It was a hot afternoon, Maringold highschool was lively as students in their final year in highschool were talking about which rangers school they would attend.
In one of the classes that were buzzing with talks and laughter was class C. Nathan's class. He sat at the side listening to his classmates a group of boys and girls talk about the Rangers schools they are signing up to enter.
"Well am thinking about Seaside Rangers, I have always wanted to be a sea ranger fighting against sea monsters and exploring the deep sea's." A student said as his face was lit up in joy.
" That not cooler than mine. I want to attend the prestigious Alcane rangers, what is more cooler than flying in the sky. Ha ha ha." Another student entered the topic saying, "Prestigious, ha. You can't compare Alcane or Seaside rangers to SpecialForce rangers in the capital. Which I will be attending." When the turned to see who was talking they saw it was none other than the class topper, Michael. Michael was not wrong to say the SpecialForce rangers are the best, because in this world where monsters rule and humans live in enclosed cities all around the world rangers of different forms are tasked in defence against monsters. Each rangers group having their own task but the most famous and loved of them all are the SpecialForce rangers they enter into enemy territory and are way stronger than other ranger groups.
That being said the bar needed to enter the specialForce rangers was so high that a normal folk would not think about it. But Michael had the guts to say so because, he was the top of his class and his senior brother was also admitted to the SpecialForce rangers so it was no surprise of he got the admission.
"Hmm, trash talking about prestigious when they don't know what prestigious even mean", Michael scoffed.
" Am sorry, I overspoke the most prestigious is the SpecialForce rangers not the Alcane rangers." The student took back his statement and ran away from Michael to avoid any trouble.
" That more like it trash should know where they stand." Michael went off with a crooked smile with his hands in the trouser pockets.
Nathan face was on his desk the whole time just listening to the others talk. He knew he had no chance to enter any of those rangers schools because he had no system. In this world people are giving system while some are not. Those given become rangers while those that are not are called civilians.
Due to this and another reason , Nathan was poor with no family also, as to the extend of not being able to attend a normal civilian school. So he had no choice but to enter into manual labor after his highschool which will be ending that day, as the next day was their graduation ceremony.
The school's bell for dismissal rang as everyone headed out. Michael was the last to leave the class and the school premises after other students had left. He had no interest in communicating with people who were not living in his world as he knew it will end badly from experience, during the middle of highschool he once tried to make friends they did accept him into their circle but once they found out he was an orphan they began behaving strangely towards him, what broke the so called fake friendship entirely was when they found out he had no system, they began treating him as a pest.
That same day he left for a fishing side job, when he got to the port, you could hear sounds of sea gulls flying by, the sea beating against itself, the sound of men shouting and laughing. The port had a strong smell of fish and the sea. Looking around you could see different beast and small fishes being pulled out from each fishermen boats. From a distance Nathan saw a familiar old man waving at him from a distance. The man had a long white beard and hair, he was Captain Stephen, the man in charge of the fishing crew he had a side gig with.
Nathan smiled back as he ran toward the Captain Stephen. This man was like a father figure to Nathan, they met after his parents died in a car crash and his relatives abandoned him. He took Nathan under his wing and providing him side income as a fisher man and also giving him money as a gift. If there was a light in Nathan's life it was Captain Stephen.
" I never expected to see you today kiddo," Captain Stephen face was lit with smile." Isn't tomorrow your graduation. You know this job takes at least a week or month of work out in the open season."
" Sure I know, I dont really see the point of going to a graduation ceremony it's not going to add any value to me. And it's not like am seeing any friends there." Nathan face was a bit sad about it and Captain Stephen could see that, he grabbed hold of Nathan left shoulder .
" Don't worry about their fancy ass parade or whatever. Out at the sea is where the real fun is."
"Thanks, Cap. I wanted to tell you something?" Together they both walked up towards a giant ship called explorer, Captain Stephen fishing vessel.
" Ask away son."
" Can I join you full time on your fishing crew."
" Sonny you dont have to I can sponsor your university tuition so later you can get a good office job." But Nathan didn't want to depend entirely on Captain Stephen, he knew Captain Stephen also had a family to take care of .
" I thank you for your kindness throughout the years sir but I have decided as this as my path from now on ." Captain Stephen saw the determination on Nathan's face and decided to give in as he knew whatever he said would land on a deaf ear.
" Alright son, let's go fishing then." They both laughed as the entered the explorer fishing vessel.
As the entered the vast storming sea, looking left and right you would only see a vast expanse of sea no land nearby.
Nathan and the other crews began putting baits on the cage as they were to let it down into the sea to get a catch. After a stressful day of being beaten by the sea and putting , pulling up cages , they got a huge haul of tuna fishes which were of a high quality. The whole crew were in joy at this catch.
From the radio Captain Stephen spoke to everyone, " I thank you all for the hard work today, everyone can take a rest. As tomorrow we will continue this bountiful catch's."
The crew cheered as they headed inside even the stone cold Nathan had a smile on his face. After the whole crew drank, played cards, and chatted that night they all fell asleep except the Captain who was still awake looking around so they wouldn't sail past the safe zone. In this fishing world there is a safe zone assigned to fishermen so they wouldn't be attacked by monsters from the sea. But once they crossed that mark monsters will attack.
As captain Stephen was checking the radar , Nathan walked in.
" You can't sleep son?"
"Not really, I keep having this strange dreams recently so I can't sleep."
" What kind?"
" I can't remember clearly but it blurry, it like am seeing blood everywhere it's just I can't seem to describe it."
" It alright," Captain Nathan handed him a small glass cup, pouring him whisky from a bottle. " Now drink away your nightmare."
" Am not 18 yet."
" Cut the nonsense son, just take a sip." Captain Stephen smiled as he pushed the glass cup into Nathan's mouth, as he forcefully chugged it down and Captain Stephen laughed hard. At Nathan's bright red face.
But before smile could continue a storm not predicted began to rage. Captain Stephen then looked at his radar and immediately went to his position.
" Hey Nathan, hold onto something." Immediately he spoke through the microphone to his crew. "Everyone get ready , a storm is about to hit us."
Every crew member began running to hold onto something. As the huge storm approached Captain Stephen was counting down.
"...4,3,2,1 and impact". A huge wave touring several feet's above the ship crashed down on the explorer but the explorer was still affloat, this was accompanied by huge rain and and thunder. Captain Stephen steered and steered as Nathan hung to a pole at the side. As they were riding out the storm . Captain Stephen noticed something strange on the radar little green dot surrounded them and we're heading towards them at a fast pace.
Captain Stephen knew without a doubt this were monsters, he had no time to ask questions so he ordered his men to arm themselves with guns. As in any fishing crew it's recommended to have guns onboard Incase of this situation of where monster went pass the safe zone to attack a fishing vessel.
" Nathan whatever you do, don't leave this place you understand me!?" Captain Stephen handed Nathan a pistol to keep himself safe as he walked out from the control room.
Nathan hiding inside the control room could hear gun shots, monster roars, and men cries. After a long fifteen minutes of battle , Nathan was standing before the control room door with a pistol in hand as he was shaking in fear. He knew one out of a thousand ships experienced this every year but he didn't think the explorer which was like a home to him could fall like this. Nathan listened and he couldn't hear a sound. He was anxious how Captain Stephen was and the other crew so he opened the door to his horror he saw dead bodies of his fellow crew but a few sea monsters here and there. As he searched for Captain Stephen his heart was pounding really hard his breathing stalled and his eyes was wide opened, he cautiously moved from place to place searching for Captain Stephen until he finally found him , fatally wounded to the stomach and sitting on the floor smoking cigarettes. Nathan rushed to him pressing on the wound so blood would stop coming out, this made tears to roll down from his eyes.
" No, no you are going to stay alive. We are going back to land, to enjoy food we have not tasted before and you teaching me how to drink and .....and...." Nathan broke down, Captain Stephen grabbed hold of his hand with a smile on his face. " Don't worry about it son am alright, am always with you. Do that which you always wanted even though nobody is with you or believes in you am always with you. Don't cry , don't cry. Just know if you pour a whiskey on my grave every year I wouldn't be mad at you, ha ha ha ha." After laughing his last Captain Stephen died on that spot as the cigar on his lips fell on his chest down to his lap.
"STEPHEN, STE....P..HEEEEEN!" In that moment something broke inside Nathan, he remembered that dream he was having was of this moment, Nathan cried out as he held the man close to his chest in pain. Not bothered if the monster would hear and so did they.
A monster that looked like a huge dog almost the half the size of an adult with scales and a long tail with a sharp edge. Walked up slowly behind Nathan. Nathan faced back and saw the monster , with anger in his eyes and not fearing nothing even death. Nathan shot several times at the monster which dodged at every turn. Sneering at Nathan , as soon as the bullet finished . Nathan grabbed a steel pipe from the floor and attacked the monster the monster also came running toward Nathan with insatiable hunger in it eyes. With an unknown strength, Nathan smashed the head of the monster into the wall the monster fell. Before it could get up Nathan stabbed the steel pipe into the monsters belly, the monster growled in pain as it fell dead. Then a horde of other monsters were at the door all looking at Nathan with teeth's out and saliva gushing down.
Nathan without a trace of fear pulled out the steel pipe from the monsters dead body and face the horde. In that moment a voice rang in his head.
*SYSTEM ACTIVATED.* A screen with stats appeared before him all at 10 points .
*NEW MISSION KILL ALL THOSE HORDES OF SEA MONSTERS AND GET ALL STAT'S UPGRADED BY 30 POINTS*
In that moment Nathan felt a surge of power , he was bewildered and angry at the same time.
With the steel pipe tightly in his grip, he looked at the horde and said, " COME AT ME ALL OF YOU!!!!".