CHAPTER 2: LIMITLESS SYSTEM ACTIVATED

CHAPTER 2: LIMITLESS SYSTEM ACTIVATED

"Where am I?" There was an intense buzzing in the air resonating with him, "What's that?"

["Your energy is in disarray!"] A white orb flew to him in the darkness. ["Young master? No, not quite."]

"Wh- what are you?" Marko was surprised to find out that he could move his body, the injures that he had recieved from the dark leopard were nowhere to be seen.

All around him was a world of infinite darkness lit only by the light from the orb.

The ground was cool under his feet and seemed to ripple too like water, half his body was submerged by a dark smoke.

There was a hissing sound coming from the back of his neck and he reached to feel it and found a flat hole or in clearer terms- a slot.

"Am I dead and are you the spirit that came to welcome me to the land of my ancestors?"

"Hard to believe I died so easily."

The orb with white wisps gave a release of white wisps of smoke that sparkled like gems.

["Spirit? A term for the immaterial."] It was a soft female voice, one he had never heard before.

"What is happening here?" Marko asked the orb.

["Sensing your body close to death your have awakened!"] It responded almost immediately.

Marko had no idea what was going on. "Can you please tell me what happened to me?"

["An anomaly seems to have triggered your power core!"] The glowing light hovered over to his neck. ["Hmm, I see! Such a waste!"]

"Hey! Stop saying hurtful words!" Marko tried to move but his body became heavy all of a sudden. "Where am I?"

The light stayed close to his neck for a moment before responding, ["A catalyst seems to have interfered with your power core!"]

Marko took a glance at the orb, "I don't know what you are but you said awakened and power core. Does that mean that I am a gifted…?"

The glowing orb glowed brighter, ["You wish to awaken properly?"]

"Awaken?" Marko closed his eyes and thought for a while, "So, I am a gifted!?"

But what power did he have? He had never met any gifted before but if this was his only chance to save Shayla…

"I need to awaken my power. Can I do that now?" His eyes gave a bright glow.

The orb hovered before his face, ["It will take a while to reach full extraction."]

Marko could not tell why but he could still vaguely sense what was happening in the real world. "I don't have that much time."

["Forceful Awakening is ill advised, you would only be able to utilize one limitless talent at best!"]

…WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?…

["System extraction at 65%."]

…BUT WHAT GOOD IS HAVING POWER IF I CAN NOT SAVE HER?!

["System extraction at 70%."]

"I'm sorry but I need to awaken now!!" He said between gritted teeth. "By the way what is system?"

The orb glowed again. ["All preparations are complete. Would you like to integrate with the system?"]

Marko hesitated for a bit before replying. "Yes!"

BEEP!

["I have restarted the flow of energy through your body! You might experience slight discomfort, please bear with it."]

BA-DUM! BA-DUM!

The orb shot right into his heart and started to merge with him.

MARKO felt an intense buzzing of energy not from his surroundings but from within him as he started to become enveloped by a white light, he managed to get to his feet somehow as a overwhelming power overtook him.

"Whaa", he exhaled.

He could feel the heat rising form within him moving through every part of his body.

BEEP!!

His eyes whirred like a machine and words started to appear before him.

[SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUCCESSFUL]

[MY LIMITLESS SYSTEM IS NOW ONLINE]

[YOU HAVE RECIEVED A RARE TALENT: LIMITLESS EYES]

Marko staggered on his feet with blood coating his back, he screamed out at the top of his voice.

"Hey!! Leave Shayla alone!"

His eyes started to turn like gears unwiding themselves.

And that was when it happened.

[RARE TALENT: LIMITLESS EYES HAS NOW BEEN ACTIVATED]

[YOUR LEVEL IS TOO LOW TO ACQUIRE A SKILL]

"What do you mean too low?" He asked under the burning pain on his back.

The dark leopard started to sprint in his direction with it's intent to end his life.

"Just give me something, damnit!" He staggered again.

[FORCEFUL SKILL USAGE IS ILL ADVICED]

"Give me something, please!" He cried with tears rolling down his face.

[…]

[YOU HAVE UNLOCKED THE FIRST EYE]

[EYE OF POWER

- INCREASE PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES HAVE BEEN GRANTED]

[TIME UNTIL SKILL DEACTIVATION - 60 SECONDS]

Marko's eyes turned a bright red colour as his body started to buzz with an intense energy. He could feel his muscles pulsing with what he could only identify to as raw power. As the dark leopard reached him he found himself able to easily dodge it's sharp claws.

"What?" Marko was as surprised as the terror. "Am I faster now?"

He jumped back away from the beast and grounded himself firmly on the ground. He wasn't given a moment to recuperate before the terror appeared out of thin air and clawed at his face.

[HEALING FACTOR HAS BEEN APPLIED]

Marko was amazed by the fact that he could feel his wounds closing up and his energy returning to him, it felt like a dream. But he had no time to be dreaming as it was, he needed to save Shayla. And he needed himself alive to do it.

It reminded him of the stories his mother had always told him: stories of HEROES! Those strong enough to protect what they loved most.

Marko did not know if he was a hero or not but he wanted to protect Shayla at all cost.

He dodged another claw that came for him and threw his own blow at the leopard. His hopes were dashed as the terror easily evaded it and struck him over the face. Marko stumbled into a tree and hissed out in pain at the feeling of hot blood dripping down his cheek.

The fight felt more realistic that anything he had ever experienced. Even then, seeing Shayla standing there with tears in her eyes urged him to get back up and fight.

The terror roared at him as if forcing away his newfound strength.

Marko raised his fists and raced forward, cutting through the air at an astounding speed. He would consider it a miracle if he could even beat the terror let alone land a single hit. But like his mother always said.

"True heroes create miracles!"

[TIME UNTIL SKILL DEACTIVATION - 10 SECONDS]

The terror came at him at an even greater speed.

They met in a forward clash as the leopard pounced on him from above, Marko had intended on putting it all into one punch and made sure not to miss!

POW!!

Marko's fist connected with the Terror's chest before it could reach him. There was a loud crack as his fist crushed it's bones and reached all the way to it's heart where he grabbed the it's core and crushed.

[SKILL HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED]

Marko stood there and watched the dark leopard disintegrate into a mound of dust.

Shayla looked at Marko with her eyes beholding a sight she had never once seen.

In that moment Marko immediately realized:

"I am a HERO!!"