He wasn't an idiot. These sort of storylines of mages and universal battles were fun and dandy, but they weren't kind to life. He wasn't about to die before he got to experience what this system had to offer.
The teleportation sequence was faster than he thought. Vale merely blinked and was transported to a high tech apartment filled with technology beyond his comprehension. Televisions existed, but there were devices everywhere, stuff he couldn't name if he tried. "Looks like I'm safe. Nothing to worry about yet."
While walking around inspecting the place, the system appeared in front of him. And for fun, Vale turned his body in a few directions, but the system followed at his neck height.
It was a blank page, but Vale had a feeling there was much more to this system than an empty holograph. "I guess you're pretty advanced, teleporting me around like it's the norm." Vale stood, pondering at the technology that was in place, and the future potentials of what it held.
Wormhole travel at any distance was universe-defying! But he let these worries rest, as he had to figure out what was happening.
[Tutorial Mission - Three parts. Convince President Zeral to stop his war declaration on a neighboring country. If the war starts, both world leading nations are sure to fall, ending in the destruction of Loral Lane. Save this planet at all costs!]
"So, I'm on another planet?" He murmured to himself, practically nerding out since he often read scfi novels. He loved the media, as it was the only thing that could detach him from his reality. But then, he realized what the system was asking. Looking in disbelief, he couldn't believe what it was requesting of him. A worthless introvert had no chance at swaying a planetary leader to halt his war plans! "Who do you think I am? Even if you give me all the powers in the world, I can't just walk up to their… fort?" Vale was completely lost at what to do. "Maybe I should just make a life for myself here."
Looking around, he saw all types of bizarre items. "These high tech devices check out." So badly, he wanted to touch them and hold their unique designs, but the system was still printing out a message.
[Your fears are justified. But worry not, your battle won't be physical. President Zeral is a frail being with way too much power at his whim. Using the Skinny Warlock Psychologist system and its sublime psychological accessibility, you may understand him at astronomical measures.]
[Part 1 - Unlock the system's capabilities and understand humanity like your life depends on it.]
[Processing your magical awakening by force. Usually, mages are made by chance, but using this system, you can break the shackles of reality! Prepare for a gift that everyone will covet soon enough!]
Vale wondered at those words, readying himself promptly. "Force? I have a hunch this won't be pleasant."
He was correct, every bone in his body began to shiver with the natural lifeforce of life, known by many names. His head felt like it was on the verge of bursting. Strangely, Vale knew of all the labels, but he couldn't process the knowingness of all these ideas right now.
While groaning and gritting his teeth to prevent a roar, he quickly kneeled against his will, grabbing his head with his two hands. "What the fuck is this?! These people… and their obsessions from normal to wicked, they're all being realized so vividly… Gahh!" Vale's mind was suffering a terrible migraine of the likes he'd never known, and the other anomalies aside from the ache were so profound that he simply couldn't focus on them. The tears he saw without visualizing, and the grief that incited obsession from across the universe laid a new foundation of understanding in the limitless storage of his now upgraded brain.
Eventually, the pain became bearable, and he could at last talk while computing a library of data he couldn't yet grasp. "All the primates, devolved and evolved races, going up from barely conscious to formulating theories about the creations of life, are slowly being understood by… me of all people?"
In the complex brain of a sentient being, there exists many lobes that enable thought and emotion. Once those forefront foundations are overstimulated or tampered with, it can result in a variety of effects, magic being one of them.
Feeling as if a surgeon was operating on his brain, the pain was worse than any injury he'd sustained in the past. But it only lasted thirty seconds, albeit it felt longer in his perception.
Suddenly, a profile slot appeared with a human head without a face. Standing up, Vale shaked his neck trying to recover from both mental and physical aspects of the system's transformation. Immediately, he revoked that weakling thought of wanting to flee from his systems mission. He knew all too well something bizarrely magnificent was happening in his brain, and for a quick moment, he maniacally smiled, completely discarding the system's update. A seed, placed by the system, was growing rapidly in his psyche, and he was beginning to love it.
"I can't believe what's happening… my life is changing, just like I always wished." The heavy breathing Vale clicked on it as he had nowhere else to go from here.
[Name: Vale Luckman]
[Magical Speciality: The Man Who Founded Obsession]
[Title: Skinny Warlock Psychologist]
[Stats]
Mind Points: 0
Intellect - 1
Emotional Comprehension - 23
Agility - 1
Physical Strength - 4
Mental Defiance - 300
Charisma - 0.2
[Mind Talents]
[Empty]
[Empty]
[Systems Comment: You're an incompetent loser who despite wanting purpose, won't do anything useful to obtain it. Keep defying life, and you'll end up dead without anything to show for it.]
"Even I feel insulted reading this. Truth hurts, I guess." Vale joked to himself, internally thankful to the system. He wondered if he could upgrade these stats, but gave the system a break for the meantime.
There was a reason he didn't hesitate when he accepted its otherworldly promises. Despite living a lavish existence, pulling in thousands of dollars in tips on some days, Vale hated his life more than anyone should.
Vale may have been mediocre, believing his life was destined to lead a mundane path, but instead of running away from tedium like the typical, he knew taking pride in those circumstances was his only chance at retribution.
He, accustomed to the despair that was engraved in his dna, thanked the system as he pressed the back button with his index finger. "I'm not sure if you're a real person, but thank you regardless. My life before this was so bland that I wanted to die."
[Don't fool yourself. You were better than most of earth society in emotion. Now enough pouting, I'm not your therapist.]
[Right now, you are a soldier of the Zeral Empire, and your barracks consist of a lavish apartment. Your uniform is hanging on the wall, and it's almost 6 am. Your first day as a cadet is today. Infiltrate the empire from the inside and gain the trust of higher ranked officers to further advancement.]
"Jeez, the guy named his nation after himself. Who am I dealing with here…"
Vale took the white uniform with a Z stitched on the right side, and put it on, taking off his restaurant uniform in replacement.
Weirdly, on top of many other notions, Vale knew where to go from the room. He even knew what his purpose was as a soldier. Right now, the Zeral Empire was commencing war preparations, and he was a new recruit that had recently been accepted by reference of his renowned family.
Confused, he asked the system before walking out the door. "This family of mine… are they real people?"
[Your family are inside helpers made to establish a documented identity for you. You won't see them. They are real, just not related to you. Now stop with these needless questions and proceed to your first day. Remember, first impressions are important!]
Vale made his way down the grey on the floor, and white on the walls colored hallway. After a few minutes of walking, he realized that he was inside a huge building, the apartments connected to a facility that was bigger, if not more substantial in size to a modern earth college.
After some time of walking, Vale arrived at his ordered station. The giant room was empty, for the most part, and looked to be a training arena, since in the corners were weight machines, punching bags, and other items meant to train the body. The other cadets who were human and mostly male were all grouped up, wearing the same all white uniform, surprising Vale who was standing in the same group.
[Humans are a prominent species in the universe. They exist in countless planets and have a great affinity for magic and technological prowess.]
He already figured this was the case, but smiled at the system's welcoming nature.
Suddenly, a muscular male, towering in height teleported in front of the group out of nowhere, making everyone stand in attention. Vale quickly took action, as the last thing he wanted was to stand out. "Did he just teleport? Who knew the universe was so terrifying."
This man, known as Sergeant Derrick, had long parted black hair, and looked intimidating as his special black uniform indicated some level of higher ranking. "CADETS, ARE YOU READY TO TEST YOUR MIGHT ON THE STAGE?!" Sergeant Derrick opened his palm and pointed it to the fighting octagon beside him, where no ring was seen. "EVERY WINNER IS APPOINTED CAPTAIN OF THEIR OWN PLATOON, AND THOSE WHO SIGNED UP, RISKING THEIR LIFE AND POSITION AT THIS CHANCE, WILL BENEFIT GREATLY IN THE FUTURE!"
This type of fight was one till death, and is used to put in place qualified leaders. All the cadets knew this, and most of them didn't sign up, swallowing their pride to prevent an early death.
"CAN I GET A YES SIR?!"
Everyone screamed yes sir. Everyone except Vale. He was too busy realizing the obvious power scheme being used here. Prove your strength or serve a brute for a superior. Respect is dictated not by will or wisdom, but overbearing power instead. He didn't like the idea, but a part of being an informant was conforming to ideals that you hate. His idea of how magic operated was vague, but nevertheless, he secretly hoped that the system didn't sign him up.
"First match…" Sargant Derrick, startled, looked at his communications device that acted like a watch, and said, "Vale Luckman versus Zach Bird." Confused, because Vale was enlisted as a medic, he told them to head up to the octagon.
"Great… I'm dead before I can get the chance to explore at least one planet." Vale, who wasn't prepared to die, was freaking out, not showing it as he walked towards the octagon.
"Holy shit, I'm going to die. This is it…" Trying to think of a way to escape, he came up with a genius idea. "Can't I just forfeit? Yeah… easy. I'll just do that."
[Forfeiting will result in your immediate exile from the kingdom, making completing your tutorial mission in time impossible.]
"Fuck…" Rolling his eyes, Vale, who was now ascending the staircase to the left side of the octagon, recalled his basic martial art skills that he somehow knew. His adrenaline was off the wall, but he was secretly hoping the system would save him at the last second.