The quiet hum of the dormitory's light fixtures filled the air as Jeff sat on his bed, staring at the glowing blue screen in front of him. The Status Window, his connection to the System, floated mid-air. Its ethereal presence reminded him of both his potential and his limitations.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Level 8," he muttered. "Two more levels to go."
The System was both a mystery and a burden. Unlike his classmates, whose abilities were immediately useful, his Weapon Manifestation remained frustratingly inert. Until he reached Level 10, he couldn't summon anything. Worse still, the System's restriction meant he couldn't wield any weapon or tool effectively. Whether it was a practice sword or a simple dagger, every item felt unnatural in his hands, dull and unresponsive.
"Status," he said aloud, and the translucent screen expanded, revealing the familiar details.
Status Window:
Name: Jeff Lorne
Class: None (Provisional)
Innate Ability: Weapon Manifestation (Inactive)
Level: 8
Experience: 67%
Attributes:
Strength: 15
Agility: 12
Endurance: 14
Intelligence: 10
Energy: 9
The screen flickered slightly as Jeff swiped through the menus. The Experience bar caught his eye. Every kill pushed it a little further, but the monsters around the academy grounds were becoming scarce. Students had already thinned the ranks of lesser creatures, and hunting anything stronger meant venturing into more dangerous territory—a risk Jeff couldn't take alone.
His eyes drifted to the Innate Ability section.
Weapon Manifestation: Inactive. Unlockable at Level 10.
Beneath it was a cryptic line of text: "Potential unknown. True form revealed upon awakening."
He groaned, leaning back against the wall. "Potential unknown, huh? What does that even mean?"
The weight of expectation bore down on him. Stories of the strongest hero with the same ability had painted Weapon Manifestation as a legendary gift. Yet here he was, powerless and unarmed. The irony wasn't lost on him.
Jeff tapped the screen, pulling up the Attribute Points section. Each level granted him three points to allocate, and so far, he had distributed them across Strength, Agility, and Endurance, focusing on physical growth.
"Maybe I should've put more into Intelligence or Energy," he mused. "What if my weapon turns out to be something magical?" But the thought felt alien to him. He had always imagined himself wielding something practical, like a sword or an axe.
He closed the Attributes tab and opened the Skills menu instead.
Skills:
General Combat Proficiency (Passive): Basic combat instincts.
Energy Sense (Passive): Detects nearby energy fluctuations.
Both were basic and unremarkable. The real skills, he knew, would only unlock once his weapon manifested. Without it, his progress felt stunted.
Jeff clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling over. "This exam... everyone's going to show off their abilities, and I'll just be standing there, useless."
The knock at his door startled him.
"Jeff? You in there?" Jessa's voice called out.
He waved his hand, dismissing the Status Window, and stood to open the door. Jessa, his closest friend at the academy, stepped in. Her confident demeanor contrasted sharply with his own uncertainty.
"Still brooding over your stats?" she teased, plopping down on his bed.
Jeff sighed. "What else can I do? I'm stuck at Level 8, and my ability's still inactive. This exam might as well be a public humiliation for me."
Jessa smirked, pulling up her own Status Window for him to see. "Level 11, baby. My energy manipulation skills are coming along nicely. But hey, you'll catch up soon enough."
"Easy for you to say," Jeff muttered. "At least you can actually use your ability."
She frowned, her teasing tone softening. "Look, I get it. Weapon Manifestation isn't easy to deal with, but you've got something special, Jeff. Once you hit Level 10, things will change. You'll see."
Her words were meant to reassure him, but Jeff couldn't shake the doubt. The exam loomed closer, and with it, the fear of failure.
"Let's go hunting tomorrow," Jessa suggested. "You're close to Level 9, right? We'll find something big and boost your experience."
Jeff hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. I need every point I can get."
As she left, Jeff reopened his Status Window, staring at the inactive ability that defined him. Somewhere inside him was the key to his potential. He just had to reach it.
"Two more levels," he whispered to himself, determination hardening in his eyes. "I'll get there."
The blue light of the Status Window faded as he closed it, leaving Jeff alone with his thoughts. The exam was coming, and with it, the chance to finally prove himself—not just to his classmates, but to himself.