."
He leaned forward slightly, hands folded neatly on the desk.
Friend: "Humanity is dying. Not metaphorically. Not eventually. Soon. Very, very soon."
The reporter's professional smile faltered. "That's... quite a claim. What makes you—"
Friend: "What makes me certain? Because I've seen it. I've calculated it. And most importantly..."
He paused, and even through the mask, everyone could feel him smiling.
Friend: "I'm going to make sure it happens. Think of it as... a mercy. Like putting down a sick animal. Humanity has had its run. Now it's time for something better."
Comments: Miss Circle: WHAT?! Miss Grace: This is insane! This has to be fake! Oliver: Yeah, no way this is real! Zip: This guy's crazy! Abbie: 😭😭😭 Lana: Everyone stay calm! Engel: This can't be happening... Claire: Handle... no, please no...
The news reporter stood up, visibly shaken. "Security! We need—"
And then the screen went black.
For three seconds, there was only darkness and silence.
When it came back, the studio was different. The camera was at an odd angle, like it had been knocked over. The reporter was gone. Friend stood alone in the frame, adjusting his suit calmly.
Friend: "Don't worry. This is only the beginning. Like a certain school once said..." He chuckled. "Kill or be killed."
Comments exploded: Miss Thavel: DID HE JUST— Mr. Demi: Oh god oh god oh god Miss Sarah: This can't be real! Edward: I TAKE IT BACK, MAKE IT STOP! Alice: ... Chip: Scary...
Friend walked calmly toward the camera, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent studio.
Friend: "Now then, let me show you all something interesting. A demonstration of what's to come."
The camera view changed, switching to an external feed. It showed a city street at night. People were walking, unaware. Friend stood in the center of the street, and next to him was... something.
It looked almost human, but wrong. Its body was made of twisted metal and shadow, with glowing red eyes. On its chest was a pulsing core of dark energy.
Friend: "Everyone, meet Core. My associate. My partner in this grand endeavor."
The creature turned its head with a mechanical sound that shouldn't have been audible. Then it moved.
The broadcast showed people running, screaming. The view became chaotic—sirens, panic, destruction happening just off-screen. The camera never showed the worst of it directly, but the sounds, the shadows, the implications were enough.
Comments: Miss Circle: WHAT IS THAT THING?! Miss Bloomie: This has to be edited! Special effects! Bubble: Claire, your brother's letter... Engel: No. No way Handle could be... Claire: ...(offline)
The view switched again, this time to a wider shot. Police had arrived, surrounding Friend and Core. But then, the ground shook.
Something massive rose from behind the buildings. A robot, easily 50 meters tall, its metal body gleaming in the city lights. It stepped forward, and the buildings around it crumbled like cardboard.
Friend's voice came through clearly, amplified somehow so the whole city could hear:
Friend: "Ah, law enforcement. How predictable. Let me make something very clear."
He gestured to the giant robot.
Friend: "Inside that beautiful machine is a nuclear device. Enough to turn this entire city and everything within 50 kilometers into ash. If you try to stop me, if you try to interfere, I will detonate it. And this broadcast? It's live. The whole world is watching."
The police froze.
Friend: "Good. You're learning. Now, let me tell you what happens next..."
In the forest - Pezo's location:
Pezo watched the screen with a growing smile. The system notifications were going wild.
[System Notification] Shock Level: MAXIMUM Belief Level: 78% (Rapidly increasing) Negative Emotions: CRITICAL Current Reward Trajectory: Silver - Peak → Gold - Below
"Perfect," Pezo whispered. "Absolutely perfect. Let's see how high we can push this..."
Friend stood in the center of the street, completely calm despite the chaos around him. The giant robot loomed behind him like a guardian deity of destruction. Core stood motionless at his side, its red eyes scanning the frozen police officers.
Friend: "Now, where was I? Ah yes, the future. You see, humanity has always been fascinating to me. So much potential, yet so much waste. You create, you destroy, you repeat. It's exhausting to watch."
He began walking slowly down the street, his hands clasped behind his back like a teacher giving a lecture.
Friend: "So I've decided to do something about it. Call it... a reset. A cleansing, if you will. And before you ask—yes, I know what you're thinking. 'Why? What did we do to deserve this?' The answer is simple."
He stopped and turned to face the camera directly.
Friend: "You exist. That's enough."
Comments: Miss Circle: I'm going to KILL this guy! Miss Grace: How is this possible?! Where are the world leaders?! Oliver: Someone DO SOMETHING! Zip: This is too real... this is way too real... Abbie: 😭😭😭 I'm scared! Lana: We need to stay calm! Panicking won't help! Kevin: My hands are shaking ☝️ Cubbie: Bubble, you there? You okay? Bubble: I... I don't know... Engel: Claire still isn't responding... Alice: ...(watching silently)
Back at Claire's house:
The tablet Bubble was using to watch showed her last message before she went offline. Engel stared at the screen, then looked at Claire.
Claire was frozen, her face pale. Her hands gripped the edge of the table so hard her knuckles were white. She was staring at the screen, but her eyes weren't really seeing it. She was somewhere else entirely, lost in her thoughts.
Engel: "Claire... Claire, look at me."
No response.
Bubble: "Claire, please..."
Finally, Claire spoke, her voice barely a whisper.
Claire: "The letter. Everything in the letter. It's all coming true."
Engel: "We don't know that this is Handle. It could be—"
Claire: "It's him."
She said it with such certainty that both Engel and Bubble fell silent.
Claire: "I don't know how I know, but... it's him. My little brother is that... that thing on the screen."
Tears started forming in her eyes, but she didn't look away from the screen.
Back on the broadcast:
Friend continued his "lecture" to the world.
Friend: "Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking you can stop me. That your militaries, your weapons, your technology can somehow prevent what's coming. Let me save you the trouble of trying."
He snapped his fingers.
The view switched to show multiple locations around the world simultaneously. Major cities, military bases, government buildings. At each location, there was a robot. Not as large as the one with Friend, but still massive. Still threatening. And presumably, still carrying the same terrible payload.
Friend: "I've placed 47 of these around the world. Each one is in or near a major population center. Each one has the same gift inside—a nuclear device. If I die, they all detonate. If you try to disarm one, they all detonate. If you attack me, they all detonate. Do you understand?"
The camera focused back on him.
Friend: "Good. I'm glad we have an understanding. Now, let me tell you what happens next. Over the coming months, I'm going to conduct a series of... experiments. Tests, if you will. To see if humanity truly deserves to continue existing. Think of it as your final exam."
He tilted his head, that unsettling gesture again.
Friend: "And unlike school, you can't just study hard and pass. This test will require something more. Something I don't think most of you have."
Comments: Miss Bloomie: What kind of test?! Miss Thavel: This is madness! Complete madness! Mr. Demi: W-we need to evacuate! We need to— Miss Sarah: Evacuate WHERE? He's got those things everywhere! Edward: We're all gonna die! Zip: SHUT UP EDWARD! Chip: Big scary robot... Kevin: Why isn't anyone DOING anything?! ☝️
Core suddenly moved, stepping forward. When it spoke, its voice was mechanical, emotionless, yet somehow carried an undertone of something that might have been amusement.
Core: "Master. The preliminary data is complete. Shock response: Maximum. Fear response: Maximum. Resistance potential: Minimal."
Friend: "Excellent work, Core. You see, everyone? Even my associate agrees. You're not ready for what's coming."
Friend began walking again, Core following behind him like a shadow.
Friend: "I'll be in touch soon. Very soon. Until then, I suggest you enjoy your lives while you still have them. Eat well, sleep well, tell your loved ones you care about them. Because soon..."
He stopped one more time, turning to face the camera with that masked face.
Friend: "Very soon, none of that will matter anymore. The blood bath is only just starting."
And then, impossibly, both Friend and Core simply vanished. One moment they were there, the next they were gone, as if they'd never existed at all.
The giant robot remained, standing motionless in the city. A permanent reminder of the threat.
The broadcast ended, the screen returning to that emotionless message:
"Thank you for watching. More to come soon."
Comments exploded across the screen: Miss Circle: WHERE DID HE GO?! Miss Grace: This can't be happening! This CAN'T be happening! Oliver: I want my mom... Edward: We're all dead! We're all DEAD! Zip: Stop saying that! Abbie: 😭😭😭😭 Lana: Abbie, breathe, just breathe! Cubbie: Is anyone else feeling sick? Bubble: (back online) Claire collapsed. Engel, help me! Engel: She's breathing, she just fainted. I think the stress— Kevin: CLAIRE?! Miss Bloomie: What's happening over there?! Alice: ...everyone is afraid. Good.
In the forest - Pezo's location:
Pezo stared at the system notifications with wide, almost manic eyes. His hands were shaking, but not from fear. From excitement.
[System Notification] SHOCK LEVEL: UNPRECEDENTED BELIEF LEVEL: 91% (CRITICAL MASS ACHIEVED) NEGATIVE EMOTIONS: OVERFLOWING FEAR: MAXIMUM DESPAIR: RISING HELPLESSNESS: CONFIRMED
REWARD CALCULATION IN PROGRESS...
First Mark: EXCEEDED Second Mark: EXCEEDED Third Mark: REACHED
FINAL REWARD TIER: GOLD - PEAK
Congratulations! You have achieved a Golden Peak reward for the first broadcast!
Rewards available for collection:
Enhanced Physical Body (Gold Tier)Supernatural Ability: Perfect Evasion (Gold Tier)Knowledge Package: Advanced Combat Tactics (Gold Tier)Bonus: System Evolution Point x1
Pezo's grin stretched across his face. "Gold Peak... on the FIRST video? This... this is better than I ever imagined!"
He looked back at the screen, where people around the world were still in chaos, still commenting, still panicking.
"I'm sorry, Claire," he whispered, though his smile never faded. "I'm sorry you had to see your little brother become this. But I can't stop now. Not when I'm this close to real power. Not when I've finally got my golden finger."
He closed his eyes and selected the rewards.
[System: Integrating rewards. Please standby...]
[Warning: Physical transformation will cause temporary unconsciousness. Estimated time: 2 hours.]
"That's fine," Pezo said, already feeling his body growing warm. "Let them panic for a while. Let them fear. Because when the next video plays..."
His consciousness began fading as the transformation started.
"...things are going to get so much worse."
Meanwhile, around the world:
Governments scrambled. Military forces mobilized, then stopped, paralyzed by the threat of the nuclear devices. Scientists tried to find solutions. Religious leaders prayed. Parents held their children.
And everyone wondered the same thing:
Who is Friend? Where did he come from? And how do we stop him?
But perhaps more importantly, a smaller group wondered:
Why did Handle's letter predict this? How did he know?
TO BE CONTINUED...
End of Chapter 1, Part 2
System Message appearing on all screens worldwide:
"Next broadcast in: 72 hours. Attendance is mandatory. The test begins soon."