Sam browse through the list once again and tapped on the next thing in the system notification list, it was the one about remnants of SCP-O-100 "The Blip" still lingering on him.
[Faint elements trace of SCP-O-100 'The Blip' still remain present in host's existential signature. Though a mere residual imprint, it is predicted by system estimation there's a chance this unstable element will trigger an unpredictable phenomenon in a random moment. Fortunately for you host, it will eventually fade over time. However, do be warned—future interference or instability cannot be ruled out completely no matter how small the chance is.]
[Attempting to purge the remaining trace through system protocol... Failed. Insufficient data on SCP-O-100. Further data acquisition is strongly recommended.]
Another screen opened in front of him, showing the partial dossier on SCP-O-100.
"So is this the thing that pulled me into this hell...?" Sam muttered, brows furrowing. His fists clenched, nails digging into his palm till it bleed as the rage surged and boiling higher inside him.
A momentary pause between Sam and the system filled the air with thick tension.
The system didn't respond immediately, and for a split second that silence felt provoking. Finally, Sam felt something inside of him snapped as he break the silence.
"I'm going to ask one more time," his voice drop dangerously low, a cold fury shimmering behind his every words. "Is this the thing that ruined my life? Answer. Me. Now. System."
[Warning! Host emotional state approaching critical threshold! Calculating the most effective countermeasure...]
[Countermeasure found, Emergency Contingency Protocol N-34K engaged.]
"What the—!"
In a heartbeat, the shimmering fury inside him was gone, it didn't fade—it vanished into nothingness. Not like a fire being put out by water, but like someone turned off the switch on the flame before it ever existed.
His breathing became slowed and steady, his heartbeat drop into a normal level compared to the previous state.
Although Sam's didn't feel the feeling of rage anymore, his expression still able to maintained the same furious looks, his gaze however, it was blank as an empty slate.
"What did you just do to me?" He asked, his cold flat voice devoid of emotion.
[Host emotions has surpassed the safe threshold held by system standard. It's concluded that emotional outburst projected by emotion overload could be a catalyst to trigger various irrational decisions. Emergency suppression was authorized to maintain the host cognitive clarity to judge the situation at hands clearly.]
[System note: Cool your head, Host. Survival is your top priority. Unless, you want to meet your end faster.]
Sam read the messages in silence.
He hated it, he hated the fact that the system could just flick a switch inside him like that without his consent. Even if it was technically correct, even if this wasn't the time to lose his mind—it didn't sit right, he felt... violated on a deep level.
He tried to get angry again, pulling every ounce and sliver of any ember that exist inside, but unfortunately... Nothing came. It's like the rage inside of him has been sealed off completely somewhere out of reach, like someone had built a dam inside his chest.
'Alright, fine.' For now Sam could accept the stunt pulled by the system since it had good reasons—but only this time. He wasn't going to let this go, he will remember this.
"Never do that to me again," Sam warned. "If you do that shit again, I swear I'll rip you out of my mind by any means necessary."
[Command acknowledged. Do keep in mind that Contingency Protocol N-34K is a one time failsafe designed for your wellbeing, host. From now on, It cannot be reactivated again without host authorization and if the necessary requirement not met. I am here to protect you.]
Sam exhaled a long controlled breath. He was still unnerved by the flatness in his voice and by how quiet his emotions had gone.
"Come to think of it, how come you didn't use that protocol the moment i dropped into this world? I'm pretty damn sure my emotions are off the charts." Sam asked skeptically as he narrowed his eyes, looking straight at the blue holograms.
[The system deemed emotions such as shock, confusion, and fear to be critical for host growth and adaptation in an uncharted environment. By experiencing extreme psychological distress early, Host has developed partial resistance for future trauma of a similar kind.]
[Uncontrollable anger, however, is fundamentally an entirely different aspect in the equation. Unregulated rage leads to irrational actions, and irrationality leads to death. That is not a risk your current condition can afford to do in this moment in time.]
"So, how long until this suppression wears off?"
[Remaining Time: Fourteen minutes and Twenty Two Seconds.]
"Good, it better be not permanent."
Then Sam move one to the next thing, he swiped the system screen until he find the next unread notification. This one was labeled SCP-O-020 "Roghul".
Unfortunately the moment he opened it, the interface were still missing a good chunks of information as it loaded more data. The incomplete data are quite unsettling since Sam didn't know whether its an important piece or not.
This new entity was a completely different one compared to the Fizzed candy, it resembles a dog, specifically something akin to hairless German shepherds. Their skin has a dark blood red color, glistened as though soaked in fresh gore.
Amongst all the weird and odd features the creature has, the most disturbing of all was the third slit yellow eye nestled on the forehead, right between their brows.
According to the limited entry, these creature only able to manifested in places where mass death had occured either intentionally or incidentally, like some kind of ritualistic emergence.
Basically if there's no bloodbath, then no appearance of them. But when they did appear, they were always be the relentless hunter.
It is said they couldn't be killed, well, not in the permanent sense to be precise. They could bleed, sure. They could even fall, but they will always come back somehow.
[Threat classification: KETER]
[Status: Highly hostile / Further Data acquisition in progress...]
"Keter?" Sam echoed. His voice cracked in panic, but the emotion only flickered for a moment before it gets suppressed down.
"You said... KETER? Why didn't you say that earlier??"
[The classification was only just confirmed moments ago as additional data streamed in.]
"Oh right... You're still gathering info..." Sam muttered, rubbing his temples with both hands.
He stared at the screen intently, at the weird looking dog image, the disturbingly unsettling third eyes, and most importantly the word KETER pulsing in the corner.
'This is not good.' Sam paced back and forth, trying to sort his thoughts about... All of this.
Eventually, he stopped, walked over to the counter and rummage around. Luckily he found what he was looking for—a notebook, it has cutesy pancake themed cover and got a working pen attached to it.
"Guess this'll do for now..." Sam muttered under his breath.
He sat down on the same sofa he'd passed out on earlier, flipped the notebook open and began to write:
PRIORITY LIST
1. Figure out where the hell I am. Which SCP version universe this is.
2. Find a way back home. (Investigating about SCP "The Blip" might be the key, still a hypothesis)
3. Survive. My knowledge isn't enough, i need shelter, connection, tools, and plans—a really damn solid plans for all this insanity.
"That should be enough for now," Sam said, twirling the pen in his hand.
He could have asked the system to store the list, maybe it could. But writing on a real physical paper... It felt more grounding. This simple act was tactile proof he's real and still existed. Even if this really wasn't his origin world anymore.
"System," he asked, "based on your calculations, what should I do first? I need an input."
[Recommendation: Relocate immediately, Host.]
"Alright, let's do that." He stretched with a tired groan and slipped the notebook and pen into his coat pocket.
Before heading out, he paused. "Can I drink now? I'm dying from thirst over here."
[Affirmative. SCP Fizzed activity is no longer active in the present area.]
His eyes lit up like it was Christmas. "Hell yes!"
Sam immediately went and returned to the cooler, inside—there are mineral water, soda, and juice boxes. Without hesitation, he grabbed a bottle of plain water.
*Glug* *Glug* *Glug*
The cold water ran down his dry and parched throat, the sensation brought by the cold water felt undescribably refreshing, if he didn't know any better he'd thought that the goddess itself create this divine water.
"God... That's fucking heavenly." he downed the whole 500ml bottle in under a minute, then grabbed another for later.
At the counter, he opened the machine register by pressing any button he could find.
Inside, there was some money neatly placed with various color ranging from green, deep blue, clear blue, and red.
For a moment Sam hesitated.
He'd never stolen any kind of money in his entire life. Never. He always worked for it to buy whatever he needed, but this... this was different.
Although this wasn't even his world, there was still a lump in his heart, it felt really wrong.
But Sam immediately took a deep breath and resolve himself, this is for survival—his feeling needs to be cast aside for now. He then grabbed the five 100,000 red notes and five 50,000 clear blue notes.
Then suddenly—
[Calculation complete.]
[Currency analysis confirms: you are in Indonesia.]
[Current location: Kediri City, East Java.]
[Total taken: approximately $45 USD.]
[Side Mission Complete!]
•Mission: Gather information about your current environment
•Reward: 10 System Points (SP)
"Uh huh, that was... easy?" Sam blinked slowly in surprised. He hadn't even realized this act can be counted as clearing the mission. Hell, he didn't even know there's a reward from completing it.
[Correction: Information is still incomplete. Current year, earth variant, and geopolitical data still unknown. Partial reward granted. Do not grow complacent, Host.]
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Did you just get mad? That's new."
[Negative. I do not experience emotions such as anger.]
"...Riiight," he said, letting that one go.
Sam packed whatever he needed and stepped outside, the cold wind gently greeted him again but the world still remained dead quiet. Still no signs of life or anything that breath really.
Sam look around him and think for a moment."God damn, this place is huge. Where do I even—"
Before he could finish his words, the words stopped in his throat.
Up ahead not far from him was a silhouette, standing in the distance the silhouette was a towering thing shaped like a dog.
Except, when he look closely it had three eyes, and the yellow eye was locked directly on him.
[WARNING!]
[Entity SCP-O-020 "Roghul" has noticed the Host presence.]
[You are now marked.]
[System note: Run, Host. Run now.]
Cold sweat formed on his back, Sam didn't waste any words and immediately turned on his heel and bolted. His thoughts now raced faster than his sprinting feet.
"German shepherd my ass! That thing's like two meters tall!"
Far behind, the Roghul howled. Then one after the other appeared right behind it, the rest of the pack stirred and now the game officially start.
The wild hunt had begun.
Meanwhile, approximately 1 kilometers away...
A squad of masked figures moved through the dark—some in plague doctor attire, others in sleek military armor. Each bore a small emblem engraved with a flame.
A radio buzzed.
*BZZT!*
"Agent Crick, lead of Gamma-8 'Tappa', reporting. We've reached the source of the anomaly, joint operation with MTF-0 'Banaspati' is officially underway."