72 Hours Until Next Broadcast
The world had descended into chaos.
In the three days since Friend's first appearance, everything had changed. Governments were in emergency sessions. The United Nations held constant meetings that went nowhere. Every major military in the world was on high alert, but paralyzed—unable to act because of the 47 nuclear-armed robots scattered across the globe.
News channels ran 24/7 coverage. Experts were brought in to analyze every second of the broadcast. Psychologists, military strategists, scientists—everyone had theories, but no answers.
And through it all, the countdown continued on every screen in the world.
71 hours, 23 minutes, 47 seconds...
At the FPE School:
School had technically continued, but it was a hollow gesture. Most students showed up because their parents didn't know what else to do. The teachers tried to maintain normalcy, but everyone's eyes kept drifting to the screens, to the countdown.
Miss Circle stood at the front of her classroom, her compass tool tapping impatiently against her desk. Her students were barely paying attention—not that she could blame them.
Miss Circle: "Alright, you little brats. I know the world might be ending, but that doesn't mean you get to slack off. Math problems, now."
Kevin: "Miss Circle, what's the point? ☝️ If we're all going to die anyway—"
Miss Circle: "Nobody's dying on my watch! Now do your damn work before I give you something worse to worry about than some masked idiot!"
But even her threats lacked their usual bite. She was scared too, though she'd never admit it.
In Miss Grace's office, the principal sat with her head in her hands. The school board had called seventeen times asking if they should close the school. She didn't have an answer.
Miss Grace: (muttering to herself) "How do you make decisions when the world might end in three days? How do you protect children from something like this?"
A knock at her door. Miss Bloomie and Miss Thavel entered, both looking exhausted.
Miss Bloomie: "Grace, we need to talk about Claire."
Claire's House:
Claire hadn't left her room since she'd woken up from fainting. Engel and Bubble had stayed with her that first night, but eventually they'd had to go home. Now they were back, along with several other concerned friends.
The room was dark, curtains drawn. Claire sat on her bed, Handle's letter in her hands, reading it over and over again.
"Dear Claire, I probably never see you again because the whole world will be against me when the screen cracks around the world and shows my true colors. I'm afraid even you will try to kill me, not stop me, kill me. When it happens I hope we don't meet until then and hope your mentally prepared for it as well."
Bubble: (softly, sitting beside her) "Claire, you need to eat something. You haven't eaten in two days."
Claire: "He knew. He knew everything. How? How could he possibly know?"
Engel: (standing by the window, arms crossed) "We don't know for sure that Friend is Handle. I mean, we never saw his face, right? Maybe—"
Claire: "It's him, Engel."
Her voice was hollow, empty.
Claire: "I know my brother. The way he moved, the way he talked. Even with that mask, even with that voice... I know it's him. I don't know HOW, but it is."
Bubble: "But Handle was... he was sweet. He was kind. He would never—"
Claire: "I thought I knew him. But the letter says 'shows my true colors.' What if... what if I never really knew him at all?"
Tears started falling again. Bubble pulled her into a hug while Engel clenched his fists, feeling helpless.
A notification sound. Everyone's devices buzzed simultaneously.
System Message: "Reminder: 68 hours until mandatory broadcast. Failure to watch will result in consequences. This is not a request."
Engel: "Consequences? What kind of consequences?"
Nobody had an answer.
Around the World - Various Locations:
New York City: Military drones circled the giant robot that stood motionless in the center of Times Square. Scientists had tried scanning it, analyzing it. The results were impossible—technology that shouldn't exist, materials that didn't match anything in their databases.
General Marcus stood in a command center, staring at dozens of screens showing all 47 robot locations.
General Marcus: "Tell me we have SOMETHING. Anything."
Scientist: "Sir, we've run every scan possible. The nuclear signatures are real. The yields are... catastrophic. If even one detonates, we're looking at millions dead. If all of them..."
She couldn't finish the sentence.
General Marcus: "What about the masked individual? Any leads on identity?"
Intelligence Officer: "We've run facial recognition on body type, gait analysis, voice pattern analysis. Nothing. It's like he doesn't exist in any database anywhere. And the way he just... vanished? We can't explain it. No teleportation technology exists that we know of."
General Marcus: "Then we need to know about technology we DON'T know about."
Japan - Tokyo:
A different robot, same threat. The Japanese Self-Defense Force had cordoned off the area. Prime Minister Tanaka stood at a safe distance, watching.
Aide: "Prime Minister, we've received word from the United States, Russia, China—everyone is in the same position. Nobody knows what to do."
Prime Minister Tanaka: "And this... Core entity?"
Aide: "No information. It's not mechanical, it's not biological—our sensors can't make sense of it. It's like it exists outside normal physical laws."
Russia - Moscow:
President Volkov slammed his fist on the table in the Kremlin war room.
President Volkov: "You're telling me the greatest military powers on Earth are being held hostage by ONE MAN and some robots?!"
General Petrov: "Sir, our best analysis suggests the technology is at least 50 years beyond our current capabilities. Maybe more. We don't know where he got it or how he built them."
President Volkov: "Then find out! We have 68 hours!"
Back at FPE School - Lunch Period:
The cafeteria was unusually quiet. Students sat in groups, talking in hushed voices. The usual chaos and energy were gone, replaced by an atmosphere of dread.
Oliver sat with Zip and Edward, but none of them were eating.
Oliver: "My parents are talking about leaving the city. Going somewhere remote."
Zip: "Where? He's got those things everywhere. There's nowhere to run."
Edward: "Maybe... maybe it's a bluff? Maybe he doesn't really have nukes?"
Oliver: "You want to bet your life on that?"
Edward went quiet.
Nearby, Abbie was crying again while Lana tried to comfort her. Cubbie sat with them, looking lost.
Cubbie: "Has anyone talked to Claire?"
Lana: "Bubble said she's not doing well. She thinks... she thinks her brother is Friend."
Abbie: (through tears) "H-Handle? But he was so n-nice..."
Lana: "People can hide things, Abbie. Even from the people closest to them."
At another table, Alice sat alone, as always. But unlike everyone else, she wasn't scared. She was fascinated. Her eyes were distant, thoughtful.
Alice: (whispering to herself) "Interesting. Very interesting. I wonder what he'll do next..."
The Forest - Pezo's Location:
Pezo woke up screaming.
The transformation was complete, but it had been agonizing. Every cell in his body had been rewritten, enhanced, perfected. He lay on the forest floor, covered in sweat, gasping for air.
But when he finally stood up, everything felt... different.
[System Notification] Reward Integration Complete!
New Status:
Physical Body: Enhanced (Gold Tier) - Strength, speed, durability increased to peak human+ levelsAbility Unlocked: Perfect Evasion (Gold Tier) - Subconscious ability to avoid attacks and detectionKnowledge Integrated: Advanced Combat Tactics (Gold Tier)System Evolution: Level 2 Unlocked
Pezo looked at his hands. They looked the same, but he could feel the power thrumming through them. He jumped—and cleared ten feet effortlessly.
"Holy..." He grinned. "This is amazing!"
[System Message] Next broadcast scheduled in: 67 hours, 43 minutes. Current emotional levels remain high. Estimated reward tier for next broadcast: Gold-Peak to Diamond-Below range if quality maintained.
Would you like to preview the next video content?
Pezo's grin widened. "Oh, absolutely. Let's see what 'Friend' does next that's going to traumatize my dear sister and everyone else."
A screen appeared before him, visible only to him, showing a preview of the next broadcast.
As he watched, his smile slowly faded, replaced by something more complex. Concern? Guilt? But then it hardened into determination.
"No. No backing out now. I've come too far. Besides..." He looked at his enhanced hands again. "The rewards are too good. Claire will understand eventually. Maybe. Probably not. But that's a problem for future me."
He sat down and began meditating, consolidating his new powers.
"68 hours until the next broadcast. Let's make it count."
Back at Claire's House - Evening:
Claire finally emerged from her room. Engel and Bubble were still there, now joined by her parents who had rushed back from vacation when they heard what happened.
Claire's Mother: "Sweetheart, please. Talk to us. The letter you showed your friends... what did Handle mean?"
Claire looked at her parents—her adoptive parents, though they'd never treated her or Handle as anything but their own children.
Claire: "Mom, Dad... did Handle ever seem... different to you? Like he knew things he shouldn't? Like he was hiding something?"
Her parents exchanged glances.
Claire's Father: "He was always a thoughtful boy. Mature for his age. But different? I... I don't know, honey. Why?"
Claire couldn't tell them. Couldn't say what she suspected. It would destroy them.
Claire: "Nothing. Never mind."
But in her heart, she knew. Somehow, her little brother had become a monster. And in 67 hours, the world would see what he'd do next.
Around the World:
The countdown continued.
67:42:18... 67:42:17... 67:42:16...
And everyone waited, helpless, for whatever horror would come next.
[Final System Message Broadcasting Worldwide]
"Remember: Attendance is MANDATORY. Those who do not watch will be selected for special participation in the test. You don't want that. Trust me."
- Friend
67 Hours Until Next Broadcast
The Forest - Pezo's Location:
Pezo was in the middle of testing his new enhanced speed—easily running at speeds that would make Olympic athletes weep—when the system suddenly chimed with a sound he'd never heard before.
[SPECIAL QUEST ALERT!]
He skidded to a halt, nearly crashing into a tree. A golden screen appeared before him, pulsing with energy that seemed different from the usual system notifications.
[SPECIAL QUEST: The Tragic Backstory]
Objective: Create and broadcast a backstory video for "Friend" that accomplishes the following:
Must be partially truthful (minimum 40% based on real events)Must be partially fabricated (maximum 60% fictional elements)Must generate SYMPATHY or UNDERSTANDING from at least 30% of viewersMust maintain FEAR and SHOCK from the remaining viewersMust not completely reveal your true identity as Handle/Pezo
Difficulty: A-Rank
Reward Upon Completion:
One Random Ability from the Multiverse Fiction DatabaseRarity: Guaranteed Minimum SR-Rank (Super Rare)Special Bonus: If sympathy reaches 50%+, ability rarity increases to SSR-Rank (Super Special Rare)
Time Limit: Must be completed and broadcasted before the next scheduled broadcast (67 hours)
Penalty for Failure: Loss of current Gold-Peak rewards + System Lockout for 30 days
Pezo stared at the screen, his heart racing. A random power from fiction? From ANY fiction? That could mean anything from superhuman abilities to reality-warping powers to—
"Okay, calm down," he muttered to himself. "Think. This is a special quest, which means it's important. But it's also dangerous."
He read the requirements again. A backstory that was half-true, half-false. Something that would make people sympathize with Friend while still keeping them afraid.
"That's... actually perfect," Pezo realized, his mind already racing with possibilities. "Everyone loves a tragic villain. Someone who had reasons, even if their methods are wrong. And if I can get 50% sympathy... an SSR-rank ability..."
He closed his eyes, thinking about his real past. His life before this world, before becoming Handle. The loneliness, the struggles, the—
No. He couldn't use TOO much truth. That would expose him.
But he could use some of it. Twist it. Make it believable.
[System Notice] Video creation tools unlocked. You may script the backstory and the system will generate appropriate visuals. However, the more emotionally genuine the content, the better the audience response.
Do you accept this quest?
Pezo took a deep breath. "Accept."
[Quest Accepted!] [Video Creation Interface: Activated] [Current Time: 66 hours, 47 minutes until next broadcast] [Recommended: Complete backstory video within 48 hours to allow for maximum pre-broadcast anticipation building]
Pezo sat down on a fallen log and began to plan.
"Alright, what makes a good tragic backstory? What would make people understand Friend without completely forgiving him?"
He pulled out a mental list:
Loss of loved ones (believable, emotional)Betrayal by society (creates sympathy and explains hatred for humanity)Some truth about being different, not belonging (he could use his time traveler status, twisted)A moment where he "tried to be good" but was punished for it (classic tragic villain beat)A "point of no return" moment that feels inevitable
"Okay... okay, I can work with this."
He began dictating to the system, crafting the story carefully:
[Video Script - "Friend's Origin: The Boy Who Saw Too Much"]
SCENE 1: Childhood (40% True, 60% False)
Visual: A young boy who looks similar to Handle, but face obscured, sitting alone in a room filled with books and strange diagrams.
Narration (Friend's Voice): "I was born different. Not physically. Mentally. I could see things others couldn't. Patterns. Futures. Possibilities."
Visual: The boy writing complex equations, predicting weather, solving impossible puzzles.
Narration: "At first, I thought it was a gift. I tried to help people. Warned them about disasters. Showed them solutions to problems they thought were impossible."
TRUTH ELEMENT: Pezo really was mentally different—he was a reincarnator with knowledge of future events and tropes.
FALSE ELEMENT: He didn't try to help people initially; he stayed hidden and waited for his system.
SCENE 2: The Rejection (50% True, 50% False)
Visual: The boy, now a teenager, being dragged away by authorities. People watching with fear and disgust.
Narration: "But humans fear what they don't understand. They called me a freak. A demon. They said I was dangerous."
Visual: Scientists studying him like a lab rat. Needles, tests, cold examination rooms.
Narration: "They wanted to use me. Control me. Turn my abilities into weapons for their wars. When I refused..."
Visual: A facility exploding. The boy escaping into darkness.
TRUTH ELEMENT: Pezo did feel like an outsider, never truly belonging in this world.
FALSE ELEMENT: He was never actually captured or experimented on—this was pure fabrication for sympathy.
SCENE 3: The Family (60% True, 40% False)
Visual: A kind family taking in the escaped boy. A sister figure, parents who cared.
Narration: "For a brief time, I thought I'd found peace. A family who accepted me. A sister who looked at me without fear."
Visual: Happy moments. Laughter. The boy smiling genuinely.
Narration: "I tried to be normal. To be human. To forget what I knew about the future."
TRUTH ELEMENT: Claire and his adoptive parents were real and did care for him.
FALSE ELEMENT: The timeline and his motivations were twisted to seem more sympathetic.
SCENE 4: The Vision (30% True, 70% False)
Visual: The boy suddenly frozen, eyes wide, seeing something horrible.
Narration: "But then I saw it. The true future of humanity. Not just one timeline, but thousands. Millions. And in every single one..."
Visual: Apocalyptic scenes. War, famine, destruction. Humanity destroying itself in countless ways.
Narration: "Humanity destroys everything. Themselves. Each other. The world. No matter what choices are made, the end result is always the same. Extinction through self-destruction."
Visual: The boy clutching his head in agony, overwhelmed by visions.
TRUTH ELEMENT: Pezo did know that dark futures were possible from his fiction knowledge.
FALSE ELEMENT: He didn't actually "see" these futures—this was dramatized for effect.
SCENE 5: The Decision (20% True, 80% False)
Visual: The boy, now older, standing at a crossroads. One path showing him with his family, slowly watching the world burn. Another showing him alone, taking action.
Narration: "I had a choice. Stay with my family, be 'normal,' and watch everyone I love die in the coming apocalypse. Or..."
Visual: The boy walking away from the family home, leaving a letter behind.
Narration: "Become the villain they always feared I'd be. End humanity quickly, mercifully, before it can suffer through its own slow, agonizing suicide. And maybe... just maybe... something better can rise from the ashes."
Visual: The boy's face transforming, the mask of Friend appearing.
TRUTH ELEMENT: Pezo did leave his family and leave a letter.
FALSE ELEMENT: His motivations were completely fabricated—he left because of the system and for rewards, not noble reasons.
SCENE 6: The Present (40% True, 60% False)
Visual: Friend standing with Core, the giant robots behind him.
Narration: "I don't expect forgiveness. I don't expect understanding. But know this—everything I do, I do because I've seen the alternative. And the alternative is so much worse."
Visual: Friend looking at a locket or photo of his family, then closing it and putting it away.
Narration: "To my sister, if you're watching... I'm sorry. I wish there was another way. But there isn't. Goodbye, Claire."
Final Visual: Friend walking into darkness as the screen fades.
Pezo finished dictating and reviewed the script. It was perfect—just enough truth to be believable, just enough lies to be sympathetic, and just enough mystery to keep people guessing.
"The mention of Claire at the end will confirm it's Handle without showing my face. That'll drive the emotional response through the roof."
[System Analysis] Script Evaluation: Excellent Truth-to-Fiction Ratio: 42% True, 58% False - Within Parameters Predicted Emotional Response:
Sympathy/Understanding: 45-55% (TARGET EXCEEDED)Fear/Shock: 40-45%Confusion/Doubt: 5-10%
Estimated Reward: SSR-Rank Ability (95% probability)
Generate video now?
"Yes, but..." Pezo hesitated. "System, when should this be released?"
[System Recommendation] Optimal Release Time: 24 hours before main broadcast This allows maximum discussion and emotional processing time Will amplify impact of main broadcast significantly
"Perfect. Generate the video and prepare for release in... 42 hours."
[Video Generation: Complete] [Scheduled Release: 24 hours before main broadcast] [Quest Progress: 80% Complete - Awaiting audience reaction for final evaluation]
Pezo felt a mix of emotions. Guilt—he was using his sister's love for him as a weapon for sympathy points. Excitement—an SSR-rank ability from ANY fiction was insane. Fear—what if people figured out too much truth from the video?
But mostly, determination.
"I've come too far to stop now. Once this airs and I get that ability... I'll be unstoppable."
He looked at his enhanced hands again, then at the forest around him.
"Sorry, Claire. Sorry, Mom and Dad. But I need this power. I need these rewards. And if playing the tragic villain gets me there..."
He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"Then that's exactly what I'll be."
Meanwhile - Various Locations, 66 Hours Until Broadcast:
Around the world, the tension continued to build. Nobody knew that in just 42 hours, everything would change again. That they'd see "Friend's" past and some would begin to question everything.
The countdown ticked on.
66:23:47... 66:23:46... 66:23:45...
TO BE CONTINUED...
End of Chapter 1, Part 3
[System Notice - Visible only to Pezo]
Quest Status: In Progress Video: Generated and Scheduled
Reward Pending: One Random SSR-Rank Ability from Multiverse Fiction Database
Possible ability pool includes:
Sharingan (Naruto)Nen Abilities (Hunter x Hunter)Devil Fruit Powers (One Piece)Sacred Gears (High School DxD)Quirks (My Hero Academia)Stands (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)Magic Systems (Various)And 10,000+ more possibilities...
The wheel will spin upon quest completion. Good luck host.
42 Hours Until Main Broadcast - Backstory Video Release
Around the World:
People were going about their anxious routines when every screen simultaneously flickered. The countdown paused, replaced by a new message:
[SPECIAL BROADCAST] "Before the test begins, you deserve to know why." - Friend
The world held its breath.
At FPE School:
Classes had just started when the screens changed. Miss Circle was mid-lecture when her students all simultaneously looked at their devices.
Miss Circle: "Hey! I didn't say you could—"
Then she saw her own classroom screen changing.
Miss Circle: "...What now?"
Kevin: "It's him! It's Friend!" ☝️
Student: "But the broadcast isn't supposed to be for another 42 hours!"
The video began.
Claire's House:
Claire was trying to eat breakfast—her first real meal in days—when Engel's phone buzzed urgently. Then Bubble's. Then her own.
Bubble: "Claire... he's broadcasting again."
Claire's fork clattered to her plate. Her mother rushed over.
Claire's Mother: "What? Now? But—"
Claire: "I need to see this."
Despite her parents' protests, she grabbed her tablet and ran to her room, Engel and Bubble following. They needed to see this together.
The Video Begins:
The screen was black for a long moment. Then, Friend's voice, but different. Softer. More human.
Friend: "You all want to know who I am. Why I'm doing this. I suppose... you deserve that much."
The video faded in on a young boy, face obscured by shadows and camera angles, sitting alone in a room filled with books and papers covered in complex diagrams.
Friend (Narration): "I was born different. Not physically. Mentally. I could see things others couldn't. Patterns. Futures. Possibilities."
Comments starting to appear: Miss Grace: What is this? Oliver: Is this... his past? Zip: Why is he telling us this?
The video showed the boy effortlessly solving impossible problems, predicting events, seeing connections no one else could see.
Friend (Narration): "At first, I thought it was a gift. I tried to help people. Warned them about disasters. Showed them solutions to problems they thought were impossible."
The boy was shown trying to warn people about a coming storm, but they laughed at him. Until the storm came, exactly as he predicted. Then their laughter turned to fear.
In Claire's Room:
Claire's hands were shaking as she watched. Bubble and Engel sat on either side of her, equally transfixed.
Engel: "Is this... is this real? Did this happen to Handle?"
Claire: "I... I don't know. He never told us about anything like this."
But something in her heart said it could be true. Handle had always been perceptive, always seemed to know things before they happened. She'd thought he was just smart.
What if it had been more than that?
The Video Continued:
The scene shifted. The boy, now a teenager, was surrounded by authority figures—scientists, government agents, all looking at him with cold, calculating eyes.
Friend (Narration): "But humans fear what they don't understand. They called me a freak. A demon. They said I was dangerous."
The video showed him being studied, tested. Cold examination rooms. People treating him like a specimen rather than a person.
Friend (Narration): "They wanted to use me. Control me. Turn my abilities into weapons for their wars. When I refused..."
An explosion. Chaos. The boy escaping into darkness, running through rain-soaked streets.
Comments exploding: Abbie: That's horrible! 😭 Lana: They treated him like an animal... Miss Thavel: This can't be real. Can it? Edward: I mean... governments do crazy stuff sometimes... Miss Bloomie: Are we supposed to feel SORRY for him?! Kevin: I don't know what to feel ☝️
Around the World - Various Reactions:
Military Command Center:
General Marcus: "Pause it. Can we verify any of this?"
Intelligence Officer: "Sir, we're searching all classified databases for any records of experimentation on gifted children. So far... nothing. But if it was black ops enough..."
General Marcus: "Keep searching. If any of this is true, someone has a lot to answer for."
News Studio:
News Anchor: "We're watching this along with the rest of the world. Experts, what's your take?"
Psychologist Guest: "If this is true, it's a classic case of societal rejection leading to antisocial behavior. The subject was othered, dehumanized, and eventually—"
Military Expert Guest: "Or it's a manipulation tactic. Making us sympathize so we lower our guard."
Psychologist: "Even manipulations can contain truths."
Back to the Video:
The tone shifted. Softer music played as the scene showed a family—a kind-looking couple and a young girl—taking in the escaped boy.
Friend (Narration): "For a brief time, I thought I'd found peace. A family who accepted me. A sister who looked at me without fear."
The video showed moments of happiness. The boy and the sister playing together, laughing. Family dinners. Gentle moments of normalcy.
Friend (Narration): "I tried to be normal. To be human. To forget what I knew about the future."
Claire's Room:
Claire's breath caught. The sister in the video—she couldn't see the face clearly, but the hair, the build...
Bubble: "Claire, that's—"
Claire: "That's me. That's us."
Tears started falling. These memories were real. She remembered these moments. Handle playing with her, smiling, laughing. When had it all gone wrong?
Engel: (putting a hand on her shoulder) "Claire..."
Claire: "He was happy. We were happy. What happened?"
The Video - The Turning Point:
The mood darkened. The boy suddenly froze, sitting bolt upright in bed in the middle of the night. His eyes wide with horror.
Friend (Narration): "But then I saw it. The true future of humanity. Not just one timeline, but thousands. Millions. And in every single one..."
The video showed flashes of apocalyptic visions—wars, disasters, humanity destroying itself in countless different ways. Each vision more terrible than the last.
Friend (Narration): "Humanity destroys everything. Themselves. Each other. The world. No matter what choices are made, the end result is always the same. Extinction through self-destruction."
The boy was shown clutching his head, overwhelmed by visions only he could see. His sister—Claire—trying to comfort him, but unable to reach him.
Comments: Miss Sarah: Oh god... Mr. Demi: If he really saw that... Oliver: That would drive anyone insane Zip: But that doesn't make what he's doing RIGHT! Cubbie: Doesn't it though? If everyone's going to die anyway? Miss Circle: Shut up Cubbie! Alice: ...he saw the truth. How interesting.
Around the World:
The sympathy meter was climbing. People were arguing in streets, in homes, online. Was Friend a victim? A monster? Both?
Street Interview - News Camera:
Random Citizen 1: "I mean, if he really saw all that... wouldn't you go crazy too?"
Random Citizen 2: "That doesn't give him the right to play god!"
Random Citizen 3: "But if we're all going to die anyway, is he really the villain? Or is he trying to save us from something worse?"
The debate raged everywhere.
The Video - The Decision:
The boy, now older, standing alone at night. In one hand, a photo of his family. In the other, darkness itself seemed to swirl.
Friend (Narration): "I had a choice. Stay with my family, be 'normal,' and watch everyone I love die in the coming apocalypse. Or..."
He was shown walking away from the family home, placing a letter on a doorstep.
Friend (Narration): "Become the villain they always feared I'd be. End humanity quickly, mercifully, before it can suffer through its own slow, agonizing suicide. And maybe... just maybe... something better can rise from the ashes."
The mask of Friend materialized on his face like a physical manifestation of his decision.
Friend (Narration): "I don't expect forgiveness. I don't expect understanding. But know this—everything I do, I do because I've seen the alternative. And the alternative is so much worse."
Claire's Room:
Claire was sobbing now, her whole body shaking. Bubble held her while Engel looked torn between anger and sorrow.
Engel: "Even if it's true... even if he saw terrible things... this isn't the answer! You can't just decide to kill everyone!"
Bubble: "But what if he's right? What if we are headed for destruction?"
Engel: "Then we FIGHT to change it! We don't just give up!"
Claire: (through tears) "He gave up on us. On me. He thought... he thought I couldn't handle the truth. That I'd be better off dead than living through whatever he saw."
The Video - Final Moments:
Friend stood with Core, the giant robots behind him. He held a locket, opened it briefly—inside, a photo of his family was just barely visible.
Friend (Narration): "To my sister, if you're watching..."
The camera focused on the locket, on Claire's young face in the photo.
Friend (Narration): "I'm sorry. I wish there was another way. But there isn't. I've calculated every possibility. This is the only path where your suffering ends quickly."
He closed the locket, put it away.
Friend (Narration): "Goodbye, Claire. I love you. That's why I have to do this."
The screen faded to black.
[Message] "The test begins in 42 hours. Be ready."
Immediate Aftermath:
The world exploded in debate. The comments were going insane:
Comments (Flooding): Miss Grace: He... he said he loves her... Miss Circle: That doesn't make him RIGHT! Oliver: I don't know what to think anymore! Zip: This is so messed up! Edward: Is he a hero or a villain?! Abbie: 😭😭😭 This is so sad! Lana: Sad doesn't mean justified! Kevin: My brain hurts ☝️ Cubbie: Team Friend? Team Humanity? I'M SO CONFUSED! Miss Bloomie: We can't let sympathy cloud judgment! Miss Thavel: But if he's telling the truth... Mr. Demi: Even truth doesn't justify genocide! Miss Sarah: I need to lie down... Alice: Perfect. They're divided. This is exactly what he wanted. Chip: Sad story... but scary man...
Bubble: (offline - comforting Claire) Engel: (offline - with Claire) Claire: (offline - breaking down completely)
News Coverage - Every Channel:
Anchor 1: "—unprecedented division in public opinion—"
Anchor 2: "—polls showing 48% sympathize with Friend's motivations while 52% still condemn—"
Anchor 3: "—psychologists warning about mass Stockholm syndrome—"
Anchor 4: "—governments issuing statements that regardless of backstory, terrorism is terrorism—"
Anchor 5: "—religious leaders saying only God has the right to judge humanity—"
Anchor 6: "—but what if God sent Friend AS that judgment?"
The debate consumed everything.
The Forest - Pezo's Location:
Pezo watched the chaos unfold on his system screen, watching the sympathy meters climb.
[QUEST UPDATE!]
Sympathy/Understanding: 54% ✓ EXCEEDED TARGET! Fear/Shock Maintained: 43% ✓ Division Created: 97% ✓ BONUS OBJECTIVE ACHIEVED!
QUEST COMPLETE!
Calculating Rewards...
Final Grade: SSR-RANK (Super Special Rare)
Bonus Achievement Unlocked: "Master Manipulator" - Successfully divided world opinion Additional Reward: +1 Extra Ability Roll
Preparing Random Ability Selection...
Pezo's heart raced. Two ability rolls. Two chances at SSR-rank powers from ANY fiction in the multiverse.
[MULTIVERSE FICTION DATABASE ACCESSED] [Scanning 847,362 possible abilities...] [Filtering for SSR-Rank compatibility...] [Final pool: 3,847 abilities]
[SPINNING...]
A massive wheel appeared before Pezo, filled with names of abilities he recognized and many he didn't. It began to spin, faster and faster, names blurring together.
All For One (My Hero Academia)Unlimited Blade Works (Fate)Geass (Code Geass)Nen: Specialist (Hunter x Hunter)Sharingan Evolution Path (Naruto)Devil Fruit: Logia Type (One Piece)Sacred Gear: Longinus (High School DxD)Stand: Requiem Tier (JoJo)The Gamer System (The Gamer)King's Power (Code Geass)
The names blurred faster, faster, then began to slow...
[FIRST ABILITY DETERMINED!]
The wheel stopped on a name that made Pezo's eyes widen.
[CONGRATULATIONS!] [Ability Acquired: MYSTIC EYES OF DEATH PERCEPTION (Fate/Type-Moon)] [Rank: SSR]
Description: Eyes that can perceive the "death" of all things. By seeing the lines and points of death on any object, being, or concept, the user can "kill" them with a touch or strike along these lines. Can perceive the mortality of seemingly immortal beings and the weakness of indestructible objects. Effectiveness scales with user's understanding of death itself.
Side Effect: Constant perception of death can be mentally taxing. User can learn to "turn off" the eyes with practice.
Pezo felt his eyes burning. He screamed, clutching his face as his vision transformed. When he opened his eyes, the world had changed.
Everything—the trees, the ground, the sky itself—was covered in glowing red lines. Points where, if struck, they would "die" or cease to function.
"Holy... I can see the death of everything..."
He looked at his own hand. Even he had the lines, though they were fainter, harder to see.
[SECOND ROLL INITIATED!] [BONUS ACHIEVEMENT SPIN!]
The wheel appeared again, spinning even faster this time.
Pezo watched, barely able to contain his excitement despite the disorientation from his new eyes.
The wheel slowed...
[SECOND ABILITY DETERMINED!]
[CONGRATULATIONS!] [Ability Acquired: VECTOR MANIPULATION (A Certain Magical Index)] [Rank: SSR] [Compatibility Detected: Synergy with Perfect Evasion (Gold Tier)]
Description: Ability to control vectors—magnitude and direction—of any object the user touches or within a certain range. Can reflect attacks automatically, enhance physical strikes, manipulate blood flow, control wind, enable flight, and even affect intangible forces. When combined with Perfect Evasion, creates a near-impenetrable defense system.
Note: Requires concentration for complex manipulations. Passive reflection is automatic once mastered.
Power surged through Pezo's body. He could FEEL the vectors around him—the wind, gravity, the movement of air molecules.
He touched a small rock. With a thought, he launched it at hypersonic speed, creating a sonic boom that shook the forest. The rock disintegrated a tree trunk two hundred meters away.
"This... this is insane. THESE are insane!"
[REWARDS INTEGRATION COMPLETE!]
[NEW STATUS - PEZO/HANDLE]
Physical Body: Enhanced (Gold Tier)Perfect Evasion (Gold Tier) - Now enhanced by Vector ManipulationAdvanced Combat Tactics (Gold Tier)Mystic Eyes of Death Perception (SSR Tier) - NEW!Vector Manipulation (SSR Tier) - NEW!
[System Evolution Level: 3]
[Warning: Power level increase detected. Recommend limiting public displays to maintain mystery and fear factor.]
Pezo laughed, a slightly manic edge to it. "With these powers... I'm practically untouchable. Even if someone figures out where I am, even if they send armies..."
He looked at his hands, seeing the vectors swirling around them, the death lines of reality visible in his enhanced vision.
"I can see how to kill anything, and nothing can touch me. I'm... I'm actually becoming the monster they think Friend is."
For a moment, genuine doubt crossed his face. Claire's crying face from the video played in his mind.
Then he shook his head.
"No. Too late to turn back. Besides, the next broadcast is in 42 hours. And with these powers, I can make it even more spectacular. Even more rewarding."
He grinned, though his new Mystic Eyes made the expression somehow more unsettling.
"Let's see what Diamond-tier rewards look like."
Around the World - 41 Hours Until Main Broadcast:
The debate continued. Families argued. Friends divided. The world had split into three camps:
Team Humanity - Friend must be stopped at any costTeam Friend - Maybe he's right, maybe this is mercyThe Uncertain - Torn between fear and sympathy
And through it all, Claire cried in her room, clutching Handle's letter, mourning the brother she thought she knew.
[System Message - Broadcasting Worldwide]
"Thank you for listening to my story. Now you understand. In 41 hours, the test begins. Those who pass may survive what's coming. Those who fail..."
"Well. You'll see."
"- Friend"
[Current Global Statistics - System Data]
Shock Level: MAXIMUM (Sustained) Fear Level: HIGH (Stable) Sympathy Level: 54% (UNPRECEDENTED) Confusion Level: 89% Division Level: 97%
Estimated Next Broadcast Reward: Diamond-Tier (Minimum)
Host Status: Overpowered Risk Level: Escalating Point of No Return: PASSED
24 Hours Until Main Broadcast
The world had barely slept since the backstory video. Social media was ablaze with arguments, think pieces, conspiracy theories, and emotional breakdowns. Friend's tragic past had done exactly what Pezo intended—it divided humanity against itself.
Global Reactions:
New York Times Headline: "FRIEND OR FOE? The Moral Dilemma Dividing the World"
Tokyo News: "哲学的質問: 慈悲か虐殺か?" (Philosophical Question: Mercy or Massacre?)
BBC: "Psychologists Warn of Mass Cognitive Dissonance as Public Sympathizes with Terrorist"
Social Media Trends:
#TeamHumanity#UnderstandingFriend#SaveClaire#WhatWouldYouDo#42Hours
FPE School - Morning Classes:
School attendance was at an all-time low. Only about 60% of students showed up, and those who did were distracted, arguing, or silent with fear.
Miss Circle stood at the front of her classroom, but for once, she wasn't threatening anyone. She just stared at her compass tool, thinking.
Miss Circle: (quietly) "If someone could really see the future... see everyone dying no matter what... what would you do?"
Her students looked up, surprised to hear her speaking thoughtfully instead of threatening.
Kevin: "Miss Circle? Are you... okay?" ☝️
Miss Circle: "No. No, I'm not. None of us are." She looked at her class. "I've killed students for failing. I've enjoyed it. And now some masked lunatic is saying he's going to kill EVERYONE as a mercy, and half the world thinks he might be RIGHT."
She laughed bitterly.
Miss Circle: "What does that say about us? About humanity?"
The class sat in uncomfortable silence.
Principal's Office:
Miss Grace sat with Miss Bloomie, Miss Thavel, Mr. Demi, and Miss Sarah. All the teachers looked exhausted.
Miss Grace: "We need to decide. Do we keep the school open tomorrow during the broadcast?"
Miss Bloomie: "He said attendance is mandatory. What choice do we have?"
Miss Thavel: "We can't force students to watch... whatever horror he has planned."
Mr. Demi: "B-but he said there would be consequences for not watching. What if he means it?"
Miss Sarah: "This is insane! We're educators, not... not prison wardens forcing children to watch propaganda!"
Miss Grace: "It's not propaganda if it's..." She trailed off, unable to finish.
Miss Bloomie: "If it's what? Real? Grace, you can't be serious."
Miss Grace: (heavily) "I don't know WHAT I am anymore. That video... that boy in the video looked so... human. So hurt."
Miss Thavel: "Hurt people hurt people. That doesn't make it right."
Miss Grace: "I know. I KNOW. But..." She put her head in her hands. "What if he's right? What if we are doomed?"
Miss Sarah: "Then we face it with dignity, not by giving up!"
The argument continued, going in circles like everyone else's in the world.
Claire's House - Afternoon:
Claire hadn't left her room in two days. Her parents were worried sick. Engel and Bubble had barely left her side.
The room was dark, curtains still drawn. Claire sat on her bed, Handle's letter in one hand, her phone showing the frozen final frame of the backstory video in the other—the locket with her picture.
Claire: (voice hoarse from crying) "He kept my photo. All this time, planning to... to end the world, and he kept my photo."
Bubble: (sitting beside her, also exhausted) "He loves you, Claire. That much is real."
Claire: "Love? He calls THIS love? Deciding I'd be better off dead?"
Engel: (by the window, looking out at the empty street) "Maybe in his twisted mind, it is love. Putting a dying animal out of its misery."
Claire: "I'm not a DYING ANIMAL! We're not! We could CHANGE! We could—"
She broke down crying again. Bubble held her.
Bubble: "I know. I know, sweetie."
A knock at the door. Claire's mother entered with a tray of food.
Claire's Mother: "Honey, you need to eat. Please."
Claire: "I can't. Every time I try, I see that video. I see him walking away. Choosing to become... that."
Claire's Father: (appearing behind his wife) "Claire... we need to talk about tomorrow."
Claire: "Tomorrow?"
Claire's Father: "The broadcast. He said attendance is mandatory. We... we don't know what to do. Should we watch? Should we run? Should we—"
Claire: "I'm watching."
Everyone looked at her.
Claire: "I need to see. I need to understand what he's planning. Maybe... maybe there's still a way to reach him. To stop him."
Engel: "Claire, you can't think you can just talk him out of—"
Claire: "He's my BROTHER, Engel! If there's even a CHANCE..."
She looked at them all with red, determined eyes.
Claire: "I have to try."
Around the World - Various Locations:
Military Command Center:
General Marcus: "Report. Do we have ANY leads on his location?"
Intelligence Officer: "Nothing concrete, sir. He appears and disappears like a ghost. No heat signatures, no digital footprints, nothing. It's like he doesn't exist when he's not broadcasting."
Scientist: "Sir, about the robots... we've detected some unusual readings. The technology is... it's not just advanced. It's operating on principles we don't understand. Quantum mechanics that shouldn't be possible."
General Marcus: "What are you saying?"
Scientist: "I'm saying whoever built these isn't just smart. They have access to knowledge that shouldn't exist. Like they're from the future, or... or from somewhere else entirely."
General Marcus: "Great. A time traveler or an alien. Could this get any worse?"
Aide: (running in) "Sir! We just intercepted communications. China, Russia, and the EU are planning a coordinated strike against all robot locations simultaneously."
General Marcus: "WHAT?! That's suicide! If even one nuke detonates—"
Aide: "They're willing to risk it. They think Friend is bluffing about the nukes."
General Marcus: "When?"
Aide: "Six hours before the broadcast. They want to neutralize the threat before the test begins."
General Marcus: (slamming his fist on the table) "Those idiots are going to get us all killed!"
The Forest - Pezo's Location - 20 Hours Until Broadcast:
Pezo was meditating, adjusting to his new powers. The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception were overwhelming at first—seeing the death of everything, all the time. But he was learning to control them, to turn them on and off.
His Vector Manipulation was easier. It felt natural, like it had always been part of him. He could feel every movement of air, every vibration, every force around him.
Then the system chimed.
[ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!]
[Multiple military forces preparing coordinated strike against robot units!] [Estimated Time: 18 hours] [Threat Level: MODERATE] [Recommendation: Demonstrate consequences to maintain deterrent.]
Pezo's eyes snapped open. "They're actually going to try it? Even after everything?"
[System Analysis] [Human Nature: When cornered, humans fight back even against impossible odds] [This was statistically probable] [Suggested Response: Make an example]
"An example..." Pezo stood up, his mind racing. "If I let them destroy even one robot, the bluff is called. But if I respond too harshly, I lose the sympathy I just gained."
He paced, thinking like the tactical genius his new knowledge made him.
[System Suggestion] [Create emergency broadcast. Show you know about the plan. Give them one chance to stand down. If they proceed anyway, the consequences are on them.]
"Perfect. That maintains the 'tragic villain' image while showing I'm serious."
[Creating Emergency Broadcast Template...]
18 Hours Until Main Broadcast - Emergency Transmission:
Every screen worldwide suddenly activated. People jumped, startled. It wasn't time for the main broadcast yet.
Friend's masked face appeared, but something was different. He seemed... tired? His posture less confident, more weary.
Friend: "I had hoped to avoid this. Truly, I did."
His voice was softer than before, almost pleading.
Friend: "I know that several world governments are planning a coordinated military strike against the deterrent units in approximately 18 hours. China, Russia, the European Union, and others."
Comments: Miss Grace: He KNOWS?! Oliver: How does he know?! Miss Circle: Someone leaked it? Zip: Or he really CAN see the future...
Friend: "I understand. You're desperate. You think I'm bluffing about the nuclear devices. You think you can save humanity by destroying me."
He leaned forward slightly.
Friend: "You're wrong. And if you proceed with this attack, millions will die. Not because I want them to, but because you will have FORCED my hand."
A pause. When he spoke again, his voice was pained.
Friend: "Please. Please don't make me prove I'm serious. Stand down. Watch the test tomorrow. Maybe... maybe some of you can pass. Maybe there's still hope."
Another pause.
Friend: "But if you attack... I will respond. And I will make it quick, at least. The city closest to each robot that's attacked will be vaporized. Not all of them. Not yet. Just those. Consider it..."
His voice broke slightly.
Friend: "...a demonstration of mercy. A small death instead of total annihilation."
Comments exploding: Abbie: HE'S BEGGING THEM TO STOP! 😭 Lana: Is this real? Is he actually pleading? Edward: It's a trick! Has to be! Kevin: He sounds... sad? ☝️ Miss Bloomie: Don't fall for it! Miss Thavel: But what if he means it? Cubbie: The governments won't listen... Engel: They never do.
Friend: "To the leaders making this decision—I'm giving you 18 hours to reconsider. Call off the attack. Or the blood of millions will be on YOUR hands, not mine. I didn't want this. I gave you a choice."
The screen showed coordinates—the exact locations of the planned military strike forces.
Friend: "Yes, I know where you are. I know your plans. I know your fallback strategies. There is no surprising me. There is no stopping this test. There is only..."
He stood up slowly.
Friend: "...acceptance. Or resistance. And resistance has a price."
The camera zoomed in on his mask.
Friend: "Choose wisely. You have 18 hours."
The broadcast ended.
Immediate Aftermath:
White House - Emergency Meeting:
President: "He KNEW! How the HELL did he know?!"
Joint Chiefs: "We don't know, ma'am. Our security is airtight."
President: "Obviously NOT! And now he's put a gun to our heads—attack and millions die for sure, or don't attack and... what? Trust a terrorist?"
Advisor: "Ma'am, the polls are showing 67% of Americans want us to stand down."
President: "Since when do we let terrorists dictate military policy?!"
Advisor: "Since they held the entire world hostage, ma'am."
Beijing - Emergency Council:
General Chen: "If we stand down, we look weak!"
President Xi: "If we attack and millions die, we ARE weak. Worse, we're responsible."
Intelligence Minister: "He knew our exact positions. Our encrypted communications. Our timeline. How is that possible?"
President Xi: "That's what frightens me most. Not the robots. Not the threats. But that he KNOWS. Like he really can see everything."
Moscow - Kremlin:
President Volkov: (slamming table) "This is HUMILIATION!"
General Petrov: "Sir, our people are protesting in the streets, begging us not to attack."
President Volkov: "Cowards!"
General Petrov: "Or realists, sir. If he's not bluffing... Moscow is near one of those robots."
President Volkov fell silent.
Around the World:
The 18-hour countdown began alongside the main broadcast countdown. Two timers, two fates hanging in balance.
Strike Countdown: 17:58:43... Main Broadcast: 17:58:43... (now synchronized)
The world held its breath.
Claire's House:
Claire watched the emergency broadcast with her family and friends. When it ended, she spoke quietly.
Claire: "He doesn't want to kill them. Did you hear? He BEGGED them to stop."
Engel: "Claire, don't—"
Claire: "No, listen! He said 'please.' TWICE. The villain threatening to end humanity said 'please don't make me do this.'"
Bubble: "What does that mean?"
Claire: "It means... maybe he really does think he's showing mercy. Maybe he really believes there's no other way."
Claire's Father: "That doesn't make it right."
Claire: "I know. But it means... maybe he's not completely gone. Maybe the brother I knew is still in there, drowning, crying for help in the only way he knows how."
She looked at them all with determined, tear-stained eyes.
Claire: "And if that's true... then I have to reach him. Before it's too late. Before he goes too far to come back."
The Forest - Pezo's Location:
Pezo stood on a high hill, looking toward the distant lights of civilization. His Mystic Eyes saw the death lines even from here—the fragility of everything.
[System Notification] [Emergency Broadcast Results:]
Sympathy: Increased to 61%Fear: Maintained at 44%Uncertainty: 87%Government Response: Monitoring...
"Come on," Pezo whispered. "Be smart. Stand down. Don't make me actually follow through."
Because despite everything—despite his goals, his system, his powers—he really didn't want to vaporize millions of people if he could avoid it.
The rewards were good. But some prices were heavy even for him.
[17 hours, 43 minutes remaining...]
[Global Status] Tension: MAXIMUM Division: UNPRECEDENTED Fear: CRITICAL Hope: DYING
The world watches two countdowns. One for a test. One for potential annihilation.
Which will come first?
YOU or the world?