"Someone please tell me I'm dreaming right now," Alex exhaled, his voice full of awe.
He and Zack stood before the gates of the Platinum Tier dormitory. The building before them wasn't just a dorm; it was a statement. A majestic, circular tower of seamless white alloy and gold trim rose imposingly before them, its architecture a masterclass in clean lines and graceful curves. The very gate was forged from a shimmering, crystalline material that seemed to hold light within it. As they approached, it slid open without a sound, inviting them into another world.
Stepping into the compound was like crossing a threshold into a curated paradise. Lush, manicured grass and elegant trees surrounded polished marble pathways so flawless they reflected the sky above. Benches of sculpted white stone dotted the landscape, and at the heart of the grounds, a huge fountain sent cascades of water dancing in the afternoon sun. A few other students strolled the paths or relaxed on the benches, the very picture of elite serenity.
"Wake up to reality, Alex. This is reality," Zack said, a smirk playing on his lips as he took in the sight.
They followed the pathway to the main entrance, where a discreet sign read BOYS DORM. The large door whispered open as they neared.
Soon, they stood before Door 203, the number matching their ID cards. "I think this is it," Alex said.
A soft, synthetic voice emanated from above the doorframe.
They held their platinum cards up. A thin laser scanned the cards, then swept over their faces with a brief, warm light.
The door slid aside.
The sight that greeted them stole the breath from their lungs. Luxury wasn't just present; it was the room's fundamental language. The space was vast and circular, appointed with furniture of sleek, hyper-modern design and incredible craftsmanship. Four king-sized beds were positioned with generous space between them, each accompanied by a polished drawer. To the left, two boys were already seated on their beds, their attention momentarily shifting from their tasks to the newcomers.
"I was expecting bunk beds… but this? I never imagined anything on this level," Alex managed, his surprise total.
"I think that's why it's called the Platinum Tier," Zack replied, his smile widening.
Beyond the sleeping area, two large, curved white couches faced each other over a square, edge-smoothed central table holding an intricate floral vase. Dominating the far wall was a massive, sleek HD television. Every gadget, every surface, hummed with silent, high-tech potential. The color scheme was a serene blend of gold and white. A huge glass slider led out to a balcony, framing a breathtaking view of the academy grounds from their elevated position on the hill.
Zack walked to the balcony. From here, the scale of Bright Gold Academy was fully visible: the soaring towers, the hovering platforms, the distant floating landmasses. The wind played with his hair.
"Nice view, isn't it?" A voice spoke beside him.
Zack started slightly. It was one of the boys from the beds, now leaning on the railing next to him.
"Yeah," Zack recovered, nodding. "It really is."
"I think this is going to be part of my morning routine," the boy said amiably.
"A good routine. Taking this in every morning… it's not a sight you'd ever want to forget," Zack agreed.
"I'm Levi," the boy introduced himself with an easy smile. He had neatly combed blonde hair, sharp light-grey eyes, and a handsomely chiseled face that spoke of excellent breeding and care. His casual white polo and ash joggers looked effortlessly expensive.
"Nice to meet you, Levi. I'm Zack."
"Looks like we're all going to be roommates," Levi observed.
"Yeah."
"Why don't we go inside? Introduce ourselves properly."
Back inside, Alex was in a state of reverent disbelief, inspecting a high-tech interface panel on the wall with exaggerated care.
"Looks like this is your first time seeing such… luxurious living, right?" The other boy spoke now, looking up from the book in his hand. He had long black hair that reached his shoulders and striking deep purple eyes behind a pair of round glasses. His handsomeness was of a quieter, more scholarly kind.
"Yeah," Alex admitted with an embarrassed smile. "It is. My life… never really revolved around stuff like this."
"You deserve to be here," the boy said, adjusting his glasses. "You've proved yourself a talent, a genius distinct from the rest. This is the place for those who have. So feel at home, bro."
Levi nodded, joining in. "He's right. Your ability and talent earned you this spot. No need to walk on eggshells."
Alex fell silent, touched. This wasn't the arrogant dismissal he'd braced for from wealthy scions. Zack noted the same, their humility was unexpected and disarming.
"Hey, cat got your tongue?" Levi grinned, clapping a friendly hand on Alex's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Why don't we all sit and do this introduction thing right? We're going to be sharing this space for a while."
The boy with glasses stood, revealing an average, slightly tall height. "I agree."
They settled on the large couches.
"I'll start," Levi began. "Full name: Von Levi Aster. A pleasure."
"Zack Grey," Zack said, consciously omitting his last name.
"I'm… I'm Alex Bale," Alex said, the stammer showing he was still acclimating.
All eyes turned to the boy with glasses. "It's great to meet you all. My name is Daniel Ken Adrian. I'm happy to make your acquaintance."
"Since we have names," Levi said, his jovial nature taking lead, "why don we share a bit more? Where we're from, whatnot?"
"I'll start!" Alex volunteered, finally finding his footing.
The afternoon melted into evening as they talked, shared stories, and cracked jokes. By nightfall, the initial formalities had warmed into the first embers of camaraderie.
Lying in his bed later, with the room dark and his roommates asleep, Zack processed it all. Levi hailed from the Von family, a military dynasty known for producing generals and high command. Daniel was from the Adrian lineage, a family celebrated as geniuses in science and technology, creators of unparalleled gadgets.
"Who would have thought," Zack mused silently, a smirk in the darkness. "My roommates, the people I might call friends… are from powerhouses like that."
[Looks like someone is getting comfortable in the lap of luxury.]
The golden screen materialized in his vision.
"Ugh. Not you. A whole peaceful day without you, and now you're back," Zack grumbled mentally.
[You are stuck with me. And you need me.] The system's tone was smug.
"I wish I could beat the crap out of you. It would be incredibly satisfying."
[Say's a broke dude who tried to rip the system for free Ep]
-_____-
"That is exactly why I want to punch you in your non-existent face," Zack shot back.
[Set your complaints aside. You need to get to work. EP isn't going to earn itself.]
"Right, the EP. By killing monsters and taking their cores."
[Correct.]
[There is something you must know. Your Ability Copy cannot be revealed.]
"Why?" Confusion wrinkled Zack's brow.
[There are beings watching from beyond the stars. Your ability is one of a kind in this universe, the kind that sparks wars. Furthermore, revealing it could help them detect me.]
The statement hit like a physical blow. "What beings? Who are they? What are they?" A torrent of questions surged forth. "Is my ability really that broken? And who are these 'beings' hunting for you?"
[They are the entities responsible for the extinction of my creators.]
The grimness of the confession was absolute.
"Wait… you were created?" Zack's mind reeled.
[Yes.]
"What happened to them? Why were they destroyed?"
[The reason for my creators' annihilation was their creation: us. The Systems.]
The final piece clicked into a terrifying picture.
"There are more of you out there?"
[Yes. They seek the ten primary systems. I am one. If they find you, they find me. And if they do, it will be catastrophic. They view systems as aberrations that should not exist. And they view our hosts the same way.]
"So they're hunting you… hunting us," Zack whispered into the dark.
[Yes.]
"Who are they? And who were your creators?" The questions were desperate now.
[This is all the information I can disclose at this time.]
"Tomorrow is the ability assessment. Like a more detailed awakening ceremony. How are we supposed to hide it then?" Practical fear cut through the cosmic dread.
[Do not worry about tomorrow. I have methods to veil the ability from detection.]
"You didn't answer my main question," Zack pressed. "About them. About your creators."
[About that… I cannot tell you.]
"Why?"
[No reason.]
-___-
Zack sighed, a wave of helplessness washing over him. Arguing with the system was like arguing with a brick wall, a sarcastic, holographic brick wall.
"Fine. If you won't tell me, I won't push. You must have your reasons. But know this: nothing can stay hidden in the dark forever. It will always comes to the light."
The system remained silent.
"After tomorrow, they'll all know what family I hail from anyway," Zack thought, a old anger simmering. "What's the use of a name when that family treats you as disposable junk?"
His mind then turned to his new friends. "After what Zoe and Ben did… I thought I'd never let myself trust anyone again. But here I am, getting along with Levi, Daniel, and Alex. Maybe my time here won't be so bleak."
He thought of his mother's cryptic farewell. 'Expect the unexpected.'
"What did you really mean by that, Mum?" he wondered aloud.
[Just prepare for the unexpected.] The system echoed her words.
"I guess you're right," Zack conceded, staring at his hand outlined in the faint light from the city below. "Beyond the walls, beyond the gates… the unexpected is probably the only thing that's guaranteed."
He clenched his fist, resolve solidifying. "My path to the top starts now. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces… the whole Lyon estate." A fierce grin spread in the darkness.
But the system's warnings lingered, a chilling undercurrent beneath his determination. Beings that hunted systems. Creators wiped out. An ability that could incite wars across the cosmos. The chessboard was vaster and more terrifying than he had ever imagined, and he was just a piece, only beginning to understand the game.