System Discord-Chapter 42: SysDi : Willpower, Intellect and Perseverance 4

"S-summon Pet Iva." Evan tries to call for Iva.

Another warning pops up in front of him.

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Warning!

Interference detected.

Abilities inaccessible. Attempt counted and compensated by a hit point.

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Even before Evan finished reading it, another one pops up in front of him.

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Warning!

Hit points critically low.

Use a healing potion or healing spell to replenish lost hit points.

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"What? I can’t use abilities and you’re asking me to heal?!" Evan sounded frustrated, but his legs do feel weak and wobbly.

He gulps, panting as he leans more towards the wall. He needs to get out of here. If the way forward is something he cannot go through, then, he would have to turn back.

He turns around on the opposite side and began to start walking. He was being careful, as he feels like his chest hurt from the labored breathing he is doing.

His vision felt blurry, but he can’t really tell because it is just darkness around him.

"Iva..." He calls, coughing a little. He felt like he had choked on his own spit. "W-what’s happening? Are you there?"

Iva didn’t respond.

Not only that, but it seems like his head is a little too quiet.

Even if Iva doesn’t talk, Evan knew it was there. Its presence has been a constant to him ever since he had gotten the watch.

But now, it didn’t feel like it is even there. At least, not anymore.

Stopping himself from walking, he tried his best to regulate his breathing. No matter where he goes, his steps keep getting heavier and heavier. At this rate, he might get lost in here. There’s no telling if there would be anyone who can find him here if he did.

"Tell me. What do you really want to do?" Erwin’s voice echoed in Evan’s mind. The very same question he had asked him days ago.

He pants, head looking up at the ceiling he couldn’t see.

"I want to get into Stardust Academy, dad. Do you think I can really do that?" Evan’s own voice echoed in his mind, a reply to Erwin’s question.

Evan turns around. Each movement felt more labored, not just his steps.

He went here because he wanted to explore. There are risks, he knew that. He had to face the consequences. If he doesn’t survive this, then, he really is nothing other than what that machine judged him to be: Category Z, the useless, no magic potential.

He almost forgot he was disadvantaged. His starting point was different from all the others. They all had something and Evan only had the watch. If he can’t survive this, there’s no point for him to get to the magic school he wanted. There’s just none.

"I’m sorry, Evan." Sylvia’s voice echoed in his mind. It was the same words his mom said when they found out about his mana reserve category. "I’m sorry."

He shook his head. He gulps down the emotion that tried to overwhelm him.

"No, mom." Evan said out loud, as if replying to the memory now when he didn’t have the chance before. "There’s no need to be sorry for me. I can do this. For you and for dad."

Renewed resolve coursing through his veins, Evan began to walk forwards again. His steps continued to get heavier and heavier. Each step felt like he was going up a mountain with more than his weight he could carry.

Zoom!

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Warning!

Hit points drains by 1

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Several warnings of his hit points being drained pops up in front of him. But after the third one had popped up, he pretends not to see it. There’s only one way path he needed to get to and that is forwards.

There’s no turning back for him.

His knees and legs wobbled, but he gritted his teeth. He can do this. Just a little bit more.

"A little bit more. A little bit..." He kept repeating out loud and inside his mind too. The mantra is the only thing that is keeping his entire body from collapsing into a heap of tired bones.

Evan pressed on, ignoring the heartbeat and the blood rushing that he could hear. He refused to wipe away the sweat that tried to flow down from his forehead and down his face.

He ignored everything else, just repeating his mantra in his head with the words that his parents had told him. Those were what is keeping him walking. Just a little further.

It felt like he was there for an eternity. But he never backed down. He almost did before, but not anymore.

With one right foot forward, a bright light encased him so suddenly. Evan had to shut his eyes tight so he wouldn’t get blinded, along with both his hands covering his face.

When the light subsides a little, Evan’s hands left his face as he slowly opens his eyes.

He is standing in a corridor, faced with a long straight path and two branching paths beyond it.

He made it out of the dark tunnel.

The realization hit him hard. His body, finally realizing it is out of danger and he is breathing in relief, collapsed on the floor.

Evan laughs out loud, not because he found his situation funny, but because he has no idea what to feel. The entire path back the corridor took too much out of him.

He was naive to think everything is fine as long as he still has the watch. He did a lot of the things he knew because the Simulation Zone is an ability he can rely on.

No.

He was disadvantaged compared to all the others.

Evan swore to himself from today on that he would do whatever it takes to prove everyone wrong. To prove his own parents wrong.

He’s not useless like the machine had branded him to be. He can get in the school he wanted. He’ll get in Stardust Academy.

He’ll be the best magical ability user with far less mana than all the others. They all have to just wait and see.

That was his last thought before his eyes roll back and everything went dark.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel