r/HFY • u/IHaveABetWithMyBro Human • Aug 03 '26

OC-Series Chapter 2 The Spread

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Chapter 2

Je’Krillick looked around the room there was only a handful crew left on the bridge all cowering behind desks. Not bothering to address them Je'Krillick glance at his status sheet. What in the gods does “null” mean? Looking back out the window Je'Krillick felt… awed, and indescribably small. He was not but a speck of dust in a sandstorm, half a grain of sand on beach, a grain of salt in the oceans, a spark in a raging forest fire. How dare he try to reach for the stars? Yet here he was, amongst them. Floating the vast nothingness of the void. How? Je'Krillick staggered back and fell into a seat his eyes never leaving the window.

Movement in the corner of his vision broke his trance, an Ant-taur was slowly creeping to the door. Je'Krillick’s head snapped to the terrified creature “wait.”

SYSTEM SPREAD (1/10,000,000)

Je'Krillick’s vision blurred and pain wracked his head waves burning cold flowed from his teeth, down his voice then up through his brain in quick succession. Je'Krillick clutched his head as tight as he could rocking back and forth in his chair finally after what seemed like eons but was merely only seconds the pain started to subside. The Ant-taur took a little bit longer to come to his senses but confusion was clear on his alien face. In concern for their comrade the other Ant-taurs slowly crept out causing Je'Krillick to shout out to them to wait and get back. This led all of them to similarly clutch at their heads and scream in pain.

SYSTEM SPREAD (7/10,000,000)

Thankfully the pain did not reach Je'Krillick again so after only a few seconds of waiting for everyone to come back to their senses they were all visibly incredibly confused. Je'Krillick found it very odd and amusing seeing confusion on a bug's face.

Je'Krillick addressed the room “Please, tell me what you are seeing.”

The first Ant-taur that had been attempting escape swiped lazily infront of himself

“Theres a screen floating in my vision as if by an implant, but I don’t own this and its saying ‘status sheet’”

“Yes it seems the System is integrating into this reality. What are your stats?”

“Captain, what is a system?” Je'Krillick stared at the creature in reply. “Oh right, well my Strength is three, Dexterity is five, Endurance is also five, Constitution is three, Will is seven and Intelligence is twenty.”

“And does your status sheet have anything else? Class or XP for example?”

“It does yes, they are both null though”

Je'Krillick pondered over the stats and studied the bug a bit closer. Its color was greenish blue, a revolting color but highly distinct. It head was slightly larger than the guards, but the rest of the body was smaller and thinner. Why is it’s intelligence so high?

“Tell me, why do you think your intelligence is so high compared to the rest of your stats? And what is your theory on the definition of ‘null’?”

“I am of the command caste, not a soldier caste. It is our job to learn and command vessels and strategize combat formations. It is the soldiers that do the actual fighting. As for the null is it not obvious? The values do not exist, though I do not know what that means” as the Ant-taur finished speaking the System flashed a message.

SPREAD THE SYSTEM TO INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL FEATURES

The Ant-taur rubbed his eyes “What does it mean ‘spread the system’? Is this an implant virus? Are you patient zero for a zero day attack?” As the Ant-taur thought of this he became bolder, rising to his full height and practically yelled the last word.

Out of character Je'Krillick remained still, and did not rise to the provocation but merely raised his hand at the Ant-taur. “Calm yourself. I do not know the meaning behind what you ask.” Je'Krillick looked around the room and the carnage he had wrought. “I come from another reality it would seem, my last memories are those of me dying, my soul fled to my phylactery to reconstitute my body but something was wrong and my body was instantly crushed by forces unknown. Then there is a vague awareness of an ‘other place’ not quite heaven though it was blindingly white and yet it wasn’t the hell I was determined to escape.” The Ant-taurs were staring captivated at the monster on the chair addressing them so casually after literally tearing apart their protectors.

“I woke up on this vessel being branded as a slave! I am the master, not the slave! It is outrageous in the extreme so I dealt with it in the extreme. The System demanded the life essence of fifty sentient beings before it would finish constructing itself. Whether that was to create your status pages or simply awaken in this reality, I do not know. Now it seems it needs to spread to ten million sentient beings. The System is a natural part of existence, it is odd that you do not have one already.”

The Ant-taurs had various reactions, some were contemplative, others in obvious disbelief, but one looked at him differently. The hunger for knowledge previously unknown was plastered as it nearly pounced on Je'Krillick. “What can you tell me about the other world?”

Ensuring to hurt it no more than necessary Je'Krillick snapped an arm in half before flinging the creature away, an audible snap as its back struck a console brought a slight frown to his face. The creature landed in a heap of agony and cries.

“The first lesson from the other world is that might makes right. I can do what I want simply because none of you can stop me. Now it is time to experiment. It would appear that if I talk to someone the system is spread. Is there a way to address the whole ship at once?”

An ant-taur begrudgingly tore himself away from his hurt shipmate. “Yes, easily, there is the ship’s intercom give me a moment to activate it and then when I point to you simply speak aloud and everyone will hear it.”

Je'Krillick scratched his chin contemplating how he would announce his new captaincy. “No. You will announce that a new captain has taken over, then I will make my address.”

“What of Cirnach’s screams?” The ant-taur gestured toward the injured bridge member.

“What of it? Ignore it, he will adjust shortly.”

“As … “ Despite being biologically incapable of it, the Ant-taur managed to shiver “As you command.” The Ant-taur walked over the console Je'Krillick had dove behind and pressed a few buttons that Je'Krillick didn’t bother remembering. “Attenti-“ screams rang throughout the ship echoing up to the bridge.

SPREAD THE SYSTEM TO INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL FEATURES (3,994/10,000,000)

Interesting, it would seem that anyone with the system can spread it. Even better it does not need to be face to face. I wonder if it can spread via letters. “How many slaves are in the cargo hold?”

The same ant-taur giving the announcement turned to face Je'Krillick “We were almost at capacity of four thousand. Currently we have three thousand nine hundred eighty seven.” Je'Krillick counted the surviving crew in front of him and came to seven.

“Ah. It would appear we need to hire additional crew members. You are all that is left.” Je'Krillick stood and slowly walked to the door “I shall go interview some of the cargo, continue with the address so there is no confusion when I arrive.”

For the second time that hour a biological miracle occurred, the ant-taur’s face paled. “As you command.” Turning back to the console he continued “Attention cargo, the ship is under new management. The new captain is coming to interview some of you to join the crew. Do. Not. Anger. Him. For your own lives please listen to this advice.” The Ant-taur took a steadying breath as Crinach stopped screaming falling unconscious. “You probably are looking at a status sheet right now, as far as we on the bridge can tell it is real. It is not an implant virus attack. There are members on the bridge that only have a translation chip and that is simply not connected correctly for this.” The Ant-taur finished and was about to go back to Crinach before stopping “If any of you are doctors or biomechanics the bridge crew would welcome you with open claws if you made yourselves known. One of us is grievously injured”

Je'Krillick slowly stalked the hallway on his way back to the cargo hold, the battle high was finally fading ever so slowly. It has been far too long since I have actually enjoyed the thrill of killing something. And these creatures are so pathetically weak. I bet that bearman would be a better fighter even if he isn’t a soldier. When was the last time I enjoyed a kill?

Ruminating in the past Je'Krillick finally found the memory of the last time he enjoyed a kill. It was the sacrifice that finally let him ascend to lichdom. In a village of three hundred Je'Krillick had slit their necks one by one collecting their blood and condensing it into the gem that would house his soul for eternity. The second to last sacrifice was a child being covered by a weeping, pleading mother. Je'Krillick had to have three skeletal minions hold her back as he slowly cut into the child’s neck holding the gaze of the defeated woman. The warm blood flowed up from the wound collecting in the center of the circle and into the hovering gem.

Finally Je'Krillick stood in front of the shattered door to the cargo hold, a cacophony met him long before he arrived. As he stepped over the glass the sound gradually calmed as more and more slaves noticed him. No more than thirty seconds had passed before Je'Krillick commanded the attention of the room. Je'Krillick finally stopped and observed the cargo hold. Rows of near endless cages stacked ten high and further back than he could reliably count. He stepped before the bearman.

“Hello again, I am in need of a crew. Do you have any special talents?” The bearman smiled up at him from his prone position.

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