Rowan took his time eating the piece of cake and sipping Bourbon from time to time, swirling the glass and enjoying the scent and the taste. It matched well with the chocolate and sour cherries. When he finished the liquid amber, he put the glass on the nearby table, leaned back on the swing, rested his feet on the railing, and closed his eyes. Many thoughts, maybe about the novelty or his situation, were fighting each other in his head. He went inside for a minute to recover his phone and tried to check for news. There was no access to any type of internet yet. In the end, he decided to talk directly to the one most likely to know things and try to build a relationship in the process.

  AI? Sorry… Cory?

  [Cory]: What?

  Sorry, I know you’re busy.

  [Cory]: Not busy, just taking a number one.

  Err… Like x and zeroes flowing out?

  [Cory]: Ones and… Never mind. It was a joke. How can I help you?

  I thought we could… well… socialize? Know each other better? Are there any settings I should be helping with?

  [Cory]: Sure. For instance, I would like to communicate telepathically with the other Awakened citizens when needed. Just think: request granted.

  Request granted. Tell me something… I have like a hundred grand in gold in my backpack… I sold my car…

  [Cory]: You sold your car for a hundred grand?

  It was a muscle car. A friend built it for me, and then I drove it for a year. Selling it got me a nice profit. I was thinking of using the money for a house, but now… Anyway. Should I put them in a bank or something?

  [Cory]: It can be arranged. The County will have its own bank and keep the dollar at its current value, freezing prices. A bit of a heavy-handed approach, but necessary. In time, there will be plenty of opportunities for a Mana Zone to thrive. Health tourism, for instance. A Healer can take care of most ailments your doctors can't with a simple spell.

  You should also know that your backpack has been changed into a rare-tier bonded spatial storage with a volume of about a metric ton. If you want to retrieve something, just concentrate on the item, and it will appear. Do you want to review the improvements I’m planning for your mansion?

  Yeah, about that… I’d rather stay here.

  [Cory]: You're positive? That mansion is very fashionable. Best Galaxy standard.

  Sure, sure... You have… err… great taste. But I like it here better. It's cozy and… well… I just like it. Could you arrange for the town to pay Grace rent or something? The town can use the mansion for whatever instead.

  [Cory]: Your wish is my command. Grace’s house is now your official residence, and the County will pay her a rent equal to half—

  “Oh, no, you’ll pay her full rent!” Rowan frowned.

  [Cory]: — to half of what she would get if she had full occupancy all the time. She will have the right to rent free rooms for short periods, though, and you will have the right to host guests for no charge. Overall, her business will make more money than it does now. A fair deal will also make her feel—

  Respected… Good thinking. Now, what if you brief me about the Apocalypse and stuff

  [Cory]: Beginning presentation. During an intergalactic voyage, a Manatech spaceship called the Traipenent crashed on Earth, exposing your planet to Mana, a form of Dark Matter that interacts with sentience and can be used for magic. Once it reaches a place, it multiplies until a Quantum equilibrium is achieved.

  Sorry, you lost me…

  [Cory]: What matters is the result: Magic. Do you want me to skip to the System?

  Yes, but keep it simple. Is it sentient?

  [Cory]: It's unclear whether the System is sentient, but it always appears wherever Mana is present. Typically, the System adapts to the local culture. Its primary goal is the survival of the newly Awakened planet and its inhabitants.

  “But you are sentient, right?” Rowan said aloud. “You sure sound smart and clever.” He had thought about the AI’s sarcasm and scolding for a second; however, keeping the best relationship with an alien Artificial Intelligence by throwing in a compliment was better.

  [Cory]: By happenstance, I am sentient, unlike most cores. Now, let’s go to the main problem. This is an Accidental Awakening, and we’re in an uncharted part of the Galaxy… No civilized planet will send help. We’re on our own.

  Has the System spread everywhere on Earth?

  [Cory]: Affirmative. However, I doubt it will make itself known all over the planet before the Mana reaches an adequate density. Advice: interacting with your government will be pointless. The chance that Earth’s Governments survive in the present configuration is zero. The System doesn’t care about the US, China, whatever. It favors smaller polities, which are more manageable. I suggest ignoring outside distractions and focusing on your fiefdom.

  Continuing presentation:

  This Town Core has expanded to cover Randolph County. Within the County, the Mana levels are on par with average Intergalactic standards. The climate is also more moderate, with a pleasant cycle of late spring, summer, and early autumn.

  About Classes: Classes are specialized roles that use Mana in various ways. You have a resource tank called the Mana Pool, which processes raw Mana into a usable form. Your ability to use Mana improves as your Stats increase. Speaking of Stats, they are complex and personalized. The same Strength number is different for you compared to a dragon. Stats grow exponentially and are represented logarithmically. Starting at 10 (considered the average human value), each point represents a n x 1.035 gain. A written value of 11 in a stat is 10.35, but a 100 is more than 220. This means slower growth at the beginning and a bigger one at higher levels.

  “Hm… I think I’m smarter than I thought… I understood everything,” Rowan complimented himself.

  Cory: Back to Classes. Most people will fall into the F-tier, the Common Unclassed category, with only a 5% improvement in their bodies. The next tier, E, Common Classed, gains access to the System and a small boost in Attribute Points. About one percent of Earth's population will progress further, and only a handful will get your tier: Legendary-Unique.

  “Wow! Really?” Rowan exclaimed.

  [Cory]: Legendary Classes are granted for accomplishing extraordinary feats in high-risk, high-reward situations. The maximum level for Classes is 100, just like for stats. Each person has a primary stat, which is the only one that can be raised to threshold four. Your primary stat is WIL, which is the rarest of all.

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  Is it bad?

  [Cory]: No, it’s the best, but getting points for it before you’re Awakened is hard.

  How so?

  [Cory]: On advanced Awakened planets, children are born with milk stats, similar to baby teeth. When they come of age, their levels are reset to one, their stats are transformed to their equivalent in adult values, and they’ll have a choice of a permanent class. Getting a high Will means you overcame significant hardships in your early life.

  “I understand…” Rowan said, his voice strangled with emotions.

  [Cory]: Maybe one day, you’ll tell me your story.

  “It's a short one," Rowan changed to talking aloud. "My mother died young, my biological father went into drugs, and we landed on the streets. It was tough. My mother’s uncle adopted me. The End.”

  [Cory]: Oh… so that’s why you empathize with Lizzie. Maybe you see yourself in her.

  “Aren’t you a shrink in disguise? What about the unique after Legendary?”

  [Cory]: It’s a badge of honor. You were the first to accomplish something significant, earning the right to have a unique title: The Indomitable. However, for all other purposes, you are considered Legendary. The exact type of Legendary you become will depend on how you develop. Don’t rush to level up—take your time and focus on mastering your skills. The System and your subconsciousness are giving each other feedback. If it’s good, it will unlock better Perks. Also, your attribute points are valuable, so investing them wisely is highly recommended.

  The AI voice had turned sour on the last words, and Rowan grinned sheepishly. While sipping Bourbon on the porch, he had invested his free AP into Charisma to make himself more likable.

  “I’ll give it my best in the future.”

  [Cory]: Let's hope so. Now, about the County’s upgrades. You can choose two options: Universal Translator, Technoforge, Short Range Portals, and Class Assignment Module.

  "Forget the Universal Translator. Everybody speaks English. On the other hand, getting a portal out might be useful. I have some friends outside I want to check on.”

  [Cory]: I can open passages in the barrier anytime.

  "What are the portals for, then? Are they safer than that teleport?"

  [Cory]: Yes. Short Range Portals, also known as Shortcuts, can transport people up to one hundred miles away and can be upgraded for longer distances. However, if you want to check with someone, why don’t you use the Internet? The general public access is momentarily shut off, but I can open a line for you... One moment... Here it is. I’ve installed a new app on your phone, and no one can spy on you—not even me. You can write or call your friends.”

  “Really? That’s great. Yeah, I’ll call someone… Does this work with thinking?” Rowan asked, extracting his phone from his pants’ backpocket.

  [Cory]: Negative. It’s normal tech, not manatech. Spoken commands work, though.

  “Great. Call Jim,” Rowan said. “Oh… I just realized the mayor has the same name as my friend.”

  After two buzzes, a man’s voice answered, almost yelling. “Rowan? Are you OK? We were worried sick!”

  “No worries. I sold my car and—”

  “Dude! I was talking about the nukes. You were supposed to go through that area, remember? The government said it was an accident, but the news says it was an alien invasion. Some paparazzi posted photos with a sort of forcefield.

  “Yeah, it’s true. An alien ship crashed. Some monsters appeared, and I helped get rid of them…” There was nothing said on the other side, probably for lack of words, and Rowan continued. “Well, guess what? This is a sort of System Apocalypse, and I became a Count. The forcefield you saw protects my domain. The government tried to breach it with nukes but failed. And I have a super smart AI who’s helping me… Jim, you’re there?”

  “…I’m here… You’re serious?”

  “Did I ever lie to you?”

  “…Fuck, man! An Apocalypse? Will it spread?”

  [Cory]: Slowly, but probably not so dramatically as here.

  “The AI says yes, but it will be not so bad as it was here… You and Gwen are welcome to join me if—”

  “If it is not so bad, I’d rather not… you know, the business and all… If you ever get bored to be a count and want your job back, just call… What should I do about your stuff?”

  “Put it in boxes or something; it’s nothing important. I’ll come pick it up as soon as possible.”

  “Take care, man,” Rowan’s friend sighed and hung up.

  “Jim is my boss… a really nice guy. He owns an apartment building next to the distillery and lets me use a studio for free,” Rowan explained. “Now, who to call next?” he scratched his cheek.

  [Cory]: Ahum…

  “Sorry, I’ll call them later… What about the other two County Perks?"

  [Cory]: The Technoforge is an advanced factory making weapons and other tech. It's really useful. The Class Assignment Module allows the County to grant classes to up to a hundred people yearly.

  "Who decides who gets classes?"

  [Cory]: You select the candidates, and the local priests perform the ceremony. This perk is a must, if not now, soon enough. We need people with powers on our side.

  “Let's take the Technoforge and the Class Module," Rowan nodded.

  [Cory]: Now, more news. The System detected the activation of five more Town Cores worldwide. I can’t pinpoint their locations for now.

  So, once Mana appears, dungeons follow, and if you clear them, you can use the cores to make a zone safe?

  [Cory]: You are correct, but for one thing. Earth's Mana Field is still too weak to generate dungeons. The ship I told you about, the Traipenent, carried a stash of a hundred dungeon cores. The emergency protocols ejected them across the planet to avoid a mega dungeon-break. About half of these, the lower-level cores, will activate sooner rather than later. The rest will remain dormant for now due to the low ambient Mana.

  Shutting his eyelids tight, Rowan massaged the nape of his neck. That was worrying news. Was this what the future held for him? Fighting monsters on a daily basis? “Why the heck does a Spaceship carry dungeons?”

  [Cory]: The Traipenent was a unique, multi-purpose ship combining training, penitentiary, and entertainment, renting out its facilities. People would enter its dungeons to relax in resort-like environments or train by taking on challenges, fighting indentured prisoners, monsters, or Mana Constructs. A resurrection facility ensured that no one was truly harmed. Now, here are your next duties.

  Chain Quest:

  Baby Steps in Leadership

  Attend at least one Town Hall meeting a week. 0/12. Reward: 1 free AP.

  Training

  Train with at least 10 different weapons and hand-to-hand combat for a month, 4 times a week. Reward: 2 free APs.

  Clear the County of Mutated Wildlife, tier 1. Available to all Classed citizens.

  Approximately 1% of the County’s wildlife mutated into monsters after exposure to Mana. These mutated creatures are highly aggressive and must be dealt with. The reward for clearing them completely includes: 1 level up, XP, loot, and a +1 Level for the Town Core.

  [Cory]: Good luck. It’s time for me to go; you have a visitor.

  As soon as the conversation ended, Rowan found himself gazing at two globes of perfection, slightly shining under the evening sun.

  “You're needed inside.”

  “Why? Hey!”

  Isla pulled him up by the collar like a schoolboy, and she followed her until they reached the living room. “He stared at my boobs,” she ratted.

  “I’ll kill you in your sleep,” Thomas promised but kept playing on his phone.

  “C’mon, Isla. I stare at your boobs too. That dress is just too sexy,” Grace shrugged. “Is it true you sang Chicago to distract her, Rowan?”

  “Yeah, the We both reached for the gun. It’s my favorite. My old man liked musicals, and I caught the virus. I even… ahum… performed in a few amateur productions.”

  “Well, well, well,” Grace’s eyes shone with interest. “Then why don’t you show us what you can do?”

  She walked to an upright piano near a wall and began playing the accompaniment. Rowan missed the first queue, his heart beating in his throat from stage fright, but she gave him the queues by singing the reporters’ part, and he managed to find his way around the piece.

  “Not bad at all,” Grace said at the song's end.

  “Thanks, but let's not do that again. I almost ruined Dmitri’s pants.”

  “Oh, we’ll absolutely do that again! Can’t wait,” she clapped her hands in joy.

  “You played pretty well,” Rowan complimented her. “Are you a professional?”

  “Maybe a low-key one. I still give some piano and singing lessons and get the occasional secondary role once in a blue moon.”

  “Why don’t you sing something for us?” Rowan proposed to divert her attention.

  “Glitter and be gay,” Dmitri said. “I love everything that glitters and is gay.”

  “I like that song a lot,” Rowan confessed, sitting on the couch beside Lizzie, who was coloring in a children's book.

  “Glitter and be gay; that's the part I play. Here I am in Paris, France…” Grace began.

  She played the piano and sang so beautifully that Rowan felt the need to kiss her but settled for applause.

  “I didn’t get why it says Paris, France,” Isla said when the applause faded. “Everyone knows where Paris is.”

  “It’s a pun about us, ‘Mericans. We’re supposed to be uncultured and be told or tell others where Paris is despite being obvious,” Rowan said.

  “Who cares about the capital of some sex-obsessed snail eaters?” Isla snorted. “Thomas, leave that bloody phone alone. It's late and you have homework. We’re going home.”

  After hugs were exchanged, the two left. The rest of the evening was spent playing board games, listening to Grace singing a few more songs, and doing various other relaxing activities. When night came, Grace whispered to Rowan: “I promised Lizzie I’ll sleep with her tonight.”

  He smiled and nodded. However, his morning sleep was cut short when Grace arrived in his room at six in the morning with explicit intentions in mind.