Zane was itching to do something that didn't feel like a chore. Errands were fine for earning XP, but they weren't exactly thrilling. If this system was meant to make him stronger, then it needed to challenge him.
He called up the system menu, hoping for something more exciting.
[New Quest Generated]
Quest: Eliminate the Wild Crawler Nest
Objective: Locate and destroy the mana beast nest in the abandoned warehouse. Reward: 200 XP
Zane stared at the screen, his heartbeat quickening. Wild Crawlers were small, aggressive mana beasts that could overwhelm an unprepared fighter. This wasn't some casual errand—this was dangerous.
"Finally," he muttered, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling up. He'd wanted something real, and now he had it.
The abandoned warehouse was on the edge of town, a looming structure that seemed to breathe unease. As Zane approached, he spotted the telltale signs of mana beast activity—scratches on the walls, faint glowing claw marks on the ground, and the eerie hum of latent mana in the air.
He swallowed hard. "Alright, let's do this."
His heart pounded as he stepped inside. The warehouse was dark and stifling, shafts of light cutting through the broken windows above. Somewhere in the shadows, he could hear the clicking sounds of the Crawlers skittering about.
Zane grabbed a metal pipe from the ground, testing its weight. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
[New Sub-Quest Generated]
Objective: Survive the Wild Crawler ambush. Reward: 50 XP
"Oh, great," Zane muttered, gripping the pipe tightly.
The first Crawler lunged from the darkness, its spindly legs and glowing red eyes giving it a nightmarish appearance. Zane swung the pipe with all his strength, smashing the beast into a wall. It screeched and went limp.
[XP Gained: 20]
The system's chime gave him a small boost of confidence, but the noise had drawn more Crawlers. A swarm emerged from the shadows, their sharp legs tapping against the concrete floor.
"Okay, maybe I bit off more than I can chew," Zane muttered, backing up.
For the next few minutes, it was chaos. Zane dodged and swung, adrenaline and sheer determination keeping him alive. The Crawlers were relentless, but they weren't invincible. One by one, they fell, their glowing eyes dimming as the system counted his kills.
[XP Gained: 20]
[XP Gained: 15]
[XP Gained: 30]
Eventually, the skittering stopped. Zane leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. His clothes were torn, and his arms ached, but he'd done it.
[Sub-Quest Complete]
XP Gained: 50
He opened the system menu to check his progress.
[Level: 3]
[XP: 265/300]
"Almost there," he said, forcing himself to stand.
The nest was tucked in the far corner of the warehouse, a pulsating mound of organic material that reeked of decay. Zane grimaced as he approached, smashing it with the pipe until it was nothing but a pile of sludge.
[Quest Complete]
XP Gained: 200
A familiar surge of energy coursed through him as the system's chime echoed in his mind.
[Level Up!]
Zane quickly checked his stats.
[Level: 4]
[XP: 165/400]
[Attribute Points Available: 2]
Without hesitation, he allocated one point to Agility and the other to Strength.
[Current Attributes:]
Strength: 6
Agility: 6
Charisma: 5
Intelligence: 6
Mana: 0
On his way out, Zane's phone buzzed. It was a message from Liam.
Liam: Yo, you free? Me and Mia are hanging out at the usual spot.
Zane smiled. He was exhausted, but he wasn't going to turn down a chance to catch up with his friends. Besides, he had a feeling he'd need their help sooner or later.
"On my way," he replied, stepping into the fading sunlight. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was finally moving forward.
Zane walked through the busy streets, his mind still buzzing from the fight in the warehouse. The rhythmic chatter of pedestrians and the occasional honk of car horns grounded him, but his body was sore, and his thoughts raced.
He couldn't help but replay the battle in his head. It wasn't perfect, but it had been real. For the first time, he'd faced actual danger, and the system had proven to be more than just a gimmick. But as much as he wanted to dive into his next quest, he knew he needed a break.
The familiar sight of the corner café came into view. Nestled between two larger buildings, its retro sign flickered faintly in the dusk. This was their spot, where Zane, Liam, and Mia had spent countless afternoons, nursing overpriced drinks and overthinking life.
Zane pushed open the door, the scent of coffee and pastries greeting him like an old friend.
"Finally!" Liam's voice boomed from the far table, where he was sprawled out with his usual energy drink in hand. His blond hair was messy, and his sneakers were propped on the edge of the table, earning him glares from the barista.
Mia sat across from him, her dark hair pulled into a loose braid. She was sketching in her notebook, the tip of her pencil flying across the page.
"Look who decided to show up," she teased without looking up.
Zane slid into the seat beside her. "I had a thing."
"A thing?" Liam arched a brow. "You? Doing something interesting? Must've been a first."
Zane smirked, leaning back. "If you must know, I was clearing out a Wild Crawler nest."
That got their attention. Mia paused mid-sketch, her wide eyes snapping to his. "Wait, like, real mana beasts?"
"Yeah," Zane said, trying to sound casual. "Warehouse on the edge of town. Took out the nest. No big deal."
Liam whistled. "No big deal? Dude, Wild Crawlers aren't exactly pushovers. You sure you didn't, I don't know, hire someone else to do it for you?"
"Pretty sure it was all me," Zane said, grinning.
Mia frowned. "You're not even awakened yet. How'd you pull that off?"
"I got lucky," Zane lied smoothly. The system wasn't something he was ready to share. Not yet. "Turns out I'm scrappier than I thought."
The conversation shifted after that, moving to lighter topics. Liam launched into a story about his failed attempt to enchant a lamp in class, while Mia doodled caricatures of the two of them, complete with exaggerated features and ridiculous captions.
But as much as Zane laughed along, he couldn't shake the questions gnawing at the back of his mind. Why had the system chosen him? And why now?
"Hey," Mia's voice broke through his thoughts. She was looking at him closely, her pencil now idle. "You okay? You've been quiet."
"Yeah," Zane said quickly. "Just tired, I guess."
"Well, don't push yourself too hard," she said, her tone gentle. "The aptitude test is coming up soon, remember?"
He nodded. Of course, he remembered. The test was the reason his old self had ended up at college instead of a magic academy. He wouldn't mess it up this time.
As the evening wore on, they left the café and wandered the streets together. The city lights glimmered overhead, and the faint hum of mana generators buzzed in the background.
"Think you'll make it into an academy?" Liam asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
Zane didn't hesitate. "I'll make it."
Liam grinned. "That's what I like to hear. You better drag me along when you're famous, though."
Mia rolled her eyes. "Zane's not the type to get a big head. Right?"
"Right," Zane said with a laugh. But inside, he felt the weight of his determination. He wasn't just aiming for an academy—he was aiming for the top.
As they parted ways for the night, Zane glanced at the system menu. His XP bar flickered in his mind's eye.
[Level: 4]
[XP: 165/400]
He smiled faintly. Tomorrow, he'd grind harder. He didn't have time to waste.