"-In this academy, you'll get to choose your future career field, however, choose wisely as everything you do will be influenced by your ability-"
"-A fire ability user cannot work in the medical field, unless as a security personnel-"
"-For the first month, all students are required to take the general course, before choosing your individual courses-"
The speakers bellowed; the announcer was nowhere to be seen, and the students stood like wind-blown trees in the cold morning.
Maxwell had his eyes wide open in an attempt to keep himself awake, meanwhile Jesse calmly looked around. His heart had skipped a beat when the bell rang earlier in the morning; he had thought that the people had found out.
Now he knew just how careless he had been, as he didn't bother to check for cameras before carrying out his plan.
"-All students are required to assemble here for the first two weeks, as stamina exercises would be carried out every morning-"
The students fell into another round of chattering, expressing their annoyance and grievances to themselves alone.
"-Round the school and back. There'll be tracks to make sure none of you lose your way. Anyone who misses even a single day of exercise will be heavily punished-"
"-During this two weeks of exercise, your abilities will be nullified-"
"-The first ten students to complete the exercise will receive additional points each day for the first seven days-"
The annoyed students smiled at the enticing reward, getting into a running stance that they may have forgotten that it was an exercise and not a race.
"-Get ready in 3...2...1-"
-Beep!
A loud beeping sound went off and the students immediately ran forward, following the yellow tracks.
"Sigh." Maxwell breathed out a sigh in frustration, "Come on." He waved Jesse and Aland before beginning his slow jog to keep up with their pace.
"You both should go first, I'll be right behind." Jesse waved them off before turning his back to them.
[--Quests--]
The quest bar was up again.
[-Daily Quests-]
[Build up your stamina - Run 15 miles → 0/15]
'A single daily quest, what kind of reward would the system give this time'
Jesse turned around but he was the only one left on the assembly ground.
'What a hassle.' He thought to himself and began his run.
He followed the yellow tracks and soon came in sight of some students.
It was early in the morning, hence, the forest was covered in thick foggy dew.
Jesse turned on his inspect skill and smiled when the area around him changed.
The skill that had leveled up greatly; he could make out the trees and living beings in the fog with the help of infrared vision - measuring and interpreting energy information that was once unseen.
Following the path of living energy, he soon got out of the forest and turned off the skill.
The dew was still heavy but he could still make out the path in front of him.
The yellow tracks remained which meant he was going the right way, and up above he could still see the tiny red beeping lights of the cameras that followed them.
In front of him, the sound of rushing water could be heard.
Jesse stepped forward, the heavy current of the rushing water was enough to put anyone off, and they was no way to go around it, hence, the only way pass it was through it.
He glanced up at the cameras again before walking into the water.
A few students were already in, while quite a number of them were washed away by the heavy current.
"Argh! Why can't I use my ability?!"
Jesse glanced at the student who was being swept away by the current.
He then felt a sharp sting on his wrist - his legs in the flowing river turned wobbly, and the speed at which he crossed the river decreased greatly.
[A nullifier has been detected in your bloodstream]
[All your attributes has been reduced by 15]
[This nullifier makes null the ability, and reduces the strength of awakeneds greatly, making them nothing more than weak unevolved humans]
[Do you wish to dispel this nullifier?]
Jesse's breathing hitched - the water seeping into his nose with every breath he drew.
He glanced up at the cameras but his foggy eye sight could no longer make out the beeping red lights, however, if he showed any sign of resistance to the nullifier, it would only put him in danger.
"No." Jesse muttered and took a step forward. He spread his hands above the water and slowly paddled himself forward with every step he took.
***
"Quite the dexterity he got there."
In a room filled with monitors, a man with long black was sitting on the only chair in the room, watching the hundreds of students.
"Who?" Another man asked.
"That kid." The man who sat on the chair pointed a Jesse who was flapping his hands in the river.
"I was scared out of my wit when he first looked at the camera." The man burst into a fit of laughter.
"Something like that scared you?"
"Of course, he looked up so suddenly with a face that said 'I'll kill you when I get out of here'." The man put on a stern face, mimicking Jesse's look.
"It was merely a coincidence."
"Yes, only that it happened twice." The man with long black hair raised two of his fingers up before turning back to the screen, "Even without his ability, he still tries so hard...and so smart. What great disciple he'd make." Her muttered that latter underneath his breath.
***
Jesse soon reached the other side of the river, he grabbed a tree branch to pull himself up.
He took a swift glance at the river he had just crossed - he saw two familiar figures, one of which had the other carried above his head.
A light chuckle escaped his lips at the sight of Maxwell holding Aland up like a new born child made entirely out of salt.
[Build up your stamina - Run 15 miles → 9/15]
He still had quite a long way to go.
Jesse picked up his pace, running into another forest. He glanced at the yellow tracks before venturing further into the forest.
After a long run, Jesse came to a stop - the school layout was truly frustrating. What stood before him now was a small mountain, going around it would only be a waste of time since the mountain expanded far away - climbing it would be considered much easier due to the rock terrain.
However, his legs were slowly giving up; quivering like a plate of jelly.
Jesse's eyes remained on the mountain before him- its peak shrouded in a misty veil. He took a deep breath, the chill of the morning air biting at his lungs. His legs trembled, threatening to give way beneath him, but he steeled himself for the climb.
With a quiet determination, he reached out and grasped a rocky outcropping, his fingers closing around it like a vice. He hauled himself up, his feet searching for narrow ledges to support his weight. The nullifier still coursed through his veins, sapping his strength, yet he refused to yield.
Sweat dripped from his brow, mingling with the dew on his face as he pulled himself upward. His hands scraped against the rough stone, leaving behind smudges of blood. The mountain's rugged terrain forced him to rely on his wits and agility, rather than brute strength.
He leveraged his body weight, using momentum to carry him upward. His fingers searched for holds, his feet finding narrow crevices to support his weight. The wind picked up, whipping his hair into a frenzy, but Jesse's eyes remained fixed on the path ahead.
He found a narrow crevice and squeezed through, his body wedged between the rocks. On the other side, he paused, catching his breath. The mountain's peak still loomed above him, but he pressed on, driven by a fierce determination.
His legs burned, his muscles screaming in protest, but he pushed through the pain. Finally, Jesse reached the summit, collapsing onto the rocky outcropping. He lay there, chest heaving, as the wind buffeted him about. For a moment, he closed his eyes, savoring the triumph.
[Build up your stamina - Run 15 miles → 12/15]
The quest bar updated, and Jesse's lips curled into a wry smile. He still had a ways to go, but he was getting closer. With a newfound sense of resolve, he began his descent, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
Now, what was left was crossing to the other mountain and then running through the woods again.
A few students were already on the mountain, he probably spotted a few while climbing but was too focused to notice them.
Some of the students laid on the rocky ground while a few slowly continued on.
[HP - 273/300]
Jesse glanced at his depleting health. A normal human might have died from such exertion.
He sat up to catch his breath.
"Don't auto-heal the injuries." Jesse said to himself when the cut on his finger healed up.
[HP - 275/300]
The more the system healed, the hungrier he became.
He pulled himself up and walked to the bridge - a wobbly bridge made of rope knots and sticks.
It swayed along with the wind, discouraging the poor students.
Jesse held tightly onto the ropes and slowly crossed over.
Refraining from looking down, he continued his journey and soon reached the other side.
The other students followed when they saw him cross - though, the bridge was shrouded in fog, it didn't shake much nor did they hear screams, therefore, they could only agree that Jesse had crossed safely.
[Charisma +1]
Meanwhile, Jesse who was sitting under a tree to recover his strength, received a notification.
Though, it was sudden and out of the blew, he was fine with anything that was not a punishment or further degrade.
[Build up your stamina - Run 15 miles → 13/15]
He remained still for more than twenty minutes before rejoining the students in their run through the forest.
***
"Is he smart or stupid? Giving the other students enough time to increase their distance is not a wise decision."
"Maybe, he's just resting. You didn't do any better during your time."
"What? I was the best in my set!"
"Sure, I believe you." The man snickered.
"What about the other kid? The one with the rumoured two abilities? I heard he's from the Seventh Wall City."
"I doubt he really has two abilities. Maybe just two noteworthy skills under the same ability."
"What was his name again?"
"Billy. Billy O'Malley."