Eli, now alone in the quiet aftermath of his collapse, stared into the void that had suddenly filled his existence with a mix of confusion and awe. "The Hands of God System?" he murmured to himself, the words feeling alien on his tongue. In the two decades since the Cataclysm, the world had seen the emergence of countless abilities, from the mundane to the extraordinary, yet nothing like this had ever been documented. "What even is this system?"
His eyes focused on the ethereal text floating before him, a greeting from the system that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. "Congratulations, Host, for acquiring the Hands of God System," Eli read aloud, the words resonating in the empty space around him. "But what does that mean?" he wondered, skepticism and curiosity warring within him.
As he delved deeper into the system, a sense of disbelief washed over him. "A level system? I'm... I'm at level 1?" Eli's voice was a mix of incredulity and excitement. The concept of leveling up, so common in games and stories, was now his reality. "This is unreal. All those stories and games, and now I'm living it?"
His attention was quickly drawn to the mention of a skill—Multi-Handed. "Create a hand out of thin air that can do anything the user wishes?" he read, his mind racing with the possibilities. "Fight for me, wield weapons, cast magic? This is... incredible." The realization that this ability could redefine his place in the world was both exhilarating and overwhelming.
Eli noticed that Multi-Handed itself had levels and a skill tree that branched into Magic, Weapon Mastery, and Defense. "So, I can specialize in different paths? Tailor this ability to my needs?" The prospect of choosing a path filled him with a sense of purpose he had never felt before. "I've always been fascinated by magic, but the idea of wielding weapons or creating impenetrable defenses is just as tempting. How do I choose?"
As he pondered the paths before him, Eli realized the true depth of the Hands of God System. It was not just an ability; it was a journey of growth and discovery. "I start at level 1, but I won't stay here. I can become stronger, more skilled. I can protect those who can't protect themselves, maybe even explore those dungeons with confidence."
With a newfound resolve, Eli whispered to himself, "This system, these hands, they're not just a gift. They're a responsibility. My life has changed forever, and it's up to me to make the most of it. Multi-Handed... it's just the beginning."
Eli stared at the floating text within the void of the Hands of God System, noting the option to allocate his single skill point. With a mixture of excitement and trepidation, he mentally selected the Multi-Handed skill. Instantaneously, two spectral hands materialized before him, hovering with an eerie grace. Eli's eyes widened in astonishment, his heart racing at the sight. "This is... real," he whispered, a sense of empowerment washing over him.
Curiosity piqued, Eli decided to test the limits of his newfound ability. "Punch the wall," he commanded, his voice steady yet filled with anticipation. The hands shot forward, faster than his eyes could follow, and collided with the wall. The impact was met with a loud crash, leaving two fist-sized holes in the substance that was known to be stronger than concrete. Eli's jaw dropped, a mix of fear and awe enveloping him. "They're... incredible," he muttered, marveling at the strength that far surpassed some of his peers' abilities.
Realization dawned on him as he eyed the damage. "The school property," he gasped, a surge of panic rising. He needed to return to class, but the presence of the hands posed a new dilemma. On a whim, he thought of recalling them, and to his relief, they vanished. Eli practiced summoning and dismissing the hands a few more times, gaining confidence with each attempt, before making his way back to the classroom.
Upon re-entering, the atmosphere shifted. Whispers and snickers filled the room, each comment a pointed barb aimed at Eli.
"Taking a nap in there, Thompson?" Derek taunted, earning a chorus of snickers from his cohorts.
"Maybe he was trying to summon some courage but failed," another voice added, laughter following the cruel jibe.
Mr. Harlan's stern voice cut through the laughter, "Mr. Thompson, your return has been noted as significantly delayed. Please, take your seat with less dawdling next time."
Eli felt the sting of their words, but as he made his way to his seat, a sense of detachment washed over him. The comments and disdain that once would have crushed him now seemed insignificant. He had a secret, a power that none of them could fathom. As he sat down, a smoldering determination took root within him. 'From today, I'm no longer just Eli,' he thought to himself. 'I have the Hands of God System, and I'll become stronger than any of them could ever imagine.'