Chapter 1: Chapter 1: When Systems Overwhelm



The senior-year classroom was as stifling as a pressure cooker.

The old electric fan whirred noisily, blowing the mountains of books piled on the desks.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

With familiar sounds of leather soles hitting the floor, Professor Yang walked into the classroom with a stern face and smacked a stack of papers onto a desk with a "slap".

"Pull yourselves together!"

Professor Yang was their senior class seven's homeroom teacher, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and always sporting an impassive face, never indulging in any small talk or smiles.

In such a special period as the senior year, he laid down strict regulations in every aspect; the school required commuting students to arrive by 7:20 AM, he demanded 7:00 AM.

The homeroom teacher signaled the class representative to distribute the papers, and soon the white sheets were being passed around the room.

Xiang Beifei also received his paper and glanced at the score.

43 points.

"I am very dissatisfied with the results of this mock exam!"

"Extremely dissatisfied!"

"The college entrance exam is only two months away! Look at what you have scored? How many times have I gone over the key points, yet you still get them wrong. Many of you have regressed. The top student scored ten points less than those in other classes. How do you expect to get into college with this attitude?"

The homeroom teacher's voice was filled with irritation. He couldn't talk enough about the college entrance exam, always emphasizing its importance before every class.

"The college entrance exam is a major hurdle in your life!"

"The college entrance exam will determine your fate!"

"The college entrance exam can change your future!"

"Thousands of candidates vie for a single narrow bridge, and only those who cross it are qualified to live in this world."

The homeroom teacher spoke with such fervor that he seemed ready to grab the non-performing students by the ears and pour his words into them.

"However, before the college entrance exam, there is something even more important to do!"

The homeroom teacher changed tack and said aloud, "That is to awaken your very own system!"

Awakening System!

The classroom buzzed with excitement as many students looked up in anticipation, some even whispering to each other, unable to hide their excitement.

To awaken their own system was something everyone had dreamed of!

They had waited so many years just for today's arrival!

After this class, they would go downstairs to participate in the System Awakening Ceremony!

The homeroom teacher snorted coldly and continued, "Only an excellent system can earn you bonus points in the college entrance exam and catch the eye of prestigious universities! Whether your awakened system is superior or inferior, good or bad, will determine your future!"

In this world, there was no concept of countries, only the Jiuzhou Union; hence, the test paper had become the Jiuzhou Union Unified Exam.

As for "System Subjects," it was similar to the science and liberal arts comprehensive subjects on Blue Star; only here, it was called "System Comprehensive."

System Subjects specifically taught the basic knowledge about the systems in this world, helping everyone better understand the world of systems. This knowledge was something everyone had to master during their student days.

Just like the first multiple-choice question:

——To date, the levels of systems awakened by humans are divided into six ranks. What is the third highest potential level of systems from the top?

A. R grade

B. S grade

C. SR grade

D. SSR grade

Xiang Beifei chose B, but the answer was wrong.

The correct answer is C.

In their senior year of high school, everyone will awaken to their own system, but the potential of each person's system varies. The stronger the system, the more generous the rewards for completing tasks.

So the level of the system is very important.

When Beifei traveled to this world, he saw this question but did not understand the system level division of this world, so he arbitrarily chose the S grade.

In actuality, the talent grades of the awakened systems from lowest to highest are [N grade, R grade, S grade, SR grade, SSR grade, UR grade].

"Xiang Beifei, stand up right now!"

Noticing Beifei's distraction, the homeroom teacher yelled out.

Beifei's attention was pulled away from his paper, and with a sense of resignation, he stood up.

"Xiang Beifei, tell us what's going on with you! It's one thing to fail and hold back the class every time, but not knowing the answers to the test and still writing whatever comes to mind! Come on, explain to everyone what did you write for the third short answer question!"

The homeroom teacher was glaring at Beifei furiously, as if he wanted to tear him apart.

Beifei looked at the third short answer question:

[As we all know, besides oneself, no one else can see the system one has awakened. Therefore, after we have awakened a system, we must learn to keep it a secret and must not reveal our system to anyone.

Now the question is!

If someone finds out what our system is, what will be the consequence? Please give an example.]

Beifei glanced at the answer he wrote:

[If others find out what our system is, the consequences will be very serious, because then... we won't be able to show off anymore.]

This short answer question was worth six points, and Beifei got zero.