Back in the real world.
A ten-year-old Lucian suddenly snaps awake in his bed, clutching his chest. His heart pounding like crazy.
Beads of sweat kept pouring down from his forehead, even his shirt has been drenched cold in sweat.
"Huff… Huff…"
His face pale white as his eyes dilated, bitting down his chapped lips in fear.
He could not understand it why, but the moment he has been thoroughly restrained by that unknown thing, his heart raced in fear.
A blue transparent screen flickering in front of him that reads:
[Trial Phase Simulation concluded.]
[Although this is just a Trial Run, due to some minor complications, the system thus gives out compensation. The compensation has been delivered in the
Lucian just took a single glance at the transparent screen, then sat straight on the head of the bed, still hyperventilating.
For a moment, he closed his eyes, focusing deeply on his breathing to regulate it by using his known breathing techniques.
Once he stabilized his haggard breathing, only then he looked at the screen again with a face full of indignation.
Irritation clearly plastered on his pale face, he aske the system in a low, growling voice.
"Can you please tell me what was that in the simulation?"
He tried to be polite, though his forehead is clear with veins popping out, as if ready to explode any moment.
[I repeat. This was a failure in the system. It did not took account for that. Therefore, the system does not know what happened there. So please, accept the system's little apology.]
Staring down at the system interface, Lucian knew nothing can be done about it. So he just snorted and swiped the system interface, though it is an entire different thing if you ask him if he is still angry.
When he checked his inventory, he froze. Not because he was astonished or surprised… No. He already anticipated that this system would give him something he cannot use right now or out right useless.
The reason why he froze was because, he doesn't know if he should be sad, angry or happy.
Looking at the sword in his inventory, he just sighed.
It is a white blade with light purple edge, as if engineered with futuristic design. Though, it kinda looks like a toy in his eyes.
Pulse Katana Type-19.
That is its name. Basically, he could safely say it is not that bad, but not that really great.
It could at least be used as his first and also training weapon.
Still, he could not help but look at the system weirdly.
"Hey. Why even this sword? There isn't even a single connection about this sword in that simulation."
It took a few while before the system screen lit up and responded.
[It's because the the Trial Run was merely a Trial, it does not count as a true Simulation Phase, therefore, the compensation were not directly pulled from that simulation. Though, I ask that the host stop assuming something like that, just because the system is a Simulation type, doesn't mean it can only pull rewards from Simulations.]
Lucian didn't bother arguing with the system. There were more important that things to talk about right in the moment.
"How much time passed during the simulation?"
[Only a few minutes had passed in the real world. Because, the system only pulls the consciousness and the mind of the host in the simulation. Therefore, not really much time had passed. Although, the system simulation deeply relies on the host's current brain capacity. So you don't have to worry about the backlash in doing simulations, that thing was just an error, in normal ones, the system would strictly supervise the body regulations.]
"Hmm? How does pulling my mind and consciousness even affect the difference in time between the simulation and the real world?"
[Just think of it as a Mindscape. The simulation acts like a Mindscape.]
"Mindscape…"
Thinking about Mindscape deeply, he finally understood what the System meant.
Strictly speaking, if what he remember was correct. The Mindscape is like a land of consciousness born deep within the inner sea of the mind, as the cultivation novels implies.
It is like an inner world that exists so that the possessor can managed to process several things in an unkempt time.
Their are also different stuffs to talk about it but, he seems it not worthy of thinking about.
Since he isn't even cultivating some martial arts right now. Maybe if he meets that Red Kite Immortal, would he truly need to look up his brain for cultivation lessons (novels) from his past life. But now? Ehh, not needed.
"I see. I see. I understand now. So when can I do the real Simulation?"
He look kinda expectant. Although at first, he was reluctant and suspicious about this type of system. Plus its inconvenience of not giving a Tag modding which is the basic staple of a Simulation type system, at least this system admits its mistake. Therefore, his suspicion lessened.
There is also that thing, one would want at this very moment. The thing he can only get by training or cheating his way with a cheat code!
Power!
If a certain mysterious white haired man saw the burning passion of this young man, he would have nodded and be pleased.
Unfortunately…
[Ahem! Host. I believe I already told you. This system just awakened earlier than expected therefore… It can only give you a Trial Run for the time being so…]
The burning expectations of the young man died out as if it was poured with an entire lake of water.
His face darkened and couldn't help but mutter.
"Useless."
The system, provoked, retorted back to Lucian.
[Mind you host. You are not that different to me! You are also useless without me! Also, you kid should take a break, so go sleep.]
It was bluffing. It knew that even without him, this little guy would still be one of the top fighters in this world, due to his Stigmata. Though who knows if he can grow as strong as his future with it, the system!
The System: As expected! I am so great that a potential man would remain as a potential man if not for my existence!
As for Lucian… He wasn't even listening. He was just picking his nose while uninterestingly nodding with a bored, "Yeah, yeah. Hmm. Okay."
[…]
"…"
The two gone quiet in a stand-off. Neither, was willing to admit defeat.
Though the silence was abruptly cut off by Lucian with him saying.
"I'm going to sleep. Bye sucker."
Though he stood up just a fraction of second after laying down, and walked towards his dress cabinet to look for a sleepwear.
After changing his clothes. He finally drifted to sleep.
…
Six days had passed since his trial run on the system simulation.
During those time, he was bored to death because the system just went into full ghosting mode like how your girlfriend or boyfriend would do to you after a few months… if you even have any to begin with.
Anyway, cough! He was just a bored kid in the neighborhood, cuz he has no one to play with and it is literally on vacation.
Though he doesn't know why his mother and father was still going to school…
Oh right, summer class. He totally forgot about that thing.
Currently, he is sitting on a tree branch on their backyard, looking like a weird monkey who was nodding and looking like a fool.
Though, none can see that he was actually looking at his inventory.
He discovered some few things. Though, to be fair, it is literally a basic stuff a system can do, but with his faulty system? He began doubting if the system can even properly perform the basic components of a system.
He can put non-system items freely on the Inventory!
That was enough for him to be satisfied.
He was also curious about the sword in his inventory, so he took it out.
It was a long, fine Katana around, if he estimated it, it would be around 100 cm because it reaches about near his chest area and he was around 153 cm. Yes, he was already 153 cm despite being only 10 years old.
Which didn't help, in fact, made the weird factor surrounding him worse when he gets seen by people around.
As he was glossing over the sword, his father, Cassian, slowly approached the tree, arms folded.
"Hey, young man. What's that you got there? A toy sword? Hehe. It seems like you bought something without telling us. Hmm… What to do. Should I tell your mom what you did?"
The tall frame of the man stood tall beneath the shade of the tree. His fiery red hair gently flowed along the currents of the wind. His amber eyes looks as though it could burn down the tree.
Though his frame was heroic, his son didn't think so.
Lucian looking at the shirt of his father, felt a pang of pity.
'Forced to wear either pink or white shirt with a heart and imprint of "I Love My Wife" must be very taxing on the mind. Welp, at least father is having fun. Though… Pink…'
He looked at his father's buffed frame, then nodded.
'Yes indeed, it seems very weird.'
Lucian's father narrowed his eyes and cracked his knuckles.
"Oi, you brat. Are you thinking something weird right now?"
Lucian opened his eyes wide and almost stumbled and fell to the ground, though he fortunately managed to grip a branch with his open hand.
'I-Impossible. How does he have the instinct of a repressed maiden?'
His face showed genuine bafflement. Like Thanos when he first heard that a primitive planet, Earth, successfully built a time-machine.
Meanwhile, his father grew more irritated and cracked his knuckles more and shouted.
"Oi! You damn brat! Get over here, lest you wanna taste of my Fist of Love."
Lucian's instantly turned full panic mode.
His useless father want to beat up his ass!
"No way! I thought we were the bestest of friends! Father, how could you betray me like this!?"
"My dear son, it's not an act of betrayal, rather, betrayal is non-existent and doesn't exist in my vocabulary, therefore, even if I backstab my friend, it isn't betreyal."
"Ahh?"
"Shut up. Just get your ass here, lest you wanna get whooped right now."
Lucian hurriedly climbed down from the tree and looked at his father in the eyes.
His father however, seems to be more interested in the sword that he was holding.
"Hey, boy, where did you get that sword?"
Cassian Aurelius scratched his chin, narrowing his eyes. He felt like he has seen this before, but at the same time, not.
Lucian stiffly tried to smile, not knowing what to really say.
"Aha… Haha… Erm… I found it on the roadside."
Cassian just looked at him with a blank expression, though it clearly says one thing; "You ain't kidding me kid."
After taking one more look, Cassian just waved his right hand dismissively and said.
"Forget it. Though, since you already have a weapon. Let's fight!"
Cassian took a step back and stretched out his muscles, as if preparing for a tournament or something.
It was Lucian's turn to become speechless.
'I thought you were going to train me? Old man! What the heck is wrong with you!? There is no way I can even scratch you in the slightest! I'll just become a ragdoll! Help! Mother! Help!'
As if the heavens heard the poor young man's plea, a savior had arrived.
"What are you two doing?"
It was the lord of the house, Aurelia Schariac-Aurelius.
She's in her battlesuit, Strict Mother Mode, coupled with an apron and a Divine Key, a Frying Pan.
"Shi- Ahem! I was just gonna train the little shrimp to become someone who can truly be called a Son of Aurelius and Schariac!"
Full of heroism indeed, but the true pillar of the house wouldn't buy it instead, her face darkened more.
"Ahem! Oi kid, come here! This old man of yours gonna train you to become the best Knight the World has ever seen!"
'Complete 180 degree, as expected of mom. Good job mom!'
Lucian silently let out an approval.
…