It was a nice sunny day. Birds were chirping happily, and people were busy on the streets. However, at this time, in an apartment, suddenly a person vanished from his bed into thin air.
And that person was Ethan!
...
Beep...
"Daily mission has been failed by the host! Penalty will be given to the host! The chest will be taken by the system!" The system gave a warning, but Ethan, who was sleeping, didn't hear anything.
Beep...
"Host is being transported to an island. Host shall stay alive for 8 hours on the island!" The system went silent, and Ethan vanished from his bed.
...
On an island,
"Burppp...brupp"
A person was drowning in water, in critical condition. He was trying his best to get out of the water, but all struggles were to no avail. Suddenly, that person opened his eyes.
Ethan was in a small lake. He looked around, dumbfounded. He was in a forest!
Wait, what?
"You shitty system, why didn't you wake me up? What if I died in water!" As soon as Ethan read the notifications from the system, he knew it's a penalty ground for him.
8 hours...
Won't I miss my work if I'm here for 8 hours?
Beep...
"Host shouldn't worry about it. The time here is different from the real world. An hour here is a minute out there. So the host should try to survive!" As the system was laughing at him for his incompetency, the system replied.
Damn you system! How could you do this to the future hero of the world! I'll definitely pay you back a hundred folds!
But the system simply ignored Ethan's rebukes.
...
Street 49, Rose cafe.
A distinguished gentleman of approximately 41 years, his hair meticulously combed and his beard immaculately trimmed, sat elegantly, relishing the flavor of his coffee. Adorned in a maroon suit, paired with sleek black shoes that complemented his dark hair, he exuded an air of nobility.
"Mhm, this coffee is the best thing for starting a day," the old man mumbled to himself.
"And a good way to release your frustrations!" Suddenly, his tone became a bit icy. People around felt a bit chill in the environment, but they ignored it.
"Who's so daring to kill my undead in Salmon City? Am I being too low-key for the past decade or what!" The old man was a bit furious.
"I think they are missing me now!" The old man harrumphed.
Yes! This well-dressed, well-combed old man was the master of the undead that was slain by Ethan.
If Ethan were here, then he would have guessed that he had dug his own grave for no reason at all because...
"Level 73
(Lord Benjamin)"
...
'Why should I, the great Ethan Hunt, have to be in this situation!'
Ethan perched on a tree while below him, mysterious creatures roamed. Their size resembled that of wolves, and they appeared to be a peculiar blend of dogs, cats, and who knows what else! While their bizarre features weren't the primary concern, the pivotal issue was...
"Level 20"
"Level 21"
"Level 18"
All were in different leagues than that of the undead he fought yesterday! He was able to kill the undead because of its weakness. But these monsters were living.
Initially, Ethan considered remaining seated on the tree and waiting for the eight hours to pass. However, his assumption proved incorrect. After a while, a group of ants emerged from underground and began ascending the tree.
These ants were about the size of a fist, possessing an eerie and unsettling quality. Their count was roughly 15, which wasn't overwhelmingly large, and their individual levels weren't particularly high.
"Level 12"
"Level 13"
"Level 11"
Can't I kill these ants? I mean, I have a weapon and my strength is different too from before. And I have to test my fist technique too.
Let's give it a try!
As the ants were climbing, when the first one reached, Ethan thought of taking the Hammer out, and it came straight to his hand.
He swung the hammer down on the ant with full strength!
"Creak"
Something broke! The shell of the ant was broken that was hit. But it was still twitching. Ethan hit it once more, and the ant died.
Beep...
"Congratulations to the host for killing a mystic ant and reaching level 8."
So isn't it heaven for me? Ethan smiled devilishly and looked towards the remaining ants and the monsters down there. The monsters felt like they saw a devil incarnate.
Party time!!
"Swoosh!"
Abruptly, a surge of light enveloped Ethan, transporting him back to his apartment. The aura surrounding Ethan now was markedly different from before.
"Hehe, that was quite the journey. Leveled up and gained a bunch of stat points too!" Ethan exclaimed, rubbing his hands together like an old merchant.
Checking the stats system:
- Level: 19
- Stats Points: 36
- Strength: 22
- Agility: 9
- Vitality: 10
- Intelligence: 12
"Ah, I'm in a good spot now. Couldn't defeat all those monsters, but no worries. Let's allocate these points. You never know when trouble might come knocking."
"System, allocate 28 points in strength and the remaining points in agility," Ethan commanded. Immediately, warmth spread throughout him, and this time, he could genuinely feel his increased strength.
Adjusted stats:
- Level: 19
- Stats Points: 0
- Strength: 50
- Agility: 15
- Vitality: 10
- Intelligence: 12
"Satisfaction! Now it feels like I could take on my manager too! Strength is indeed bliss. Let's freshen up and get to work!"
At the worksite, Ethan noticed a change. Workers were more diligent today, all seemingly more focused.
"Hey, old man! Why the extra effort today?" Ethan asked playfully.
The old man laughed lightly and replied, "Kid, you better behave! The young lady is here today."
Confused, Ethan blurted out, "You mean the young miss?" The old man looked at him strangely, wondering about his overreaction.
"Ahem, I see. I'll behave. Wait, what do you mean behave? I behave every time!" Ethan chuckled and got back to work.
In the manager's room, a man stood in front of the desk where a beautiful lady, Emma Macloy, sat. She was the young miss of the Macloy family, 23 years old with silver hair and a complexion as pure as milk. Emma was elegant in her business attire, her presence captivating.
"Young miss, you didn't have to visit personally. I was enough here," the manager said gently.
"No need to worry. Time is ticking away, and there's no progress. Father's condition worsens each day," Emma's voice rang like melodic bells. She urged the manager to find the chest, believed to hold items capable of healing any ailment.
"Certainly, young miss," the manager replied, bowing before leaving the office.
Alone, Emma sighed lightly as she gazed outside.
Ethan, invigorated by his newfound strength, worked diligently, his gaze drawn to the manager's office. Thanks to his improved eyesight, he could see a beautiful girl through the window.
"Level 0
(Young miss, Emma Macloy)"