"Another bad day, and a bad nightmare about the past I don't care about anymore," Aisam said after he woke up feeling sweaty because of a nightmare he had living in prison for 5 years.
"Now that I think about it, isn't having a system like being a prisoner with benefits... as long as it benefits me, it doesn't matter," Aisam said as suddenly a knock on the door distracted him from his thoughts.
"Erebus, Are you awake? If you're, come down, and let's eat breakfast," Riona said calmly and decided to wait a little for his response.
"I just woke up, I'll be there right now," Aisam said to Riona and she quickly left.
After eating breakfast, Aisam wanted to quickly go to his room to do his daily quests but Rayna told him to come to his office to discuss something.
...
"So... what's it?" Aisam said.
"I am asking you two questions, then I have to give some things, OK?" Rayna said
"... Ok!"
"Alright, listen up. How do you plan to get into Eldrin Academy, the best of the best? I don't want you to go to a standard academy. The preparatory semesters start next year when you're 13, lasting until you're 15, followed by the real semesters from 16 to 18 when you graduate. To get in, you need exceptional talents and skills, regardless of your wealth or bloodline, even if you're the emperor's offspring. So, what's your plan?"
"... F*CK! What am I supposed to say to that? I don't even know much about your world yet to plan anything, and I have only been doing what the daily quests have been telling me to do... I have to lie." Aisam thought and considered his best option.
"Uh, well, you see, I've been... really pushing myself, like, to the extreme! Every day, without fail, I'm doing these super intense exercises to boost my endurance and physical prowess. And, um, my plan? Oh, it's, uh, to become the ultimate powerhouse! I'm planning to work on everything, from combat skills to mastering magic, all to reach the peak of strength!" Erebus said.
"... That doesn't sound very believable and convincing, but I will let you be for now. However, if you can't improve as I expect you in the next 6 months, I will have to stop your plans and you have to go through my intense training instead. OK?" Rayna said.
"... Ok!"
"Alright, now the second question... How are you?"
"H-huh?!"
Rayna chuckled, and said, "I was just joking! There's no second question. I felt like you've been so nervous and serious around us lately, so I want to tell you 'We'll always be a family, and no matter what, we're gonna have each others' back, so move forward with your head up and motivated'"
"Family? My ass! Like heck, I'm gonna believe that! I've seen and heard of countless families saying the same BS and leaving them when they were in trouble or they didn't benefit them. In the first place, I've never had a real family so you can never find me being empathetic and compassionate for this so-called 'family' of yours." Aisam thought.
"Ok, I will never forget it!" Erebus said.
"Very well. Now get this box. They're gifts from me," Rayna said with a bright smile and pushed a wooden box toward Erebus.
"Thanks a lot, Rayna!" Erebus said with a happy wide smile which also brought a smile to Rayna's lips, and before Rayna could say what he wanted, Erebus continued.
"Now can I go? I wanna check these then exercise." Erebus said.
"... Alright, no problems, you may go," Rayna said as her smile disappeared and was masked with a fake smile.
...
After reaching his room, Aisam put the box on the ground beside his bed ignoring it, sat on his bed, and called out "Nova, are you there?"
[Loading...]
[System activated.]
[Nova is at your service!]
"Show me my 'Status'" Aisam said.
[Name: Aisam/Erebus]
[Age: 40/12]
[Race: Human]
[World: Earth/Elysiuma]
[Quests🔺]
[Stats🔻
variable stats 📍
Strength: 2.8/20
Dexterity: 2.1/20
Constitution: 2.9/20
Vitality: 2.4/20
Mana: 1.6/20
current optional stat points: 0.9
Inherent stats 📍
Intelligence: 16.8
Charisma: 12.6
Luck: 4]
[Achievements: (???) 🔒]
[Skills: Childcare (Passive-Intermediate), Acting (Passive-Intermediate), (???) 🔒]
[???🔒]
[Hint to unlock your exclusive system: FEAR]
"Just like before," Aisam said.
*Ding
[You've put all your optional stat points to Constitution]
[Constitution increased from 2.9 to 3.8]
"Alright, let's finish the daily quests now."
...
*Ding
[You've completed all the daily quests.]
[Strength increased from 2.8 to 3.1]
[Constitution increased from 3.8 to 4.1]
[Mana increased from 1.6 to 1.9]
[Reward received: 0.9 optional stat point]
*Ding
[You've put all your optional stat points to Constitution]
[Constitution increased from 4.1 to 5]
...
After Aisam finished training in the afternoon which had become a bit easier and faster due to his stats increasing, he went to his room to rest a bit and then check what Rayna had given him in the box.
After resting for 3 hours, Aisam woke up picked up the box from the side of his bed, and looked through it, as he opened it, the first thing that got his attention was a dagger with a golden-colored hilt consisting of intricate designs, a small red gem on top of its hilt, another small green gem on the middle of it where the hilt and blade connects, and a curved and pretty sharp silver glossy blade as long as his forearm with approximately 8-9 inch length.
"I am thankful for this, Rayna, but don't think you can change my mindset with such gifts," Aisam said and picked up the dagger, as soon as he picked it up, a notification from the system appeared.
*Ding
[You've completed your weekly quest: Find a weapon]
[Reward received: Dagger Mastery (Novice-growth type)]
"Good, only the monthly quests and daily quests are left... I feel like this regular system is holding me back, so I'll focus on unlocking my exclusive system for now," Aisam said to himself.
After observing the dagger a bit more, he put it in his drawer beside his bed and picked up one of the scrolls.
*Ding
[You have picked up a Skill Scroll: Sixth Sense (Basic-growth type)]
[Do you want to use it?]
"... Yes."
*Ding
[You used a Skill Scroll.]
[The Skill: Sixth Sense (Novice-growth type) was added.]
[Sixth Sense (Novice-growth type): You can sense dangers from the surroundings and people. Basic: 10 meters radius, unable to detect dangers above a small degree]
"... So you can also use scrolls to get stronger, but I doubt it's easily obtainable if it's this good. Also, this means the people of this world also have a system like mine... so I am not a special case after all... that's fine by me! Being special brings troubles, especially in fantasy worlds,"
After feeling a bit satisfied, he picked up the second scroll, and another message like before appeared.
*Ding
[You have picked up a Stat Scroll: Dexterity Enhancement Grade 3]
[Do you want to use it?]
"Of course, Yes."
*Ding
[You have used a Stat Scroll.]
[Dexterity increased from 2.1 to 8.1]
After using the Stat scroll, a sudden pain came crashing down on him as he fell to his knees from the bed. A severe headache and body sore prevented him from taking his breaths steadily.
His legs and arms finally gave up after he endured the pain for 5 minutes, and he fell on the floor. A harsh Pain enveloped his entire body as he felt like his body tissues and bones were shapeshifting.
"THAT DAMN RAYNA! HOW STRONG DOES SHE THINK I AM TO GIFT ME SUCH A THING?!" Aisam thought as he couldn't hold his consciousness any longer, his eyes became heavy, and ultimately, and passed out on the floor of his room.
Please, support my work if you like it, with Powerstones, Gifts, Tickets, etc.
If you're eagerly anticipating his Fantasy Terror System, please be patient as I work on further developing the story in a more refined direction and enhancing its quality.
The storyline may evolve according to my upcoming ideas and plans.