There was a status window all along?!

Michael was looking at a window hovering in the air, following his eyesight. It was styled the same as the shop but was significantly smaller.

[Name: Michael North (Mikhail Severniy)]

[Age: 34 (14)]

[Cultivation: 1-stage, 7-star]

[Mental Power: 212]

[Life Force: 35]

[Energy Field (locked)]

[True Soul (locked)]

Splendid Glory took an individualist approach in everything. Unbeknownst to Michael, every aspect of the otherworldly program was based on his own understanding and talent. For example, that was why Spatial Thinking cost him more than the other three similar abilities. Sometimes, upgradable perks had 10 levels where there would be 12 for someone else. It was the same way here.

"Glory, I don't get it, am I actually 14 or 34?"

"Host's current body is 14 years old."

"Yes, but my… soul? My mind?"

"Host is welcome to take a psychological or emotional age test."

"Ha-ha," Michael said in a dull voice, "Very funny. Between the two of us, it's you who behaves like a child most of the time."

"Splendid Glory does not possess age."

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of! You'll always behave like you are now, like a spoiled baby! Never mind that, just tell me, what does it mean that one name is in brackets?"

"Host's aliases are listed separately."

"No!" Michael huffed in exasperation, "It's my birth name, not my…"

Or was it? He used the name Michael for many years. In truth, he stopped thinking of himself as Mikhail a long time ago. Which would mean 14 was his alias age. Again, quite true, because even after a month in this body he considered himself an adult.

"All right, I got it. That was a great quest, Glory. It helped me and it rewarded me points. I suggest all further quests be the same. Now, explain mental and physical stats, please."

"Mental Power is psychic energy contained in host's mind, measured by nervous response, thought processes and reflexes. Mental Power is necessary for Psionic Skills. Life Force is biological energy contained in host's body, measured by functional efficiency and possible exertion of force. Life Force is necessary for Martial Skills."

"Ah."

Once more, Glory's unemotional tone stunned Michael. He was over the moon with how much his mind and body were stronger than before, but Glory casually threw out powerful-sounding names.

"Glory, my dearest friend, can you give me an example of a Psionic skill?"

"Access restricted. Host's cultivation is too low."

"But aren't we friends? Can't we be upfront about this one small thing?"

Glory's response was still the same. Whereas Michael was listing supernatural powers he heard of in fantasy books.

'Divination. Hypnosis. Better yet, mind control. Telekinesis, of course. Telepathy. Danger sense… Wait a moment!'

Michael hurried to open the shop and check out the abilities he had purchased before. Most of them brought about changes to his body, but there were a few actual skills among them.

"Mind Alarm Clock. Basic mental technique."

"Mind Lullaby. Intermediate mental technique."

Followed by intermediate Mindfulness, advanced Awareness and top mental technique Danger Sense, these were all Michael's first skills.

"Glory, what is the difference between Psionic Skills and mental techniques?"

"Mental techniques do not require Mental Power to be used."

That's right. In other words, anyone with a trained mind could use these, but psionics carried a promise of supernatural abilities. Everything that had happened so far was only the beginning.

"I can't wait to reach the second stage! Ha-ha-ha! Crushing steel bars with my bare hands, jumping buildings and stuff! I'll be like the Hulk!"

"Host is advised to exit unconsciousness and cultivate."

"Ah, I know. I'm just worried about the self-scan. Glory, can you tell me about my condition?"

"Host is alive but unconscious."

Michael waited for a minute in silence.

"Goddamn, is that all? Can't you soften the blow? Describe the damage to my body!"

"Host has ruptured heart, spleen, kidneys. Collapsed lung. Multiple cracked bones. Massive internal bleeding…"

Hearing Glory describe his plight, Michael was in shock from just how badly he hurt himself, right until the program finished its report.

"Expected recovery time: two days."

"Excuse me?"

"Host is excused."

"Glory, how am I still alive?!" he shouted, "Humans don't live with such injuries. And from what I gather, you only enhanced my mind so far."

"Host's genetic potential has been stimulated. Coupled with increase in Mental Power, changes already implemented ensured host's survival."

"So, those seven cultivation levels saved my life?"

"Host is correct."

"I sure am glad I cultivated all this time. Wait a second. I thought I was sacrificing myself for Carina. Now you're telling me that whatever I had done, I would've survived anyway?"

"Host is correct."

"Wow. That really takes the heroics out of it," Michael sulked, "I guess if my life isn't in danger, I should wake up. Give me a quest to wake up with a large reward, will you?"

Glory didn't praise Michael's intelligence this time.

"Well, then. Here we go!"

…

The door opened, and the Russian woman was surprised to see a young girl near her son's bed. The girl had lush brown hair in a ponytail and fair, almost pale skin. She sat motionlessly, holding on to Michael's arm. Her brows in a frown, her lips moving in prayer. The girl finished and turned towards the woman.

Michael's mother was pleasantly surprised that her son's friend was such a beauty. The girl had a sharp foxy nose which would have made her appear crafty if not for deep, honest eyes. These features combined into a charming image, the girl was a heartbreaker in the making.

"Sorry to spook you, dear," the mother began, "I'm here to see my son."

The hospital was full, so Graves decided to transport Michael back to EIS. It allowed the boy to rest in peace and quiet. His comatose state was set, and the school had enough resources to provide for such a patient. It also allowed his friends to come visit him.

The boy's mother agreed without question, her faith in the principal akin to veneration. The man's actions during and after the incident cemented a sense of respect in his students. Only his assistant Rosa and a few teachers in the know like Jones expected nothing less from him.

"No, I'm sorry. I'll give you space," blushed Anna.

"Oh, please, stay. I had everyone leave me alone for days, I've had enough. Are you Mikhail's classmate?"

"Yes, ma'am. Michael and I are best friends."

"That boy. Why did he have to change his name? It doesn't look good for us, his parents. What is your name, dear?"

"Anna Novikova, pleased to meet you."

"Oh! Finally, someone who can speak my language," the older woman said in Russian, prompting Anna to respond accordingly. After a few minutes, the girl excused herself and left, uncomfortable by the circumstances. She would be happy to talk more some other day, not over her best friend's unconscious body.

"That Anna is a little sweet on you, Misha," whispered his mother. She sat in one of the chairs near the bed. There were a few, because Michael's classmates, even ones he barely spoke to, visited the hero who saved Carina's life. The stylish girl knew something few of those nerds did – that humans were social animals. After the comet, she used her popularity to elevate Michael's image to that of her benefactor and motivated everyone to pay their respects.

An hour after Anna left, young cultivator opened his eyes.

"Mom," he spoke hoarsely, "I'm fine. Don't!" he exclaimed when the woman moved to embrace him, "It's dangerous to touch me right now. My organs are a mess."

"Misha," she cried, "my son! You're alive! You're gonna be fine now, I promise." She touched the boy's face and caressed his cheek. "Everyone says you're a hero after you saved that girl. I tell them, my son was always a hero to me. None of them could see it, but I could."

"Mom!" Michael rolled his eyes. He was an adult who risked his life to save another. Now, he found out not only there were no dangers to him, he would be a hero to schoolchildren. The attention was pleasant, but the details were embarrassing.

"Oh, my! I need to call the doctor!"

"Don't worry about it. Give me two days and I'll walk out of here on my own two feet," Michael grinned, "I promise!"

The woman clicked her tongue, "That's impossible. I'm sorry to say this, but your wounds are very dangerous."

"How about a bet, then?"

"What?"

"I'm serious. Listen. My friends and I made a game. We'll upload it soon. Here's what I want: you help me with it whatever I ask of you. And if we make enough money, you'll agree to go on a cruise around the world and take a rest from working."

His mother's face fell. "I can't go, son. Two days ago, a doctor called me from Russia. Your father's cancer has turned stronger. I was waiting for you to wake up, but now I need to visit him and make him comfortable."

"D-don't say it like that. Like he's dying!"

"But there is nothing the doctor can do. Cancer has no cure. We have maybe a month to say our goodbyes. I'm so sorry, Misha, but your father… he doesn't have much time left."

Glory interfered, "Ding! Quest issued. Reward: 10,000 glory points, Flawed Healing technique. Objective: due to genetic stimulation of host's father, his life is at risk. Host, heal your father using glory points as energy source."

'Thank you, Glory. Thank you so much.'

"Mom, don't worry. Wait for me for two days, then we'll go to Russia together to see dad."

.