Chapter 2 - Instant Guitar Pro

Talon sat motionless on the edge of his bed, the eerie glow of the 'System's' words fading from his vision. A mix of disbelief and awe washed over him. He had heard of augmented realities in games, but this? This was something else.

"Is this some kind of advanced technology or... something more?" he murmured. The very air around him seemed charged with an unseen energy, making the hairs on his arms stand on end.

[I suggest that you check your updated guitar-playing skills to confirm what I said.]

Talon had just read the notification informing him that his guitar-playing skill had been upgraded to Expert with a value of 21. He was unsure of what it meant, but he could feel something strange inside him. It was as if he had been playing guitar for years. He felt a newfound connection with the instrument, as if he could now move his fingers effortlessly and skillfully. He was desperate to try it out on a real guitar.

"This is so unbelievable. Am I hallucinating, or is this really happening?"

Talon attempted to survey his surroundings but discovered he was still in the same room as before. To check if he was dreaming or hallucinating, he even pressed his thumb against his fingertip to test if he could feel the pain; he could, confirming that he was indeed awake.

[Alright, Host. I understand your eagerness, but before we proceed, please allow me to explain a few things.]

Talon nodded his agreement. "Go ahead," he said.

[Good. Now, if you say Status, something will be displayed in your view, a screen that contains information about how you are doing overall. Please give it a try.]

Talon nodded and softly uttered the command, "Status."

[Host: Talon Starborn]

[Body: 40 (Good)]

[Mind: 31 (Good)]

[Performance Skills - 1

1. Singing - 7 (Beginner)]

[Musical Instrument Skills - 1

1. Guitar - 21 (Expert)]

[System Comment: Your physique might appear to be in good shape, but your overall appearance is deeply concerning; you seem to be undernourished, and that's why you appear to be older than you actually are. You should make sure that you are eating wholesome and delicious food. That way, you could have the opportunity to be more attractive to females, and the results could be quite remarkable.]

Talon gazed at a screen that looked oddly familiar, like a status in a game. He was used to seeing large screens in the city and advertisements that showcased the most popular and latest games. Although what he saw in front of him appeared simpler, it showed basic information about himself.

"Body 40 and Mind 31?" he whispered to himself.

Despite not fully understanding the significance of the numbers, he felt a strong connection to them. His physical body was unquestionably stronger than his mental capacity.

Forty points was considered good, and he was confident he could meet that mark. He could run for kilometers without feeling fatigued, and he had the endurance to tolerate hostile weather. He was also quite a good fighter, feeling certain he could take on three or four people at the same time, even though he would inevitably be beaten.

But, his mind scored thirty; what was this? Was this intelligence or something else? Even though he didn't have much education, he could quickly learn new things, like electronics, when helping Alice or driving a car when Alice asked him to accompany her somewhere.

He had read the content of his Status and found that the System had indeed upgraded his guitar skill, just as he had been notified. To his delight, it was now at 21 points and described as an 'Expert' level.

In awe, he asked himself, "How far has my guitar skill developed with such high points? Am I suddenly able to play difficult notes or complex techniques?"

He wanted to test out his new skill to make sure it was true, but he also had some questions.

Talon softly asked, "With such a great blessing, do I have to pay a price? Obviously, nothing in this world is free, so do I have to give something in return for all this power you're giving me?"

He waited for a response, but the system remained silent. "No answer?" he said again, but still, there was no answer.

Talon paused for a second, pondering his thought, then resumed speaking. "Does this mean I can now more easily develop or even gain new abilities?"

[You will be granted all of the privileges and have the opportunity to become something great! However, in order to attain all of that, you must complete a series of quests that I will provide you. You will be rewarded with prizes that are most suitable for the missions I give you.]

He whispered softly in response, "Interesting. And when will I get the first quest?"

[Here is your new quest!]

[Perform live in front of an audience of 500 individuals. You must captivate them all simultaneously.]

[Clear Rewards: 1 to 10 points of a new skill, depending on your profile, plus an additional 10 skill points.]

[You have two weeks to complete this quest - failure to do so will result in your guitar-playing skill being permanently lost.]

Talon read over the quest that had been presented to him, slowly taking in the enormity of the challenge before him. It was clear this quest would take him to a whole new level, one that he had never experienced before.

"Perform in front of five hundred people at once," he said.

He was used to playing his guitar for a crowd often. There would be thousands of people passing by when he performed on the side of the road, but only a few would actually stop to listen. Yet, if he could manage to get a miraculous upgrade on his skills, the quest might actually be attainable.

"But," Talon continued, taking a slow breath. "I have to finish it within two weeks, and if I fail, you will take my guitar skill?" He shook his head as if in disbelief. "You're really both kind and cruel, huh, System? Of course, I won't let you take my guitar skills! I'll complete the quest!"

He nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll fix up my guitar and give this new skill a shot," he said eagerly.

The System had promised him a reward: a new skill which he hadn't practiced before, yet they assured him he would excel in it. Additionally, he would be given 10 skill points to instantly master a skill that would usually take years to learn - it was almost as if he had been granted a cheat code for life.

Talon retrieved his guitar and inspected the damage. He saw the cracks and hoped it was fixable. He opened the drawer of the table and rummaged through it. He then went to the cupboard and found a piece of duct tape and glue that he had used when he assisted Alice in repairing the water pipe.

He carefully applied the glue, mended it back, and firmly sealed it with duct tape. He placed it back slowly and examined it to make sure it was in a better condition.

He spoke in a soft whisper as he caressed his beloved guitar, "I will take better care of you if I have more money in the future."

He grabbed his jacket and headed out, knowing that playing his guitar in his room at this hour would certainly be heard outside and bring the wrath of his neighbors.

Talon stepped out into the cool night, the deserted streets a stark contrast to the tumult in his mind. As he walked towards the beach, his thoughts were a whirlwind of questions and possibilities. The 'System' had thrust him into an unknown world, a world where his dreams seemed within reach yet mired in uncertainty.

Arriving at the beach, the sound of the waves brought a sense of calm to him, and he quickly spotted an iron bench and took his seat. The cold night breeze from the beach brought a chill to his skin, but he was used to it as he had spent many nights sleeping on the streets.

The guitar felt different in his hands as if it were an extension of his being. Taking a deep breath, he began to play, and the music that flowed from his fingers was unlike anything he had produced before – more fluid, more captivating. The notes seemed to dance in the air, each one a testament to his newfound prowess.

Holding his guitar gently, his fingers moved slowly, and he could feel that the muscle memory in his fingers had changed since the last time he had played. He began to play a song he knew well, one he had played often, and the feeling of familiarity was comforting.

He felt a connection between his senses and his guitar playing, unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He was amazed by how easily his mind could transfer whatever idea he had into his fingers, which then effortlessly created a perfect, precise, and beautiful sound.

"I can really do it!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm as the sound of his guitar plucking echoed across the shore, carried by the wind and reaching the ears of people nearby.

"This is incredible!" he couldn't help but feel amazed.