[WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM?] The room fell silent once more.
Rex didn’t answer immediately.
Instead- A faint smile slowly formed on his face.
“…Activate.” The moment the words left his mouth, the screen in front of him flickered slightly.
[DING, ACTIVATION REQUEST ACCEPTED.] [SYSTEM IS BEING ACTIVATED, BEING BOUND TO HOST.] [EXPECTED TIME: 6:00 HOURS.] [PLEASE WAIT PATIENTLY.] Rex stared at the floating screen for a few seconds, his eyes reflecting the faint glow.
“…Six hours.” He leaned back slightly, letting out a slow breath.
“So it’s not instant…” For a moment, his thoughts began to wander, but he quickly suppressed them.
“Now that I have the system… I need to change my plans.” His expression slowly turned serious.
“But my intention… won’t change.” Revenge.
Looking at the clock showing 01:30 AM, he muttered, “I should get some sleep.
By the time I wake up… it should be ready.” With that, he lay down once again and soon drifted into sleep.
_ Morning, at Jade Spring Village.
Heaven Spring Academy, Dormitory No.
23.
The door burst open.
A boy with long hair, an oval face, and a brownish rosy complexion rushed in and jumped straight onto Rex’s bed.
“Get up!
Don’t you want your breakfast?” Rex woke up with a startled expression as the heavy body landed on him.
“Sandy, you rascal- get off me!
Are you trying to kill me or what?” “Get up, idiot!
Or you’ll miss breakfast.
I’ve been waiting for so long, and here you are snoring like a pig.” “Says the person whose weight is off the charts and looks like an actual pig,” Rex replied, rolling his eyes.
After a brief struggle, he got up, freshened himself quickly, and headed out with Sandy.
As they walked through the corridor, Rex’s thoughts drifted back to the previous night.
Was it real…?
To test it, he called out in his mind— “System.” A screen appeared instantly before his eyes.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATION IN PROGRESS.] [REMAINING TIME: 00:25:37] [PLEASE WAIT PATIENTLY.] Seeing the floating screen, a faint smile appeared on his face.
So it was real.
Beside him, Sandy noticed.
“What are you smiling about?
Did you hit your head or something?” Rex glanced at him.
For a brief moment, his expression softened.
In his previous life, this same person had dragged his broken body, trying to save him despite being severely injured himself.
“…Don’t you have anything better to do than eat and argue with me all the time?” Sandy grinned.
“Can’t help it.
You’re my best friend.
And you’re new here- you need me to guide you.” “I can manage without you.” “Yeah?
Let’s see how long that lasts.” While bickering, they reached the cafeteria and sat down to eat.
Rex, however, was distracted.
Every few moments, his gaze would drift, waiting.
Waiting for the system to complete its activation.
Finally- “I’m heading back.
I have something to do.” Without waiting for a reply, he got up and hurried off, leaving Sandy behind, confused and still eating.
Rex quickly returned to his dormitory and shut the door tightly.
He closed the curtains and sat cross-legged on the bed.
After calming himself, he looked at the screen.
[REMAINING TIME: 00:01:46.] His heartbeat slowly increased.
“…This is it.” Time passed.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Then- [REMAINING TIME: 00:00.] [DING.
SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY ACTIVATED.] Rex’s eyes sharpened.
[WELCOME TO THE SANDBOX SUMMONING SYSTEM.] For a moment, he said nothing.
“…Sandbox…?” [SYSTEM SHOP IS ONLINE.] [SYSTEM POINT SYSTEM IS ONLINE.] [THIS SYSTEM GRANTS THE HOST A SANDBOX WHERE THE HOST CAN DESIGN A WORLD ACCORDING TO HIS WISHES.] “Sand… box system?” Rex repeated under his breath, his eyes widening slightly.
A world… of his own?
He took a slow breath.
“System… how do I use this?” [DING.
SYSTEM ASSISTANT IS NOW ONLINE.] [PLEASE ENTER A NAME FOR THE ASSISTANT.] Rex thought for a moment.
“…Alice.” [DING.
ALICE IS NOW AVAILABLE.] The voice continued- [THE HOST CAN CREATE A WORLD FROM THE MOST BASIC FORM OF LIFE AND GUIDE ITS GROWTH AND EVOLUTION.] [THE HOST MAY ALSO USE PRE-SET DIRECTIONS PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM.] Rex listened carefully, his thoughts racing.
Create a world… Control its growth… His fingers tightened slightly.
“…Anything from the sandbox… can it affect reality?” [CORRECT.] Silence.
Then- Rex’s breathing grew heavier.
“…So in simple terms…” “I can create a miniature world… and bring its results into reality?” [CORRECT.] A faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
This was no ordinary system.
This was- Power.
[THE SHOP CONTAINS VARIOUS ITEMS INCLUDING SKILLS, ABILITIES, FACILITIES, AND OTHER RESOURCES.] Rex’s eyes flickered.
A shop… So that’s how it works.
He was about to ask another question- But paused.
“…Points.” [How do I gain them?] [THE HOST CAN GAIN POINTS THROUGH EMOTIONAL VALUE GENERATED FROM OTHERS.] [EMOTIONS SUCH AS SHOCK, FEAR, LOVE, AND ADMIRATION ARE CONVERTED INTO POINTS.] [POINTS CAN BE OBTAINED IN BOTH THE REAL WORLD AND THE SANDBOX.] Rex nodded slowly.
“I see…” So everything depended on influence.
On impact.
His gaze lowered slightly, but a faint smile remained.
“…Good.” Because if there was one thing he understood- It was how people reacted.
And this time- He wouldn’t stay powerless.
He looked at the system interface once more, his eyes filled with a quiet, dangerous resolve.
“…Let’s begin.”