[ Expressionless Awakener ]

'Wait...Did I even eat lunch today...?' My stomach grumbled after thinking that.

'...' 'Welp, Now I know.'

The arena is always filled with a peaceful atmosphere, and color-like hues that reflected the sun. It's been like that ever since the creation of this building.

I guess thats how the novel described it.. Despite having its controversies in the story.

'Well, that includes the puzzling story settings I guess.'

I stood blankly as the wind gently touched my neck. The wind flowed through my hair as it swayed slowly.

'....Why does it feel like this place is as more peaceful than the last time I came here...?'

'...' '.....' 'Oh..'

I continued to daze as the random tumbleweed that came out of nowhere appeared on the sand rolling.

'....' '......Why.......'

'IS NOBODY HERE-???!!!!!' I thought as realization instantly hit me.

'Am i the only person in this arena..!? Did I go inside a mysterious portal by mistake!? DID EVERYONE LEFT ME-!!?'

'....' '....YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!!!!!' I thought as I felt my realization hit me once more.. Giving me slight panic.

I breathed relentlessly as I tried to calm myself.

Then suddenly, My stomach grumbled again.

'........' '...Ugh.... what Am I supposed to do now...?' I stood frustrated on the sand as I groaned, remembering that I'm too dumb at directions and getting lost so easily.

[ Don't be so dramatic, Did you forget I existed?😡 ] The red system replied as it suddenly appeared in front of me, almost startling me again, I was supposed to get used to this but I guess not.

[ Jeez... Did you lose braincells or something?? Is it my fault that I turned on Music auto mode that made u lose braincells???😒 ] The system replied along with an annoyed emoji.

'Sorry, I didn't mean to forget your existence, Rod.' I whispered back.

[ ROD-!!?? DON'T YOU MEAN [RED]!!??🤬 ]

'Oh yeah, Red, Sorry.' I mumbled expressionlessly with no remorse.

[ .....😒 ]

'So... What to do now..?' I asked silently to the system, Tilting my head.

[ Well, Aren't you hungry?😃 ] The system replied.

'...Yea, I guess so.' I mumbled back

[ Then I'll just wavepoint the way there.🙂 ]

'Oh ok' I mumbled with a straight face.

[ .....😐 ] [ ..Are u usually like this, Kim Lee? ]

'..Um.... What do you mean by that?'

[ Well, I expected you to be some kind of introvert that is the type to be alone 24/7, But inside your head, You're pretty dramatic.😗 ]

'Nah, I'm mostly just a chill person, and I'm not that unsocial just because I have an expressionless face.'

[ I didn't type anything about your expressionless face Kim Lee.😒 I just thought you're that type of person>!😗 ]

'I'm not a loner.. What are you trying to expect from me?'

[ Oops! I didn't mean to offend you so badly Kim!!😉 ] The system replied sarcastically.

I sighed deeply as I gently scratched my hair; 'So when are you gonna do the wavepoint thing? I'll die from hunger at this point.' I mumbled quietly as I felt my stomach rumble for the 2nd time.. While sighing deeply from the system's texts.

[ Oopsieess!!!!!🤭 Sowwy sowwy!! Wait a moment!😚 ] [ Loading... ] The system began to load as I stood on the sand waiting, While also playing with my fingers.

[ Loading.... ] ( 1 minute later.. )

[ Loading.. ] ( 5 minutes later.. )

[ Loading... ] ( 8 minutes later.. )

'...' '......' I thought that the system would take just a few seconds to load up.. But I didn't expect it to take longer than I thought it would.

'........How long is this gonna take...?' I thought as I felt my legs starting to hurt, Along with my stomach grumbling loudly.

As I continued to stand waiting for the system to load up, I suddenly felt my skin turning cold, giving me chills in the back of my spine.

...It was as if something was walking towards me from behind that I was too scared to look back.. No, Whatever it is, Something paralyzed me that I couldn't move my own body.....

Wait.. Paralyzed...?

Suddenly, My heart began to pound instantly, feeling my pulse rate increase at a surprisingly fast rate.

The temperature of my surroundings reduced as I saw the visible air coming from out of my breath.

The sudden need of oxygen was desperate and I could barely grasp the air that was hard to find.

My body was in a shocked-pale state, with a mix of emotions of disarray and fear.

Everything felt painful.

I knew I needed to do something before whatever bad thing could happen... But I could barely think of anything from this situation.. nor could I have enough strength to move my paralyzed-body.

Suddenly, A cold touch from my right shoulder was felt... An entity-like hand that is barely human.. A color so dark it matches that of a void.

My eyes widened in fear... An unknown entity that I couldn't imagine what it looks like.

'Am I going to pass out...?' I thought as I continued to breathe relentlessly, trying my best to grasp the remaining air that was left.

I also tried to avoid my eyes from blinking.. But my body felt so weak as if something inside me was gripping me whole.

What is going on...? and What is going to happen to me...? Thoughts run through my head like a tsunami, Making me feel exhausted at the situation i'm in....

I could barely wake myself up.

Kim...

Kim Le.......

[ KIM LEE! ]

Suddenly, the system appeared and replied too close to my face, startling me while also coming back to my senses.

[ I already showed you the wavepoint!! Why aren't you saying anything!!??😡 ] The system replied in an angry text.

'I...'

I looked around my surroundings as I felt puzzled.

'What happened just earlier? Was it just my imagination?' I thought, Feeling extremely confused.

It would've possibly been my imagination... But it somehow felt real. No.., It definitely felt real.. If it were my imagination, I wouldn't have felt the decrease of temperature and the way my heart pounded so fast it could burst open.. Not to mention that I was having a hard time breathing earlier.

And that dark entity-like hand... That touch also felt real... But I didn't get to see its face since I couldn't move my body of my own free will.

'What seriously was that...?' I thought as I looked down at my feet, feeling completely puzzled.

[ ...uh... ] [ Are you ok, Kim?😟 ] The system replied in a worry.

'....I think so..' I whispered, Feeling somewhat awkward.. Though I don't know why I keep mumbling or whispering when there is not even a single person around.

[ I heard your thoughts earlier... What did you mean by imagination, Kim?🤨 ] The system asked and replied.

'..You.... didn't... saw the black thing..?' I stuttered quietly to the system.

[ Black thing?? I don't think so, You must've been so hungry you almost turned dead-pale right? lol 😗 ]

'..You... didn't hear my other thoughts from earlier..?'

[ If you're talking about the part where your head was pointing at the ground looking emotionless, Then no.😒 ]

'Oh.' I pondered.

What happened just earlier isn't some kind of hallucination or an imagination that I would easily make... Rather, It felt as if it happened for a reason.

But.. If it were to be a reason, Then it should've given me some kind of warning.. or a message that was trying to tell me.

But I doubt anyone would notice that kind of message if it weren't that visible.

It might be part of the novel too, But if it were, then I would've felt a tingling feeling inside my gut every time I saw any deja vu's from the novel...

But this time.. It didn't.

[ It might be sleep-paralysis, Kim Lee.😗 ] The system replied, giving me some kind of keypoint.

'Sleep-paralysis..?' I thought.

That's also another possibility, But I wasn't asleep nor am I that tired.. Was I?

... Maybe that Drag-Show was the one that got me tired.. So much, I must've drooped in exhaustion.

'I'm definitely blaming my classmates for this, I don't get paid enough to influence this dang novel.'

[ Kim, This isn't a job-🤦 ]

Anyway.. I doubt this situation will be forgotten so easily, Especially the uneasiness I'm feeling right now.

[ So when are you gonna eat Kim~y? Are you just gonna stand here and starve?😑 ]

'...' 'I should probably eat first' I thought, Making a poker face.

. . . ••••• "Ooh~.."

"Kim Johnson was it..?"

"Hmp... How interesting~.." ••••• . . . .

Eventually, everything went well somehow.

I went to the place where all of the students were gathering. Apparently, they were having a feast inside the school cafeteria (Aka; The banquet/VIP one) and most of them were drinking beer and wine.

I too, was able to finally eat food and enjoyed myself... Until some other... unwanted characters that joined me on my table.

Though most of them already forgot my name and my existence.. except for Lusian Luien, she is the first one to approach me along with her friends(characters of the novel) after all.

What a hassle.... I kinda wished they didn't notice me tho.

And as for the rewards from the second game, The aurorawhales section won first and Kwan Jihu was able to take the reward alone, I doubt he'll give any of the prizes to our classmates anyway, since it's supposed to be an achievement for the students who were chosen as contestants of the game. (But the class is given points from it after all, so it doesn't really matter.)

Eventually.. My uneasiness from earlier... was forgotten instantly. I also forgot about the incident of that black entity, though I did think that I wouldn't forget this incident so easily, but I did anyway, cause I've always been like that. [ [Red]: Seriously, Why are you like this Kim?😒 ]

I'm also too lazy to figure it out myself, Once all of this is over, I'm sure everything will go back to normal like it used to be.. Probably not but still.

I hope that incident didn't affect the current storyline of the novel... cause I'm not too sure if that were to be a part of it.

I've already ruined the plots and encountered a lot of events, So possibly, I'm a character now aren't I?

I'd rather lay low.. But I couldn't just ignore it forever. Someday, I might get into some trouble and get involved on the storyline again.. Especially helping the systems and Kwan Jihu.

... I hope that won't happen honestly.. and I'm too scared to imagine the consequences.

Welp, It cannot be helped. . . . I eventually got out of the Cafeteria and went back inside the arena again.

The same as always, the third game has slowly started.

1 : 04 pm:

[ "Hello everyone! Did all of you have a lovely lunch? Well I hope so, Because the third exam is about to begin!" ] The Aurorawhales instructor of the academy announced excitingly, letting all of the students know about the third Game's commence.

The third exam.. Or Game, is were everything gets serious.

From doing duels to going inside dungeons, It could be either in groups or going in solo.

It depends on the games perspective.

Usually, The instructor of the Golden Grace section, was supposed to be the one to choose the exam's game introduction.

But since hes not here, Lilac welstone should've been in charge of choosing the games... Along with the other instructor, Alec Kane.

No wonder students get frustrated when the other instructors choose games that aren't fun enough. Because they only choose the ones they want.

'....I guess the instructor of the Golden Grace isn't here after al-' [ "Before we all commence the 3rd Game.. I'll let all of you know, that the instructor of the Golden Grace section... has finally came to the Arena! ] The principal of the school announced deligently, Not even letting me finish my sentence.

'Nevermind, I'll take that back.' I thought with the usual poker face.

The crowd cheered in shock!

"The instructor of the Golden Grace is here-!?"

"I thought he won't be able to join the Arena Games!"

"No wayy!!! Does that mean he'll choose the games this time-!?"

The crowd gossiped and cheered, Shocked by the instructor's presence upon the Arena Balcony, Full of excitement and hype that could destroy a single person's hearing! But they're all awakeners... They don't care if they were to break a person's ears would it!?

[ "Instructor of the Golden Grace section.... Or should I say... Elias Khalid..! Would you like to take the mic and continue on with a speech?" ]

[ "Of course.!" ] Instructor Khalid.. Aka, The golden grace instructor, took the mic as he spoke.

[ "Hello young students! As you may know... I haven't been able to cooperate with the school Exams in the past few years.." ] [ "Not to mention that I missed 2 games during this time.. Am i right?" ]

[ "I apologize for missing out on the fun all of you are experiencing... Especially today." ]

[ "I've been quite busy during these times., But as of today... I'll make up all the times I have missed out..." ]

[ "By choosing all the three games... MYSELF!" ]

The crowd once again went wild!

"3 GAMES-!!? LIKE STRAIGHT 3 GAMES-!!??"

"NO WAY-!!!"

"I BET HE'LL PICK ONE OF THE BEST ONES!!!"

[ "Oy... Oy, OY!" ] [ "You can't just pick three of the games yourself, Sharing is caring isn't it??" ] Alec Kane shouted as he stared at Elias Khalid with rivaled eyes.

[ "Oh c'mon... You wouldn't mind if I were to pick 3 games straight won't it? I mean.. If you were to be the one to pick, All of the students wouldn't have enough fun during one game! They have a lot of energy y,know?" ] Elias Khalid chuckled with a mischevious smile, Giving rival vibes to Alec Kane.

[ "I'm sure that whatever I pick, the students would have a lot of fun themselves! This is after all... The Arena Exams hm?" ] Alec Kane spoke back.

[ "Oh yeah? Let's see if the students are so fond of the games you pick.. I bet almost half of them cheered while the rest gets bored!" ]

[ "No... I'm sure all of them will have such a great time at the games I pick." ]

[ "How can you be so sure hm~?" ]

[ "Oh... I'm definitely sure." ]

The both of them glared each other's eyes like fire mixed with gasoline.

A smile of rivalry in the face of hype and energeticness! The top two powerful instructors of the game!??

'...' 'What the heck am I seeing apparently?' I thought as I looked at the Arena screen with a straight oddly face.. Are they rivals or are they enemies? They're clearly both.

[ "Calm down Boys!" ]

[ "You two don't have to act so childish with each other... Both of you are grown adults!" ] Lilac Welstone, Aka the instructor of the Skylock section, interrupted the conversation with a gentle yet mischievous smile.

'...' 'Honestly, Why did I come here in the first place..?' I thought, already exhausted.

[ "Just start the 3rd Game already! The students aren't gonna wait themselves won't they?" ] She chuckled.

[ "Alright.. But I'll be the one to choose first." ] Elias Khalid, Spoke with self-confidence.

[ "Then I'll choose the 4th game after the 3rd." ] Alec Kane, Also spoke with self-confidence.

[ "Alright then.. It's settled!" ]

[ "Let the third game of the arena...." ]

[ "Commence!" ]

The crowd once again went into cheer! Excitement filling up in their bodies!.

'.....' '..I don't feel very good about this...' I gulped slightly with a straight face, feeling slight uneasiness once more.

[ Expressionless Awakener ] . . . . Hello everyone!!!🤭

I was supposed to finish this yesterday, But I was having a birthday party with my dad!

So I once again, apologize for my broken schedule of updates in the novel!! But it's not like I'm dead or something lol.

Well.. Thank you all for reading!! and thank you for 1.91k votes!!!!～⁠(⁠つ⁠ˆ⁠Д⁠ˆ⁠)⁠つ⁠｡♥️♥️♥️♥️ . . . .

Hello guys!!! I FINALLY changed my novel cover!! It took me HOURS or atleast.. 3 DAYS for me to finish this!!

BLOOD AND TEARS.... ALSO MY BACK HURTING FOR NO REASON.... And I was able to finish it TODAY!!

So check it out!!! Here is the new cover btw::



Once again!! Thank you for reading!! (Had to update here because I don't want to update on another new chapter that isn't based on the story... It's a hassle.) (⁠っ⁠.⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)⁠っ♥️♥️♥️♥️