The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was a pale, almost white ceiling fading into a cold light. The air was permeated with the unmistakable scent of disinfectant, and a strange, uncomfortable feeling tightened on my back, keeping me glued to the bed. The stabbing pain running through my head was acute, and for an instant I remembered the first day I came into this world, and a faint smile appeared on my lips.
I couldn't help but feel disconcerted by the situation. As my eyes adjusted, I realized I wasn't just anywhere. It wasn't an ordinary hospital. The environment was different, more specialized. A place of recovery, I thought, and instantly understood: I was in one of NOVA's facilities, one dedicated to caring for injuries.
But there was something else. In the midst of my disorientation, I noticed a translucent window in front of me, a notification waiting to be seen.
● [You have unread messages]
Without thinking, I responded with a slight command in my mind.
"Confirm."
A floating message appeared before my eyes, suspended in the air.
[Congratulations, you have left a deep impression on Sir Galahad. The system rewards you with a random talent ticket and 8000 points.]
My eyes immediately fell on the ticket. A random... talent. The reward was impressive, and excitement immediately ran through me. Talents were not just skills; they were the very foundation of power, and in this world, they were directly tied to growth. A talent not only enhanced your capabilities, but unleashed your full potential, being able to transform an ordinary person into a superman.
To put it simply: an S-class talent was not only meant to form a warrior of at least that class, but depending on their characteristics and skills, they could aspire to an even higher level. That's how important it was to have, or not, a talent in this world.
[The system informs you that you have unlocked new tasks. Please proceed quickly to the "Quests" section.]
My eyes quickly moved to the next message. New tasks... What the heck? Uncertainty settled back into my chest, but curiosity got the better of me. The quests weren't just a simple system requirement; they were opportunities, challenges, and probably, more rewards.
I quickly summoned the system in my mind.
●
The screen flashed for an instant, and a list of tasks was immediately displayed.
-『 Do 10 push-ups (incomplete) ( 0/10 )』
-『 Do 10 sit-ups (incomplete) ( 0/10 )』
-『 Do 10 squats (incomplete) ( 0/10 )』
...
...
-『 Run 5 kilometers (incomplete) (0/10) 』
...
At first, everything seemed reasonable. Small missions, maybe even easy to complete. But as I read on, the feeling of being about to be dragged into something much more sinister intensified. "What the...?!" I exclaimed, stunned. The tasks that followed seemed more and more absurd, even humiliating.
My mind, already tired, began to spin about what was to come. With the headache beginning to appear, I looked back at the missions.
...
...
-『Receive 10 declarations of love (incomplete) ( 0/10 )』
-『Get rejected by the ice queen (incomplete)』
-『Propose to the student council president (incomplete)』
...
...
-『Walk around NOVA facilities naked (incomplete)』
.
.
.
"Really?" I thought, letting out a slight nervous laugh. What kind of missions were these? Each one seemed more ridiculous than the last. My head was spinning, and everything was getting more and more absurd. I can accept that you want to test my physique, my will, and even my sanity, but my dignity? That's too much. What the hell were you playing at, you fucking system? Answer me!
[...]
Did I really have to do all this? No, I won't. I just can't.
[Warning: Failing the mission carries a system penalty]
Still, I couldn't do something so ridiculous.
Arggg!
An unbearable pain went through my head, as if an electric current was running through my entire body. It was so intense that I felt as if my body was about to fall apart.
Argh… a gasp came out of my mouth as I struggled to breathe.
"S… stop… ha…e!" I said with a superhuman effort to get those words out. The pain in my head made me tremble, and the pressure in my chest made it difficult for me to breathe.
I wanted to scream for everything to stop, but my efforts were useless, and the words barely formed.
"Stop, I will!" I repeated again, but the words broke in my throat, and all that came out was a desperate whisper. Every attempt to speak only intensified the pain, as if an invisible force was destroying everything in its path. Destroying every part of my soul. I felt more trapped, unable to breathe, as if the very air itself was being taken from me.
But just when I felt like I couldn't take it anymore, something changed. The pain slowly began to lessen. The pressure in my chest, which had previously been as oppressive as an iron chain, began to loosen, and a soft whisper of fresh air ran through my lungs. The relief was so sudden that I almost didn't believe it. My body was finally able to relax. However, I knew that it had only been possible because I had committed myself.
If I didn't, who knows what would have happened? Fear gripped me like a raging storm, my hands shook and anxiety symptoms began to invade me, but before I could lose control, something strange happened.
The fear, anxiety and all the emotions I had experienced disappeared. My breathing became calm, my body regained stability, and an inexplicable serenity took over my face. It was then that I realized: the feature had been activated, and with it, I managed to pull myself together.
But I was fed up. The system seemed to be playing with me and the worst of all was that I couldn't do anything to stop it.
"Haaah," I let out a sigh... and lay down for a while. After all, today is already lost.