Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 99 - Explain

A notification instantly appeared before his eyes:

[5000 Hijack Points Consumed. Activating Chrono Vision...]

A translucent screen materialized in front of him, projecting an image so intense it made him freeze. A deafening cosmic supersonic explosion erupted in the sky, its shockwave ripping through the atmosphere with unimaginable energy. Karl furrowed his brows as he observed the scene.

"What... what does this mean?"

The system responded calmly:

[The first of two cosmic supersonic explosions will occur two months from now. This explosion will trigger an ice age, creating an extended winter that will paralyze much of modern civilization.]

Karl felt his chest tighten. "Wait. You said two explosions? What happens after the second one?"

[Details of the second explosion cannot be detected yet due to the extended time gap. However, its impact is predicted to be far greater than the first.]

His throat went dry. "And humanity? Can people survive this?"

[The first explosion will trigger a phenomenon called Awakening. Most humans will develop superhuman abilities, such as elemental control, gravity manipulation, or regeneration. However, no one will be like you, Karl. Their Awakening is a natural result of mutations caused by cosmic energy, whereas you are an anomaly created by the system.]

Karl paused, absorbing the information. This was both good and bad news. With powers like those, humanity had a chance to survive in a chaotic world. But Karl knew humans—they often misused power.

"And the Homo Obscura? What happens to them?" Karl asked, his voice carrying a note of dread.

[The Homo Obscura will likely experience Awakening as well. However, their power increase will be far more extreme compared to ordinary humans. They already possess strength beyond human limits, and Awakening will make them even stronger.]

Karl let out a long sigh. He could already picture the future—a fractured world filled with super-powered humans, and an even more dangerous Homo Obscura roaming freely.

"So, everything Glowsphere has been doing... it’s all pointless, huh? The winter they’ve been trying to prevent will happen anyway," Karl muttered, gazing out the window at the twinkling city lights.

The system chimed again:

[Correct. However, the effects of the first explosion won’t be immediate. The extended winter will take time to reach its peak, giving humanity some room to adapt. Unfortunately, most humans won’t realize they’ve undergone Awakening until it’s too late. The process is slow, and abilities often manifest during moments of extreme stress or crisis.]

Karl nodded. It made sense. Humans had a tendency to ignore subtle changes until they became catastrophic problems.

"And the second explosion? Can it be stopped?"

[The second explosion is predicted to occur approximately ten years after the first. Further information cannot be provided at this time. However, if humanity isn’t prepared, the second explosion will likely mark the end of civilization.]

Karl closed his eyes briefly, trying to process everything. The world had just been handed a chance to evolve—and a threat capable of wiping out everything at the same time.

"I can’t just sit still," Karl said under his breath. "If humanity is going to gain powers, I need to make sure they know how to use them wisely. And as for the Homo Obscura... I need to figure out how to deal with them."

The system delivered one final notification:

[You have two months before the first explosion. Use this time wisely. Chrono Vision can be reactivated for 5000 Hijack Points to detect further developments.]

The notification faded from his vision, leaving Karl staring at the empty space where it had been. Two months felt incredibly short, but it was still time—time to prepare, time to act. freёnovelkiss.com

"Two months," he murmured, his voice filled with determination. "I’ll be ready."

---

Midnight Meeting

Karl walked home briskly after finishing his shift. The night air was sharp and biting, a chilling reminder that time was running out. The images from Chrono Vision replayed in his mind, looping like a broken tape—an endless cycle of destruction and chaos.

When he unlocked the door to his small apartment, something felt... off. The lights were off, leaving only pale moonlight to filter through the thin curtains. There was a faint scent of lavender in the air, but beneath it, he detected something sharper—a metallic smell. Blood, perhaps.

Against the faint moonlight, a silhouette leaned casually against the window frame—a woman with long hair cascading down her shoulders, her posture sharp and confident.

Valencia.

Her crimson eyes glowed faintly in the dark as she fixed them on Karl. Her expression was calm, but her presence was razor-sharp, every muscle in her body poised for action.

"You’re late, Karl," Valencia said in her smooth, emotionless tone.

Karl swallowed hard but kept his face composed. Valencia didn’t know anything about the future—yet. To her, Karl was still just an ordinary guy, perhaps a little suspicious, but ultimately harmless.

"How did you get in here, Valencia?" Karl asked cautiously, closing the door behind him.

Valencia smirked slightly and tilted her head towards the door. "Do you really think a simple lock can stop a Homo Noctis like me? I didn’t even have to try."

Karl nodded slowly. Her presence here wasn’t an accident, and she wasn’t here to chat over tea.

Valencia stepped forward, her movements so fluid they were almost soundless. "What do you know about Homo Noctis, Karl? And why do you know... about me?"

For a brief moment, Karl’s breath hitched, but he quickly regained his composure. He knew Valencia’s reputation—The Slayer, a ruthless warrior feared even among the Homo Obscura.

"I can explain," Karl said, keeping his voice calm and steady.

Valencia raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "Explain, then. And you’d better not waste my time."

Karl met her crimson gaze. Valencia didn’t know about the explosions, the Awakening, or the chaos looming just two months away. She didn’t know how their fates were intertwined.

"Sorry if I’ve caused you any concern. That wasn’t my intention," Karl said softly.

Valencia scoffed, her sharp eyes never leaving his face. "Concern? You overestimate yourself, Karl. I’m not worried about you—I’m curious. How does a convenience store clerk know about Homo Noctis and... me?"

Karl hesitated. The truth was dangerous, but there was no time for half-truths or stalling.

"My father... David," Karl said seriously. "You know him, don’t you?"

For the first time, Valencia’s unshakable composure cracked. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted slightly.

"David..." she whispered, the name escaping her lips like a ghost from her past.

Karl pressed on before she could recover. "He’s still alive. He suppressed his powers for reasons I don’t know."

Valencia turned her face away, her voice trembling slightly despite her efforts to hide it. "David disappeared years ago. I thought he was dead."

Karl’s voice was steady. "He’s alive, Valencia. And right now, we don’t have time to waste."

Valencia closed her eyes for a moment, her shoulders rising and falling as she steadied herself. When she looked back at Karl, her eyes were sharp and determined once more.

"What do you know, Karl? What’s happening?"

Karl took a deep breath, preparing himself. "In two months, there’s going to be a supersonic cosmic explosion. It’s not just any disaster—it’ll trigger an extended ice age and completely reshape the world as we know it."

Valencia’s brows knitted together, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. "And what happens to humans?"

"The explosion will trigger something called Awakening," Karl continued. "Most humans will develop superhuman abilities—control over elements, gravity, regeneration... But that’s not the main issue."

"What is?" Valencia asked, her voice sharp.

"Homo Obscura," Karl said gravely. "They’ll undergo Awakening too, but their power will be far beyond anything humans can handle. If we’re not ready, they’ll tear this world apart."

For a moment, Valencia was silent. Her jaw was clenched, and her crimson eyes glimmered with intensity.

"So, the world is heading towards destruction, and we have two months to prepare," she said finally.

Karl nodded. "Exactly. And we can’t afford to waste a single moment."

Valencia exhaled slowly, her gaze locked onto Karl’s.

"Then let’s not waste time," she said firmly.

For the first time that night, Karl felt a flicker of hope. The road ahead would be brutal, but at least he wasn’t walking it alone.

Karl nodded, his eyes meeting Valencia’s sharp gaze. They both understood that time was now their greatest enemy. The world they knew was on the verge of collapse, and only a handful of people would be ready to face what was coming.

"I need your help, Valencia," Karl said firmly. "I might have the system, but I’m not a fighter like you. I need someone who can train me—someone who knows how to survive in chaos."

Valencia stared at him for a long moment before letting out a short sigh. "I’m not a teacher, Karl. But I’m also not someone who’ll sit back while the world crumbles around me."

She stepped closer, her finger jabbing Karl’s chest hard enough to make him take a step back.

"You have two months, Karl. That’s an incredibly short time to become strong. If you want to survive—and maybe save a few people along the way—you’ll have to endure hellish training."

Karl clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes. "I’m ready, Valencia. Do whatever it takes."

A faint smirk tugged at Valencia’s lips, but her gaze remained sharp. "Then we start tomorrow morning. Don’t be late. And one more thing..."

She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "Never lie to me, Karl. I can smell a lie from a mile away."

Karl swallowed hard and nodded. Deep down, he knew—this was just the beginning.