The sterile scent of disinfectant filled the air as Dev's eyes fluttered open, the pale glow of fluorescent lights above casting a dim illumination across the room. A hospital room. His head felt heavy, a dull ache pounding at his temples. The last thing he remembered was the terrifying sight of a dungeon gate collapsing and a surge of darkness overtaking him.
But now, here he was, alive—and different.
A soft chime rang in his mind, distinct yet external, as though someone had whispered into his thoughts.
[System Activated.]
Welcome, Dev. The Leveling System is now fully operational. Your journey begins.
A sharp intake of breath escaped Dev's lips as a translucent blue screen materialized in front of him, floating midair, filled with cryptic symbols and numbers.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Dev
Level: 1
Class: None
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 5
Memories surged forward: the chaos, the screams, the utter helplessness as he watched his comrades fall one by one in that cursed dungeon. Yet here he was, untouched by death.
He sat up, clutching his head as more chimes echoed, accompanied by new text on the interface:
[Quest Initiated: Prove Your Existence!]
Objective: Gain strength to survive.
The door to his room creaked open, and a young nurse stepped in, her eyes widening at his sudden movement. "You're awake!" she exclaimed. "You've been unconscious for three days. The doctors said it was a miracle you survived."
Dev stared at her, his heart pounding. A miracle? No, it wasn't luck. It was this... system.
But what did it mean? And why him?
The nurse's voice softened as she noticed his confusion. "Take it slow. You've been through a lot. I'll call the doctor." She hurried out, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
As soon as the door closed, the system chimed again:
[Skill Unlocked: Inspect]
[Skill Unlocked: Quest Tracker]
This was no accident. This power wasn't just for survival—it was a second chance to rise above the weak, to never feel powerless again. Dev clenched his fists, determination coursing through him as he muttered under his breath, "Let's see how far this goes."
Dev took a deep breath, his gaze narrowing on the translucent blue screen in front of him. The faint hum of its energy seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. If this was truly a second chance, he wouldn't squander it.
"Status board," he commanded instinctively, his voice firm yet tentative. The interface reacted immediately, expanding with a soft chime.
[STATUS WINDOW]
Name: Dev
Level: 1
Class: None
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 5
Available Points: 5
Skills:
Inspect (Active): Analyze objects, creatures, or people to reveal details.Quest Tracker (Passive): Automatically logs and tracks active quests.
Inventory:
Basic Recovery Potion x2
[System Notice]: Unlock higher-tier skills and attributes by completing quests or defeating enemies.
Dev's eyes scanned the screen, absorbing the information. His stats were painfully average, except for Luck, which lagged even behind. If he was going to make a difference, he needed to play this smart.
"Inspect," he muttered, testing the first skill on himself. Another chime followed, and a detailed breakdown of his body's current state appeared.
[INSPECT RESULT]
Name: Dev
Condition: Stable (Minor Fatigue)
Potential: High
Recommendation: Increase Agility and Stamina for survival.
The system was advising him? That was new. He smirked at the thought of this mysterious presence guiding his ascent. Without hesitation, he focused on the Available Points section.
"Distribute points: +2 Agility, +2 Stamina, +1 Strength."
The screen shimmered, and he felt a rush of energy coursing through his veins. His muscles seemed to subtly tighten, his body felt lighter, and his senses became sharper.
[Updated Attributes]
Strength: 11
Agility: 12
Stamina: 12
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 5
Satisfied, Dev turned his attention to the Quest Tracker. A single line of text glowed faintly in the corner:
[Active Quest: Prove Your Existence!]
Objective: Defeat your first monster within 48 hours.
Monster. The word sent a chill down his spine. Where would he even find one? His hand instinctively tightened into a fist, resolve hardening. The system wouldn't give him a quest he couldn't complete—or would it?
The hospital room door opened again, and the nurse returned, this time with a doctor in tow. "Dev, how are you feeling?" the doctor asked, his tone kind but clinical.
"Fine," Dev replied, masking the storm of thoughts swirling within.
The doctor nodded. "You've recovered remarkably well. You'll be discharged tomorrow, but take it easy for a while. Your body went through a lot of stress."
Dev nodded absently, already formulating his next steps. If this world had monsters—and this system wanted him to fight them—then it was time to explore. He wouldn't sit idly by while others controlled his fate.
As soon as the medical staff left the room, he stood, his legs a bit shaky but functional. He tightened his hospital gown and glanced at the glowing status board.
"Time to prove I'm not just a survivor," he whispered. "I'm going to rise."