Derek was back home. His small apartment felt colder than usual, the cheap radiator barely holding back the night chill. He kicked off his shoes, the stiff soles making a dull thud against the floor, and stretched with a groan. His body still ached from the fight with Caster, but at least the pain had dulled to a manageable throb.
His stomach growled.
Sighing, he grabbed yesterday's pizza from the fridge. The cheese had hardened into a rubbery slab, and the crust felt like cardboard, but food was food. He tossed it into the microwave and listened to the mechanical hum as he poured himself a glass of juice.
The citrusy tang hit his nose, making his mouth water slightly.
A small smile tugged at his lips as he sat down and summoned the system screen.
---
[Congratulations! The host has completed Main Mission: First Combat Experience.]
[Rewards Granted:]
+50 EXP
New Skill Unlocked: Quickstep (F-Rank)
System Calibration Progress Updated
---
Before Derek could even celebrate, another chime rang out, sharper and louder than before. His vision flickered for a second, a strange heat creeping up his spine.
---
[Level Up! The host has ascended from Level 1 to Level 2.]
[All attributes increased by +10.]
---
The moment the notification appeared, something surged inside him.
A sudden rush of warmth spread through his veins like liquid fire, tingling beneath his skin. His muscles clenched involuntarily, a deep ache unfurling in his limbs before quickly fading. His breath hitched as his heartbeat pounded in his ears—steady, powerful, stronger.
His vision sharpened. The dim light in the kitchen felt slightly clearer, the details of the cracked wall and the scuffed table suddenly more noticeable. The scent of reheated cheese and slightly expired pepperoni became sharper, and even the dull hum of the fridge sounded more distinct.
He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders. His movements felt… lighter. Smoother.
For a brief moment, he almost felt capable.
Then the System had to ruin it.
---
[Status Updated!]
[Host: Derek Carter]
Level: 2
EXP: 0/100
HP: 200/200
MP: 10/60
Strength: 13
Agility: 14 Brought to you by *.
Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 18
Perception: 13
Luck: ???
Skills:
Adaptive Combat (F-Rank)
Quickstep (F-Rank)
---
[Evaluation: Congratulations, host! You have finally risen from being weaker than a malnourished raccoon… to the mighty strength of an average house cat. A true evolution.]
Derek blinked. His eye twitched.
"...Are you serious?"
[Affirmative. Your combat potential has increased by approximately 300%. However, considering you started at absolute rock bottom, this only means you are now slightly less pathetic.]
Derek exhaled sharply through his nose, his fingers tightening around his glass. For a second, he considered throwing it at the wall, but knowing his luck, he'd probably just end up cutting himself on the shards.
Instead, he sighed. "At least tell me what this new skill does."
The panel shifted.
---
[Quickstep (F-Rank)]
Enhances short-distance movement speed for brief bursts. Useful for dodging, repositioning, or running away like a coward.
---
Derek's scowl deepened. "You just had to add that last part, huh?"
[Merely an objective assessment. Given your past record, retreating is likely to be your most-used combat strategy.]
Derek clenched his jaw and stared at the screen, debating whether to respond. His frustration bubbled up, but before he could snap back, his foot slipped.
"—Whoa."
His body lurched forward as if his legs had momentarily ignored his usual sluggishness. His instincts kicked in, and he twisted to catch himself before he faceplanted onto the table. His heartbeat spiked.
That… was weird.
He straightened slowly, flexing his legs. His body felt lighter, his reflexes just a bit sharper. It was subtle, but noticeable.
Testing it out, he took a step back—only for his body to overshoot, moving quicker than expected. His knee hit the chair, knocking it slightly. He barely caught himself before tumbling onto the floor.
A deep thump rang out as he crashed into stuff.
"Damn, the room is too small "
---
Derek took a deep breath, pressing his fingers to his temples. His body still tingled from the level-up, and the slight increase in speed was throwing off his balance. At least the upgrade was useful—even if the system felt the need to humiliate him at every turn.
Shaking his head, he slumped back into his chair and eyed the floating interface. The glowing text hovered in front of him, its unnatural presence feeling almost… intrusive. He had barely questioned it before, too caught up in the sheer insanity of his life turning into a video game.
But now that he had a moment to breathe, the thought crept in.
"Hey, System."
[Processing inquiry… System is always listening.]
Derek ignored the unsettling phrasing and narrowed his eyes. "What are you, exactly? Where did you come from?"
A pause. For the first time, there was no immediate snarky response. The system screen flickered slightly, as if considering his question.
Then the reply came.
[Error: Insufficient Authority. The host is too weak to comprehend the grand mysteries of the System's origin.]
Derek deadpanned. "Seriously?"
[Affirmative. Attempting to process such information with your current intelligence stat may cause irreversible brain damage. The System would like to remind the host that he is already operating at a dangerously low intellectual capacity.]
His eye twitched. "Did you just call me stupid?"
[Negative. The System merely acknowledges reality. To access deeper knowledge, the host must first achieve a power level higher than 'pathetic street brawler' and 'rat with a death wish.']
Derek groaned, dragging a hand down his face. Of course it would dodge the question with an insult. "Alright, fine. Then tell me what your purpose is. Why do I have you?"
[Correction: You do not 'have' the System. The System has you.]
A cold chill ran down Derek's spine. His fingers clenched slightly against the table. "That's not creepy at all."
[Reassurance: Do not be alarmed, host. The System merely exists to guide you… and thoroughly mock your progress along the way.]
"Yeah, I totally feel reassured."
Derek sighed, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. The System's answers—or lack thereof—only left him with more questions. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't just some convenient game mechanic.
And that? That was concerning.
But for now, all he could do was play along.