There was a slight dissonance between the moment that Jon vanished and the time he arrived in his current location. In one moment, his eyes had been examining the surrounding houses and streets, enjoying various colours of green, red and yellow all around him.

The next moment, Jon had been taken to some other place. His brain unable to comprehend the dramatic shift in his environment, causing him to keep walking for a few more meters before realizing that the world around him had completely shifted.

Jon was greeted with an overwhelming sense of white.

The idea of colour had simply vanished, leaving behind a bleached white landscape in every fathomable direction. Turning his head in an overexaggerated manner, Jon felt his heart rate spike, his gaze frantically searching for the familiar presence of tone or shades around him.

Colour and depth had been completely replaced with an overwhelming sense of white.

Any sense of depth or shape vanished.

Even the familiar presence of his shadow seemed to vanish in this space.

Nothing, but the colour of pure driven snow could be seen in his field of vision.

Jon did normally what he did whenever he felt overwhelmed.

He blinked.

"What the actual f- ". Jon's words were cut short, as an unfamiliar set of characters appeared in front of him. His eyes barely had time to process a single one of the letters before the characters scrambled themselves into a more recognizable form of language.

Hello! Welcome to the Pure Room!

We understand that some of you will be disoriented at the moment but kindly ask that you remain silent until the System Introduction has been completed!

Jon unconsciously opened his mouth to ask a question but refrained from doing so the moment he saw more text unscramble itself before him.

Congratulations! You have been selected as one of the premier individuals from amongst your Race to participate within the 37th universes System Integration!

Jon narrowed his eyes at the floating text box in front of him.

'System Integration? What in the world is going-', Jon found his thoughts being cut off as more strange letters appeared in front of him, swiftly unscrambling itself into something more recognizable.

The 37th universe has reached optimal saturation in terms of diversity and quantity of sentient and sapient species. Numerous civilizations have begun to interact with one another, and the average technological level across the universe has reached a threshold suitable for System Introduction.

As a result, the System has decided to begin its introduction to all sapient organisms. Individuals who are considered optimal in terms of biological clock, genetic imperfections, physical capabilities, mental faculties, and spiritual uniqueness have been chosen to represent their Race during the System Introduction.

During this period, individuals will be exposed to various quantities and qualities of spiritual energy. Spiritual energy often has positive mutative effects on the psyche and physiology. In order to access spiritual energy, individuals must be in possession of a Mana Core.

Jon paused, reading the last line one more time.

'Mana Core? Spiritual energy? What the hell is all of this?'. Jon peered around the room for a moment, not noticing any changes in the pure white room around him. He glanced back towards the paragraphs of text that hovered in front of his vision, frowning as he tried to better evaluate them.

These words, or their meanings at least were familiar to Jon. He had heard of them as common terminology in games or in fiction, but other than that he had never given concepts such as "mana" or "spiritual energy" a second thought away from his computer screen.

'Biological clock. Genetic imperfections. Physical and mental capabilities? I'm considered optimal in regard to the majority of my Race. Not to mention the fact that aliens and other civilizations exist across the universe!'

Jon's age might have provided him with a greater chance of being selected out of 8 billion possible human candidates, but he never assumed that his physical capabilities and mental faculties were in the top few percentiles of humanity.

'Genetic imperfections… I'm guessing that includes possible inherited traits from parents and grandparents…'. Jon pushed those thoughts to the side, reading another line of unscrambled text.

As spiritual energy does not currently exist within the 37th universe, efforts will be made to induce the creation and subsequent proliferation of spiritual energy. Mana Cores possess the capacity to produce, refine and absorb ambient traces of spiritual energy. This is where the System selected individuals come into play.

Each chosen individual of each Race will receive the opportunity to obtain a Mana Core during this System Introduction. This is a unique privilege given to those who are chosen to participate within each System Introduction. This is both a great boon, and a heavy responsibility.

Individuals will be placed in a collection of System crafted small realms capable of supporting life. They will each receive a Mana Core of their choice, alongside a series of tasks which they must complete. Specific tasks are not optional and although their completion will result in a series of rewards, failure to do so will result in death.

Additionally, refusal to do so will result in death.

Voluntary abdication from the System Introduction will result in death.

This is neither a request, nor an invitation.

This is an opportunity. Grasp what you can, and do not let anyone deny you your Path.

Without even so much as a warning, the floating words suddenly vanished, returning Jon's vision to a world of painted white. His face somewhat pale, and the hairs on the back of his neck raised.

There was something… frightening about the about the final few lines of the System Introduction.

Not the fact that if Jon refused to become a part of the System Introduction he would be killed. Rather, that the tone and phrasing felt significantly less robotic and automated than the rest of the System generated text. As if something else was typing.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

As if someone was speaking directly to him, rather than at him.

"Is- is this actually happening?" the words slipped out of Jon's mouth. Almost cursing himself as he unconsciously covered his lips with his hand. His eyes narrowed as he muttered the final line of the System Introduction.

"This is an opportunity. Grasp what you can, and do not let anyone deny you your Path… Path was capitalized, the same was Mana Core was. Is it some sort of physical object? Or more of an abstract concept?", Jon let out a small tsk, finding himself with more questions rather than any actual answers.

Before Jon could do anything else, another set of text appeared in front of him, unscrambling itself after a few moments.

Please receive your System Introduction mandated Mana Core.

Jon blinked, waiting a moment for another line of text to appear in front of him. He waited for a few seconds. And then thirty. And then a minute passed with no change to the single line of text before him.

Instead of continuing to wait, Jon adjusted the strap of his duffle bag, switching shoulders before pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. His finger accidentally smudging the corner of one of his lenses, opting him to take them off and clean them with the hem of his sleeve.

"I've been abducted by aliens or demons or something… the least they can do is fix my eyes for me- Oh?", Jon lifted his gaze, noting that another couple lines of text had appeared beneath the original line.

Would you like to select "Demon" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

Would you like to select "Eyes" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

Jon tilted his head to the side for a moment before opening his mouth in realization.

"Oh? How generous. I get to choose", the brown-haired man smirked.

"Fire?".

Would you like to select "Fire" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

"Water".

Would you like to select "Water" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

"Space".

Would you like to select "Space" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

"… Fission?".

There was no response from the system text, causing Jon to sigh before shaking his head.

"I guess that would be a little bit too overpowered. I wonder what other things can be considered a Mana Core", Jon started holding out his fingers, counting the different types of Mana Cores he could come up with.

"Emotions".

Would you like to select "Emotions" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

"Love".

"Hate".

"Envy".

Would you like to select "Envy" as you Mana Core?

Y/N

Jon attempted the remaining seven deadly sins, in addition to their seven cardinal virtue counterparts, finding each of them available to become a Mana Core. His eyebrow raised as even something like 'Humility' was considered available, not neither 'Love', nor 'Hate' actually were.

'Is there something fundamentally different about each of them? I mean, human culture regards them as important. Is this System Introduction allowing us to choose concepts or ideas inherent to our ways of life in order to make the transition easier? Or are notions that predate our comprehension of them? Would 'Lust' and 'Kindness' still exist even if humanity didn't exist?'

Jon felt his left temple ache as more and more questions appeared within his mind without any answers. He did not want to get stuck debating with himself the philosophical nature of sins and virtues.

Jon did pause all such related thoughts, before another possibility entered his mind.

"Karma".

Would you like to select "Karma" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

"Fate".

Would you like to select "Fate" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

"… Justice?"

Would you like to select "Justice" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

Jon suppressed a groan as more and more questions bubbled up from the depths of his mind. Like ocean waves crashing against a shoreline, questions erupted like sea foam, continuously begging for Jon to answer them.

Taking a deep breath, Jon examined the information in front of him.

"Specific aspects of nature are accepted as a Mana Core. Fire. Water. Wind Light. Other than that, certain… sins and virtues can also become a Mana Core. Conceptual ideas can also become a Mana Core. Considering this, what would be the most suitable concept for myself to become a Mana Core?" Jon spoke out loud, knowing full well that there was no-one else around to hear him.

"The System said that we would be placed in some sort of "small realm capable of sustaining life" and that there would be a "series of tasks that we must complete". If I am assuming correctly, there will be others joining me in this "small world", potentially others that are not human. There will be a barrier of culture and language dividing us, leading to friction and possible conflict between different species".

"Without knowing their physical capabilities, fighting would be the option with the lowest chances of success. There is also the question of physical needs. I require water, food and shelter in that specific order, and even with the food and water I have in my backpack, it isn't nearly enough to sustain me for an extended period of time. Finding sustainable sources of food and water are my number one priority".

"In the event that I am unable to reason with the other… individuals in this small realm, I will also require to defend myself. I do not know what these Mana Cores are capable of, however, picking something inherently dangerous to living beings, such as "Fire" or "Lightning" would be useful as both a deterrent, and as a last resort". Jon tapped his chin in thought, debating the hundreds of different possibilities before himself.

Another set of text appeared in front of him.

Would you like to select "Lightning" as you Mana Core?

Y/N

Jon bit his lip, almost deciding on picking "Lightning" on the spot.

'It is quite suitable, given the situation I am in. It can be used to create fire, and it would certainly be quite effective at preventing conflict. And in the event that there is no other choice but to fight, it is faster than fire… at least in video games it is' Jon took in a deep breath of air, tapping his forehead trying to think of a better option.

There were limitations surrounding picking 'Lightning' that Jon had also considered.

The effectiveness of lightning would be reduced in the presence of metal or rubber or water. He did not understand how Mana Cores functioned, whether they inherently granted abilities, or required some sort of formal training or meditation in order to access the powers they granted.

If they even granted him powers in the first place.

There were also other possibilities which seemed equally as enticing.

Would you like to like to select "Dragon" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

No matter how ridiculous or childish the option seemed, there was a tiny, almost miniscule part of Jon which wanted to pick "Dragon" as his Mana Core.

After remembering that "Demons" was a possible option, Jon went through certain other mythological existences, finding that quite a number of them possessed a Mana Core available for choice.

Would you like to select "Phoenix" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

Would you like to select "Titan" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

Would you like to select "Deva" as your Mana Core?

Y/N

As well as a dozen other mythological creatures and races which Jon only read about in fiction or light novels.

There were a few whose details and accounts he could remember, but the vast majority of which remained unknown or forgotten by Jon. He unconsciously cursed himself, trying to remember details about their natures and myths letting out a sigh before ignoring all but one of them.

'Dragons cannot be that far from the preconceived image inside my head, right? I mean, enormous, scaled, fire-breathing lizards that can fly right? Sure, Eastern mythologies treat them as deities, but that doesn't necessarily hurt my chances if I pick it right?'.

Jon was not sure if he would obtain the weaknesses of a Dragon, if he could call an insatiable greed and a desire to kidnap princess and store them in a tower a weakness, but that was the childish part of his brain talking.

There were just as many myths and fairy tales about dragons being slayed then there was about worshipping them.

Nothing was infallible or untouchable. Even gods possessed mortal follies.

Jon called it an educated guess. It was closer to wishful thinking.

The 'fuck-it-why-not' part of him wanted him to choose 'Lightning' or 'Dragon'. Both had their own advantages, and the added bonus of being extraordinarily pleasing to the eighteen-year-old part of him.

Neither of them… just quite clicked. Neither of them seemed just quite right in his mind.

"I wish there was something a little bit more… me. I don't know how much use I will be in a fight, especially against sentient opponents. I'm the type of person to lay out all the information available to him right in front of me, then deduce the best method of combating my current circumstances and then take the most efficient route to get there".

"I have so many questions… what I need now is answers".

Jon lifted his head, glaring towards no one particular direction of his pure white prison.

"I choose Knowledge as my Mana Core".

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