Lying back on his bed, Lucas stared at the ceiling, the faint hum of the city filtering in through the cracked window. His body was tired, but his mind raced with thoughts about the tournament, his training, and the system that had turned his second chance at life into something extraordinary.
"Alright, system," he said aloud, his voice low but steady. "Let's talk."
The familiar translucent screen materialized in front of him, glowing softly in the dim light of his room. The system's voice, calm and measured, echoed in his mind.
"[How may I assist you, Lucas Turner?]"
Lucas propped himself up on one elbow, staring at the interface. "I've been thinking about something. Can I improve my attributes on my own, or do I have to rely on quests for that?"
The system paused briefly, as if considering his question. "[Your attributes can improve through consistent, focused training. Quests are designed to provide structured, accelerated progress, but they are not the only path to development. For example, regular shooting drills will gradually improve your shooting-related attributes, just as endurance training will increase your stamina.]"
Lucas felt a wave of relief. He didn't want to rely solely on quests. The idea of putting in the work himself, of earning his improvements through sweat and grit, made this second chance feel even more meaningful.
"But what about badges?" he asked. "Can I level up a skill area, like Catch & Shoot, just by practicing?"
"[Badges function differently. To progress in a specific skill area governed by a badge, you must first unlock it at the Bronze level. Once unlocked, focused practice will allow you to improve the badge from Bronze to Silver, Gold, and ultimately Hall of Fame. However, without the badge, progress in that skill area will remain limited.]"
Lucas mulled over the explanation. It made sense. He had to unlock the foundation of a skill before he could build on it. The Bronze Catch & Shoot badge he'd earned earlier was already helping his shooting game, and he could feel the potential to make it even better.
"So, no badge, no progress in that specific skill?"
"[Correct. However, foundational attributes like ballhandling, defense, and stamina are not tied to badges and can be improved freely through training.]"
He paused, narrowing his eyes slightly. "What about getting badges to Hall of Fame? Can I just train them all the way up, or is there something extra involved?"
The system responded immediately. "[To elevate a badge to the Hall of Fame level, you must complete a specific advanced quest tailored to that skill. This ensures that the highest level of mastery is only achieved through both practice and proven application.]"
Lucas nodded slowly, feeling the weight of the system's answer. "Alright, so I can grind my way to Silver and Gold, but Hall of Fame takes something extra. I guess that makes sense."
"[Correct. Hall of Fame badges reflect excellence demonstrated through both dedication and performance in challenging circumstances.]"
Lucas leaned back into his pillow, the explanation settling into place. It felt fair—he couldn't just cruise to greatness; he'd have to earn it, one badge and one challenge at a time.
"Alright," he said, letting out a breath. "That's fair. Thanks for explaining."
The system's screen shifted slightly, displaying his updated stats.
Physical Attributes:
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
Weight: 102 lbs (46 kg)
Strength: 25/100
Agility: 30/100
Stamina: 37/100
Vertical Jump: 25/100
Basketball Attributes:
Ballhandling: 30/100
Passing: 35/100
Defense: 20/100
Steal: 25/100
Block: 15/100
Rebounding: 20/100
Post Defense: 15/100
Perimeter Defense: 25/100
Shooting:
Free Throw: 45/100
Midrange Shot: 32/100
Layup: 41/100
Dunk: 0/100
3-Point Shot: 25/100
Shooting off the Dribble: 30/100
Badges:
Bronze Catch & Shoot
Lucas studied the numbers carefully. They weren't great yet, but there was progress—tiny steps toward the player he wanted to become. The Catch & Shoot badge was his ace for the tournament, but he'd need to grind hard to ensure the rest of his game was sharp enough to compete.
"So, to unlock a new badge, I need a lottery ticket or complete a quest, right?"
"[Correct. New badges can be unlocked through rewards such as lottery tickets, milestone achievements, or specific quests.]"
Lucas smirked, thinking of the possibilities. He already had ideas for what badges he wanted next, but first, he needed to focus on leveling up the one he had.
"Alright, system," he said, closing the interface. "We'll make this work."
Rolling onto his back, Lucas let his eyes drift closed. The soreness in his muscles was a reminder of the work he'd done, and the faint glow of the streetlights outside his window lulled him into a calm state.
"System, I have another question," Lucas said, his voice cutting through the quiet of his room. The translucent screen flickered into view once more. "Can I unlock badges at a higher level, like Silver or Gold, right from the start? Or do I always have to start at Bronze?"
The system's voice responded promptly, "[Badges must always be unlocked at the Bronze level initially. Progressing to Silver, Gold, or Hall of Fame requires focused practice and demonstrated application of the skill. Higher-level badges cannot be earned outright, ensuring that mastery is achieved through dedication and effort.]" Lucas nodded, letting the answer sink in. "Alright, so no shortcuts. Makes sense," he muttered, closing the interface and settling deeper into his pillow.
With the tournament looming and his path laid out before him, Lucas whispered to himself, "One step at a time."