system upgrade?

The sudden sharp pain from the obsidian ring made Zero gasp. It felt as if a needle was piercing him from the inside out, making every nerve ending scream in agony. Unable to bear the torment, he blacked out, crumpling onto the floor.

When he regained consciousness, the muted daylight peeked through the gaps of the window curtains. Groaning, he picked himself up and glanced at the wall clock. It read 2:00 pm. Trying to shake off the lingering pain, Zero attempted to recollect the jarring episode linked to his ring.

Zero rise from his bed and goes to his beloved office chair,

'status' Zero said

============================

Name: Zero Elsher

Age: 12 years old

Power:(C-) 33 

Intelligence:(B) 46 

Stamina:(C) 37.5 

Unused points: 4 

Balance: 11,300 Zen 

Skills: Focused insight F, Calm Mind Rank F+, Culling A

Quest in progress: 5

========================

"hmm?" 

Zero leaned back in his chair, processing the changes to his status. The graded ranks were simpler and more intuitive, echoing the ranking systems he'd seen in games. The letters gave a clearer sense of where he stood, from the lowest F- to the highest rank of S.

He let out a low whistle. "It's like the system's gone through an upgrade overnight," he said aloud, his eyes drawn to the new skill: Culling.

============================

Congratulations! Skill Unlocked

Skill: Culling

Rating: A

New abilities Unlocked:

1. ) Every time you kill someone, there is a chance for you to take their percentage stats, the higher their stats the more stat points you will take

2.) ???????????????????????

=============================

"Culling...," he muttered, trying to grasp the essence of the skill. He could practically feel the weight of its potential. It was essentially a transfer of power. If he ended someone, there was a possibility he would gain a fragment of their strengths. But this was a real-life attribute boost, not some game points. This skill blurred the lines between right and wrong.

Zero sighed, "It's ranked A but it still doesn't show the second option". 

His eyes darted over the blurred lines following the first ability description. Clearly, there was more to this skill, but it was currently out of his grasp. Maybe it would become clear once he delved deeper into the system or when certain conditions were met.

"The timing couldn't be more perfect" Zero smiled sinisterly.

Zero's contemplation over the Culling skill stirred a darker facet of his psyche. The blurred descriptions of the skill seemed almost like an invitation, luring him deeper into moral ambiguity.

"Ash Corp, the drug organizations... they're not just enemies, are they?" he whispered, a hint of a malevolent smile playing on his lips. "They're a goldmine of potential strength, waiting to be harvested."

The thought sent a shiver of anticipation down his spine. Gone were any lingering remnants of sympathy or concern. He felt an insidious exhilaration at the prospect of wielding such power, of tapping into it, of becoming something more.

"Justice? No, this is beyond justice," he murmured, his voice a chilling blend of determination and malice. "It's evolution. The world operates on a simple principle: the strong survive. And I intend to be the strongest."

His eyes, once a beacon of resolve, now hinted at a predatory gleam. "They've preyed on the weak for so long, hidden behind their facades of power. But what will they do when the hunted becomes the hunter? When their very existence fuels my ascent?"

Zero leaned back, lost in these newfound dark thoughts. The very idea of consuming the strength of others, of amassing power at such a rate, was intoxicating. It promised a kind of dominance he had never fathomed before.

"They won't even see it coming," he whispered with a wicked smirk. "And by the time they realize, it'll be their end, and my beginning."

The chilling atmosphere that encased Zero was abruptly shattered by the ringing of his phone. Recognizing the caller ID as his mother's, Zero's features quickly shifted from malevolent to composed.

Taking a moment to steady himself, he answered, "Hello, Mother."

Mother: "Zero, dear! Are you joining us this weekend? It's your father and my anniversary, and I'm making all your favorites."

Zero: "Of course, Mother. Congratulations to both of you. I'll be there in a couple of hours, and I'll make sure to bring something special."

Mother: "Oh, there's no need for gifts! Just having you home is gift enough," her voice was cheerful, carrying the warmth that only a mother's voice could hold.

Zero, despite the shadowy thoughts that had consumed him moments earlier, couldn't help but smile, "It's a special day, Mother. I want to bring something for you and Dad."

Mother: "Alright, if you insist. Just be safe on your way home, alright? And try not to bring any of your work stress with you. I've heard from Tom that things have been a bit... intense."

The mention of Tom caught Zero slightly off-guard. "Did Tom call you?"

Last month, Zero introduced Tom to his parents as a teaching assistant in the Academy, Zero explained to his parents that Zero has been helping Tom with his work and getting some money on the side. 

Mother chuckled, "Oh, he drops by every now and then with groceries and updates on you. It's nice to have someone looking out for my boy when he's away."

Zero smiled, grateful yet slightly embarrassed, "Tom's always been nice. I'll see you soon, Mother. And give Father my love."

Mother: "Will do. be safe!"

Zero: "Understood. Love you, Mother."

Mother: "Love you too. See you soon."

The call ended, and Zero took a moment, drawing a deep breath to center himself. The darkness that had threatened to consume him was kept at bay, at least for now. The reminder of family, of love, acted like an anchor, pulling him back to the reality of his relationships and obligations.

It was these moments, these connections, that gave Zero clarity amidst the storm of power and ambition. Today was about family, and Zero intended to be fully present. Pushing work and its dark allure aside, he began to prepare for the drive home.

Zero's gaze returned to his status display, and he noticed another anomaly that hadn't caught his eye before.

"Quest in progress: 6"