System War: Here Comes the Heroes!

"AAAAAAAAaaaahhh...wait, what?"

SK was...mostly...prepared to face his death with a modicum of courage and fear, the moment he saw the giant fire ball fly towards his direction.

However, before the inevitable happened and he ended up a barbecued person, time had suddenly stopped.

"O...kay..."

It took a couple of moments for SK to process his surroundings, but once he did, he couldn't help but be shocked.

To his immediate right, a ball of flames the size of a minivan was about to impact him.

Directly beneath him, the trapped worker he was trying to rescue had a look of frozen terror on his face as he realized he was about to become barbecue as opposed to being rescued.

Beyond the fireball, SK could make out that the rock troll had tackled the bunsen burner robot while the latter was in the middle of firing their attack, hence the stray shot.

Making everything more absurd, the light produced by both the robot and the shipyard itself made it so that he could see that even the waves had become frozen in place.

"I wonder..."

Out of curiosity, SK attempted to step away from his current position and succeeded on the first attempt.

"Huh. I wonder if...yup. The waves are frozen too, great...," SK said to himself as he used his current freedom to walk to the edge of the shipyard and back again.

This all culminated into one question in SK's mind though.

"Why is everything frozen except for me?"

[I believe it's more accurate to ask, who made everything frozen.]

"What the-WHOA!"

Startled by the voice, SK understandably jumped in place before darting his head about to figure out where the voice was coming from.

[Over here.]

"Oh."

Following the voice, he eventually settled his eyes on the giant box he had attempted to dump moments ago. Granted, the box's contents were now glowing.

Then again, it was possible that the contents were already glowing and this was the first time he had a chance to properly observe the aformentioned contents.

Either way, SK found himself staring at an open, glowing treasure box.

[Are you just going to keep standing there or what? Get over here.]

"Of course the box talks!"

Correction, a talking glowing treasure box.

With the distinct feeling that he was going to be stuck in this frozen limbo unless he actually did as the box instructed, SK made his way over to it and peered inside.

"What the..."

SK wasn't sure he was staring at at this point in time, but he was pretty sure that this must be how people feel when they see angels...or Lovecraftian deities.

Either way, he was confused as all hell at what he was staring at.

And it's explaination didn't really provide much clarity either.

[Congratulations, would-be Contractor, you have been chosen to become the host for the _______ System. Please provide a name to this System in order to complete the contract and determine how your power will develop.]

As soon as these words were shared, a holographic panel and a keypad appeared before SK's eyes. However, he didn't immediately fill in the blanks as he had a lot of questions.

Well, one big question.

"I...beg your pardon?," SK asked as he was absolutely befuddled at what he just heard. "Would you mind providing me a bit more context?"

[...]

"Hello?"

[Context to what?]

"Huh?"

[Context to what exactly?,] the System with no name expanded. [Did you want additional context on what will happen if you name or context as to why you have been chosen to be a contractor?]

"Uh...both?"

[Acknowledged. Providing information panel on what will happen when this system has been named.]

The keypad and display screen disappeared, and was quickly replaced with an informational panel that read as follows.

...

Congratulations, Contractor, by naming this System you have been granted access to a fragment of reality that will enable you to rewrite the rules of your world.

However, depending on how the System is named, the abilities, services and items you will be able to access will change.

For example, if you decide to name the System the "Athlete System", you will be able to use it to become a top tier athlete and even become a god of physical prowess.

If you name the System the "Firearm System", you'll be able to learn skills related to the manufacturing and usage of items related to firearms. This can range from simple cannons to bioweapons that shoot acidic teeth.

You could even name it the Angel System, and become able to summon, control and turn yourself into an angelic being that is capable of channeling the wrath of heaven.

Be sure to choose your name wisely.

*Disclaimer* Certain names have already been claimed, and will be unavailable for use.

...

"Well...that's a lot of pressure," SK muttered in a mildly numb sort of way.

One minute, he was about to become a live re-enactment of the victims of Pompeii. The next, he was going to gain access... technically unlimited power.

This kind of tone shift had the ability to cause one's mind to suddenly stutter, especially when nearly endless choice paralysis is involved.

SK was familiar with the concept of "systems" from popular media, but he never thought they were actually real.

'So I could do something as silly as an Ice Cream System or absurd as a Kaiju Creation System...I think,' SK realized. 'Although, somebody probably already...wait a minute.'

"Uh...mildly relevant question. Are the guys controlling the monsters System hosts too?"

[Technically,no. Those two are able to use the System's power, but they're not hosts. They're additional users that have been invited by the System hosts. The one controlling the Rock Troll is a user of the Arcana System, while the one controlling the Bunsen Burner Mark Three is a a sure of the Machina System.]

"Ah...I think it get it. Thank you for explaining."

[No worries.]

At this revelation, SK mentally checked off doing a mech related or a monster related system since the rules of the panel stated he wasn't allowed to use them anyways.

'Wait a minute....'

Before SK got fully wrapped in the whole System mystique, he still needed an answer to an even more important question.

"Why me? If you haven't noticed, I don't exactly look like the type that can wield unlimited power competently...well, I don't need competency to become a politician, but still..."

[Allow me to answer your question, with my own,] the nameless System responded. [Why did you risk your life to save that man?]

"Who? Him?"

[Yes.]

"What about him?"

[This man has no bearing on your life, a complete and total stranger in name and appearance. And yet, despite all these factors against getting involved, you rushed in and risked your life to try and save him. Why?]

"Because it was the right thing to do," SK answered without even a hint of hesitation. "Man's probably important to somebody, and I hate to imagine someone having to cry over a closed casket with zero closure."

[And that right there, is why you were chosen.]

"Huh?"

[The amount of humans in this world with that level of altruistic behavior is rare. Some people are downright sociopathic and greedy, backstabbing and tearing down others for no good reason. A majority of humans will simply sympathize and move on, doing nothing all the while. And others will simply follow whomever has the strongest personality with no thought or regard about the consequences. Being able to truly throw yourself into danger, to be able to risk your life to save your fellow man, consequences be damned...that's behavior that should be rewarded more often. Don't you think?]

"Saving my fellow man...huh."

As these words sank into SK's head, the input panel appeared before him again, flashing the exact same words.

But his focus was just on one part of the whole thing.

_____ System.

"So...I can type anything in here, right? And then you'll...adjust yourself accordingly?"

[This System will gain the capabilities necessary to facilitate the growth, creation and services of your desired path. All you need to do is fill it in.]

"Okay then...doing the right thing, no matter what..."

Placing his hand on the keyboard panel, SK delicately typed in a single word.

A word that carries more meaning to him than any other.

"Superhero".

[You wish to designate this System as the "Superhero System". Is this correct?]

"Yes."

[Acknowledged.]

As soon as this exchange was given, the panel disappeared and a sound like a giant heartbeat echoed from the box.

A heartbeat that synced up with SK's.

Shortly after, the young man found himself being overwhelmed with both a surge of information and a surge of energy.

And now he knew exactly what to do with it.

[Superhero System has been created. As you are the first host and contractor, you have been given a Miracle Grade Familiar Creation Ticket. Do you wish to use it now?]

"Yes."

[Acknowledged.]

The next thing SK knew, a platinum colored ticket flew out of the treasure box and towards his hands.

In one motion, he ripped the ticket apart and created...a miracle.