Gasp gasp. The echoes of heavy breathing reverberated through the vast room, where a boy named Alex lay motionless, his body drenched in perspiration. His breath came in rapid bursts, and his trembling form betrayed the torment he endured within the nightmare realm.
As beads of sweat dripped from his closed eyes, Alex, roused from his unsettling slumber, awoke to face the ceiling. His thoughts swirled in a maelstrom of fear and confusion, his mind still entangled in the clutches of the nightmares he had just endured.
"Gasp gasp... What a dreadful day," he gasped, his voice laden with exhaustion. "What sin must I have committed in a past life to be condemned to this accursed nightmare realm? From the foreboding mansion to the treacherous forest, the haunting mirror, the labyrinthine maze, the descent into the cavern's depths, and the sinister entities that forced me to relive my darkest memories... It was an endless cycle of suffering."
His body quivered violently, causing the bed beneath him to shake in sympathy. Beads of sweat cascaded down his forehead, and his breath quickened, punctuated by goosebumps that dotted his flesh. In the midst of his turmoil, Alex pondered the horrific ordeals he had endured within the nightmare realm.
"Now I understand why they call it the nightmare realm," he murmured, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination. "Each passing second felt like an eternity, and only through the unwavering confidence bestowed upon me by the system was I able to endure and maintain my sanity."
Alex's thoughts suddenly veered towards a disconcerting realization, causing cold beads of sweat to trickle down his brow. The knowledge that his survival in the nightmare realm had relied solely on a basic skill from the system, which granted him almost god-like power within his own city, now felt like a mere trinket in the face of true terror.
"No, I mustn't dwell on the past. I must focus on what lies ahead," Alex muttered, his voice strained as he struggled to steady his breathing amidst the lingering panic. "First, I must find a way to calm my racing heart and cease this incessant trembling."
He took a deep breath, attempting to follow the common advice he had heard before. "Breathe in... and breathe out... Inhale... Exhale..." Each breath was deliberate, yet the desired calmness eluded him.
"Damn those deceiving 'Metube' videos. Breathing exercises do little to alleviate this overwhelming anxiety," Alex cursed under his breath. "Perhaps I should employ the Absolute Concentration skill for a minute, hoping it will provide the solace I desperately seek."
Activating the Absolute Concentration skill, Alex delved deep into his inner realm, seeking respite from the storm raging within him. As expected, the skill gradually assuaged his unease, but it took him over 39 long minutes to achieve a semblance of calm.
With his breathing and heart rate finally stabilizing, Alex decided it was time to disengage from the skill. Slowly, he opened his eyes, surveying the room around him. The bed on which he had rested was now drenched in sweat, emanating an unpleasant odor.
"Ugh, do I really smell that repulsive?" Alex recoiled, nearly retching at the stench clinging to his own perspiration. Determined to cleanse himself of this foul odor, he promptly left the bed, making his way towards the bathroom.
Alex entered the bathroom and was stunned by the spaciousness of the room. It had a large bathtub with a one-sided transparent window offering a view of the outdoors, where a group of animals could be seen playing. He turned on the tap, allowing lukewarm water to flow into the bathtub, and decided to wash himself while waiting for it to fill.
He moved to the other side of the room and removed his clothes, tossing them into the washing machine. It was an advanced machine that could wash and dry clothes in minutes, so he didn't have to worry about the drying process.
Taking a moment to glance at himself in the mirror, Alex was taken aback. "Who the hell is this?" he muttered, realizing that the reflection staring back at him was his own. He couldn't help but feel ashamed of his appearance, understanding why others might look down on him.
His hair was unkempt, dirty, and curly, reaching his neck. His nose was dotted with black spots, and his body was slightly out of shape, with some excess fat in his chest and stomach areas. It was not the most flattering image.
Shaking off his negative thoughts, Alex spotted some soap, a scrubber, and hair conditioner nearby. He wasted no time and began lathering his body with soap, gently scrubbing away the grime that clung to his skin.
After thoroughly applying the hair conditioner, he turned on the shower, allowing the water to rinse off the soap and cleanse his body. It was a substantial amount of filth, and the drain nearly clogged, but with a strong stream of water, it was eventually cleared.
As he proceeded with the cleaning, Alex couldn't help but notice his flaccid dick, feeling a sense of dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, he continued washing himself, making sure to clean every part of his body.
Satisfied with his cleaning efforts, Alex turned his attention back to the nearly full bathtub. He switched off the tap and gingerly stepped into the lukewarm water, finding solace in its soothing temperature.
"Ahh... so calming," Alex murmured, feeling grateful for the luxuries that allowed him to experience such comfort. Momentarily overcome with emotions, he summoned the system panel by calling out, "System panel."
[ Name: Alex
Age: 18
Profession: Student
Knowledge: High School Level mastery.
Skills: Absolute Concentration, Masculine charm, unwavering confidence, mind coding, basic company management
Intelligence: 34
Stamina: 14
Strength: 14
Agility: 16
Charm: 20 (15 normal)
System Points: 8000 ]
Alex took a moment to reflect on his experiences in the nightmare realm, recognizing the growth he had achieved during his time there. His knowledge had expanded to a high school level, allowing him to tackle basic university-level questions. He had acquired various skills, including proficiency in programming and computer theory, though he acknowledged the need for practical application to fully benefit from these skills.
Curious about the charm stat displayed in the system profile, Alex inquired, "Why is there a charm stat now? It wasn't there before."
[Previously, the host's appearance did not meet the criteria for charm. However, after cleansing your body and improving your overall appearance, you now possess a certain level of charm, warranting the inclusion of the stat.]
Alex fell into a momentary silence, surprised by the system's response. He had believed the system to be non-responsive, but it seemed to engage when criticized. Shaking his head to dispel any further thoughts, he proceeded to explore the system store.
[System Store]
Alex perused the offerings in the system store, searching for items that might be of interest. His gaze fell upon a particular item that caught his attention: a book titled "The seductive mistress" for 500 system points.
"System, purchase this book," Alex commanded, his curiosity piqued by the potential knowledge and insights it might provide.
In an instant, the book materialized in his hand, its cover adorned with an intricate design. Alex's eyes scanned the pages eagerly as he settled back into the bathtub, his mind brimming with anticipation.
With one hand holding the book and the other holding his dic beneath the water's surface, he began a gentle rhythm slowly and gently stoking it, flipping through the pages and exploring the content withing he began to speed up his hand movement below the water. However, after just a few minutes, his excitement turned to frustration.
"What the heck? it's almost been 6minutes and I have finished reading this book still I didn't cum?" Alex exclaimed in exasperation.
[The host's stamina has surpassed the average human threshold, making it difficult to reach climax easily.]
Alex stared at the system message, a mix of annoyance and bewilderment evident on his face. Disappointed, he tossed the book aside and shifted his focus to calming his mind. After all, he didn't wish to spend excessive amounts of time engaging in such activities, especially when it was painful.
Collecting his thoughts, Alex emerged from the bathtub and reached for a nearby towel, drying himself off. He then retrieved a pair of scissors and proceeded to trim his hair, opting for a shorter style. Carefully, he sculpted his side hair, ensuring they were neatly trimmed, while leaving the upper portion slightly longer, giving him a stylish yet respectable appearance.
Next, he turned his attention to his pubic hair, meticulously trimming it with the scissors. In the past, he lacked the proper tools and struggled with such grooming tasks, but now, with the current resources at his disposal, he could tend to his personal hygiene more effectively.
Once satisfied with his efforts, Alex examined his reflection in the mirror once again. A faint smile graced his lips as he observed a somewhat handsome figure staring back at him. It was a refreshing change from the disheveled appearance he had grown accustomed to.
Nodding in approval, Alex left the bathroom and returned to his room, determined to clean the bed and freshen up his surroundings. He changed the bedsheets, ensuring everything was neat and tidy. As he opened the door, he was pleasantly surprised to find a computer and monitor awaiting him, a delivery he had requested from Yuhi.
He realized he was the one who asked Yuhi to deliver this to him.
"It's finally time to check the mind coding skill and my knkwledge...."
[To be continued....]