Opening the bronze box…]
I calmed down, stared at the message, and that was when the image of the bronze box appeared. An alluring light leaked through the gap in the box. It drove me crazy because it looked as if it was about to open, but it didn't.
Ordinary Awakened get their traits when they open their first box, and bronze boxes only tended to have low-level rewards. I was expecting an increase in my stats instead of traits as I had already gained the super S class trait – Man Who Overcomes Adversity. I especially wanted the Sense stat to increase, more than anything else, because my infant body needed to continue developing Sense first.
Fortunately, my mom was sleeping like a log and did not notice the supernatural events happening right next to her.
The box finally opened. Swoosh!
[Your Sense has increased by 3.]
[Current level: None (4)]
Yes! This was what I hoped for! The stats that controlled the muscles in the body was not Strength but Sense, and hence desperately needed for infants. Even if I was wrapped in a blanket, I always felt like my limbs were trying to move out of their own accord, but now they were calm. This was why I chose to do the tasks on the status window for the reward rather than exercising to grow the muscles in my limbs. I guess there could be benefits even if my Strength or Health had increased instead of Sense.
And lastly…
[Challenger box will be opened.]
Even S classes could open a challenger box only once or twice in their life. If they didn't have enough patience, then none. The beautiful box was clearly embedded in my eyes. The light spilling out from the challenger box was completely different from the one that leaked out of the bronze box.
The mesmerizing and bright light emanated from the box as if it could light up the whole world, and I had to shut my eyes. People said that the light of a challenger box has the ability to heal wounds. However, I didn't have any wounds on me since I was under my mother's care. I was proud that the light disappeared without any effects on me.
I opened my eyes once the light faded. It could not be an item since the light would have continued to glow if there was something left. Instead, it would have to be a trait, skill, or some drastic increase to my stats. I just wanted anything other than an item unless that item exceeded super S class.
***
The Eight Evils and the Eight Virtues. They were called by this title in some cultures that used Chinese characters, but others called them by a different designation. Although they were called by many names, one fact remained the same. When they appeared in the world, the battle with the Unknown had changed into a civil war between human beings.
We didn't know much about them. We were too busy fighting each other, and too overwhelmed studying this fucking System and what caused this monster invasion.
There were sixteen S classes that were the most powerful in the world. Eight were faithful to the System and were titled virtuous, and eight others rejected the System and were titled evil. Just by calling those who followed the System virtuous, it could be seen that the majority favored and followed it. However, this didn't mean one was good because there were so many contradictions between these classes and the situations surrounding them.
The biggest matter was that these supernatural beings classified as the Virtues claimed that something bigger than us took pity on humans and gave us abilities in an intuitive and irresistible way through the System; however, this System had also tormented humanity in various weird ways. Another contradiction in views was that the eight Evils who rejected the System had used it to become stronger.
Of course, I belonged to neither side, and both of them were my enemies. It was not that I was as powerful as them, but I had reached the conclusion that stopping them would end the civil war between humanity in front of the unscathed monsters. There were many other events I didn't want to recall.
The Eight Evils and the Eight Virtues wouldn't have even thought that they had fought against me because to them, we would… No, I would have been merely a mosquito bothering an elephant.
I still remember the Sixth Virtue, who was an immature child who bragged about his skills but was strong enough to be a part of the Eight Virtues. His main skill was 'Odin's Wrath', a buff-type skill that was useful in various situations.
Yes, that was right. The reason why I took so long to explain this skill was that this unborn child's skill had just popped up from my challenger box.
[You have gained the skill 'Odin's Wrath'.]
Holy crap!
**
"Waa! Waaaa!"
I woke up crying and realized that I was wailing loudly. Today was the day I gained the same main skill as the Sixth Virtue who had ridiculed me in the past and successfully completed the quest. My Sense stat had increased by 3 and Strength had increased by 1. Although I was happy, my dreams had been nightmares.
The sheets on the calendar had torn off one by one, and I could see that it was May 15th. I knew it…..
"Son, son. Did you have a nightmare?"
My mother lifted me up and made eye contact. She was so young those days, but her smile and eyes continued to be beautiful even when she was old. No son would have been able to continue crying when he saw his mother smile down at him like that. When I immediately stopped crying, my mother was pleased and praised me that I was the best son ever.
However, the dream that made me cry was still at the back of my mind. That day had been terrifying for everyone. Top leaders of the most powerful nations had announced together that humans could not only overcome this crisis but could also control the monsters. But then the monsters, that looked like creatures that only appeared in nightmares, poured out in the gaps between dimensions
We saw in the assembly hall with gathered reserve forces that there were weaker monsters vulnerable to our modern sciences and monsters that were higher-level, much stronger than what our weapons could fight. The latter was a drastic threat to our civilization, and this forced countries with nuclear weapons to use them.
My nightmare was about a day far in the future.
In 2011, a tsunami hit the eastern part of Japan, which became contaminated by radioactivity. Our soldiers were sad only because they couldn't travel to Japan. However, I didn't know if Japan had hidden something or whether there had been transactions or coercion, but countries including Japan exploding their nuclear weapons in their lands made our soldiers lament in despair.
It began with an old man's wail. Anyone could feel the helplessness of mankind from the situation we faced since the high-level monsters had survived the nuclear attacks.
I remember crying that day until my tears dried, even when I entered the tests, and also as I became an Awakened.
***
My quests were thoroughly tailored to my growth and development. As soon as I completed the quests of drinking breast milk, turning over and sitting by myself, I received another quest to stand up alone. As I had mentioned before, the stats increased by completing quests were only based on the growth, so ordinary people could also achieve them.
However, the enhanced Sense value from the bronze box had made me grow faster than other infants around my age. For instance, as I could control my body better with Sense, I could give more accurate stimulation to parts of the body as I wanted. This helped my muscles to grow and strengthen myself naturally.
Have you seen a two-month old baby standing up by himself? This was an unbelievable pace of growth even if I had to hold onto something.
[You have completed the quest 'Become Healthy 4'.]
[Your Strength has increased by 1.]
[You have obtained 3 points.]
[Total points: 12]
My mother was doing laundry, thinking I was asleep. Washing machines were rare those days, and although my owner's family had it, we never had one because we couldn't afford such a luxury. Fortunately, the weather had gotten a lot warmer, so I didn't have to see my mother's chapped hands anymore.
Suddenly, I heard a sound outside. I quickly sat on the blanket and laid down, then smiled at my mother with an innocent look. The smile came naturally after seeing my mother looking at me with love even if I didn't force myself. I used all my facial muscles as I had never had before.
"My son is a smiley baby. You smile whenever you see mommy. Do you like me that much? Am I that pretty?"
Yes, Mother. You are beautiful. So, I had to be more careful. My mother would worry about a two-month old baby standing up by himself. As a matter of fact, my mother had already begun to notice that I was different from other babies. I overheard her asking questions to my aunt over the phone this morning that she thinks I recognized her, I suddenly got heavier, and I stopped babbling, crying for milk, and flailing my limbs around. All her words were filled with love but also concerns.
"Son, just grow healthy. I love you so so much," my mother lifted me up and whispered.
I love you so so much, too, Mother. Oh, my mother.