On planet Earth…
Ding!
[Congratulations! You have attained a new passive skill "Infinite Regeneration."]
The sound of the system notification echoed in my head, pulling me from the depths of my unconsciousness. My eyes snapped open, and I found myself staring up at the familiar ceiling of my bedroom, the soft glow of morning light filtering through the blinds. My heart raced as I sat up, my mind struggling to process what had just happened.
What's going on? How am I still alive? Wasn't I... dead? My thoughts churned in confusion as I took in my surroundings, everything exactly as it was before. But it wasn't just the room that unsettled me. It was the memories—vivid and brutal, burned into my brain like a brand. The pain the aliens inflicted on me earlier... It felt too real to dismiss it as a dream.
Even now… I could still feel it—the searing agony from the moment those aliens tore me apart, their cold, unfeeling eyes watching as my body cut open. A shiver ran down my spine, and I found myself instinctively clutching at my chest, half-expecting to feel some sort of wound. But there was nothing. No blood, no scars. Just the rhythmic thumping of my heart beneath my skin, alive and well.
Impossible... I'm sure I had died. Every nerve in my body had screamed with pain before everything went dark. There was no way any of it could have been a dream. Was there?
Just as I started questioning my sanity, something caught my attention. A soft glow flickered at the edge of my vision. I blinked, and suddenly, a holographic screen materialized before me, floating in midair like something straight out of a video game.
"Huh? What is this?" I muttered, reaching out cautiously, my fingers passing through the hologram screen. It flickered slightly but remained in place, displaying text in bold letters:
[Congratulations on awakening!]
A system? Like... one of those game systems in LitRPG novels I used to read? My mind raced, struggling to make sense of the situation. I had read countless stories about this—main characters waking up with superpowers, abilities, or systems that granted them god-like power. But those were just stories. Fictions. Yet here it was, right in front of me.
No. This can't be real... right?
I closed and rubbed my eyes, convinced that fatigue or some kind of delusion was playing tricks on me. But when I opened them again, the hologram screen was still here, as clear as day. My heart pounded in my chest as a strange mix of excitement and fear washed over me. If this was real, then... what does it mean?
SLAP!
Without thinking, I slapped myself on my right cheek—hard. The sharp sting exploded across my face, and I winced, holding my jaw as I grimaced. Pain. Real, undeniable pain.
"Damn it," I rubbed my cheek, feeling the sting from the slap. "Okay... this is definitely real, so I'm not dreaming after all."
Holy shit! My mind swirled with possibilities. If the pain was real, then everything else must be, too. But how? How did I survive? And why is this system—this strange game-like interface—suddenly part of my life? The questions came fast, one after another, each more confusing than the last. There was no logical explanation for any of this, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something beyond my understanding was happening.
As I stared at the hologram screen, a new thought crossed my mind. If this is like a game system... does that mean I have abilities now? Powers? The notification mentioned something about a skill—what was it again?
I glanced back at the message.
[Infinite Regeneration: You possess an extraordinary ability to heal from any injury or wound, regardless of its severity. Each time you heal, your regenerative powers not only restore you to full health but also enhance your physical capabilities, making you progressively stronger with each recovery.]
My brows furrowed. "Making you progressively stronger with each recovery?" What the hell does that even mean? Wait, are you saying I could... grow stronger without limits?
I flexed my hands experimentally, feeling a strange surge of energy coursing through my veins. There was no visible change yet, but deep down, something had definitely shifted. I could feel it—a raw, untapped power waiting to be unleashed.
If this was real, then maybe... just maybe, I could use it to my advantage.
Hold on… Why do I feel like I'm forgetting something? After giving it some thought, I finally remembered what I wanted to do.
"Status Window!" I said.
Name: Sol Gaseo
Title: Beginner Player
Race: Human
Class: None
Level: 1
HP: 100
MP: 50
Strength: 10
Agility: 5
Magic Power: 5
[Skills:]
Infinite Regeneration (Passive Skill)
Out of nowhere, while I was viewing my status window, a new notification suddenly appeared:
[Infinite Regeneration: Daily Quest Activated!]
[Daily Quest: 1 Push-up, 1 Sit-up, 1 Squat, 1 High Jump, and 1 Meter Run.]
[Would you like to begin your Daily Quest now? Please choose 'Accept' to start or 'Decline' to postpone and do it later.]
Whoa, what the hell is this? I only have to do each exercise once? And just a one-meter run too? Damn, that looks easy as hell. Seriously, is this for real? But hold on—what's the reward for completing the Daily Quest, though?
Ding!
[Reward: Upon completion, you will gain STR +1 & AGI + 1]
I blinked, staring at the message. Wait, you're telling me I can increase my stat points just by doing these basic exercises? No complex quests, no dangerous dungeon raids, and no risking my life fighting monsters—just simple workouts? Holy shit! Damn son! Plus, I can do these exercises at home too.
"Hahaha! I don't know what's going on, but this is fucking awesome!" I exclaimed, excitedly.
GROWL!
Ah, crap! I'm so hungry… but I'll eat breakfast later. For now, let's finish this easy Daily Quest first. Without a second thought, I pressed the 'Accept' button on the hologram screen and started the daily quest immediately.
"Woohoo! Alright, let's get this done quickly so I can finally go and enjoy some breakfast!" I said to myself, enthusiasm replacing my hunger. With renewed determination, I set off to complete the daily quest as swiftly as possible.