Across the road from the giant bonfire he had just created, Luke was sat trying to come to terms with what he had just read on his status page.
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
[Wolfsbane] Bronze Achievement unlocked for killing 5 Dark Wolves (+3 to Attack)
[Arsonist] Bronze Achievement unlocked for Burning Down 1 Building (+2 to Attack)
The first two achievements were nothing special. That said Luke was not complaining. His stats were growing at an amazing pace even after just one day. However, it was the third achievement that had Luke excited.
[Pyrotechnic] Hidden Silver Achievement unlocked for killing 5 Azure Creatures with fire (System Expansion: Magic-Fire)
"Does this mean what I think it does, Ava?"
"If you think that it means you now have the ability to use Fire magic, then yes. Otherwise no."
"Right now even your sarcasm couldn't get to me."
"Your system will also be expanded with the addition of a Magic attack attribute. Much like everything else, if you wish to improve it you will need to raise your completion percentage by earning achievements."
Just as Ava had described there was now a magic attribute stat, however, it was considerably lower than the other stats:
*[Status]
[Health: 110]
[Stamina: 112]
[Speed: 112]
[Attack: 115]
[Defence: 115]
[Magic Attack: 20]
[Title: Bog Role Bandit - No Benefit, Slight decrease likability to all]*
Additionally Luke also had a new subsection on the menu for his magic skills. However, there was currently only one skill listed.
[Fire Magic- Wisp]
The ability to use magic attacks wasn't common as an ability, but it was far from unheard of. Luke had seen people use magic many times, however, anyone with magic attacks was already considered an elite among survivors.
Luke tested the new skill and he was pleased that it came to him instinctively. It felt just as easy and fundamental as breathing even during his first attempt. Focusing on what he wanted to do at the edge of his index finger a flame appeared.
"Well, that's not too impressive."
"Hear that a lot from the ladies do you?" Ava piped up.
"Haha," Luke responded clearly unamused. "You must think you are very funny,"
"I do."
The fire he produced was only the size of a candle's flame. Although he wasn't blown away by it, especially when he compared it to the raging inferno across the street, Luke thought it was a start.
"If you have time for jokes, could you at least tell me how to get rid of my [Bog Role Bandit] title?"
"Unfortunately I can't help you with that. To remove your title you must replace it with another title and titles are only given out as rewards for silver-rank achievements and above. All achievements above bronze are hidden and therefore I can't share how to unlock them."
"I'm beginning to think that you are just here to give snide comments"
"I try."
Shaking his head, Luke got up from the side of the road and started heading back to the building that he had gone through all this effort to enter. With the wolves now gone Luke had no problems in doing so.
Entering the grand reception hall of what had once been a high-tech and high-end office building, It wasn't hard for Luke to find the emergency staircase. The doors to it had a massive sign above them declaring that if anyone opened them an alarm would sound. Luke ignored this warning and pushed them open. Of course, without power, the alarm was no longer functioning.
Entering the stairwell its lack of any windows made it very dark. For a moment Luke reached for the lighter in his pocket, but he came up with a better idea. Raising his hand he produced the small flame once again. Though it wasn't very bright it was enough for Luke to see where he was going.
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
[Human Torch] Hidden Silver Achievement unlocked for using fire attack magic to light the way (+12 Magic Attack)
Luke was pleased by the notification, but his mind was currently occupied by the imposing task ahead. Luke was staring up the centre of the staircase, starting to regret his life choices.
"Hello," He shouted, his voice echoing all the way to the top before taking what seemed like an age to come back down.
"This might take a while." Luke mumbled.
Deciding that staring wasn't going to make the challenge ahead of him any less daunting Luke took his first step onto the staircase. Though he wasn't sure exactly how many floors the building had, he knew it was over 50.
"I guess I should follow the advice of the achievement and just take this one step at a time."
"For the achievement, you must climb 30 floors so this will at least not be a complete waste of time," Ava added.
On the walls, there were large numbers to indicate the floor he was on. At the beginning of Luke's accent, these numbers were an encouraging sight, as he could see his progress. But as time went on they began to start to be an intimidating marker for how much further he still had to go. Luke climbed in silence though he did have several thoughts circling in his head. He had always found exercise to be a good time for him to think things through.
When Luke reached the 30th floor, as expected, he received the notification for an achievement. However, he didn't stop to check it, he didn't want to stop while he was in the zone.
By the time he reached the 40th floor he was very tired out and breathing heavily. He was very glad that he had earned that boost to his stamina through the completion system. Even in the apocalypse escaping torture, running over 10 kilometres, fighting a pack of black wolves and then scaling a high-rise building could be considered a very long day.
Luke collapsed on the floor when he at last reached the top floor. In the end it had turned out the highest floor was higher than he had expected and he could only stare at the large "59" set out in front of him.
*ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED*
[On Cloud 59] Hidden Silver Achievement unlocked for choosing to take the stairs rather than the elevator and reaching floor 59 (+5 all stats)
He also had his earlier achievement as well.
[One Step at a Time] Bronze Achievement climbing 30 flights of stairs (+2 Stamina)
Rolling onto his back Luke was already proud of his accomplishment of making it to the top, for his ability to reward him as well made it even sweeter. It was what he was coming to love about the system. It appeared that as long as he tried something new it would reward him. Although he felt some of the puns and references in the achievement titles could definitely use some work. However, on his way up Luke had had something else on his mind.
"Hey Ava, could ask you a question?"
"Yes, answering questions is my job after all."
"Who are you?" Luke said his voice deadly serious for the first time in his interactions with Ava. There was a long pause before Ava responded.
"I was wondering when you were going to ask that."
"You don't seem like some sort of artificial intelligence, at least you seem a lot more than that to me. Plus your jokes are too forced and your angst a little too real. At a guess you don't want to be doing this, which is a weird thing if it was what you were created for, so who are you?"
"I guess you are smarter than I gave you credit for." Luke could hear Ava's voice hesitate before continuing. "Sadly there are other things that are hidden apart from achievements, so I can't answer. But perhaps in the same way if you complete more of the system you will be able to discover more about me."
"Interesting. Now I have another incentive to carry on increasing my completion percentage. I hope till then we can get along."
"I hope so too. But I won't be holding my breath." Ava replied and while the words were harsh, the voice they were spoken with was not.
Having had a moment to relax, Luke got back to his original plan. He made his way out to the roof of the building, however, as he did he found that it was far from empty.