The Greatest Supreme

”Hey, we
e going back to that place? ” Rin anxiously asked me while staring at the System message.

…To be honest, I also don kno— Ah.

”Yes. Its probably because we cleared the Quest Act, and… ”

”And what? ” Samantha had a countenance as if she was telling me to hurry up.

”Its about the «Faces». ”

”Ah, right… Speaking of «Faces»… Can you guys vividly see your memories? I mean, those weird memories that made us experience those terrible headaches? ”

I shook my head at Samanthas question.

”No, but its hard to believe that we were the reincarnation of those people, ” replied Rin while he popped his fingers one by one.

Then he spoke once again with a sullen tone of voice.

”Zekiel. ”

”Hm? ”

”What are we going to do now? ”

I looked at him, and there was uneasiness in his eyes.

I know what he was implying between those words.

So I answered unwaveringly, ”Survive, of course. ”

”…How? And come to think of it, why are you and Ms. Fia so calm compared to us, me and Samantha? ”

Samantha alternately looked at Fia and me. Agreeing with Rins remarks, she told me, ”Oh, yes. Why is that so, Zekiel? Remember inside that Quest Act? We
e literally panicking since our lives were at stake; however, you two acted as if you could just respawn after you died. ”

…Calm?

I glanced at the quiet woman who was blankly staring at the air.

”I don know what was inside Fias head, however, Im not definitely calm. ”

And I didn lie about that one.

”….. ”

Rin was fidgeting his fingers.

…I need to say something. Ah, how about this?

I put a smirk on my face.

”Rin. ”

”Yes? ”

”Do you know why, despite experiencing numerous disasters, plagues, pestilence, and wars in the past, humanity has been able to survive to this point? ”

Rin frowned and narrowed his eyes as if he was telling me here you go again, Zekiel.

Samantha and Fia looked at me as if they were also interested in my arguments. Of course, I already knew they had their own ideas on my question. However, they gave the spotlight to me and just listened.

Rin let out a sigh and softly laughed. He was in deep thoughts for a while and then answered, ”Its because we
e intelligent and capable. ”

”It makes sense, right? ”

Rin nodded at my question.

”But I believe not so. ”

Rin was quite surprised by my remarks.

”Then, what? ”

”We survived not because of the fact that we are the strongest or the most knowledgeable. ”

Samantha slightly smiled and Fia crossed her arms.

”What? ” Rin tilted his head.

”Its similar to what Charles Darwin affirmed that its not the strongest of the species that survive, and neither the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. ”

Rin then had a realization in his mind.

”…Its because we
e the most responsive to change? ”

”Maybe, ” I responded as I lightly shrugged my shoulders.

Then Rin asked, ”So, to survive in this world, we need to respond to the changes we will experience? ”

I nodded. Then I told him, ”Yes, adaptation and resilience. We need to adapt to the circumstances around us and recover quickly as soon as possible whenever we experience difficulties.

Then, a voice was heard.

”Why submit to these farcical schemes? ” Fia said nonchalantly. Then she added, ”Why do you want to have your lives played like a game? ”

I know what she was implicitly suggesting.

I calmly responded, ”Who would want that? We just have no choice but to go with the flow, for now. We
e fighting an unknown enemy here. ”

Adrian Dimasalang, the acting leader, announced through the megaphone.

[Everyone! We already checked the doorways and we can go out now. The barrier has really been released.]

We immediately stopped our arguments and turned our heads toward him.

The people inside the studio hall had relief on their faces. One by one, people were leaving the place while the security officers were controlling the situation.

”Don cut the line! ”

…..

”Mom, can we go home now? ”

”Yes, dear. ”

…

Then, Sir Adrian approached us.

”Haa, finally. Are you all fine? ”

”Yes, Sir. We
e just taking a rest, ” I replied.

And then my allies nodded their heads.

”Thats good to know. If theres something you need, you can rely on us. ”

Come to think of it, I need to ask him…

”Sir Adrian, there are several questions I have in mind. If it isn too much to ask, then perhaps… ”

”Oh, sure. Go ahead. ”

Hm… where should I start with…?

”Sir, you have said something similar like Aristotle meeting up with the Audience? But it is clearly told to us that the only place we can meet up with the Recorders is at the «Nexus Stage». ”

”Ah. But I actually don think it was a meet-up. More likely, a pre-recorded video that appeared on our screens. ”

I see.

”I understand. Uh, Sir, what did Aristotle say to all of you? ”

”Where should I start… hm, he said that we are the Audience and its our primary job to watch and rate the Performers. Well, it all depends on the Audience Guide. And every day, we have to do it one time, no minimum or maximum. We can find Stage Performances through actual or through the live broadcast… Thats the gist. ”

”Hmm, okay. Wait Stage Performances? ”

”Do you want me to explain? ”

”No, never mind. Ill just look it up in the System. It would probably be there. ”

Adrian nodded.

”Sir, are you alone? ” I asked him.

It was already late that I realized that it was quite an unusual question.

”Haha, what? ”

”I mean if you have a family? If so, aren you worried about them? Maybe you should check them out? ”

”Ah, no. Im single and Im living alone. ”

”Oh, okay… ”

Come to think of it… are they okay? My friends… My relatives…

My father.

I know I despise him; nevertheless, I couldn help but worry about him too.

”Is that all? ” Sir Adrian asked while getting something in his wallet.

I glanced at my allies, and they shook their heads.

”I think thats all, Sir. ”

”Copy. By the way, heres my contact information. You all will probably be questioned by the government since all of you are Performers. Just contact me if something happens. ”

Hmm, it was not a business card; nonetheless, it was indeed a card containing something on it.

”…Thank you for the thought, Sir. ” I smiled at him.

”Oh, I will go now since we need to check the area and the facilities. ”

I nodded and replied, ”Thank you, Sir. ”

”Thank you, Sir. ” Samantha also bade her farewell

”Take care, Sir. ” And then Rin.

Fia slightly bowed her head at them.

And then Sir Adrian left with his colleagues.

After they left, Samantha covered her mouth with her hands and chuckled slightly. ”Hes kinda hot, right, Fia? I mean Sir Adriel. ”

However, Fia had an uninterested expression on her face while reading the contents of the System.

…Oh right, I think its time to study this System thing. Gathering information is the priority.

”….. ”

”….. ”

Samantha added, ”I wonder about his age… I bet hes in his 30s. He can be old nor young, I mean look at his body. ”

Theres still no response from Fia.

”Haha, you
e no fun, Fia. You need to get along with us since we
e already in this Association. ”

Fia slightly formed a crease on her forehead.

”Rin, whats your opinion? ”

Rin raised his chin and then looked at Samantha.

”Not new to me. I mean, look at the man beside me. ”

Then Samantha glanced at me.

”Nah, Im already accustomed to his face while he was still here in the Philippines. ”

Then she narrowed her eyes and smiled at me.

Then, at that moment, realization formed in my head.

She was cornering me.

”Zekiel, you. Anything to say? ”

I calmly replied, ”I think Sir Adrians alright. ”

Then she asked quite an unexpected question.

”Your type? ”

”? ”

”Im just kidding. Well, no one will be able to defeat his looks, am I right? ”

”….. ”

Rin then looked at me with a quite serious face.

…I know he knows.

I asked while feigning ignorance, ”His? ”

”Haha Zekiel, don play dumb. ”

”….. ”

”The man whos way more handsome than you. The man who you once called your closest friend. ”

”….. ”

Rin put his hand on my back.

…Its alright, Rin.

I began opening my mouth.

”Ah, haha. Come to think of it, Samantha, where is he? Do you know where he has been? ”

”Zekiel. ”

I looked down. Subconsciously, my hand was gripping. However, I didn realize that it was the wounded hand. The wound freshened, and the bandage absorbed the bright red blood.

”Why did you leave without even saying a word? ”

At that very moment, I was officially cornered.

…Of course, she would ask me that. Theres no way she wouldn . She probably thought this moment was the perfect chance to ask me about this topic.

I want to say something. I can reason out that I was sick and needed to go to America for more intensive treatment.

However, I couldn speak, even just a mere sound.

All I could reply was a smile.

Then suddenly…

Clap!

”Its not important now, isn it Samantha? ”

It was Rin who said that.

”You all are wasting your time on trivial things. Explore your System window and gather useful information. ”

We all looked at Fia, who was crossing her arm.

…Shes right.

We agreed on her and began swiping this and there silently.

.

.

.

After some minutes…

”Look at the news! ”

Our eyes instantly turned to the chattering people who hadn left the hall yet.

I immediately grabbed my phone… Oh, right, I need first to have my phone returned.

”Rin. ”

”What? ”

”Wheres my phone? ”

Then he immediately reached for my phone in his pocket.

”Here. ”

Then, I immediately pressed the button. Luckily, the phones battery was still 93%, but I have to conserve the power.

16:14

I immediately went to the portal and dozens of breaking news sprung up on me.

—The President of the Philippines has gone missing after the emergence of the System

—The United States government in upheaval after the Executives mysterious disappearance

—System: A start of a New Era or mass extinction?

—Heads of States around the world strangely vanished after the genesis of the System

Cliché developments.

We still have five more minutes before our appointment in the «Nexus Stage».

”Haa… its really happening. ”

I looked at Samantha who was scrolling her phone upwards and downwards several times as she uttered those statements.

She continued while having a gloomy mood,

”Im going to ring someone up. Ill be back. ”

We nodded at her and then she left.

”Rin, ” I called him.

”Hm? ”

”Aren you going to call your mother? ”

”Ah… She already messaged me. She said that she was alright now and already done with Daily Patronage. ”

…An Audience, I see.

Daily Patronage was the job of an Audience. It was the job that was described by Sir Adriel earlier.

”Thats good to hear. ”

Then I averted my gaze to Fia who was also reading something on her phone.

”How about you, Fia? How about your family? ”

”Im an orphan. ”

”….. ”

…Oh. What should I say? Ah, never mind, its better to remain silent.

”Man, how about your father? ”

I turned my head towards Rin. I remained silent for a while until I decided to say something.

”I think hes fine. ”

”…Okay. ”

Buzz.

It was my phone.

…Speak of the devil.

[You have an unread message.]

I swiped the notification bar…

— Father: Are you okay, son? Answer ASAP. | sent a sec. ago.

Tap. Tap.

— Me: Don worry, Im fine. | sent a sec. ago.

Ring. Ring.

[Father is calling…]

I pressed the
eject button.

— Me: Lets just chat. Im not comfortable with calls. | sent a sec. ago.

— Father: Well, theres nothing I can do. By the way, are you an Audience as well? | sent a sec. ago.

…Is he an Audience?

— Me: No, Im a Performer. | sent a sec. ago.

— Father: Return ASAP here in the US. | sent a sec. ago.

…Return?

— Me: Im not quite sure about that. Our flight is scheduled two weeks from now, plus the countries would probably close their borders.. | sent a sec. ago.

— Father: Ill arrange a private flight. | sent a sec. ago.

He worries too much.

— Me: No need, didn I tell you I don want to rely on you anymore? | sent a sec. ago.

— Father: Son! Its a different situation now. Please, don be stubborn, just this once. | sent a sec. ago.

— Me: Still can do it. Didn you watch the Quest Act? The System would probably prevent us since I was already in an Association, and we have to stick together from now on. | sent a sec. ago.

And he didn reply anymore.

I pressed the power button.

Buzz.

Haa.

I switched on my phone again.

— Father: Take care, Zekiel. ily. | sent a sec. Ago.

How brazen.

I shut down my phone.

Then…

[Nexus Rendezvous will commence in 10 seconds!]