I jolted awake, blinking in the darkness, my eyes struggling to adjust. The room was pitch black, except for the faint glow of streetlights slipping in through the blinds, casting long, ghostly shadows. A quick glance at the clock told me it was past midnight. I was wide awake, my mind buzzing with thoughts that wouldn't let me rest.
For hours, I'd been lying here, tossing and turning, trying to make sense of this strange new reality. My new body, this mysterious system, this whole second life… It was overwhelming. But right now, I needed a break from the confusion, just a little distance from all the negativity.
I finally gave up on the idea of sleep. Quietly, I climbed out of bed, careful not to make a sound as I grabbed my jacket and pulled on a pair of jeans. I tiptoed out of my room, down the hallway, and slipped out the front door, not wanting to wake Debbie or Jenny. They were both probably fast asleep, completely unaware that I was sneaking out for a midnight stroll.
Outside, the cool night air hit me, refreshing and grounding. I took a deep breath, letting it clear some of the fog from my mind. The streets were silent and empty, and the quiet was comforting. My footsteps echoed softly on the sidewalk as I walked, not really heading anywhere in particular, just letting my thoughts unwind as I moved.
Eventually, I found myself at a small park. It was deserted, silent except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. A few streetlights cast a dim glow over the benches and pathways, making the place feel almost surreal. I sat down on a bench, sighing as I sank into the seat, taking in the quiet beauty around me.
After a few minutes, my curiosity about this system got the better of me. If this thing was going to be a part of my life now, I might as well learn how to use it, right? I tried various hand signs, even whispered a few commands, but nothing seemed to work. Frustrated, I thought, How do I even activate this thing?
And then, without warning, the system interface flickered to life before me.
System
- Stats
- Quest
- Items
- Affection
A familiar blue screen floated in front of me, casting a faint glow in the dark. I blinked, startled but intrigued, as notifications began to pop up.
Daily Quest Completed!
Reward: 50 XP
I watched as my XP bar filled up, and then a message flashed across the screen:
Congratulations! Level Up: You are now Level 2!
Another alert appeared, scrolling down with a tutorial explaining the basics of leveling up, quests, and abilities. I skimmed through it quickly, eager to understand more. Each level earned me unassigned stat points? That was something I could work with.
And then I noticed the Affection tab. Curiosity piqued, I opened it, and an explanation popped up. Apparently, the affection scale ranged from -100 to 100: zero was neutral, 100 meant soulmates, and -100 meant sworn enemies. There were intervals too—10, 20, 30, and so on—detailing different relationship stages. I realized that my interactions with Debbie and Jenny had already changed their affection levels. Debbie's had increased a little, while Jenny's had decreased, moving from -15 to -10.
But it wasn't just them. Even the elderly receptionist, Roz, had an affection level. I almost laughed. Is this… a dating sim? The idea seemed ridiculous, but here it was, plain as day.
Finally, I navigated to the stats page, where I had three unassigned points. I debated a bit before allocating one point to Strength and two to Vitality. As the changes took effect, I felt a surge of warmth through my body. My muscles felt a bit stronger, my breathing a bit deeper and steadier. It wasn't a drastic change, but it was enough to remind me that I was alive, that I was… here.
I sighed, closing the interface and leaning back on the bench. I didn't fully understand what was happening, but one thing was clear: this system could make my life better. And who wouldn't want that? The thought of having real power, of facing whatever this world threw at me, filled me with a strange mixture of excitement and fear.
Lost in my thoughts, I nearly missed the low growl echoing nearby. A chill ran down my spine as I straightened, my senses on high alert, squinting into the shadows. There, emerging from the darkness, was a figure. And it wasn't human.
The creature was tall, with dark, leathery skin stretched tightly over a skeletal frame. Its eyes glowed red, and as it grinned, rows of jagged teeth gleamed. The sight was grotesque, and it was staring right at me.
"What the…?" I whispered, instinctively stepping back, ready to run.
The creature let out another growl and began stalking toward me, eyes gleaming with a predatory hunger. My heart pounded as I took another step back, then another. I didn't know what it was, but I knew enough to recognize that I needed to get the hell out of here.
Without another thought, I turned and sprinted down the path, my footsteps pounding against the ground. The creature's heavy footfalls followed, relentless. I wove through side streets, ducked behind trees, did everything I could to throw it off my trail. Finally, after a few tense minutes, I managed to lose it, ducking into a dark alley to catch my breath.
Just as I thought I was safe, the system chimed.
New Quest: Defeat the Stray Demon
Bonus Objective: Complete within 30 minutes
Reward: 500 XP, 5 Stat Points, Mystery Box
Penalty: Lose 1 stat point in each category if failed, and risk a fatal encounter with the demon.
"Are you kidding me?" I muttered. Defeat the demon? I barely knew how to throw a punch. My first instinct was to decline the quest, but the reward tempted me: 500 XP, 5 stat points, and a mystery box. That kind of growth was too good to pass up.
After a long pause, I accepted the quest. I didn't have a plan, but I figured I'd come up with one. "Alright, Leon," I muttered. "Let's do this."
A strategy started to form in my mind. The demon was strong, but it was slow. Maybe I could use the environment to my advantage.
I made my way back to the park, searching for the creature. The streetlights cast eerie shadows across the ground, making the whole place feel like something out of a horror movie. And then I spotted it, pacing near the fountain. Its back was turned, so I carefully scraped my shoe against the gravel to get its attention.
Its head whipped around, and it snarled when it saw me. I backed up, slowly luring it toward a streetlamp. When it was close enough, I dodged to the side, letting it swing a heavy fist at the post. The metal shuddered, and I saw a few sparks fly from the impact.
It worked, but I needed something stronger.
I sprinted toward the fountain, leaping over the low wall and landing on the other side. The demon splashed into the water after me, slowing down as it waded through. An idea struck me. I grabbed a rock and chucked it at a nearby streetlamp, aiming for one of the frayed wires. With a lucky shot, the wire snapped loose, sparking as it hit the water.
Electricity surged through the fountain, and the demon let out a blood-curdling howl, thrashing as the current shocked it. Its growls turned to whimpers, and finally, after a few agonizing moments, it collapsed, steam rising from the water around it.
Ding! Quest Completed
Reward: 1000 XP, 5 Stat Points, Mystery Box
Level up 2 – Lv.4
10 stats points
A rush of energy filled me as I leveled up again, feeling stronger than before. In my hand appeared a small, decorated box—the mystery box from the quest. I pocketed it, grinning with satisfaction.
I glanced around, realizing the sky was starting to lighten. Dawn was breaking, and I didn't want to be caught here. Quickly, I headed home, moving as quietly and swiftly as possible.
Inside, I crept up the hallway and into my room, crawling back into bed like nothing had happened. My heart still raced with adrenaline, and I felt more alive than I had in ages.
As exhaustion finally washed over me, a small smile crept onto my face as I sleep. This world was strange and unpredictable, but for the first time, I felt ready for the next day.