Alec hugged his knees atop the hill and looked at the passage of people moving toward the end of the road. Stone walls. A gate. Some kind of construction large enough for Alec to see it from where he was.
"Can you send me back?"
[...No.]
"Figures. I'm stuck here until the world is saved?"
[Yes. Unless something happens.]
"For example?"
[I don't know. It would have to be something outside my knowledge and control.]
"So, that's it then. My life's ruined because you can't read."
[I can too!]
"Then, why did you pick me over my brother?"
[That's…!]
Alec sighed and looked at the world before him with listless eyes. It was beautiful and vibrant, and the people moved with life in them. It was not a bad dream.
It was a nightmare turned reality.
"So, what now?" He asked without much hope.
[Well, this world still needs to be saved. You might not be Alex, but that doesn't mean you can't do it. I believe in you, Alec!] The System cheered him on.
"Listen, Lady. I haven't written or read this book. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do to save it. I don't know the first thing about this place."
[That, I can help you with. I've read the book several times, after all!] The System said proudly.
"Then, can't you take my place?"
[Unfortunately, that's not how it works. I also can't tell you everything. I'm here to guide you, not have you act as my hands and feet.]
"I see."
'So…She's useless?'
[I'll pretend I didn't hear that.]
"Good. It wasn't meant for you."
[...]
"..."
[Anyway…Since a mistake has occurred, I do have some leeway in what I can do to help you. I can give you a Skill. I think that's the best way to help you out.]
"A Skill? Is it what it sounds like?"
[Yes. What do you want?]
Alec was stumped. He could think of a bunch of things. He knew a couple of things from other stories that were usually overpowered. Skills related to the Seven Deadly Sins, especially the one of Gluttony, were usually broken. Not at first, maybe, but as a growth skill, it could work.
"Would the Skill follow the temperament of my brother's world?"
[I'm not quite sure what you mean, but I would think so.]
'No to the Sins, then. I do not want the drawbacks they can bring with them. Hmm…Something good that won't come with a negative. That will be difficult.'
"I can't just ask for omnipotence, can I?"
[No…That exceeds my abilities.]
"Worth a shot."
'If I know my brother right, I should probably go for a growth-type Skill.'
"You're a System, right. Do you do levels?"
[No, sorry. That doesn't fit me or this world.]
"So, I can't ask for a skill like that?"
[I can try.]
"Then hold off on that. Wait. What's the best growth skill you have? I want that."
[The best growth skill I have…Are you sure?]
"Does it have any drawbacks?"
[Not that I know of?]
"Will I regret taking it?"
[I don't know.]
"Do you have anything better?"
[That depends.]
"How much can you tell me about the different skills you have available?"
[Not much.]
"..."
'Useless.' It wasn't directed at the System, so she didn't hear it. But she could still tell what Alec was thinking.
[Look, do you want it or not?]
Alec scratched his head.
The System had said it was the best growth-type skill she had. It couldn't be bad.
'Immortality…'
Even if the System could give him such a skill, Alec was worried it would be a bad kind of immortality. Maybe he just wouldn't die of old age. Useless in a world created by his brother. Or maybe he just wouldn't die, regardless of what happened to his body. No recovery or anything, just a soul trapped in a slab of flesh forever.
"Perfect Immortality?"
[Define perfect.]
"I won't die, but I also won't suffer from being unable to die."
[Sorry, I don't see that being possible. To live is to suffer. To live eternally is to suffer eternally.]
'Woah. Grim.'
"Alright. And invincibility?"
[That's subjective if it works. If it's objective, it won't work.]
'Limited invincibility…That means I won't know what will kill me until it's too late. Skip.'
"What about genius-level talent? Or the skill to become endlessly better as long as I put in the work?"
[I can give you skills that mimic the idea of talent to a certain degree. As for that other thing…That's already a fundamental rule of this world, so there's no need for that.]
"Wait, really? So, as long as I keep practicing something, I'll always improve?"
[It won't always be immediately noticeable, but yes.]
Alec's eyes narrowed.
"...How does it work?"
[Let's just say humans have built-in limiters for a reason.]
"Alright…Can I take my time choosing a skill?"
[The sooner you choose, the better I can give you. And just so you know, there's not much time left on the best growth-type skill I can offer you.]
'Fuck it.'
"I'll take it." He wasn't going to lose out on a good skill because he was hesitant, not when it might be the difference between life and death.
The System didn't answer. But he soon felt a burning sensation in his chest, where he was pretty sure his heart was.
"I can't…!"
Alec clutched his chest and fell onto all fours as his mouth gaped open and his eyes almost bugged out of his head as he tried to breathe through the pain.
But it was like someone had punched him in the gut. He couldn't breathe. No matter what he did, his lungs refused to move and pull air into themselves. All the while, it felt like his heart was about to burn and burst like popcorn.
Then, almost as suddenly as it came, it was gone.
"Ahh…!" Alec sucked in air like he had been underwater for ten minutes as he rolled over onto his back.
"A…warning next time…please," He said weakly before passing out.