The Equinox system

  'Rita means the cosmic order if I remember it correctly. The guru had told us ahead of time, practically drilled into us that the one who qualifies to serve the Rita will be qualified to be served by the Rita as well. Therefore one must not be only selfish and self serving. How can you expect good things to happen to you if you cannot wish it for to happen to someone else? The world is indeed cruel but not blind. What goes around comes around. It is a small world.'

  'Rita is the collective will of the world. So how Rita serves us is through means of the system huh? That is quite neat. In analogy, Rita is how in some fantasies we get a living forest where each tree contributes to the overall will or consciousness of the forest. Like how a bundle of nerves can be sometimes called a brain. Some algae do replicate this to a certain extent.'

  'The will of the world has no inherent morality, it is neither good nor bad. What it seeks to accomplish is stability. In other words equilibrium. It has no qualms with destruction if the result will ensure the overall stability of the world in the long term. An impartial force. It is also a stark reminder that in the grand scheme of existence, our individual desires and perceptions of right and wrong pales in comparison to the cosmic order.'

  'Am I willing to serve such a force?'

  'That question weighed heavily on my mind. If my collective experience of novels and other stories are to go by, the system would greatly boost my growth. The collective will of the world aiding me in my growth is something to be grateful for and is for sure a grand opportunity. But it also implies a new set of responsibilities. To serve the Rita, as I understood it, meant becoming an instrument of the cosmic will. Additionally, if the system is too powerful it might rob me of my free will or even just make me one of the cogs in its machine to restore the cosmic order. Unthinking and loyal to the cause of the system. A double-edged sword. So that is something to be careful about. Power will never be free after all.'

  'But at the same time, the Vanishing phenomenon where the fabric of reality itself seems to be unraveling is another thing I have to keep in mind. Our worlds are connected, the same phenomenon could already be happening over here or could start happening at any moment. There is no escape from that as long as we live. If earlier our world was separate like water and oil and maintained that state, the point of equilibrium has since shifted, someone or something has occurred that is causing the world to intermix. Ren, Arya, and the other six of fellow disciples too are all from different worlds who came here by accident. Each different from the other.'

  'Just how many worlds are out there? Why did everyone come here of all places?'

  'I doubt anyone knows what would happen if the world started intermixing even more. The chaos that would be created at that interval of time would be unfathomable. It is very well possible that we may have just entered the beginning phases. The consequences further down the lane were unknown but potentially catastrophic. But if anyone does know the answer it will probably be the will of the world. More specifically the will of this world.'

  'In the end, it seems that all I am being presented with is the illusion of choice. There is only one option that should be viable.'

  [Yes]

  'Classic game-like interface and terms if only a little bit simplified. There is just no flair. Not that I am complaining.'

  [Yes]

  'Hmm, it's not too bad, the defense was expected but still stings. So willpower, intelligence, and dexterity are my main stats then. Dexterity I can understand with all my archery training with my assigned senior disciple. Strength, Agility, Defense, and Chi are all self explanatory but the other stat terms can mean different things in different systems.'

  [What are the willpower, intelligence, dexterity, and unique stat based on?]

  'Alright time to move on. There was the grace point as well.'

  [What about the grace point?]

  'what the.... isn't that too OP? No way this could be true and only at first chakra.'

  [System what are the constraints to this wish?]

  'Ah so even if I ask for an OP ability, as weak as I am right now it would not amount to much. I see. I see. But I could have been warned of this beforehand too....'

  [System will you answer and aid me only when I request you of it?]

  'I see, so I guess my wish now should be that much more apparent.'

  [I have decided on my grace: I want a subsystem that will aid me in my every effort. This system shall be my unwavering ally, dedicated to nurturing my growth. It will meticulously attend to my development, continuously adapting and enhancing my abilities and attributes in alignment with my goals. The subsystem shall also be every bit as capable as the equinox system and act solely for my benefit and with my permission.]

  [umm...yes]

  [Sure]