Chapter 43: Chapter 37: Administrator
96 hours earlier,
Zeke was still cramming the techniques in the database. He suddenly got a System Notification.
’All conditions have been satisfied. Would you like to initiate your Ascension Trial?’
’Y/N’
Zeke was surprised because he had never received a notification like this in his other life. He just figured that it had something to do with him achieving 5 Stars in all stats. Still, he selected ’N’ because he wasn’t ready yet. The plan was to initiate the Trial after meeting the family.
Unfortunately for him, the System was relentless. For the next 24 hours, the same notification kept on appearing before his eyes, disrupting his focus. After he was finally done with the database, he was very tired.
He tried sleeping but the damn notification wouldn’t let him. Finally, in a sleep deprived haze, he chose ’Y’, so that he could rest. As soon as he had chosen ’Y’, he received another System Notifcation but he had already passed out.
’Ascension Trial will commence in 71:59:59’
It was a timer. Unbeknownst to him, his Trial would begin in three days.
Back to the present,
Zeke didn’t reply and simply said, "Fuck my life."
He had an unread System Notification so he checked it. He saw that the timer only had two minutes left. He tok out a silver pearl from his space ring and said, "Tell Uncle Dean that it’s a Code Red. He’ll know what to do."
After saying this, he put the pearl beneath his right foot and crushed it. He disappeared in a silver flash, leaving a bewildered Cass behind. With another flash of silver light, Dean and Leonel appeared in front of him.
He asked, "What’s going on? I sensed a spatial fluctuation here."
Cass replied, "I don’t know. Zeke suddenly became worried, told me to tell you that it’s Code Red, whatever that means, and disappeared by crushing a silver pearl."
Dean suddenly grabbed Cass’s shoulders and asked, "Are you absolutely sure that he said Code Red. Not Yellow or Blue, but Red?"
Cass replied, "Yes I’m sure. His exact words were, ’Tell Uncle Dean that it’s a Code Red. He’ll know what to do’. Now, can you tell me what’s going on? And where did he go?"
Dean took a deep breath and started massaging his temples. He said, "A while back, after he got to know about the Trial, we created a few Codes in case of an emergency and he doesn’t have the time to explain anything.
Code Red is the second highest threat level and currently it means that something unpredictable has occurred with his Ascension Trial. That silver pearl teleported him to the place we had prepared for your Ascension Trials."
Cass asked, "So, what do we do now?"
Dean replied, "The most we can do is observe him. You know that the System doesn’t allow any outside interference when it comes to the Ascension Trials."
At this moment, Zeke was sitting in an underground facility. His face scrunched up as he read the System Notifications.
’Ascension Trial will commence in 00:00:00’
’Choose difficulty’
’Transcendent/ Transcendent Primogenitor’
As soon as Zeke saw the choices he knew what he was going to choose. He was confident but even he knew his limits. Choosing Transcendent would already be pushing his limits but a difficulty that he hadn’t even heard of before would be tantamount to a death sentence.
Just as he was about to choose something happened. The System interface in front of him started glitching.
’Choe/[;387$#%^#^$^#’
’TR@#%#*#^m3gbe7/ Pri907w382jnb’
’Error!’
’Error!’
’Error!’
’Choose difficulty’
’Transcendent/ Transcendent Primogenitor’
’An Administrator has intervened.’
’You have chosen Transcendent Primogenitor’
Zeke went ballistic. He screamed, "I haven’t chosen anything yet. Who the fuck is this Admnistrator?"
’An Administrator has requested to enter #&432xtgnd34#’
’No abuse of authority detected.’
’Creating a Casualty Free Zone.’
’An Administrator is entering.’
Suddenly, Zeke found himself in a weird place. He just couldn’t make any sense of what it was. To him, it appeared as if there was nothing and everything at the same time. It was disorienting. The worst of it all, was that he felt incredibly disconnected.
Suddenly he heard a voice, "Feels uncomfortable doesn’t it, you fuckturd? That’s what happens when cause and effect become meaningless."
A man in front of him. At least he assumed that it was a man based on the voice he had just heard. He grew vigilant and asked, "Who are you?"
The man replied, "Aren’t you supposed to be smart?"
Zeke asked, "Are you the Administrator?"
The man replied, "No, I’m your father."
Zeke was surprised, "Huh?"
The man said, "Of course I’m an Administrator, you dumbass. And if I ever had a son like, I would just kill myself."
Zeke thought, ’He seems to have some sort of personal vendetta with me...’
The man roared, "Of course I have a personal vendetta with you, dipshit. Do you have any idea? Any idea of the bullshit I’ve had to put up with? Bullshit that you’re responsible for."
Zeke replied, "I don’t know what you’re talking about. And did you just read my mind?"
The Administrator said, "Yes I did. And you can’t do anything about it."
Zeke said, "I still don’t know why you’re so angry with me...?"
The Administrator said, "Oh you’re not joking. You’re actually oblivious to the crimes that you have commited. Well then, let me tell you.
First, you exploited a glitch in the System and regressed. Then, you messed with Time and Fate. People that were supposed to die are alive, people who were supposed to be alive are dead.
A Race that was not supposed to exist does. A Race that also happens to be the natural predator of two of the strongest Races in #@%#$^@. To top it all, you gained a Myth. A fucking Myth.
You thought that there would be no consequences? Well, you thought wrong. You do not mess with Time and Fate and get out scot free."
Zeke said, "First of all, I had no choice regarding the regression. The Skill: Glitch??? activated on its own. So, it really isn’t my fault that I messed with Time and Fate. It’s yours.
Secondly, I just used my knowledge to save my home and the people I hold dear. If this Trial is my punishment, so be it. But don’t you dare pin your mistakes on me."
The Administrator chuckled. He said, "I’m pinning my mistakes on you? I understand that your regression was out of your hands. You say that you want to save your home?
You’re a fucking idiot. If you hadn’t messed up, you could have easily done that. Because then, the System would have had to compensate you.
You could have just asked and your home, the Faction known as Earth Federation, would have been safe from all external threats for at least 10 millenia. And this is just the bare minimum.
If you had just waited for some time, you could have done all that you have done until now, and not face any consequences. Because then, Time and Fate would have been changed by the System itself. But no, Mr.I’mthesmartest had to go and fuck everything up.
So by the authority vested in me by the System, I, System Administrator #86253463 punish you for crimes against Time, Fate and #@%#$^@ as a whole.
All difficulties except Transcendent Primogenitor in your Ascension Trials will be rescinded. You must pass these Trials to make up for the Casualty that you owe to the System.
If you fail any of the Trials, then the System shall rescind the grace period offered to your Faction. If you choose to not ascend Grades and stagnate, then the System will reverse any changes that you have made to the timeline. That means, your timeline will be essentially erased and rewritten as it was originally supposed to be."
Zeke almost had a heart attack. He didn’t doubt the Administrator’s words because he had no reason to lie to him.
He looked at the Administrator and said, "I apologize for my words and actions. I truly did not think that my actions would have such consequences. I accept the punishment. Now, what is my Trial?"
The Administrator snapped his fingers and the weird space disappeared. Zeke got another System Notification.
’Casualty Free Zone has been destroyed.’
The Administrator said, "Good luck. You’ll need it."
And then, he disappeared. Zeke shouted, "What about my Trial?"
As if answering him, a System Notification appeared before him.
’Transcendent Primogenitor’s Ascension Trial’
’Enter the World Gate.’
An ancient looking gate manifested before him. Seeing this gate, Zeke was surprised because he recognised it. It was a World Gate. As the name suggested, a World Gate was a gate to a different world. Similar to Dimensions, these Worlds were like independent universes with their own rules and regulations.
The only difference was that they did not mirror Dimension Zero and that the System did not work inside the worlds. As soon as one entered these World Gates, they would gain a new identity as a resident of that world.
They would have a mission to complete inside that particular World within a particular time frame. Even if they were to finish their mission before the deadline, they would have to wait until the time was up. After that, if they are successful, the System would rate them and reward them accordingly. But that wasn’t the reason behind his shock.
World Gates were only supposed to appear in B Grade Ascension Trials and above because they were so dangerous. Seeing one in front of him, Zeke understood why the Administrator had wished him luck.
Zeke muttered, "6. Unexpected Life Threatening Situation- Check" as he entered the World Gate.
