The System I Created

Chapter 9

The Lazarus clan were divided when it came to Dane's recent accomplishment in their clan test; a few accepted his passing, but a few still wanted to confirm if he indeed passed the test without external help, as he grew outside the clan's boundaries and was not always seen growing until he suddenly appeared and became a member of their clan.

Hamilton Lazarus, a 24-year-old level 20 player, stood five feet eight and was wearing glasses and very inclined to academic pursuits. Especially in creating new explosive components and gathering unknown chemicals seen in side the tower. Hamilton loves blowing things up. He got this passion from his father, who was a renowned ordnance expert, either for military or private use. Despite his academic interests and achievements, Hamilton was also known for his exceptional skills in incorporating his own explosives formula toward his favorite weapon.

His throwing knife skills, including controlled explosion's that vary from getting stunned to causing massive damage to his opponents, were the reason his guild inside the eastern part of the first floor has gained popularity. His unique combination of intelligence and combat abilities made him a valuable asset to the clan, earning him respect and admiration from his fellow guild members.

He accepted Dane's passing, but his curiosity was driving him nuts; he wanted to personally see what kind of skill Dane used to kill the chimera that took all seven of his own guild members to defeat. He infused mana at all his attacks to ensure the knives would gain enough force to puncture the Chaos Beast skin so the explosion could take full effect.

The level 35 chimera was not an easy opponent to say the least; even if it was already wounded from the previous player hunt, Hamilton was still itching to see what Dane actually did, so while walking back toward the main house, he asked Dane a few questions and insisted if he could indulge his fascination with the manner in which he attacked the chimera.

Dane was fully aware that the event that just happened has opened the door to many questions that a few of his Lazarus relatives will never ignore. His blood line was born like this; seeing something amazing and unusual was in their nature. Dane hesitated for a moment before agreeing to show Hamilton how he had taken down the chimera, knowing that this could potentially lead to more questions about his unique abilities. But he understood Hamilton's feeling; he was like him; he was also a Lazarus, and he knew the importance of understanding something and securing enough information that might come in handy on certain situations. .

That is why even when he was creating the virtual game creatures and characters, he made sure each of them has a very distinctive personality and characteristic; these were just cut and paste from existing models. This attention to detail not only made his games more immersive but also allowed him to draw on his own experiences and skills when faced with challenges in the real world. It was this level of thoughtfulness that set Dane apart from other game developers and ultimately led to his success in both the virtual and physical realms.

Nearly seven hundred thousand non-playable characters roam and live inside the chaos tower. When Dane was still Damon, the lead team game developer of the virtual game, she spent months creating a separate program to create random personalities that would correspond with the main and sub-scenario.

The main scenario was kept hidden, and only the president of the corporation that owns

Arcane Crusade knows this, but it was a simple story line. It was true freedom; coincidentally, it's the same with the final test in the Lazarus clan, that it to obtain true freedom.

Dane no longer wishes to dwell in those things; he just wants to have a real life as he wanted to gain that idea for his own. So Hamilton continued to ask Dane while he acted. He was listening, but Dane was contemplating what he planned to do, but first he needs to control the Lazarus insensible hunger to get answers.

He could feel that most of them wanted to fight him; they were a huge battle maniacs and he needed to find a way to outsmart them without resorting to revealing too much. Dane knew that his true freedom would only come once he could navigate the treacherous waters of the Lazarus clan questions with cunning and strategy.

"So you guys really want to test my skills properly, right?"

"I will accept it if this will satisfy your hunger and finally gain answers to all your questions."

"I know I am a total stranger in your batch; I never shared any time with any of you guys. Deep down, you are still not openly convinced of my true intentions with the Lazarus family."

"We might as well get this over with and let's make memories with our punches and kicks."

Hamilton never expected that Dane would openly accept his small taunts and hint about pursuing the 2nd test. The rest of the guys heard this also and wanted to participate, just because for them nothing beats getting into a fight to know the other person, so they all agreed to engage in a friendly sparring match. The tension in the room dissipated as laughter filled the air, turning what could have been a hostile situation into a bonding experience for the group.

Sebastian Lazarus, 26 years old and level 21, was dragging the dead chimera and gave out a heavy sigh! As he wiped the sweat from his brow, Sebastian couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment at what their new relative showed them. The camaraderie among the group has started, and he knows that the elders will also approve this; being honest is not that easy to come by these days. The trust and respect that had been lacking before now seemed to be growing slowly. Dane was showing characteristics befitting a Lazarus.

"Our new cousin has grit and spunk! A true Lazarus is like that."

"Oh well, might as well indulge this; listen up, guys, better do the spar in the players training facility."

"Might as well introduce our cousin to the world. We can't afford that Dane here gets bullied for being a new player; we can't let those negative influences get to him." "Let's make sure he feels welcome and supported in our family."

"I'd rather see him get pummeled to the ground by his own blood than another stranger on the first floor or field. Plus, it's always good to have another Lazarus in the family to keep things interesting."

"Absolutely, we'll show him the ropes and make sure he's ready for whatever comes his way. Family sticks together, no matter what."

As they all went back to the main house, somebody already alerted the player association concerning the chimera that didn't get hunted effectively, and the Lazarus players were adamant to know who was responsible for not completing their task. The nearest town was ten miles from the Lazarus private land because their land was considered a hot spot for random monster outbreaks. The player established a small outpost to gather and transport unlucky creatures that stragled inside their territory.

Dane and the rest of his relatives were greeted by their elders as if they were gone for days; the main house was warm and filled with noise and playful anarchy and warmth that Dane truly appreciated. The memories of these events came to his mind, and the feeling he longed for finally came back.

The Lazarus main house was huge, twice the size of an ordinary farm barn. The main house has a width of 50 feet and a length of 100 feet and has a height of 16 feet. The design was simple; it had a second floor, a basement, and that classic western home porch, complete with a swing and rocking chairs. Dane could almost hear the laughter of his relatives echoing through the halls and feel the comforting embrace of his aunts cooking wafting through the air. It was now a place that held a piece of his heart, a sanctuary from the chaos of the world outside.

Hamilton asked Dane to eat with them and just stay the night while Sebastian coordinated with the player association to use their assessment facility and get Dane proper documentation as he plans to venture into the tower at his own time. Dane could not receive the Hamilton invitation as he was hungry; he wanted to renovate his parents house and test if he could use his remaining experience points on his own home.

But for now, Dane's plan is simple; he just wants to enjoy his official welcome toward his blood kin as a full-pledged Lazarus. The festivities lasted the entire day. Dane and his cousins were exhausted at the end of the hour eating, drinking, talking, and sharing random stories about their adventures. As the sun began to set down again, Dane felt a sense of contentment and belonging with his family, knowing that he had finally found his place among them. The bond between him and his cousins grew stronger as they laughed and reminisced late into the night.

The following day, Dane was woken up by the youngest member of the Lazarus clan.

Bonnie Lazarus was the most quiet member, as she hated getting involved with chaos monsters, but her powers were seen to be effective in incapacitating a target as she manipulated grativity as a specific area and created a powerful gravitational pull that can render a chaos beast unable to move for a few seconds, enough time to allow her allies to strike. Her abilities were often underestimated due to her reserved nature, but she proved time and time again to be a valuable asset in battle.

She was slender and five foot six, slender with long blonde hair, and wearing her signature eyeglasses because she was also an avid reader of advanced physics. Like Mary Kay, many Lazarus members are seen to be "Rednecks." It is a derogatory term for white people who are perceived as unsophisticated and crass. But they are wrong; the Lazarus clan lives a double life as they are beyond crass and are actually highly intelligent and skilled individuals who excel in combat situations.

They simply enjoy roughhousing and have an adventurous outlook on life. The Lazarus clan takes pleasure in their ability to outwit their rivals and win any conflict they engage in because they employ an unusual approach to any social interpretation that others may observe.

Dane stood up and came up from the basement, where all the younger male Lazarus slept. He was the last person to wake, as the others were already preparing to leave toward their respective destinations. Dane quickly grabbed his jacket and hurried upstairs. The rest of the clan were already finished eating and had placed all their personal belongings inside the armored bus packed outside the Lazarus farm house.

Emmit was casually reading the newspaper at the main dining table, while the rest of the elders were preoccupied with their own thoughts and conversations. Dane greeted everyone with a quick nod before joining Emmit at the table, grabbing a cup of coffee on his way. Emmit greated Dane and slid a peace of document and his new identification card, now legally named Dane Dane Rinne Lazarus, 23 years old. Emmi looked at Dane and gave a wink.

"You are officially a lazarus now, Dane; whatever you decide to do, you have the full support of the clan."

"Give them hell, kiddo!"

"Finnish eating and don't worry about the rest; everything is prepared; your registration is all set," Emmit said with a smile. Dane nodded, feeling a surge of gratitude towards his newfound family. He knew he was in good hands with the Lazarus clan by his side.

Dane already has everything he needs in his dimensional storage; the coat he was wearing was loose as it was tailored to be worn on a daily basis, so it's the only coat Dane usually wears. It was light and comfortable, perfect for any situation he may encounter during. He saw Mary Kay holding a brown backpack and told him that Hamilton went to his place earlier that morning and just grabbed the basic necessities he might need for the trip to the player association facility in the main city. Dane smiled, thankful for their thoughtfulness and consideration. He quickly grabbed the backpack from Mary Kay and headed out, eager for the adventure ahead.

"Thank you, Uncle Emmit, for everything," he called out as he walked towards the door. Dane knew this was the start of everything he wanted to change in his second life. As he opened the door, he saw a bus filled with all of his relatives who were going back to their respective groups or team units and continuing their responsibility in clearing the tower missions.

As he knew an unfinish task has deadly consequences on the real world, he knew it wasn't part of his game scenario, but it was more of a punishment's toward human beings from the gods as they entertain themselves to the suffering mankind had to suffer within just a year.

The few days Dane spent with his father's bloodline was like a reunion that he has had dreams for a very long time. Dane accepted that his past life was now gone, and he just needs to live his new life as his own son. As we all know, Dane is just the younger version of Damon.

Traveling toward the player registration was filled with resounding chaos as the younger baych were now free to do what they wanted; the elders are gone, so while sitting quietly at the back, most of his relatives rushed to ask him so many personal questions that they could not ask when they were at the main house.

Question about personal experience in relationships and matters that the elders hated knowing.

The most pressing question that kept coming up was about his relationship with his late father, Damon, and how Dane felt about stepping into his father's shoes. Dane tried to navigate through the chaos, feeling overwhelmed by the sudden attention and pressure to live up to his father's legacy. That is actually him.

The lie he created about him being the son of the late Damon Lazarus, Dane was not like these youngster; his mind was well aware of the questions, and he perfectly knows how to respond in a manner all of them will be satisfied

" I only had the opportunity with him for about ten years; he taught me how to hunt while were were staying with my Japanese mother."

"Wow! So your dad also married a Japanese woman like your grandmother, Mitako Azai?"

"That's insane!"

"Are you guys deft or what Dane already mentioned this a few days ago?"

"It's different when you actually hear the story up close without the elders!

"Wait, you were trained for ten years?"

"How the hell did you get so good at it?"

"Oh that! When my father, the late Damon Lazarus, went back to work on the virtual game, my mother's relatives disowned me and my mother because, for some reason, they never liked my father being a person of a different nationality."

"So we had to move out and live a life filled with uncertainty and struggle. But my mother always believed in the power of perseverance and hard work, which is why he made sure I was trained for ten years to excel in survival."

"It was life's way of preparing me for any challenges that may come our way."

"I had a rough childhood; fighting was a daily routine whether physically fighting or mentally fighting against the discrimination, hunger, health and prejudice we faced. "

"Despite the hardships, I am grateful for the resilience my mother instilled in me, which has helped me navigate through life's obstacles with strength and determination."

Everybody was amazed hearing Dane's story up close and really personal, but it was eighty percent the truth, and the rest were head on a lie. Despite the embellishments in Dane's story, the underlying message of resilience and strength still resonated with those who heard it. It served as a reminder that overcoming challenges is possible with determination and perseverance.

Dane was trying his best to act the part; one wrong reaction will ruin the facade he was trying to maintain. His story may have been embellished, but the fact is that no one will believe that he was their 53 years old , and their uncle, and not their 23 year old cousin, it was already confusing to him, but Dane had to keep up with a lie.

"Guys, I am still tired, and I want to meditate before reaching out destination, its what I usually do if I want to clear my mind."

"cool, I want to learn that too,"

" Dane, you're always full of surprises,"

Charlotte said with a smile.

"We'll give you some space to meditate;"

" you heard the man , let him be until we reach the player assessment facility"

The travel was smooth, and the bus they were using was well equipped. The comfortable seats and amenities on the bus made it easy for Dane to relax and focus on his meditation. As the landscape passed by outside the window, Dane took advantage of the peaceful atmosphere to clear his mind before arriving at their destination.