B1 | Chapter 3

Aidan

I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to ask questions again after this, so I immediately get into asking my questions.

“What exactly is a Void Crowne?” I ask one of the most important questions.

“I don’t know,” the Guide says, still smiling even as I swear I feel a vein in my forehead twitch in irritation. “All I know is what everyone else knows. That the Void Crowne, also known as the Ruler over all void creatures in existence and the supreme Empress of the Void Throne, is a void creature. That she has the power to create living, breathing void creatures. And that she eats items all the time and is constantly growing thanks to that, even when she’s not hunting to level up.”

The original Void Crowne has a nation and is the ruler of an entire species. Got it.

I don’t know if that means I should avoid this Void Throne nation or not, since we’re the only ones of our species.

“Oh, and Unique Lifeforms do not have reproductive organs, so it’s not possible for one to reproduce even if a second one of the same species somehow comes about like you,” the Guide continues, still smiling even as he adds, “So you won’t have to worry about being captured to be used to make children.”

That’s good to know. Not so good knowing I won’t ever be able to have kids, but at the same time, with my hunger, it wasn’t really a possibility in the first place.

Hunger that I am still extremely happy to have gone. Or able to be handled at least.

I’m so happy about it that I couldn’t give less of a shit about my species being changed if it means I have a way to handle the hunger now.

Although it’s kinda terrifying in its own right that he felt the whole ‘not having to worry about being captured to make children’ thing was necessary to mention. Since it implies some species might actually do that.

Wait a second…

System Items… if they’re anything like videogames, they should be useful, right?

So does this mean I can’t use them? If my Bloodline is draining the source mana from items and dead creatures?

I ask that very question to the Guide, making him nod his head and confirm my theory. That I probably won’t ever be able to use items.

Unless they’re specialized items made out of tethered source mana. Which would generally require making a living item, or some other way made by a species known as dwarves.

Just like videogames.

I let out a sigh at the thought of not being able to use these items myself. Although they will make for good snacks if what he said about my Bloodline eating the source mana in them to satiate my hunger is true.

Oh, right. One other thing that’s been bothering me.

“Is the fact that I’m already level two in my Class related to my Bloodline?” I ask with a frown while leaning forwards in my seat.

The Guide nods his head and answers, “Yep. Your absurdly broken Bloodline is feeding your Class with source mana, very slowly leveling it up with every bit of source mana you devour. Even as you sit on that chair that I’m going to have to replace after this. That’s how you got that Title of yours, which you can check by focusing on it.”

I do just that, following which more text appears in my vision.

[Preawakened Iron Rank – As a being who has leveled up before even being Awakened by the System, you are at the forefront of what is possible. Holding this Title grants you +10% to the effect of all your stats.]

“There’s just one minute left,” the Guide states, clearly rushing me in reading the Title’s effect.

“I’m guessing mana and stamina are linked to the Magic and Physical stats?” I ask, getting a quick nod from the Guide. “Then I’ll ask the obvious question. What is the System?”

The Guide blinks in surprise before laughing and stating, “I’m kind of surprised you didn’t ask that earlier.”

“You were constantly rushing me this entire time, so…” I mutter while scratching the back of my neck. “Oh, and I’ve read plenty of stories with similar plots to this before.”

He stares at me for a second, only to start laughing even harder at that. Then he answers my question, saying, “The System is an omnipotent entity that is feared by all and understood by no one. An entity capable of smashing together dozens of planets into one massive super planet for every sector of each Galaxy it initializes. It’s so powerful that not even the five Ruling powers of the Multiverse dare to threaten the System and are forced to abide by its rules. But the System itself is a relatively fair entity that wishes for the progression of all creatures. And the higher the risk it throws you in, the higher the reward.”

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Hmm. Sounds just like those stories I’ve read.

They made for great distractions from my hunger.

“Just like the risk from this Tutorial you’re about to be sent to,” the Guide says, touching on the last topic I was about to ask about. Aside from the ‘what’s happening to Earth thing’ that he just answered by saying the System is smashing together planets into a super planet. “You will be placed in danger, given a teacher for your Profession, taught how to use some basic skills like Identify, earn your Class skills through combat, taught your Profession skills by your teacher, and told to survive inside of a large tower. But where there’s risk, there’s reward, and you will be rewarded for making it through and doing well. So do well. I want that bonus.”

I narrow my eyes at him, only for him to add, “Twenty seconds left.”

“Tell me more about the Tutorial,” I ask in a hurry.

“You will be sent to the bottom floor of the Tutorial where there will be three different rooms for you to choose from, each with their difficulties labeled on top of the doors,” the Guide continues. “Of course, since you’ll be erased by the System if you don’t reach Bronze Tier by the end of the Tutorial, and the System strongly rewards people who challenge themselves, you should take on the hardest room of the three. It’s the best way to survive and reach Bronze Tier by the end of the month-long Tutorial. The System might even make things harder on you later on if you take the easy routes.”

Got it.

Wait a fucking second, did he just say the System would erase me if I don’t reach Bronze Tier by the end of the Tutorial?! And this thing is an entire month long?!

“And that’s all the time we have!” the Guide says as the room around us begins to warp. “I hope you survive and do incredibly well in the Tutorial! If for no other reason than giving me that lovely bonus!”

And just like that, I find everything going dark again, following which I appear in some circular room with three doors in it.

◊ Select a difficulty for your first Tutorial Challenge. ◊

As the Guide said, each doorway is labeled with their difficulties in some System Messages that pop up in my vision upon looking at them.

I grit my teeth at the thought of that annoying Guide. Not to mention my regret about how I didn’t ask about the Tutorial earlier on.

It’s just that I was too focused on my lack of hunger, species change, his constant drivel about bonuses, and everything about my status to think about what would happen next.