He stared at his phone, the cracked screen showing yet another rejection email. Another job application denied. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since yesterday. Twenty-three years old, no job, no friends, and a mountain of student debt—life had been unkind to him. But then again, Noah never expected much from it.
"Figures," he muttered, stuffing the phone back into his pocket. "Even the universe hates me."
As if to prove him right, a sudden gust of wind tore the umbrella from his hand, sending it tumbling into the street. Noah groaned and stood up, trudging after it. That's when he saw it.
A faint glow emanated from the storm drain by the curb. At first, he thought it was just a trick of the light. But as he got closer, he realized it was real—a soft, pulsating blue light coming from below.
Curiosity tugged at him. What else did he have to lose? He crouched down and peered into the drain. Among the litter and rainwater was a small object, no bigger than a coin, glowing faintly. Without thinking, Noah reached in and plucked it out.
It was a smooth, circular stone, cool to the touch and inscribed with strange, intricate symbols. The glow intensified as he held it, casting an eerie light on his pale, rain-soaked face. For a moment, he felt a surge of warmth spread through his hand, up his arm, and into his chest. It was comforting. Invigorating.
And then it spoke.
"User detected. Synchronization commencing."
Noah stumbled back, dropping the stone in shock. "What the hell?!"
The voice wasn't coming from the stone. It was inside his head. Clear, calm, and completely alien.
"Welcome, Host. Initialization complete. Accessing system parameters."
"System? Host? What are you talking about?" Noah demanded, looking around to see if anyone else was witnessing this bizarre event. But the street was empty, save for the rain.
"You have been chosen as the new wielder of the Grindstone. Congratulations."
"Grindstone?" Noah looked down at the glowing object, now lying innocuously on the wet pavement. "What the hell is a Grindstone?"
The voice ignored his question. "Skill system activated. Initiating first quest: Complete ten push-ups. Reward: Beginner Status Upgrade."
Noah blinked. Was this some kind of joke? Was he hallucinating? His stomach growled again, reminding him that hunger and exhaustion could play tricks on the mind.
"Ten push-ups? Seriously?" he muttered.
"Failure to complete the quest within 24 hours will result in punishment."
"Punishment?" Noah's heart skipped a beat. The voice didn't elaborate, but something told him it wasn't bluffing.
Shaking his head, he dropped to the ground. The rain-soaked pavement was cold and uncomfortable, but he had bigger concerns. If doing push-ups would stop whatever punishment the mysterious voice had in store, he'd do them.
"Alright," he grunted, lowering himself into position. "Let's get this over with."
The first push-up was embarrassingly difficult. By the fifth, his arms were shaking. By the eighth, his chest felt like it was going to explode. Somehow, he managed to hit ten before collapsing onto his stomach, gasping for air.
"There," he wheezed. "Happy now?"
The voice returned. "Quest complete. Reward granted."
Instantly, Noah felt a surge of energy flood his body. His fatigue vanished, replaced by a strange, exhilarating vitality. He sat up, staring at his hands. They felt… stronger. His mind felt sharper, clearer.
"What just happened?" he whispered.
"Beginner Status Upgrade applied. New stats unlocked."
Suddenly, a translucent screen appeared before his eyes, hovering in mid-air. It displayed words and numbers in a neat, organized format:
[Noah Greene - Level 1]
Strength: 5 (+2)
Stamina: 4 (+1)
Intelligence: 6
Skills: None
Noah gawked at the screen. "What is this? A video game? Am I dreaming?"
"The Grindstone allows the Host to grow stronger through consistent effort and task completion. Further quests and grinding will unlock greater power."
"Power…" Noah stared at the glowing stone, now pulsing faintly in his hand. For someone who had spent his entire life at the bottom, the promise of power was intoxicating.
He stood up, rain still pouring down around him, and clenched his fists. If this was real—and it felt real—then maybe, just maybe, his luck had finally turned.
For the first time in years, Noah felt something stir within him. Hope.
"Next quest: Walk 5,000 steps. Reward: Beginner Agility Upgrade."
Noah smirked. "Alright. Let's see where this takes me."
End of Chapter 1.