Ned realized the implications of what he had just done. Most people wouldn't even recognize the gravity of it, but he did.
"Yes! YES! This is so good! I love you, Spectator talent!" he shouted inwardly, barely holding back a victorious laugh. It was as if the world had finally handed him a key to the locked doors of destiny.
He needed to see it again.
"Status window," he said, grinning like a madman.
Name: Ned Forester
Title: Banished Spectator
Talent: Spectator's Insight (???), Talaria (Rare)
Level: 0
---
### Attributes
- Strength: 4
- Agility: 6
- Endurance: 3
- Mana: 2
- Perception: 22
---
### Unique Skills
1. Reenact (Unlocked)
- Description: Mimics observed talents by replicating their mana flow and patterns. Success depends on the complexity of the talent, the user's mana control, and compatibility. Copied talents are temporary but can grow more efficient with practice.
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???
---
### Talents
Talent Name: Spectator's Insight (???, ???)
- Core Ability: Allows the user to observe the flow of mana and analyze its patterns in extraordinary detail. This heightened perception enables the recognition and understanding of complex skills, strategies, and talents.
Talent Name: Talaria (Rare, Physical)
- Effect: Enhances speed and agility by amplifying mana flow through the lower limbs.
- Compatibility: 85%
- Active Duration: 10 minutes (current mana reserves).
---
He couldn't stop staring at it. A door had opened, a light at the end of the tunnel of mediocrity. He could finally do something with his life. He could be a warrior, exploring the wilderness beyond the city's protective walls. He could become an adventurer and uncover the mysteries of the world—find answers to questions he'd always dreamed of asking.
The ideas were so thrilling that he didn't even notice his vision dimming. Before he could think about it further, his mana reserves depleted entirely. Ned's knees buckled, and he hit the floor.
His last thought before blacking out was, I'm happy.
---
When Ned opened his eyes, he was back in the white room. His trusty sofa and TV greeted him, the screen already flickering with new information.
The TV blipped, and Ned saw the Saw Guy again. Or at least, a version of him. This time, the figure on screen was younger, looking more like a mischievous kid than the cryptic, borderline-creepy man from before. The kid grinned, his teeth slightly crooked, and spoke in a high-pitched voice.
"Log 1!
Hey there, I'm Bond. James Bond. You might not believe it, but that's my name. My crazy dad wanted his son to be cool or something, so here we are. Anyway, I got this log machine as a gift from him—sick, right? Yup. I'll be journaling here alwaysssss. Let's go, Cooper! This is Cooper, my dog."
The boy held up a fluffy golden retriever puppy that wagged its tail furiously. Ned blinked, trying to process the absurdity.
The screen blipped again.
"Log 2!
Heyyya, it's my awakening day today! I'm so excited! I'll definitely awaken a great talent, right? RIGHT?!"
The kid's eyes sparkled with anticipation. Ned felt a twinge of sympathy, knowing that kind of excitement.
The scene shifted again.
"Log 3…
I did NOT awaken a good talent."
The boy's lip trembled, and tears welled in his eyes.
"I won't be able to be an adventurer…" he sniffled, his voice quivering.
Ned frowned. Poor kid.
Then the boy grinned suddenly, his tears vanishing as if they'd never existed.
"…is what you thought, right? Nah! I'm privileged, babe. I awakened a mythic-grade talent! The Shadow Sovereign! How about that? Did you think I'd be the cliche guy who gets a weak talent and grows strong? Nope! That's for losers! I'm OP from the startttt!"
Ned felt the insult strike home, as if the kid's words were personally tailored to him.
"What a brat," Ned muttered, glaring at the screen.
Over the following logs, Ned pieced together the details of the boy's world. It was eerily similar to his own, with talents, mana, and monsters. But it was different enough to confirm that it wasn't some lame time-loop scenario. Their world had ended—that much was clear.
One major difference stood out: the way they used mana. Instead of channeling it from their hearts, they stored it near their navels, calling it chi. This allowed for purer, more versatile mana manipulation through specialized techniques. It was fascinating but also unsettling. If their advanced methods couldn't save their world, what hope did his have?
The screen blipped again, and the familiar old man appeared. His face lit up in mock surprise.
"My child, I forgot to mention something important!"
He leaned closer to the screen, as if sharing a great secret.
"I didn't tell you how to get back here, did I? There's a button on your watch labeled 'Activate.' Press it and say the password: 'Let me in, big daddy.' That'll do it! But remember, the logs unlock based on your mana reserves. They're in HD, after all. Anyway, bye, uwu!"
Ned stared at the screen in abject horror.
"No way I'm ever saying that," he muttered. His cheeks burned at the thought. The old man's cheerfulness only made it worse.
The screen flickered, and Ned was back in the real world, lying on a bed. Reena was nearby, munching on an apple. It took him a moment to realize… that was his apple.
"Hey! That's mine!" Ned exclaimed, sitting up.
Reena looked at him, unbothered. "You were out cold. Food waits for no man."
Ned groaned, rubbing his temples.
"What happened to you anyway?" Reena asked, narrowing her eyes. "You ran like the wind earlier. How?"
Ned hesitated. Then, taking a deep breath, he said, "I had my first awakening. Got a… unique way to use mana."
Reena's jaw dropped. Then, without warning, she punched him in the stomach. Hard.
Ned doubled over, wheezing. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!"
"I'm happy for you," Reena said, beaming. "Also, don't keep secrets from me."
As Ned stumbled out of the infirmary, with Reena smugly leading the way, he felt a shadowy presence watching him from afar. He looked back and didn't see anyone. "Hmm, whatever" he thought.