System Error

I couldn’t handle it. If Freya died too… No, I didn’t want to see something like that. Panic rose through my body, and even though I didn’t have organs or blood, I felt something akin to trembling.

No. Please, don’t do this!!!

…

The ball of blue magic hovered in the air just in front of her. Freya was a moment from being flattened, and yet she and the ball of magic— no, everything in sight— was frozen still. I couldn’t move either, not so much as an inch.

What’s going on here? Why can’t I move my body? Is Freya okay?

{Cannot provide information at this time}

I wasn’t talking to you! I just want to move. This has nothing to do with you.

{Cannot provide information at this time}

Again? Aren’t you listening to me? Just leave me alone already—

{Cannot provide information at this time}

I don’t have time for this… I don’t know if there’s anything on the other side of these messages, but if there is, then please… just help me save Freya!

{Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time} {Cannot provide information at this time}

The string of text sent my brain into overdrive. The cacophony of monotone iterations left me with a headache that refused to settle down.

{Skill <Greater Appraisal> has evolved into <Absolute Appraisal>}

{Skill <Absolute Appraisal> and <Perception> have created the skill <Lost Oracle>}

{Conditions have been met}

Conditions for what? My mind felt dizzy with the strain of constant messages that flew into view.

A single message screen appeared, one that looked different from the rest. It was solid black with glitches on every second word.

{>> D0_y0u//wi$h::t0_b3c0me_[STR0NGER]??}

The voice that ran through my mind filled me with despair. A gloomy noise resonated behind every word she muttered. At least, I think she was a woman. It was hard to tell with the distorted frequency behind it.

{== T@k3..my..P0W3R_&_gr0w_bey0nd::th3_L!m1t$_0f_th!$_W0RLD <<}

What is she talking about… power– is this an offer from the system?

{## WiLL::y0u[ACCEPT]—BLe$$1nG_0f/F@LLEN_G0D ?}

I’m actually getting a choice? It didn’t feel quite like the things I’ve been through before with the system. Usually, I never got asked for permission before any big changes. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but everything about it looked sketchy. I swayed to saying no when my eyes focused on a single word.

‘Stronger’ was written across the first message. I couldn’t shake it from my memory, no matter how much I wanted to think it through.

Even if I’m cursed to have my body from my previous life, I’ll do whatever I can to save Freya. She’s in this mess because I asked her to take me on a quest. This is my doing.

I’ll be the one to save her from this, even if I have to sell my soul. I accept.

The screens disappeared in unison, and the world resonated the same glitching effect the black message screens had. Suddenly, the eerie noises were drowned out, and an intense pain shot through my mind.

{You have gained the Title <Worshiper of Fallen God>}

{You have gained the skill <Foresight>}

My body, overwhelmed with anxiety and fear, was released from the sudden hold over me and could finally think clearly.

{Time will resume in 30 seconds}

So time really was stopped… Wait, what do I do with all that info?! Even though I had a perfect memory to recall them all, there was way too much to unpack in just thirty seconds. I needed way more time!

Argh! There’s no time to worry about that now. I need to do something to save Freya. What can I do, though?

{3 Possible options remain}

The female voice I heard before ran through my head, a lot clearer. Her tone was completely flat, void of any emotion.

What, who are you? Why can I hear you in my head?!

{Lost Oracle}

{Entity created to aid and inform the user on any matter requested}

Whoa, so that’s what that weird skill I received does… So basically, I’ll finally get an answer to all those questions I ask out into the world?

{Answer. That is correct.}

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the small clock running down to zero from the previous message. I had less than ten seconds before time would resume.

Hey, Lost Oracle, I don’t have time for all three options. Which one guarantees Freya’s safety?

{Answer. Use skill <Mana Shield> in succession to <Greater Earth Manipulation> to shield her}

{Time will now resume}

There was no testing her theory or thinking it through; I had to put my trust in it and hope for the best. With all I had in me, I extended my reach of magic as far as possible and used the skills, one after the other.

In a flash of light, the weak bubble of muli-coloured magic appeared in front of Freya and took the brunt of the magic ooze ball. Next came the walls of dirt that I raised around her to barricade her behind. It wasn’t my best, but in a split-second move, it did the trick.

The stone cracked under the weight of the attack, and it wasn’t long before the magic ball shattered my Mana Shield completely. I looked for Freya, who got caught in a massive explosion, and although a bit wounded, she was still alive.

Perception allowed me to sense her, even from a distance, and she still gave signs of life. I finally felt the anxiety leave me and turned to the massive Magia Golem next.

It looks like she's safe for now. Good, if she were hurt, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself. This battle’s become too dangerous to drag out.

The Magia Golem let out another bellow and flared its blue magic light.

Another attack, so soon?! Just how many of those attacks can it toss in a row? Isn’t there a cooldown?

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my MP bar had already dropped quite low. Any more skills would surely deplete it, especially at the rate I was going.

The Magia Golem molded another ball of blue ooze; this time, it was larger than the last. It sloppily sculped it together, then lopped it over the shoulders to throw.

“Grooooooooooooaaaaahhh!!” The mighty roar it forced out managed to shake me to my core.

An uncomfortable sensation raced over my backside at the same time, the result of my Perception skill. Three battered trolls rushed towards me, riddled with wounds.

I’m getting overwhelmed here… Damn it, if I go for the small fry, the Magia Golem will attack Freya. If I go for him directly, the small fry will get to me. I’m screwed here!

Wind separated from the edge of the trolls’ club as it barreled through the air. The impact on my arms sent the few cracks into full splints and shattered my arm entirely.

My injuries aren’t holding up. If it goes on like this any longer, I might just die... What the—!!

Without a second to think, I felt the overpowering presence of mana rush at me. The Magia Golem hurled its ball of magic ooze, which, from our distance, didn’t leave a lot of time for thinking.

Crap! Mana Shield!! I panicked. The thin bubble of mana resonated in front of me, and a moment later, everything around me was consumed by the full weight of the attack. The troll, its club, and a hefty chunk of the floor around me were completely destroyed. It’s even willing to kill its partners? This thing… It’s really only a tool meant to kill me.

Cracks spread across the thin layer of shield, and in a burst of pressure, the full weight of the ooze ball collided with me. My body was buried under the weight, and my health bar dropped by nearly half of its full amount. Death didn’t just feel like a possibility; it looked inevitable.

As I struggled to my feet, I noticed the small army of monsters rise from the rubble. Their eyes glared from me to the unconscious Freya on the other end of the room.

Don’t tell me it used all those attacks to get me to drain my mana...? That’s playing dirty! I rushed over, and the splints along my legs gave in and crumbled.

My eyes locked on the injured goblin in front of me. It’s beedy eyes paid me no mind as it mindlessly stalked over to Freya’s direction. With my remaining leg, I hopped towards it and bore down all my strength, killing it under my fist.

{Gained 80 Exp}

{Strong determination has been detected. Evolution options have been updated}

{Err0r.}

{Skill <Foresight> has been activated}

{Evolution status will now be presented}