In the year 2237, humanity had finally achieved its dream of becoming a spacefaring civilization. The stars were no longer out of reach. Massive space stations orbited distant planets, colossal ships ferried goods across light-years, and explorers mapped the galactic frontier.
Unfortunately for Elric Vale, none of that mattered.
Elric was a technician aboard the cargo ship Ardent Horizon, a vessel so nondescript it practically faded into the void. His job consisted of patching up minor electrical faults, running diagnostics, and making sure the ship didn't spontaneously combust during warp jumps. It wasn't glamorous, but it kept him fed—barely.
"Another day, another credit," Elric muttered, slouching in his tiny workstation. His fingers idly flicked through his tablet's interface, sorting through maintenance logs. The ship's artificial gravity thrummed faintly in the background, a constant reminder of how far he was from the surface of any planet.
That's when it happened.
Ping!
A soft chime echoed in his mind, startling him so badly he dropped the tablet.
"What the—?" Elric's eyes darted around the cramped room, his heart racing. The ping wasn't from his tablet or the ship's system. It was... inside his head.
[Initializing system... Complete.]
[Welcome, Elric Vale. You have been selected as the sole user of the Universal Progression Interface (UPI).]
"What the hell is a 'Universal Progression Interface'?" he whispered, cautiously tapping the side of his head as if that would dislodge the voice.
[The UPI is a comprehensive system designed to assist you in personal growth, skill acquisition, and achieving your ultimate potential. Please note: the UPI is exclusive to you and operates independently of external networks.]
"Great. I've gone crazy," Elric groaned, massaging his temples. "I knew spending months out here in deep space would do it."
[Your mental faculties are intact. Shall we proceed with the tutorial?]
He blinked. The words weren't just audible; they floated in his vision, as though projected onto the air before him. Hesitant but curious, he muttered, "Sure. Why not?"
[Basic Functions Unlocked:
Status: View your current stats and attributes.
Quests: Track goals and challenges.
Inventory: Store non-organic items.
Skills: Access and develop unique abilities.
Shop: Exchange Universal Credits for items or upgrades.
]
"Wait a second," Elric said, holding up his hand. "You're telling me I have a... system? Like in those old RPGs?"
[Correct. Your growth potential will now be exponentially faster. As a starting bonus, your Status has been automatically adjusted to match baseline human standards.]
"Adjusted? What was wrong with it before?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
[Displaying Status.]
Name: Elric Vale
Level: 1
Strength: 3 (Baseline: 10)
Dexterity: 4 (Baseline: 10)
Endurance: 2 (Baseline: 10)
Intelligence: 12 (Baseline: 10)
Charisma: 6 (Baseline: 10)
Luck: 1 (Baseline: 10)
Elric stared at the floating numbers. His jaw dropped. "You're telling me I've been walking around with these stats? No wonder I get winded climbing a ladder!"
[Baseline adjustments complete. Temporary Quest Activated: 'Prove Your Worth.' Objective: Lift 10 kilograms repeatedly for 10 minutes. Reward: +2 Strength, 1 Skill Point.]
"Lifting weights? That's it?" He shook his head. "Fine, I'll bite."
He grabbed a nearby toolkit—roughly 15 kilograms—and began hefting it up and down. At first, it was embarrassingly difficult. His arms shook, and sweat poured down his forehead. But as he pushed through, a strange sensation filled him, like a warm current flowing through his veins.
[Quest Complete! Reward Issued.]
[Strength: 5]
[Skill Point Acquired.]
Elric gasped, dropping the toolkit. His arms felt... stronger. The improvement was slight but noticeable. He clenched his fists, marveling at the newfound energy in his limbs. "This is real. This is actually real!"
[New Quest Unlocked: 'Enhance Your Skills.' Objective: Spend 1 Skill Point in the Skills menu. Reward: Unlock a Basic Ability.]
"Skills, huh?" Elric said, a grin spreading across his face. He mentally selected the menu. A list appeared before him, showcasing categories like Combat, Engineering, and Piloting. His eyes lit up when he saw one labeled System Manipulation.
Without hesitation, he spent the point.
[Basic Skill Unlocked: Efficiency Boost I. Description: Increases work speed and accuracy by 20%. Duration: 1 hour. Cooldown: 2 hours.]
"Now that's what I'm talking about," Elric said, the possibilities racing through his mind. If he played his cards right, this system could be his ticket off the Ardent Horizon. No more cramped quarters, no more pitiful wages, no more being overlooked.
For the first time in years, Elric felt the spark of ambition. He wasn't just a nameless technician anymore. He was about to make his mark on the stars.
And it all started with a single ping.