A soft chime echoed in Derek's ears, sending a strange vibration down his spine. The floating blue screen pulsed like a heartbeat, illuminating his dimly lit room with an eerie glow.
[Initializing Status Screen…]
Lines of glowing data scrolled across his vision, their neon trails flickering like digital rain before settling into neat columns.
[Host: Derek Carter]
Level: 1
Title: None
EXP: 0/50
HP: 100/100
MP: 0/50
Strength: 3
Agility: 4
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 8
Perception: 3
Luck: ???
Skills: None
Abilities: None
Evaluation: [I sought out to find trash and found you, you who is worse than trash.]
Derek's eye twitched.
"What the hell is this? These stats are garbage!"
[Correction: These stats are below garbage.]
Derek felt a vein pop in his forehead. "You don't hold back, huh?"
[System provides only factual analysis. The current host's combat capability is equivalent to a malnourished raccoon.]
Derek groaned, dragging a hand down his face. The coolness of his fingers barely soothed the dull ache from earlier bruises. Outside, the distant honking of cars and the occasional shout from the streets below barely registered in his mind. "Okay, okay, I get it! I'm weak! So what do I do now?"
[Daily Missions Unlocked!]
A separate panel unfolded beneath his status screen with a mechanical hum, the sharp glow momentarily stinging his eyes.
[Daily Missions]
Mission 1:
Objective: Complete 50 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, and a 2 km jog. Reward: +0.5Strength, +0.7 Endurance, +10 System Credits
Mission 2:
Objective: Practice basic strikes for 30 minutes. Reward: +0.6 Strength, +0.4 Agility, +5 System Credits
[Main Mission Generated!]
A separate panel unfolded beneath his status screen, distinct from the daily missions.
[Main Mission: First Combat Experience]
Objective: Defeat an opponent in a battle. Reward: + 50 EXP, Random Skill, System Calibration Penalty: None (Cowardice will not be punished… yet.)
Derek blinked. "Wait, wait, wait- Defeat someone? I can't even beat Caster, let alone someone worse!"
[Opponent selection is flexible. Even a street thug, stray dog, or aggressive pigeon qualifies as long as the host fights back with the intent to win.]
Derek deadpanned. "Pigeon? Seriously?"
[Confirmed. Urban avians have proven formidable foes for weaker hosts.]
Derek was beginning to suspect this System had a personal vendetta against him. He exhaled sharply, the stale air of his tiny apartment pressing down on him. "Fine! I'll figure something out. But I don't even have skills or abilities! How am I supposed to fight?"
He could not put his head around fighting with a pigeon, his pride would never allow it anyway.
The screen pulsed again, casting shifting blue light across the cracked wallpaper behind him.
[System Shop Unlocked]
A new window popped up, displaying rows of gray, locked-out icons with only a single glowing option available.
[Beginner's Package – Free]
Contents:
Skill: Adaptive Combat (F-Rank)
Novice Health Potion x1
10 System Credits
[Would the host like to claim this package?]
[Yes / Yes]
Derek sighed, rubbing his temple as if that could relieve the absurdity of his situation. "Of course, there's no 'No' option again." But he would be a fool to select no at this time. He excitedly reached out and tapped the screen.
[Ding! Beginner's Package Claimed!]
A sudden warmth spread through his limbs, like stepping into sunlight after a cold winter night. His muscles tingled, and instinctively, he clenched his fists. He didn't feel stronger per se, but… different.
[Skill Acquired: Adaptive Combat (F-Rank)]
Adaptive Combat (F-Rank) – Enhances combat intuition, allowing the user to react and learn from battle more efficiently. Effects are minimal at low levels but improve over time.
Derek exhaled slowly, his breath shaky. He flexed his fingers, feeling a strange awareness of every tiny movement. "Okay. This is… something. Still not sure how this helps me punch a dude, though."
[Application of skill requires experience. The host is advised to engage in combat soon to accelerate growth.]
Derek leaned against the wall, staring up at the stained ceiling of his apartment. His life had already been a mess, but now? Now he had to fight someone just to get stronger?
Yeah, it was official. His life was going to get a whole lot messier.
He cracked his knuckles, eyeing his bruised reflection in the mirror. The flickering bathroom light above him buzzed softly, casting shadows under his tired eyes.
"Alright, System… let's do this."
He prepared to start his daily missions,
Derek lowered himself onto the cold, creaky wooden floor, his palms pressing against the rough surface. His arms were already shaking, but he forced himself into the push-up position.
"Alright… just fifty. I can do this."
He took a deep breath and pushed down. His bruised ribs ached immediately, a sharp pain stabbing through his torso. He gritted his teeth and pressed up—only to feel his arms wobble uncontrollably.
"One…" His voice was already breathless.
He went down again. The strain in his arms multiplied. His shoulders screamed.
"Two…" His breath came out ragged.
By the time he hit three, sweat dripped from his forehead. His arms trembled like they would give out any second.
"Four…" His muscles burned. His entire body felt heavier than it had any right to be.
When he tried for the fifth push-up, his arms betrayed him. He collapsed, face smacking into the floor with a dull thud.
[Observation: Host's upper body strength is comparable to a baby duck.]
Derek groaned into the floorboards. "Shut… the hell… up."
His limbs felt like lead, and his breath was shallow. He hadn't even hit ten push-ups, and his body was already acting like he'd run a marathon.
[Mission progress: 5/50 push-ups.]
Fifty? He couldn't even do five properly! His body refused to move for a moment, exhaustion weighing him down like a pile of bricks. He sucked in a breath, pushing himself into a sitting position. His arms burned, and his chest heaved.
"I'm actually… this weak?" His fingers curled into a fist, frustration boiling in his gut.
[Affirmative. The host is currently weaker than an average high school student.]
Derek clenched his teeth. That wasn't news, but hearing it from the System made it worse.
His pride wouldn't let him quit, no matter how much his body protested.
He wiped the sweat from his brow. "Fine… I'll take a short break… and then I'll keep going."
The night had only just begun, and if he had to suffer through every single rep, so be it.