Chapter 2: Embracing the New Life

Eragon stood in front of the window in his small room, staring at the sunrise with a thoughtful expression. His mind was still reeling from the revelations of his new life and the powers he had gained.

Two perks had been granted to him as his "golden finger": [Limitless] and [Resistance]. Both seemed absurdly overpowered, and the more he thought about them, the more his excitement grew.

[Limitless], he mused, was the ability to break one's body natural limits. Every living creature had a ceiling to how strong, fast, or agile they could become, how far their senses could reach or how flexible their body can be, no matter how much they trained there is no way to break that ceiling.

A normal human will see the most gain from the first month or two into their training and if they persist they might become a great warrior after a few years, but they would eventually hit a point where their body simply could not improve any further. That's how the world is, everything has a limit.

But with [Limitless], Eragon's body was no longer bound by such restrictions. Every cell within him was perpetually active, adjusting and adapting with every strain he put on his muscles. When he trains from now on, his body didn't simply strengthen like a normal person's would; instead, it continuously rewired itself, pushing past any natural limits imposed by biology.

The scary thing is that even if he didn't train at all and only spent his time eating and sleeping, his cells would still evolve without end, allowing his physique to grow stronger, faster, more resilient, increase his vitality and stamina, and enhance his 5 senses and balance etc.

However by training his progress will accelerate this process by 100 times!

It's as if every day of training for him is equivalent to five times that for another person, his body will always respond with the same boundless potential, never plateauing, never ceasing to improve.

Even though he would remain human in form, his capabilities could eventually rival those of an elf, until even surpassing them completely. The thought alone sent a thrill through him.

The second perk, [Resistance], was equally fascinating. This ability allowed him to develop passive resistances to anything his body experienced. Whether it was pain, heat, cold, poison, or even magic, his body could adapt and build up a defense against it. All he needed to do was expose himself to these conditions, and his body would do the rest.

He decided to test it.

With a deep breath, Eragon pinched his forearm, hard enough to cause sharp pain to shoot through his skin. The discomfort was intense, but just as the knowledge in his head had described, he heard a soft ding in his mind.

Startled, he blinked as a few words appeared before his eyes, floating in the air as though projected by some invisible force.

[Pain Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively increases pain resistance.

A huge grin spread across his face. "Oh, this is going to be fun," he muttered to himself. The possibilities were endless. If he could gain resistance to pain so easily, then he could abuse this ability to farm resistance to anything—heat, cold, poisons, even fatigue. He could subject himself to all kinds of stressors and come out stronger for it. His body was like a blank slate, waiting to be molded and honed into something extraordinary.

His grin widened as he thought about how powerful he could become. 'I'm going to abuse the living hell out of this ability,' he thought with a gleam in his eyes. He could already picture himself invulnerable to pain, impervious to poison, resistant to fire, and who knew what else? The future seemed brighter than ever, and the prospect of growing stronger with no limits filled him with renewed vigor.

But just as he was getting lost in his daydreams of becoming an unstoppable force, the door to his room creaked open. Eragon snapped out of his thoughts and turned around to see Roran standing in the doorway, a frown on his rugged face.

Roran was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark, unruly hair and a square jaw that spoke of both determination and stubbornness. His hazel eyes were sharp, though often softened with kindness. He wore simple, work-worn clothes that clung to his muscular frame, a result of years of hard labor. He was the epitome of a farm boy who had grown into a strong and capable man.

"What the hell is taking you so long?" Roran asked, his voice tinged with impatience. "You're usually up and about by now. Breakfast's getting cold, and I'm starving."

Eragon blinked, momentarily disoriented as he pulled himself back to the present. "Oh, uh… sorry about that," he replied, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I got a bit distracted. I'll be down in a minute."

Roran crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Well, hurry up. Dad's is about to eat without you, and I don't plan on waiting much longer." He turned to leave but glanced over his shoulder with a smirk. "Don't make me come drag you down."

Eragon chuckled and waved him off. "Alright, alright, I'm coming."

As Roran walked away, Eragon smillied to himself while thinking this wasn't awkward at all. He was lucky he received the original Eragon's memories to know how to act and what to say.

He quickly changed out of his nightclothes and splashed some cold water on his face. The coolness jolted him fully awake, and as he dried himself off, he made a decision. His old name, the name he had borne in his previous life, no longer mattered. From this moment on, he was Eragon. This was his life now, and he would embrace it wholeheartedly. The past could be forgotten.

With renewed purpose, Eragon hurried downstairs to join Roran and Garrow at the dining table. The warm, inviting smell of fresh bread and porridge filled the air, making his stomach rumble in anticipation.

Garrow was seated at the head of the table, his weathered face calm as he sipped from a wooden cup. His dark hair was streaked with gray, and his hands bore the calluses of a lifetime of hard work. He was a man of few words, but his quiet strength was evident in the way he carried himself.

"Finally," Roran muttered as Eragon took his seat.

"Sorry," Eragon said with a smile. "I'll make it up by working extra hard today."

Garrow nodded slightly in acknowledgment, his stern expression softening ever so slightly. "Good. We've still got a lot of plowing to do before we can start planting."

As they ate in comfortable silence, Eragon glanced between the two men who were now his family. He didn't feel a sudden sense of warmth and belonging that the original Eragon usually had.

Even though the memories of the original Eragon had blended so seamlessly with his own that it felt natural, he didn't also inherite his feelings, he was still himself.

Once the meal was done, Eragon set his bowl down and cleared his throat. "I'm thinking of going on a short hunting trip tomorrow. Just for a few days. See if I can catch some game for us."

Garrow looked up from his cup, nodding slightly. "Alright. But don't stay out for more than four days. Make sure you're back by then."

Eragon smiled. "I will. Don't worry."

Roran, however, furrowed his brow and gave Eragon a skeptical look. "Hunting, huh? You haven't had much luck with that lately. We could use your help in the fields instead. We still haven't finished plowing."

Eragon chuckled. "I'll work extra hard today to make up for it. Besides, you know I'm not the biggest fan of working in the fields."

Roran shook his head in disapproval, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You're not a child anymore, Eragon. You need to start pulling your weight around here more often."

Before Eragon could respond, Garrow stepped in with a calm voice. "It's alright, Roran. Eragon's still young. He's not yet sixteen. Let him do things at his own pace."

Eragon grinned and leaned back in his chair. "See? That settles it." He stood up, gathering his dishes to wash. "I'll be back in a few days with some fresh meat. You'll see."

Roran rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Fine. Just don't come back empty-handed again."

After washing his dishes, Eragon left the house and joined Roran and Garrow in the fields.

Just as he was about to lift the plough, he felt the warm sun on his face and suddenly heard another ding in his mind.

[Radiation Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively increases your body resistance to radiation.

Seeing his new skill, he laughed inwardly 'Hehe, this is going to be easier then I thought it would'

As promised, he worked harder than usual, his hands gripping the plow with renewed determination. But his motivation wasn't to prove himself to Roran or Garrow—it was something deeper. With the power of the plough [Limitless] perk coursing through his veins, he saw every physical task as an opportunity to strengthen his body. Every push, every pull, every strain of muscle was a step toward breaking through his limits.

As he worked tirelessly in the fields, the familiar sound of soft dings echoed in his mind, a constant reminder of his new reality. Each time he pushed the plow, his muscles burning with effort, a notification appeared in his vision.

[Fatigue Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively decreases physical fatigue.

Not long after, another appeared.

[Abrasion Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively reduces the chance of skin warts and calluses.

The dings kept coming in steady intervals, growing louder as the resistance levels began to climb.

[Fatigue Resistance Level 2]… [Fatigue Resistance Level 3]… [Radiation Resistance Level 2]... [Abrasion Resistance Level 3]...

It was almost surreal—each strain of effort, each pull and shove of the plow caused new skills to manifest or grow stronger. He found himself grinning despite the physical strain, amused by how mundane tasks like plowing the field were now contributing to his growth in ways unimaginable before. Every ding reinforced his power, his body constantly adapting and improving as though the fieldwork itself was another form of training.

They worked in the fields for hours, the sun climbing higher in the sky as they toiled under its warmth. By afternoon, they had finally finished plowing the entire field, and Eragon could feel the satisfying ache in his muscles. It wasn't fatigue—it was progress.

Afterward, they returned to the house for a well-earned meal. As they ate, Roran glanced over at Eragon. "I'm heading into Carvahall later. You want to come with me? Might be nice to have some fun for a change."

Eragon shook his head, smiling to Roran. "Nah, I've got some things to prepare for tomorrow. Besides, I don't want to be the third wheel when you go visit Katrina."

Roran blushed slightly, but he chuckled and shrugged. "Suit yourself."

Once they finished eating, Roran left for Carvahall while Eragon took a quick shower to wash off the dirt and sweat from the day's work. Refreshed, he grabbed a few things from his room—a small knife, a piece of bread, a waterskin and 2 fire stones —before heading downstairs.

"I'm going for a short walk," he told Garrow as he slipped on his boots. "I'll be back in two hours."

Garrow nodded his head without a word, his gaze steady as always.

Eragon stepped outside, breathing in the cool evening air. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the fields. As he walked, he brought up his skills menu to review his progress for the day.

The constant stream of dings from his recent efforts had filled him with a sense of satisfaction. He noticed several skills had leveled up significantly, a testament to how efficiently he had utilized his day.

Though he was aware that, as in any game, the rate of skill acquisition would likely slow down over time, the rapid gains from his first day in this world still thrilled him. He could hardly believe the progress he had made in such a short period.

After a brisk ten-minute walk, Eragon arrived at a small clearing surrounded by dense foliage. He set to work gathering dry twigs and branches, preparing for a small fire. From the pouch he had brought from his room, he pulled out the two fire stones. With a few sparks and some patience, he eventually coaxed a small flame into life.

"Ok, now come to papa hehe" As the fire crackled and flickered, Eragon slowly brought his hand closer to the warmth. The heat was intense, but he was prepared. He waited eagerly, and soon enough, he heard the familiar ding in his mind.

[Heat Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively reduces heat damage.

His face lit up with joy as he carefully inched his hands closer to the flames. The fire's heat was intense, making his skin prickle with discomfort, but he held his ground, testing his limits. He positioned his hands just close enough to feel the searing warmth, yet far enough to avoid any real harm or blisters. After a few minutes, the familiar dinging sound began to increase in frequency, signaling that his skill was leveling up.

[Heat Resistance Level 2]… [Heat Resistance Level 3].... [Pain Resistance Level 3]

Once the skill reached level three, he pulled his hands away from near the fire, satisfied with the progress. He was eager to move on to his next experiment.

Eragon picked up a flat rock from the ground, a determined glint in his eye. Speaking to himself, he encouraged his resolve. "You can do this. Another skill to get today. It won't hurt much.."

He raised the rock and struck it against his thigh, hard enough to cause a sharp sting but not enough to cause any serious injury. The pain was immediate and intense, but he gritted his teeth through it. The familiar ding resonated in his mind, and he saw a notification appear.

[Blunt Force Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively increases resistance to blunt and shock force impacts.

[Pain Resistance Level 4]

Examining the bruise on his leg, Eragon muttered with a wry smile, "Well, this skill's going to be a literal pain to level up. But it will be worth it. At least it will also increase pain resistance..."

He continued his unconventional training, moving on to various forms of resistance. Eragon held his breath as long as he could, pushing himself to the brink of oxygen deprivation.

[Oxygen Deprivation Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively increases resistance to lack of air.

He then spun around in place rapidly until dizziness overtook him, earning another ding.

[Vertigo Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively decreases the effects of dizziness and balance loss.

Not stopping there, he also experimented with other ideas he had. He found a patch of nettles and brushed them against his skin to build resistance to irritants.

[Irritant Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively reduces skin irritation.

Eragon's enthusiasm never waned as he pursued every possible avenue for gaining new resistances. He even jumped into a cold stream to develop a resistance to cold temperatures.

[Cold Resistance Level 1] Gained. This skill passively reduces cold damage.

As the hour grew late and the chill of the evening began to settle in, Eragon felt exhaustion creeping up on him. The relentless pursuit of new resistances had drained him, and he decided it was time to head back.

Limping slightly from the day's exertions, he made his way back to his room. Once inside, he collapsed onto his bed, the weariness of the day weighing heavily on him. His body ached from the unconventional training, but his mind buzzed with satisfaction. Almost immediately, he drifted off to sleep, eager for the new challenges and discoveries that awaited him with the dawn of the next day.

----

Skill list:

[Pain Resistance Level 5]

[Radiation Resistance Level 4]

[Fatigue Resistance Level 5]

[Abrasion Resistance Level 5]

[Heat Resistance Level 4]

[Blunt Force Resistance Level 1]

[Oxygen Deprivation Resistance Level 1]

[Vertigo Resistance Level 1]

[Irritant Resistance Level 2]

[Cold Resistance Level 3]

A/N: if you have any other easy to get resistances you believe I can add then please send it in the comments, thanks!