Steven's room was dimly lit, the glow of his desk lamp barely keeping the shadows at bay. The chemistry textbook on his desk lay open, its pages dotted with hastily scribbled notes. Steven leaned back in his chair, his eyes half-closed. The thrill of unlocking skill after skill had kept him awake far longer than he intended.
[Reading History Book. Skill Unlocked: Basic History Understanding (Intermediate Level) Proficiency +1. Current Progress: 25/100.]
[Reading Biology Book. Skill Unlocked: Basic Biology Understanding (Intermediate Level) Proficiency +1. Current Progress: 30/100.]
Steven sighed, closing the latest textbook. He rubbed his temples, feeling the toll of hours of study. "Even this system can't fix exhaustion," he muttered.
The voice of the system responded, calm and authoritative as ever:
[The system is improving the knowledge and understanding of the host, which leads to exponential energy consumption. Exhaustion is natural. Sleep of four to five hours will rejuvenate the host.]
Steven didn't argue. He crawled into bed, his body heavy with fatigue. As his eyes closed, his last thought was one of excitement. "What's next?"
Steven woke up to the soft orange glow of dawn filtering through his curtains. For a moment, he lay still, letting the warmth of the sunlight wash over him.
Something was different. His body felt light, brimming with energy as if he'd slept for an entire week instead of just a few hours.
He sat up, stretching. His muscles felt taut and strong, and his mind was sharp, more focused than ever before.
"This… feels amazing," he said to himself. Without thinking, he dropped to the floor and started doing push-ups.
[Doing Push-Ups. Strength +0.2. Upper Body Strength +0.5.]
[Doing Squats. Strength +0.2. Lower Body Strength +0.5.]
[Doing Curl-Ups. Strength +0.2. Core Strength +0.5.]
Steven paused, blinking at the notifications flashing in his mind. "Even exercise gives me rewards?"
Curious and excited, he pushed himself further. He jogged to the community park, feeling his muscles coil and uncoil like springs. There, he practiced footwork drills and threw punches and kicks against the air, mimicking boxing moves he'd seen on TV.
[Running. Stamina +1.]
[Practicing Boxing. Combat +1.]
[Doing Punches. Arm Strength +1.]
[Doing Kicks. Leg Strength +1.]
[Practicing Footwork. Agility +1.]
By the time Steven finished, his body felt even more revitalized. He'd done 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 50 crunches, a 10-kilometer run, 100 punches, 100 kicks, and thirty minutes of fast-paced footwork.
As he returned home, he took a cold, refreshing shower.
[Taking Refreshing Bath. Charisma +0.2.]
Steven laughed aloud. "Even this counts? This system is insane."
After getting dressed, Steven headed downstairs. It was still early, the sun barely climbing over the horizon. His parents, Morris and Natellie, were still asleep. The small dining shop beneath their house, Heavenly Dine, wouldn't open for hours.
Steven found himself in the kitchen, his mind buzzing with curiosity. "If this system can help me with academics and fitness, what about cooking?"
Without hesitation, he decided to prepare something simple: soup and noodles.
He filled a large pot with water, setting it to boil. The rhythmic bubbling was soothing as he began chopping vegetables—carrots, corn, peas, beans, and capsicum.
[Preparing Soup. Skill Unlocked: Basic Cooking (Intermediate Proficiency 23/100).]
[System Guidance Activating.]
It was as if a master chef had possessed him. Every motion felt precise, intuitive. Steven's hands moved with a confidence he hadn't known he possessed, slicing vegetables into perfect, even pieces.
[Cutting Vegetables. Skill Unlocked: Knife Handling (Intermediate Proficiency 11/100).]
[Boiling Vegetables. Skill Unlocked: Temperature Control (Intermediate Proficiency 13/100).]
[Deboning Chicken. Skill Unlocked: Deboning (Intermediate Proficiency 11/100).]
Steven followed the system's subtle guidance, adjusting the heat at just the right moments and seasoning the broth with pepper, garlic, ginger, and a splash of lime juice. The aroma wafting from the pot was intoxicating, filling the entire kitchen with a tantalizing scent.
He added half-boiled noodles, letting them absorb the rich flavors of the broth, then stir-fried some meat, mushrooms, and additional vegetables for toppings. By the time he plated the dishes, the kitchen was alive with the vibrant colors and mouthwatering smells of a chef's artistry.
The sound of chopping and the irresistible aroma drew Morris and Natellie from their sleep. They entered the kitchen, their expressions curious.
"Steven, are you cooking?" Natellie asked, her tone a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
Steven nodded, setting three steaming bowls of soup and noodles on the table. "I thought I'd try something new."
His parents sat down and exchanged skeptical glances. The first sip of the broth, however, silenced any doubts.
"This… is incredible," Natellie said, her eyes wide.
Morris, a former head chef whose passion for cooking had dimmed after the family's fall from grace, was equally stunned. He took another spoonful, savoring the balance of flavors—the heat of the pepper, the zing of lime, and the sweetness of the corn and peas.
When they tasted the noodles, the experience deepened. The broth had seeped into the noodles, infusing them with flavor, while the toppings added texture and richness. The meat chunks were tender and juicy, the vegetables crisp and vibrant.
Morris set his bowl down, his voice hushed. "This… is even better than what I used to make in the city."
Steven smiled to himself. The system truly was divine.
"Steven, how did you make this?" Natellie asked, her gaze sharp with curiosity.
Steven shrugged, keeping his explanation vague. "I just tried changing a few things."
He demonstrated the process step by step, making another pot of soup. His parents followed his lead, mimicking the technique with their own hands. The results were the same—flawless.
Natellie's expression turned thoughtful. "This could really change things for us."
Morris nodded, his excitement growing. "We should prepare a few more pots before opening the shop. This recipe… it's going to bring people back."
Steven looked at his parents, their faces alight with hope and determination, and felt a surge of pride. This was just the beginning.