Staryx

"Welcome to Staryx" Said a robot-like voice.

"What? Who are you? What do you want from me?" Ed frantically looked around only to find nothing in the box he was in.

A game-like window appeared in front of him. It contained all sorts of information about Ed.

<Ed Peregrin>

***

<Human>

<Level 1 >

<XP 0/100>

<HP 10>

<Strength 5>

<Agility 5>

<Stamina 5>

***

Ed carefully studied what was in front of him…

"This looks like one of those games I saw other students playing...the kind where you do stuff and level up."

Ed started rubbing his chin. He then noticed the tabs at the right hand side of the window.

<|Stats|>

<Quests>

<Shop>

<Inventory>

<Tutorial>

Ed moved his finger towards the "Quests" tab, and the window changed its content before he could reach it. "Oh? It seems I can change tabs by only thinking about it...convenient."

<Daily Quests>

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[Zero to Hero]

Push-up, 100x: (0/100)

Squat, 100x: (0/100)

Sit-up, 100x: (0/100)

Running, 10km: (0/10)

Rewards:

50 EXP

1 stat point

※Warning: Failure to complete quest in 24 hours, will result in punishment.

***

[It's Important to Drink Water]

Drink 2L of water: (0/2)

Rewards:

5 EXP

***

[The Sun is a Deadly Laser]

Avoid direct sunlight for 8 hours: (0/8)

Rewards:

5 EXP

***

"What is with these quests?! Staying out of the sun? Drinking water? A whole workout routine?" Ed said, flustered.

"Well whatever...I'll look into the quests later...let's check out the other tabs."

<Shop>

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※Unlockable at level 10

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"Locked…"

<Inventory>

***

***

"Empty...of course…"

<Tutorial>

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※Unlockable soon

***

"What? Why does it say soon? Does that mean that it will unlock after some time passes? Or does it, like, require certain hidden conditions?"

Ed sighed and closed the window. It seems to be like he is getting used to operating the system already. It's a shame such a bright mind was born to rot at the bottom, but it's looking like things might be turning around.

"I guess I gotta do quests? I don't even know why I'm in this space…"

"Tutorial unlocked: Entering and Leaving The Tutorial Sub-space."

"Huh? Ah, I get it!"

Ed hurriedly thought of the tutorial tab.

<Tutorial>

***

[Entering and Leaving The Tutorial Sub-space]

***

After accessing the tutorial he had just unlocked, he was presented a video of a tall well-built man with long blonde hair, pale skin and red eyes.

"Hello there! It's great to see you've become one of us! Well, not quite...but you'll get there soon enough!" The man smiled and gave a thumbs up.

Ed was fascinated by the man's charm and beauty that he didn't quite catch him talking about being one of them.

"Alright...so you wanna get out of this sub-space. It's simple! You just have to put your hands forward, close your eyes, and imagine you're floating up in the air"

Ed followed along step by step, and, when he opened his eyes, he found himself back in his room.

The red star was no longer there...so much for a symbol of communism.

Ed started to do some stretches, warming up his body. He looked outside to find that the sun was setting.

"I guess I don't have to worry about direct sunlight if I go outside right now. Even though the quest will be fulfilled while I'm sleeping."

He walked out the door, took a deep breath, and began his run.