[Name]: Kieran Blake
[Race]: Human
[Ability]: Abyssal Veil (Lvl 1)
[Level]: 1
[HP]: 100
[MP]: 10/10
[STR]: 14
[AGT]: 12
[DEF]: 10
[STM]: 15
[Perception]: 3
[Available Stat Points]: 0
[EXP]: 20/100
Kieran's eyes scanned over the system screen hovering before him. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. The interface was completely different from before—more refined, more organized, and packed with new features.
His encounter with that entity had left more than just an impression on his mind—it had fundamentally changed his system. At first, he thought he was imagining things, but after staring at the list of functions, he knew this was real.
A Store option had been added, allowing him to exchange items for weapons, potions, and various resources. A Quest Board now displayed active, completed, and future quests. A newly unlocked Inventory provided him with personal storage space. And then there was the Skill Tree, which showed potential evolutions for Abyssal Veil.
This… this is insane.
His gaze shifted down to his Quest Board, where he noticed something strange.
[Quest: A Keen Eye for the Unknown]
Status: Completed
Rewards:
+20 EXP
+3 Perception Points
Skill Unlocked: Analyze
Kieran blinked. When did I finish this quest?
He had completely forgotten about it. The last time he checked, he hadn't even started. And yet, somehow, it was already completed. He hadn't done anything—at least, not consciously.
His perception stat had increased from 0 to 3, and his experience points had risen to 20. The biggest gain, however, was the Analyze skill. He clicked on it.
[Analyze - Lvl 1]
A skill that allows the user to inspect objects, creatures, and people to uncover details.
That's actually useful. He wasn't sure how detailed the analysis would be, but in a world where small details could mean life or death, it was better than nothing.
Despite the benefits, something about this felt off. His mind flashed back to the encounter—the voice, the overwhelming presence, the sheer wrongness of it. Was it possible that whatever he had encountered was responsible for this? The system had changed immediately after that event. The quest had somehow finished itself.
A chill ran down his spine.
He exhaled, closing the interface. No point overthinking it. If his system had changed, then he needed to understand it, not fear it.
Kieran sat up, wincing slightly as the dull ache in his body reminded him of his injuries. He was still in the academy hospital, resting in one of the infirmary beds. The white walls, the faint scent of antiseptic, the soft hum of machinery—everything was familiar.
It hadn't been that long since he'd arrived here after… what happened. The fight. The pain. The powerlessness.
He clenched his fist.
Never again.
He glanced at his stats again. Even with the upgrades, he was still weak. The system's changes meant nothing if he couldn't use them properly.
He focused on his Perception stat. With the increase from 0 to 3, things should feel different now, right?
He closed his eyes, letting himself adjust. Then, as he reopened them, he focused on his surroundings.
And just like that, the world became clearer.
The faint creases on the hospital bed sheets stood out in sharp detail. The rhythmic rise and fall of the curtain at the end of his bed became noticeable, synchronized with the subtle draft flowing through the room. Even the distant footsteps of a nurse outside the door became more distinct, carrying a weight he hadn't registered before.
It wasn't overwhelming, but it was definitely enhanced.
"This is… interesting," he muttered.
He was about to test Analyze when a commotion at the entrance of the ward caught his attention
"Kieran!"
Jack's voice cut through the air as he and Nathan entered the room.
Kieran sighed. "Don't you guys know how to keep it down?"
Jack smirked. "Didn't feel like it."
Nathan crossed his arms. "You look alive."
"Barely," Kieran muttered, sitting up straighter.
" How are your injuries? " Nathan asked
" Healed up just resting a while "Kieran replied
Jack took one look at him and frowned. "You good? You seem… different."
Kieran hesitated. " Well of course I nearly died at the hands of a brute so of course am different" Kieran wanted to say
"...I'm fine," he said instead. "Just thinking about a few things."
Jack shrugged. "Well, don't think too hard. We brought snacks."
Nathan held up a bag of chips. "And news."
Kieran raised an eyebrow. "News?"
Jack grinned. "Oh yeah. Big news."
Kieran exhaled, already preparing for whatever madness they were about to drag him into.
"Alright," he said. "Let's hear it."