Alex slowly woke up from his sleep, feeling a light ache throughout his body, as if every muscle was complaining about some unexpected exhaustion. He opened his eyes with difficulty, as if his eyelids were glued together. He mumbled in a tired voice, "I think I need a more comfortable bed... or maybe a medical check-up."
As he tried to move, he felt like every motion required a great deal of effort. He said, "Was I fighting monsters, or just some foolish bullies yesterday?"
Looking anxiously at his tattoo, Alex feared seeing another exercise mission. Instead, a notification suddenly appeared on the tattoo:
"Congratulations! You have completed two missions!."
"Mission One: Defeat the bullies."
Alex froze for a moment, staring at the notification in astonishment. He whispered, "Completed two missions? Do I need new glasses to make sure of that?"
Then another notification appeared quickly:
"Reward: 2 points. You can use these points to enhance any of your stats."
Taking a deep breath, Alex looked at the tattoo and said, "Points? Great, but do these points also include pain relief?"
Finally, a third notification appeared:
"You have survived the Punishment Mission for a week."
"You have gained a new ability: Enhanced Senses."
Alex's eyes wandered around, and the world seemed clearer than ever. He rubbed his eyes in amazement, wondering if his new abilities had affected his vision. He decided to test it out by removing the glasses he had been accustomed to wearing for so long.
As he took off his glasses, he felt a sudden shock. He could see every detail clearly, as if his eyes had received a significant upgrade. He looked around at the objects surrounding him and soon burst out in a cheerful voice, "Enhanced senses? This is amazing! I didn't expect to see things so clearly without my glasses!"
But his surprise didn't stop there. Suddenly, he began to notice a significant improvement in his other senses. His hearing had improved remarkably; he could hear the footsteps of students walking down the dormitory hallway and even their distant conversations. His sense of smell had also sharpened, allowing him to detect the scent of fresh coffee from the nearby kitchen as if it was right under his nose.
As he tried to absorb the clarity of his vision and the improvement of his other senses, he couldn't help but laugh at the situation. A mixture of surprise and joy overwhelmed him, as if the world around him had become more vibrant and lively. He said to himself happily, "If these are the results of enhanced senses, I'm ready to face any punishment this tattoo throws at me... or wait, no, I don't want to go back to that place."
"Well then, what about those points?"
A new notification appeared in front of Alex, displaying the following message:
"You can choose where to allocate the two points you have received."
Below this notification, the options appeared:
______________________
- Strength: 2
- Speed:1
- Agility: 0
- Endurance:2
- Intelligence:6
___________ currently available:2pt
Alex took a deep breath and paused to think. "Strength... would increase my attack power, which could be useful in battles. But, do I really need a stronger punch right now?"
He looked at **Endurance**, "Endurance will make me more resistant to attacks, which is important, but..."
He considered **Intelligence**, "Intelligence is important, but it didn't help me much in the last fight."
Alex recalled the tough moments of his recent confrontation with Tom and his group. "I was too slow... Agility was what I needed to dodge attacks better."
Finally, he decided: "I need to improve my ability to move quickly and smoothly. Speed will help me move faster, and Agility will increase my flexibility."
He allocated the first point to Speed and the second point to Agility. He felt at ease with his decision, looking forward to how these improvements would affect his future challenges.
___
Mental and Physical Stats:
- Strength:2
- Speed: 2
- Agility: 1
- Endurance: 2
-Intelligence:6
- ???? (Still locked currently)
_____
- Level: 0
___
As Alex left the dormitory, he paused for a moment under the morning sun, feeling the rays touch his face and welcoming the new day. He felt a light breeze, but his enhanced senses made everything seem more vibrant than ever before.
"The weather feels different today," Alex whispered to himself, amazed by the clarity of details. He could see the sparkling dewdrops on the leaves, like tiny jewels. The smell of fresh flowers wafted from the nearby garden, reaching his nose with startling clarity.
"Is this what others always see?" Alex wondered in awe, inhaling air filled with natural scents. His hearing had improved significantly, allowing him to hear faint sounds that were previously unnoticed: the chirping of birds, the whisper of leaves in the breeze, and even the conversations of students approaching from afar.
As he strolled toward the university, every step he took seemed to echo louder than he expected. "These sounds... are they always this intense?" Alex reflected internally. Everything seemed clearer, but at the same time, it was hard for him to ignore the overwhelming amount of sensory information flowing in.
He stopped at the corner of the street and smiled to himself. "This is incredible! But... will I be able to control all of this?" He had a mixed feeling of joy and anxiety as his senses sometimes exceeded his ability to comprehend them.
As he continued walking, he remembered the challenges he had faced and became more excited to use his new abilities. "If these enhanced senses help me see things more clearly, maybe I can take advantage of them in facing upcoming difficulties."
He felt as if he was experiencing an entirely new world, with everything around him brighter and clearer. "These abilities might be more useful than I imagined. But I need to learn how to manage them better."
Entering the university campus, Alex looked forward to the day with a new sense of optimism and challenge. He knew that these abilities would bring new opportunities and challenges, but he was ready to face them with a positive anxiety and a passion for discovering his new potential.
As Alex entered the university department, he expected the day to go smoothly thanks to his new abilities. However, as soon as he reached the classroom, he froze in place when he noticed Tom and his friends sitting at the back of the room. His gaze locked onto Tom, remembering the burning anger in his eyes and the violent fight he had with them.
Tom had visible bruises and swelling on his face; his left eye was swollen and blue, and his cheeks were inflamed, making his face look like it had taken a heavy blow. Tom's friends were not in a better state; their faces were covered in scratches and swelling. One of them had a noticeable scratch on his right side, while another had a swollen upper lip. Their eyes were filled with fear, and they avoided looking directly at Alex.
Suddenly, Tom stood up from his seat, his steps heavy and quick as he moved towards Alex, his eyes blazing with anger. "Alex, do you think you can get away from me that easily?" Tom shouted, clearly intent on confrontation.
Alex felt a surge of tension, Tom's glare only increasing his anxiety. His heart was racing, and his fingers were clenched, ready for a fight. "Tom, have you forgotten what happened?" Alex replied, his voice filled with worry and tension. "If you want a fight, I'm ready."
The atmosphere between them was charged with tension, both Tom and Alex staring at each other defiantly, as if they were about to pounce on one another. The room was almost silent, except for the anxious whispers and the rising tension.
But before the situation could escalate into a direct confrontation, the professor entered the classroom. Immediately, Tom stepped back, the look of menace in his eyes not fading, but he retreated to his seat. He whispered in a threatening voice, "This time, I'll let you go, but don't think this is over."
Alex, with the professor's entrance and the start of the lesson, couldn't hide his feeling of unease. Even though the direct conflict had been postponed, he remained prepared for any upcoming challenges and now had to focus on how to handle the tense situation surrounding him.
Alex sat down and was surprised to find himself next to Simon in class. He noticed Simon looking at him with obvious gratitude, but at the same time, he seemed uneasy. After a moment of silence, Simon said in a soft but emotional voice, "Thank you for what you did yesterday. I didn't know how to repay you. I'm sorry I didn't thank you enough."
Alex smiled gently and replied, "There's no need for that, Simon. We're friends, and that's what friends do for each other."
Simon nodded and said, "But I feel like I've caused you problems. I thought I brought you a lot of trouble with the bullies. Are you sure you're okay?"
Alex reassured him, saying, "I'm fine, no need to worry. I've faced bigger challenges than this. And you weren't the cause of any problem. We all go through tough times; that's life."
Simon nodded, but he remained burdened with worry. "I know, but I feel like I've been a burden on you. I don't want to be a burden. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Alex replied sincerely, "Simon, your presence here and your support mean a lot to me. If you want to help, the best thing you can do is be a friend. Let's work together and get through these tough times together."
Simon smiled, his eyes full of gratitude, "I'm very grateful to you, Alex. I didn't have anyone to rely on, but now I feel like I have a true friend."
Alex took a deep breath and said, "I'm glad we're helping each other. Everything will be fine. Let's focus on making our days better."
Simon responded enthusiastically, "Agreed... but by the way, where are your glasses?"
to be continued....