Belial closed the door behind him, the warmth of the room fading as he stepped back into the harsh, unfamiliar world. A wave of longing washed over him, a bittersweet ache for the girl he had left behind.
Aria, with her infectious smile and unwavering spirit, had brought a spark of joy to his world, a world that had felt so bleak and hopeless just hours before.
He remembered her sharing her dreams of traveling the world, her passion for basketball burning bright, but also her worries about living up to her parents' expectations.
He wondered if she ever felt like she was just a "square peg in a round hole," like he had. He imagined her life outside of the basketball court, her family, her friends, her routines. Was she as lonely as he had been? Did she ever feel like she didn't belong?
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He had a mission to complete, a destiny to fulfill. He couldn't let himself get distracted by fleeting feelings, no matter how strong they were.
He looked down at his hands, still clutching the basketball Aria had given him before he left.
He could still feel the warmth and energy of her spirit in the ball, and it gave him the strength he needed to face whatever challenges came his way.
He made his way to the nearest bench, the worn wood cool beneath his fingertips. He needed to understand his new powers, to unlock the secrets of the "Gamer System" that had thrust him into this strange new world.
He opened his system.
A soft hum vibrated through the air, and then, a shimmering blue grid materialized in front of him, its edges blurring like a mirage in the desert heat.
The grid pulsed with an ethereal light, each icon glowing with a different shade of blue, like a constellation of stars dancing in the night sky.
A barrage of information and updates flooding his senses.
『Ding! Transfer successful. Welcome to the Basketball Realm, Belial Scarlet. Your Newbie Package has been stored in your storage. Please check your storage space.』
He accessed his storage space, a virtual inventory grid appearing before him. A single box icon pulsed with a soft light, beckoning him closer.
A faint, metallic scent filled the air, a strange blend of ozone and something vaguely sweet.
He clicked it with his finger, anticipation coursing through him.
『Do you want to open your [Newbie Package]』
[Yes/Yes?]
"Yes," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
He could feel the warmth of the holographic grid against his skin, a sensation that was both real and unreal
『Ding! Transfer successful. Randomizing content..』
The screen shimmered, and a list of rewards unfolded before him.
『Newbie Package contains:
※ Height Growth +2
※ Weight Gained +2
※ You have gained +2 Agility, Dexterity
※ You have gained +1 Strength, Physique
※ You have gained +3 Endurance, Spirit
※ You have gained +2 Charisma
※ You have gained +10 Luck
※ You have gained +1 Attribute Point
※ You have gained +1 Talent Point
※ You have obtained [Godspeed Impulse]
※ You have obtained [Juggernaut Body]
※ You have obtained [Cross Swish Harmony]
[Godspeed Impulse]
• You can continuously move at near-superhuman speed and have superhuman reflexes. You are able to explosively take off and move from a neutral position and reach top speed immediately, it is a gift that enables a person to mature faster than his/her peers.
*You could perfectly; learn, memorize, recall, understand, master, and utilize anything and any physical maneuver by experiencing or observing it once, within short time. However, this ability has a fatal weakness; it only works if you can see a physical movement.
[Juggernaut Body]
• You will naturally possess [Immense Athleticism]: increased adaptability, agility, balance, coordination, dexterity, durability, endurance, flexibility, reflexes, senses, speed, and strength.
*You will also possess an ability that limits the secretion of fatigue toxins in your muscles, making it impossible to tire out in a long drawn fight or activities.
*You also have peak human metabolism that grants resistance to illness, injuries and intoxication. This will also allow you to adjust or improve body functions.
[Cross Swish Harmony]
• An Innate basketball talent that embodies precision, versatility, and harmony on the court. In this talent, the player seamlessly integrates and replicates different basketball techniques with finesse and accuracy, akin to the way Kise replicates with his Copy talent.
*You can copy every single move you have ever seen by physical contact or touching their tools, you will be capable of learning abilities and completely master them, to the extent that you can use them to copy even the Generation of Miracles.』
Belial stared at the screen, his jaw slack, his mind reeling. He had never imagined such power, such potential.
He had been given a second chance, a chance to rise above his past, to become the player he had always dreamed of being.
He could feel a surge of energy coursing through his veins, a feeling he hadn't experienced in years.
His heart pounded with a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
He could see the numbers on the screen, his strength, agility, and endurance all significantly increased.
He was no longer the weakling he had been.
He was a different person, a stronger, faster version of himself
"What the heck?" he whispered, his voice filled with awe.
He couldn't believe the sheer power of these abilities.
He had always been a fan of basketball, but he had never dreamed of being able to control the ball with such precision, to move with such speed, to replicate the skills of the greatest players in the world.
He was now a force to be reckoned with on the court, a player with the potential to change the game forever.
"Okay, let's see my status," he muttered, his voice filled with a newfound confidence.
He commanded the system to open his status, and a new panel appeared before him, displaying his current attributes and abilities.
『Status』
Name: Belial Scarlet
Age: 10 / Gender: Male
Height: 148cm (4'10 ft)→150cm (4'11 ft)
Weight: 38kg (84 lbs) →40kg (88 lbs)
Blessing: Gamer System
Class: Player
Subclass: Chess
HP: 80/80
SP: 90/90
『Attributes:
(Juggernaut Body: +5 physical buff)』
STR: 1 (+1) → 2 (+5)
AGI: 2 (+2) → 4 (+5)
DEX: 3 (+2) → 5 (+5)
PHY: 2 (+1) → 3 (+5)
END: 1 (+3) → 4 (+5)
INT: 3
WIS: 2
PER: 1
SPI: 4 (+3) → 7
CHA: 1 (+2) → 3
LUK: 1 (+10) → 11
Attribute Point(s): 1
Talent Point(s): 1
Items: None
『Talents:
[Godspeed Impulse] (Exclusive)
[Juggernaut Body] (Exclusive)
[Cross Swish Harmony](Exclusive)』
He could feel the system's power coursing through his veins, a tingling sensation that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
It was a new kind of connection, a bond that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
The system was a part of him now, a part of his identity, a part of his destiny.
Belial checked his stats, his eyes widening with each new number.
His strength, agility, and endurance had all increased, and he had gained new talents that promised to make him a formidable player.
He was now a force to be reckoned with on the court, a player with the potential to change the game forever.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and excitement.
He had been given a second chance, a chance to rise above his past, to become the player he had always dreamed of being.
He was ready to embrace this new world, to explore its possibilities, to push himself to new heights.
He remembered the days he spent huddled in the shadows, his body aching, his spirit crushed.
He had been a nobody, a failure, a forgotten shadow.
But now, he could feel a new sense of purpose, a new sense of hope, a new sense of possibility.
He was a gamer, a player, a warrior. He was Belial Scarlet, and he was ready to take on the world.
But as his excitement subsided, a new wave of confusion washed over him. He needed to understand this world, to learn its history, its rules, its culture. He needed to know how he had ended up here, and what his purpose was in this strange new reality.
He tried to recall the memories of the previous owner of this body, the boy who had lived this life before him. He remembered fragments of a life filled with hardship and struggle, a life that had been tragically cut short. He felt a pang of sympathy for the boy, a sense of responsibility to honor his memory.
Then, a flood of information washed over him, a torrent of knowledge about this world, its history, and its unique culture. He learned about the "Awakening Era," a time when humanity had been pushed to the brink of extinction by a series of global disasters. He learned about the rise of a powerful civilization from the depths of the Pacific Ocean, a civilization that had sought to dominate the world but had eventually been forced into a truce with the combined forces of the world's armies.
He learned about the "Great Disaster," a cataclysmic event that had irrevocably changed the planet, leading to the rapid evolution and mutation of life on Earth. He learned about the emergence of "Talents," unique abilities that had awakened in individuals, transforming them into superhuman beings.
He learned the rise of Edward Nightingmere, a superhuman who had awakened a powerful talent to nullify all Talents within his field of vision.
He had used his power to quell the rampant violence and chaos that had gripped the world, establishing the Global Basketball Association as a means of channeling the competitive spirit of the people and preventing future conflicts.
He learned about the "Sports Era," a time when basketball had become more than just a game, it had become a symbol of hope, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
It had become a platform for individuals to showcase their talents, to compete for glory, to earn a place in the world.
Belial was overwhelmed by this torrent of information. He felt like he had been thrust into a world of science fiction, a world where reality had been rewritten, where the impossible had become possible.
He felt a sense of awe and wonder, but also a sense of trepidation. He had a lot to learn, a lot to understand, a lot to adapt to.
He realized that he was no longer just Belial Scarlet, the boy who had been abandoned by his parents and forced to live on the streets.
He was now a player, a gamer, a part of this world, this culture, this community. He had a new purpose, a new destiny, a new life to live.
He crawled into bed, his body aching with exhaustion, his mind buzzing with excitement. He couldn't wait to explore this new world, to learn more about its secrets, to test the limits of his abilities. He couldn't wait to play.
...
The next morning, Belial awoke with a renewed sense of purpose. He had a mission to complete, a destiny to fulfill. He had to become the best player in the world, to prove himself, to make his mark on this world.
He opened his system, and a new quest appeared before him:
[Ding! New Main Quest triggered:
[Physical Refinement]
[Your body is still weak to contain your talents in order to become qualified to have your talents, expand your vessel by Exercising.
Condition:
Push-Up: 0/100
Sit-Up: 0/100
Squat: 0/100
Run: 0/10km
Reward: All physical stats +0.5]
[Mental Refinement]
[Your mind is still weak to utilize your talents in order to become qualified to use your talents, expand your mental faculties.
Condition:
Play a videogame: 0/1
Study Book: 0/1
Watch a Sports: 0/1
Meditate: 0/1 hour
Reward: All mental stats +0.5]
Belial accepted the quests without hesitation. He knew that physical and mental training were essential to harnessing his newfound talents and becoming a formidable player in the Global Basketball Association.
He headed to the nearest park, the sun shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the greenery around him.
He found a quiet spot under a shady tree and began his exercises, his muscles burning with exertion, his determination fueling his movements.
He pushed himself to his limits, his body growing stronger and more resilient with each repetition.
He felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins, a feeling of power he had never experienced before.
He could feel his body responding to the training, his muscles growing, his reflexes sharpening, his stamina increasing.
He was becoming a different person, a stronger, faster, more agile version of himself.
He completed his physical training, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him.
He knew that he was one step closer to unlocking his full potential, to becoming the player he was destined to be.
He headed to a nearby bookstore, his mind buzzing with a thirst for knowledge.
He needed to understand the game, its strategies, its techniques, its history.
He needed to learn from the best, to absorb their wisdom, to hone his skills.
He found a book on basketball strategies and techniques, its pages filled with insights and advice from seasoned players and coaches.
He delved into the book, absorbing the knowledge, his mind expanding and sharpening with each page he turned.
He felt a sense of clarity, a sense of purpose, a sense of direction.
He headed to a sports bar, the air thick with the scent of beer and popcorn. He watched a live basketball game, his eyes glued to the action, his mind analyzing the plays, the strategies, the movements.
He learned from the best, observing their skills, their techniques, their tactics.He felt a sense of inspiration, a sense of excitement, a sense of possibility.
He headed back to the park, his mind buzzing with new knowledge and insights.
He found a quiet spot under a shady tree and closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing, clearing his mind of distractions, honing his mental focus.
He felt a sense of inner peace, a sense of clarity, a sense of readiness.
He had completed his physical and mental training, and he felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him.
He knew that the path to greatness would be filled with obstacles and setbacks, but he was determined to persevere and rise.
[Ding! Main Quest has been successfully completed:
Physical Refinement
Mental Refinement
Reward: All Physical and Mental +0.5
All quest complete! bonus reward for first completion: CHA +5, AP and TP +1]
『Attributes:
(Juggernaut Body: +5 physical buff)』
STR: 2 (+1.5)(+5) → 3.5 (+5) = 8.5
AGI: 4 (+1.5)(+5) → 5.5 (+5) = 10.5
DEX: 5 (+1.5)(+5) → 6.5 (+5) = 11.5
PHY: 3 (+1.5)(+5) → 4.5 (+5)= 9.5
END: 4 (+1.5)(+5) → 5.5 (+5)= 10.5
INT: 3 (+1.5) → 4.5
WIS: 2 (+1.5) → 3.5
PER: 1 (+1.5) → 2.5
SPI: 7 (+1.5) → 8.5
CHA: 3 (+5) → 8
LUK: 11
[Attribute Point(s): 1→2]
[Talent Point(s): 1 →2]
『Talents:
[Godspeed Impulse] (Exclusive)[Sealed]
[Juggernaut Body] (Exclusive)[Sealed]
[Cross Swish Harmony](Exclusive)[Sealed]』
Belial was amazed by the changes in his stats. His strength, agility, and endurance had all increased, and he had gained new talents that promised to make him a formidable player.
He was now a force to be reckoned with on the court, a player with the potential to change the game forever.
He felt a surge of excitement and anticipation. He was ready to take on the world, to prove himself, to become the best player he could be.
He looked around the park, his eyes scanning the faces of the people around him.
He saw a group of kids playing basketball, their movements fluid and graceful.
He saw a couple walking hand-in-hand, their faces filled with love and contentment.
He saw a group of friends laughing and joking, their bond unbreakable.
He felt a sense of belonging, a sense of purpose, a sense of hope.
He was ready to embrace this new world, to make his mark on it, to create a new life for himself.