Martial Arts Worlds

'Wait… the system speaks now, or what?'

Kiernan frowned and looked around the room.

It was empty, as even Fen was nowhere to be found, but he didn't find it strange, as he always explored through the house early in the morning.

His father and Julian still didn't know about the existence of Fen. Not that he wasn't trusting them, but the fewer people knowing about his existence, the better.

"Hello, system?"

[…Hello]

'Holy shit…'

Kiernan looked in front of him where the message popped out.

The system wasn't talking. It was communicating through chat-like messages, but it still greatly surprised him.

'I can finally ask questions that had been haunting me for a while!'

Kiernan rubbed his chin in a thoughtful manner, thought about the first question he should ask, and after he was confident, he nodded and said.

"Why are you, the system, so hell-bent on limiting what I can do?"

He asked out of curiosity.

[…I can't answer that]

"Why?"

[…Ask something else]

Kiernan frowned, tapped his finger against his thigh, and then asked.

"What is the purpose of your existence?"

[…I am a guide to help the good. To acquire the system, one must've lived a good, moral life, and to help them in their new life, I am bestowed upon them]

"Then… do you know everything about me? About my past life?"

Kiernan asked with a sharp gaze.

[…I do]

"I didn't live a good, moral life. I was far from someone who could earn the system. Are you limiting me because of things I've done in the past?"

[…It's not my job to judge. I do what I've been programmed to do, and that is to help you]

"Who created you? Is it the Death? If so, I am sure your creator would hate for you to help me."

[…Death did not create me. He is just one cog in the wheel of the universe]

"Well, what does your creator think about me having the system? I am sure that creator of yours must be some big shot, correct? A god? I don't know if gods exist. I've been atheist all my life."

Kiernan asked.

[…My creator doesn't control who receives the system. He created me but does not bestow it. The judges do that, but you never met them as you hopped into the river of reincarnation before you could]

"…Are they angry?"

[…Yes]

"Have they been trying to shut you down?"

[…Yes]

"How come it hasn't worked?"

[…I don't know]

"Sigh…"

Kiernan sighed heavily, leaned against the wall, and rubbed his forehead, feeling quite overwhelmed.

It wasn't just Death, but it sounded like he had made quite a few enemies in the afterlife.

"When I die and enter the afterlife, what will they do to me?"

[…Purgatory. Eternal suffering]

"Hahaha!"

Kiernan laughed with his white teeth showing.

It was something he expected a long time already, as he made a fool of Death, and He must be fuming in anger in the afterlife.

"Final question—are there other system holders in this world? I mean, there must be."

[…There used to be. No more]

"Why?"

[…Dead]

"Great…"

Kiernan sighed and then waved off the chat messages, as there were so many that they were completely blocking his view.

He then checked the system interface once more, saw that he had ten stat points to use, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

***

[Name: Kiernan Hunter]

[System Level: Advanced]

[Martial Rank: High Stage Martial Champion]

[Age: 18]

[Level: 10]

[SP: 10]

[Gold: 33,111]

[XP: 5/64,000]

[Strength: 125]

[Agility: 118]

[Stamina: 105]

[Vitality: 140]

[Charm: 80]

[Quests]

[Quest Store]

[Shop]

[Inventory]

[Lottery]

***

'Right. I have that Quest Store. I'll check that once I've assigned my stats first.'

With a few moments of thought, Kiernan started assigning the stats.

[Strength: 125 → 130]

[Agility: 118 → 119]

[Stamina: 105 → 107]

[Vitality: 140 → 141]

[Charm: 80 → 81]

Kiernan closed his eyes and felt his body have a slight transformation.

It was very small, and he could barely feel it, but it was clear that he had become stronger once more.

He opened his eyes wide and then clicked on the Quest Store, but in front of him, several quests appeared, his eyes widening in surprise.

"System, please explain this."

[…Quest Store has always four quests available for purchase. There are different types of quests, and the rank of the quest will determine its difficulty]

"I don't see a price tag in any of them, though."

[…You'll pay for the quests with risking your body and soul]

"What does that mean?"

[…It means that once you select a quest, your punishment for failing the quest will not be known until after you've chosen the quest. The harder the quest, the greater the risk you'll have to take]

"Hmm…"

Kiernan nodded and then checked the three available quests.

***

[Assassination Quest]

[Rank: Intermediate]

[Mission: Kill Duke Elringham]

[Location: Amberham]

[Description: The duke is having a birthday party on his very own steamboat. It is his fiftieth birthday, and all his relatives will come to celebrate it. You must ensure that it will be his last birthday]

[Time limit: Till the end of his birthday]

[Reward: 100,000 Gold Coins]

[Penalty: ???]

***

"Assassination quest? Why that person specifically, system? Do you just choose a random person to die or what?"

[…Every quest is not a nice one. That person might be someone who is causing harm to others or a completely innocent one. It is up to you whether you're still willing to choose that kind of quest]

"Damn…"

Kiernan rubbed his forehead and moved onto the next one.

***

[Investigation Quest]

[Rank: Beginner]

[Mission: Find out who killed Roah York]

[Location: Gothic City]

[Description: During the night of the red moon, a corpse was found in a modest three-story building. The back wall was splattered in red, a revolver was in the corpse's hand, and one bullet was missing. It looks like it is suicide at first glance, but is it really?]

[Time limit: 1 Month]

[Reward: Acquire Instinct]

[Penalty: ???]

***

'That doesn't… seem too bad of a quest. Acquire Instinct? I wonder what that is, but it doesn't sound as nice as having 100,000 gold coins as a reward, but it could be a diamond in the rough.

'A beginner quest would be a nice way to start.'

He then moved to the last two quests. His eyes almost dropped out of his sockets, as they were quite crazy ones!