[SYSTEM ERROR]
[SYSTEM ERROR]
[CRITICAL FAILURE DETECTED]
[Initiating Emergency Protocols...]
[SELF-DESTRUCTION SEQUENCE INITIATED]
[10...9...8...]
[INTERRUPTED]
[...]
[...RECALIBRATING...]
[System Stabilized]
[You have been selected]
[You have gained three (3) Innate Attributes]
[Summoner's Touch]
[Infinite Vitality]
[Perfect Fit]
[Congratulations]
I stare at the Innate Attributes, and congratulations after that nightmare of errors and near self destruction? For some reason, this didn't feel like a System Stabilized situation. The voice delivering the message sounded the same as before, but that's exactly what made it more eerie. Goosebumps raced across my skin and my blood ran cold as I read it.
But I couldn't focus too much on what was floating in front of my eyes—what no one else was seeing. I had to focus on what we were all seeing!
"What? Where are we? Weren't we in class just a moment ago?"
"Ehh? My makeup bag!"
"Somebody call 911!"
Amidst the chaos swirling in the air, my gaze drifted across the room, studying the arching ceilings, the archaic and delicate stone pillars and walls.
'Were we transported back in time? No!'
As soon as that question surfaced in my mind, the answer came immediately because I suddenly remembered what the system had said: target location Ealdrim. And with that, it hit me, my eyes widening in realization.
'We're in another world! Dumbfuck!'
Just then, a hoarse but commanding voice suddenly projected across the vast hall.
"Dear Otherworlders, have no fear. You have all been selected by the great goddess to be the next Heralds of Peace, who will lead both your world and ours into a new era!"
As the man spoke, murmurs only intensified.
"What the hell, old man, who gives a shit? I just want two baddies right now. All I care about is if you guys have baddies in this damn world!"
"Oh my God, are we really in another world?"
"This is terrifying. I have to open my mom's store after school—she'll kill me."
"Everyone, everyone, please calm down."
Everyone went silent at the voice that spoke and walked to the front, addressing them all with a calm and radiant countenance.
I suppressed a chuckle the moment I saw him. These sorts of things aren't always so hard to predict.
'Kai Alexander.'
Kai is the model student of our class—the class rep, school senior prefect, the perfect son of a multibillion-dollar conglomerate called the Xander Corps. He's the kind of guy who wants to help everybody.
I definitely didn't detest him or anything, but sometimes I couldn't help but feel like the guy seems a little forced. Practiced. Like he's playing the role of Perfect Kai Alexander.
'Or maybe it was just my opinion. Who knows? I might even be speaking from a point of envy. Not that I'd give anything to be in his position. Being worshipped sounds so exhausting.'
His sharp and sonorous voice addressed everyone in the silent hall.
"We all want the same thing, but chaos isn't going to get us what we want. What we need to do is calmly listen to what they have to say, and then say what we have to say. Let's allow the man to speak."
Kai turned to the arched platform in front, raising his head slightly to address the old man standing on it, looking down on them all. The man wore a white garb that flowed over his body like silk crafted from light. In the center front was a perfectly embroidered golden cross, and he wore a religious priest's cap with the same embroidery. He was slightly hunched.
"Please, tell us where we are and why we're here."
The man seemed to smile imperceptibly. His eyes were so dim he looked like he was sleeping, and his nose was round and pronounced.
Yet the power with which his voice boomed across the hall was shocking.
"Otherworlders, the world is in great peril. Because of this, our hands were forced to summon the next generation of Spirit Summoners to save the world. This is the Kingdom of Aetheris, and this is not a call to damn you, but rather to save both our worlds from the threat of Outers that are slowly corroding both our universes."
I glanced around, wondering.
'Are there speakers in the hall?'
Kai's voice rang out with astonishing confidence.
"Okay, sir. This threat—do you have evidence of it, and evidence that it's also a threat to our world? Also, how exactly are we supposed to help you? As far as I know, I never took any martial arts classes. I paid attention in P.E., but I suspect it doesn't compare…"
The students chuckled.
"Yuki comes from a Japanese family of swordsmen! She can be your knight in sexy armor!"
The students filled the atmosphere with their subtle laughter. I just sank my hands into my pockets and watched from behind, yet to find anything really funny about this situation.
The old man raised his hand. From beyond us, a door opened and two ladies and four men, draped in priestly robes and nunly robes, walked out front carrying boxes in their hands. More priests and nuns soon joined, lining our front with boxes.
I paid special attention to the nuns, feeling a sensation—an urge—rise in my pants and chest at the same time. I've always had this fantasy about nuns… their large breasts hidden beneath those righteous ensembles, to tear them to shreds and reveal them in all their dirty glory.
'God, what am I thinking right now… focus, Cade, focus!'
It was difficult, but I managed to suppress my hardening third leg from within my pocket and instead focused with an absolutely stern look on my face.
"In these boxes are two important things: a very high-grade Spirit Core, and relics that once belonged to Heroes of the past."
Kai's brown eyes glistened sharply as he looked forward.
"What are they for?"
The old man from above the arched outcrop answered with a gentle tone.
"That is a good question, young otherworlder. Each of you has unique souls that attune you to spirits—but not just any kind of spirit. Heroic Spirits. What are Heroic Spirits? These are spirits of people who once shaped the course of history, whether on a regional, national, or continental level. Only Spirit Summoners can summon these types of Spirits. And that is why we have summoned you all here.
"For you to awaken your true abilities as Spirit Summoners, call upon the Spirits of the Heroes, and save our world again."
My eyes widened involuntarily.
'What?'