DRAGONBORN: DOVAHKIIN SYSTEM

"Maximus! Maximus!! Where is that trash of a son-in-law!?" This shout with a feminine voice could only belong to no one but Mrs Agnes Richardson. The Richardson Family held power in Broadway City due to their wealth. They owned one of the top companies in Broadway City, which was Richways Solar Energy. And Maximus? Whom he called trash son-in-law was actually married to the only child of the Richardson Family, Marilyn Richardson.

Maximus didn't come from a poor family background as one would assume, no, on the contrary his family was one of the most powerful family in Broadway City. Why then was he being treated as trash? Maximus was actually an Illegitimate child of the Zenith Family, and he had his education in the best University in the entire Yorkshire Empire. He had met Marilyn at a party then, and she was super shy. He asked her out the next day and that's how their relationship started. After graduation, they decided to get married, but that's where things, well, things fell apart. On the day of their wedding, without warning or anything, without even letting him know beforehand, his family, the Zenith Family sent a letter to him as he was on the altar exchanging vows, his best man had handed him the letter saying it was urgent. He held it and finished up with the vows, kissed his bride, and signed the marriage certificate, only then did he open the letter. He felt his world shatter as he read the simple sentence: "From this day forward, you, Maximus, is no longer part of our family." The next day his position in the Zenithal Corporation was revoked, and his accounts were frozen. Maximus had no choice but to move into the Richardson's mansion.

It's already been months since then, and now Marilyn was pregnant with his child. He had tried his best to get a job, but it was as if his luck had hit rock bottom as no company agreed to employ him. And worse, Marilyn was now due for delivery and had already been admitted into labour, but that wasn't his main concern as he needed to get a job as Mr Kenton Richardson, Marilyn's father had vowed to push him out of the family's mansion and deny him access to unborn if he doesn't get a job.

"Maximus!!" Mrs Agnes's voice thundered as she stormed the stairs. She then heard a click of a door, and Maximus walked out of his room. He turned to Mrs Agnes. "You called for me Mother."

"Who the hell is your Mother!? That's Mrs Agnes to you young man!" She shouted at him in annoyance.

"You called for me. What seems to be the problem?" Maximus replied calmly.

"What are you doing inside your room? Shouldn't you be on the street searching for a job!?"

"...." Maximus kept silent.

"Either way, I just came from the hospital, and I have news that might help you get a job. According to a friend of mine, the pay is good." She said, and then took out a folded piece of paper from her purse and handed it to him. Maximus took it, unfolded it and began to read. "Mistletoe Advanced Science Research. Test Subjects needed for an important drug test. Monthly payment, $3,000. Be the reason uncured illness gets eradicated, be a hero that saves millions of lives, Be a Test Subject."

Maximus couldn't help but look at Mrs Agnes with surprise and a questionable expression on his face.

"Why the hell are you looking at me like that? This is the best next thing. I say you should go for it. Not only will you get a good job, but you will get help millions of people get cured." Mrs Agnes tried to butter up the job.

"I'm sorry, but I can't." Maximus said and turned around to return to his room.

"Maximus! I always knew you were trash! But I never took you for a coward and a leech as well, but now I do."

Maximus didn't spare her a glance, but opened his door.

"If you do not accept this offer, then the Richardson Family will not only excommunicate you, but Marilyn as well. We will take our hands off whatever concerns Marilyn and that child of hers." Mrs Agnes said, her voice dripping with seriousness.

"You wouldn't.." Maximus turned to her with a shock expression. "She's your daughter!" He said, his voice raised a pitch. Excommunicating him was understandable, but Marilyn?

"You'll be surprised with what we can do just to protect the family's honor." Mrs Agnes said with a smirk.

"So what will it be Maximus? Accept the job? or get kicked out?" Mrs Agnes' smirk turned into a full blown evil grin.

"You're evil. You don't deserve to be a mother." Maximus said and snatched the paper from her. Open his door and went into his room. Inside his room, he couldn't help but clench his fist in anger. He then went to his wardrobe, took out a new shirt and trousers. He got dressed and left the house. Got a cab and said "Mistletoe Advanced Science Research."

Mistletoe was a huge building, comparable to Camp Nou, the largest football stadium. Maximus let out a sigh and walked in. He headed directly for the receptionist.

"Hello, I'm here for the job as a test subject." Maximus said. The receptionist simply looked at him and nodded. She made a call and then told him to wait a bit. Soon two burly men dressed in black suits, looking more like the Secret Service Agents walked up to him.

"Here for the test subject job, Sir?" One of them asked. Maximus nodded.

"This way Sir, please come with us."

Maximus followed them into an elevator and then they pressed a button. The elevator stopped and they stepped out. Maximus saw a lot of men and women dressed in white overalls. Just then one of the men came up to him. He looked like one of this evil genius doctors.

"Gentlemen, test subject 625 was weak and didn't make it." He said to the men in suit, and then turned to Maximus.

"Oh, a new recruit. Come, you shall be test subject 626." He said and turned around, the men urged Maximus forward.

Maximus' heart faltered for a moment as it dawned on him that majority of the test subjects never really got to make out of here alive.. but then he thought of Marilyn and his unborn child, he clenched his fist, he will do whatever it took to succeed here, and then get the money and support his family..

"Wait for me you two, I'll be home in a bit with enough money for us all." He muttered as he walked behind the doctor.

"Put you back to it, you lumps of flesh!"

"No slacking you sack of titties! Do you think the experiments that will be performed on you are for weak boys? Put on some muscles!"

For the past one week, Maximus and the new test subject recruits have been subjected to harsh training. Every single day, from morning to evening, they will run laps, do pushups, situps, and other bodybuilding exercises, only having three hours rest during the day and six hours sleep during the night. From dawn to dusk, it was training. They weren't even given good food, as their meal was some sort of liquid which had a bland taste to it.. the doctor had called it nutrient, stating it's a well balanced diet, lacking nothing.. well, except for taste that is.

"Maximus! You will have the honor of laying on the experimental table tomorrow, I suggest you prepare yourself!" The gym master's voice reverberated around the hall.

Maximus who was actually exercising with a barbell could not help but nod in acknowledgement. Finally, it was his turn. So far, out of four that had gone in before him, only one made it out, although the doctor said the experiment was partially successful and he will be quarantined and monitored.

"What exactly do you think is going on in there?" A young man made his way to Maximus. This man had accepted the job on the same day Maximus did. Elric Devant, he was called. Tall, handsome, a humble personality.. your typical bottom-tier character. But he and Maximus had hit it off and became best friends on their first day.

"Beats me Elric. Although I can't believe Zee didn't make it though." Maximus replied as he kept the barbell and wiped himself with a towel.

"Makes you wonder how many of us are going to walk out here with the $3,000 payment we were promised." Elric said.

"Hah! Is that fear I sense? I don't know about you bud, but I will not fail. I have a wife and a child waiting for me back home, I will survive whatever will come, and then I will go home to my family." Maximus declared in low voice as he clenched his fists. He knew Marilyn was waiting for him, and possibly a newborn child as well. Thinking of this, he smiled.

"I will go home to my family, and I'm sure you will as well." Maximus said as he placed a hand on Elric's shoulder.

"I wish I have your optimistic nature." Elric replied with a sad smile. Maximus simply shook his head and left the gym hall.

*

Maximus was now currently strapped onto a steel table. Syringes and needles, as well as so many medical equipments could be seen in the room. Today was his turn to be experimented upon. Till now, he had no idea what sort of drug this doctors were working on that they needed so many people as test subjects.

Maximus' thoughts was broken off as the door opened and three doctors in white overalls walked in.

"How's his vitals?"

"According to this data, he should be able to withstand the drawbacks."

"Should? It will be a miracle if he can, his metabolism is weak despite daily supply of nutrients."

"Then how about we try adding an external agent to stabilize the drawbacks?"

Maximus simply stared at the three doctors as they rambled on tapping their tablets. He really had no idea what's going on, but base on their tone, whatever they were about to do to him, may or may not be successful.

"What do you have in mind Doctor Reno?"

"There's a stabilized DNA belonging to the order of Chiroptera.. with that we might.."

"No, I propose we try the D-raze."

"Yes, I second that. Since his metabolism is weak for the main event, then there's no need to waste it on him, it's best to try the D-raze on him. He will be the first subject."

"Then less yapping, more action." The lead doctor said. He then tapped on his tablet and ordered someone to get the D-raze.

A few minutes later, a female nurse came in holding a blood pack, only its content didn't seem like blood. Maximus just closed his eyes and decided to think more about his wife. Just then, he felt a prick on his arm, another on his belly, more on his chest. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists and rode through the pain.

"Injecting the D-raze into his system." One of the doctors said.

"Subject is stable." Another doctor said.

Maximus could feel something moving around his body. It felt like a ring worm crawling around his belly.

"Result barely noticable, subject will be kept on observation." The lead doctor's voice sounded.

Maximus suddenly the tiny worm bite his innards. It was faint, but the pain was there. And then again, and again. He couldn't ignore the pain anymore and it was past his limit, he then tried to remove the shackles on him.

"Subject is finally reacting. It seems D-raze is having some effects on his body."

"Inject that stabilizer agent now!" A doctor bellowed.

"No!" The lead doctor's voice said.

Maximus' eyes went wide as he heard the lead doctor's response.

"Why, Doctor Reno. The subject might die?" One of the doctors said.

"Let him, it was supposed to be the final outcome anyway." Doctor Reno replied.

"What do you mean? We can save him, he's doing extremely well. The Chiroptera DNA could stabilize the drawbacks of the D-raze."

"I can't say much, but just know that the Richardsons called in and specifically said he shouldn't leave this establishment alive." Doctor Reno said, his tone devoid of all emotion.

"Ohh, then this experiment is a lost cause anyway. Let's just watch as he deals with the drawbacks without a stabilizer." One of the doctor responded.

Maximus' expression showed that he was in extreme pain, and truly he was, for the worm seemed to have multiplied and was literally eating him from the inside. His muffled screams echoed in the room. At that moment, he saw the beautiful smiling face of his wife, Marilyn, their time in college, her smiles as they exchanged vows, and finally her tears of joy as she told him she was pregnant. Maximus could feel his life slipping. He already searing pain in his chest and knew for a fact that the worms had made their way to his heart. As his consciousness was slipping, he heard Doctor Reno's voice, "Tell Agnes Richardson, the rodent has been exterminated."

And the next thing that welcomed him was.. darkness, silence, relief.

Maximus' tranquil body was lying in the trash in eternal silence. There was no heartbeat, no movements. His once shiny black hairs were now dull and dirty. One of the nurses had closed his eyelids before putting him in the bag, but his mouth still hung open as if he was trying to breathe, except he wasn't breathing anymore. But in that ominous, sorrowful situation, a miraculous thing was happening.

Even though he was declared dead, and his heart had stopped beating, somehow his mind was still working.

«Data collection complete. Host matches the requirement of the system. Host's current status: Deceased. Injecting revitalization serum to Host. Host current status: critical. Injecting advanced healing serum to Host. Host current status: Salvageable. Injecting Immortality elixir to Host. Host current status: Perfect.»

Thump... Thump... Thump...

Maximus' completely stopped heart started beating again. His chest heaved as his nostrils sucked oxygen in, making him alive again. His body that had gone pale started gaining color again as blood flow resumed in his body. His body gained back all the senses he had lost. He could hear the sound the wind as well.

Maximus opened his eyes and found his vision was dark, he realized he was inside a body bag, and worse, his body was in immense pain.. he had really died, as he felt around the bag.. or did he? If he was dead, how come he's alive and well. He then tried to pull apart the bag to get free, but surprisingly his hands went through the bag like it was wet paper. He thought nothing of it as he opened the bag and sat up.

"Wh.. what.. what is this?" he could feel pain raking his body as he coughed again. He tried to stand up but fell back on a heap of trash. He raised his hand and touched around him, picking up what his hand found, he jumped up in shock.

"Goddamn! They threw me into a public trash, did the doctors think I was dead?" he checked his body and was shocked to find out he was dressed in dirty rags and looked like a pig.

"Fucken hell!" he cursed again, but few seconds later he grabbed his head as he felt a great headache.

"It hurts! Damn my head hurts! What did they really do to me!?" he gritted his teeth to endure the pain, then it was no more, the pain suddenly vanished.

«Ding!

Dovahkiin System activated»

Maximus heard a metallic high pitch female voice.

"Who said that?" he became fearful. But the voice kept mute, he thought more and realize he didn't hear this voice with his ears, rather it was as if it communicated via telepathy.

«Host's condition is still critical, bypassing host's authorization, reconstruction of body initialized»

Just as the voice said, he felt a cool sensation wash over him, he felt no pain but rather drowsy, he couldn't stop himself as his eyelids closed and darkness welcomed him as he fell back on the heap of trash.

*

«Welcome host. I am the Dovahkiin System . I shall assist you in your quests»

The voice woke him up. As he tried to wrap his head around what was going on, although it seemed that the Richardsons had planned all this. He has definitely heard that doctor Reno mention that Agnes Richardson had specifically told them to kill him during the experimentation or whatever it is they were doing, yet what blew his mind was the fact that he's still alive and licking while everyone believes he's dead, and also the fact that he was just outside the city.. and dumped in a trash!

"A GODDAMN PUBLIC TRASH!" Maximus screamed in his mind. Forget about embarrassment, he will become a laughing stock for as long as he lives if people got to know of this.

"HOLY SHIT!!!"

«Heartbeat increasing, host is advised to calm down or risk going into cardiac arrest.»

WTF!!!

Hold on, first tell me exactly who you are." Maximus asked the system in his brain.

«Not who, but what. I am the Dreadnought Operation Vanguard Assault Kinetically Harnesed Interstellar Nexusguard System, or D.O.V.A.H.K.I.I.N System for shorts»

"WTF! You gotta be kidding, right!" Maximus couldn't believe what he just heard. If this was true, how then did the doctors got their hands on such an invaluable item.. and what's even more mind boggling, why did they use it on him?

"Damn! Dreadnoughts.. uhm, that's a mouthful, I'll just stick with Dovahkiin.. how did you get into my head then?"

«Ding!

In response to Host's questions, the Dovahkiin System isn't meant for everyone, and as such, any amongst those not chosen by The Dovahkiin System will die when they come in contact, and will immediately be consumed by dreadnought worms.» the female voice responded.

Maximus now knew why Doctor Reno had suggested he should be injected with this. They knew what will happen.

"You said anyone who isn't chosen will be consumed by the whatchamacallit worms, right?"

«Ding, Affirmative.»

"Well, I certainly felt the worms eating me from the inside, so how come I'm still alive and not fully consumed, or even dead."

«Ding!

Before Host could be fully consumed, the system got access to host's true feelings. Unjustly treated by his family, and murdered by his wife's family, therefore the Dovahkiin System decided on you being its host and you will be known as Dragonborn. Together, vengeance will be yours..»

"Yeah.." Maximus' expression darkened. The Richardsons had sought after his life. Agnes Richardson had paid those doctors to eliminate him. Wait till they see him. A smirk found its way to his face.

"So.. you are the one that will grant me the power to rival all humans and get revenge."

«Ding!

No, I will only assist you in the quests ahead, the more you prove yourself competent, the greater power you shall receive.» the system replied. Sure, Maximus expected something like that, besides there's no such thing as free lunch in this world.

"How can I prove myself then?" he asked.

«By completing the tasks given to you by me.» the system replied.

«Ding!

Quest: Survive

Reward: Bronze reward

Quest: Defeat assaulters

Reward: Gold reward.»

"WTF!?"