The wooden bell tower of the small countryside church swayed slightly in the gentle morning breeze. Its rusty bell let out a faint creak, the only sound accompanying the quiet hum of the town's daily life. Beneath its sheltering roof, Edil Estrada, a wiry, sharp-eyed boy of 17, sat cross-legged on the hard wooden pews. His dark hair was a tangled mess, and his hands bore the calluses of years spent laboring under an unforgiving household.
Edil's gaze lingered on the simple altar. The chipped statue of a saint smiled back at him, a stark contrast to the heavy emptiness that gripped his chest. "All these years," he muttered under his breath. "All this suffering, for what?"
A booming voice broke through his thoughts, jerking him upright. "Estrada! Are you deaf?" Roger Bali's sneering face appeared in the doorway. Roger, five years older and twice as obnoxious, was his adoptive brother—though the term "brother" was used loosely.
"What do you want now, Roger?" Edil asked, his tone flat as he stood and dusted off his worn pants.
Roger strode inside, his chest puffed out like a rooster. "Father says you're late with the errands. Again. If you don't want a beating, you'd better move it."
Edil clenched his fists but said nothing. He had learned the hard way that words meant nothing to people like Roger. For now, compliance was survival. He grabbed the bag of supplies from the church's storage and trudged out the door, his mind filled with fantasies of escape.
The city was abuzz with life, its high-tech transport systems zipping through the air and sleek, autonomous drones darting between buildings. But even amid the marvels of modernity, Edil felt only a crushing sense of isolation. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden tremor beneath his feet. The ground shook violently, sending people stumbling and vehicles screeching to a halt.
"Earthquake!" someone shouted. Panic erupted as glass shattered and buildings swayed dangerously. Edil stumbled into a nearby alley, pressing his back against a wall as debris rained down.
And then, silence. Deafening silence.
A cold voice echoed in his mind, distinct yet unearthly. "Congratulations, Edil Estrada. You have been chosen."
"What…?" he stammered, his heart racing. The voice continued, unfazed by his confusion.
"The world is awakening to a new era. And you, among billions, have been gifted the Attribute System. Collect, enhance, dominate. Fulfill your destiny."
Before he could respond, a strange translucent screen appeared before his eyes. Text flickered across it:
Name: Edil Estrada
Level: 1
Attributes: Strength: 5, Speed: 6, Endurance: 5, Mana: 0
Skills: None
Energy Reserve: 100/100
"What is this?" he muttered, reaching out to touch the screen. His fingers passed through it, but the text remained steady.
"A system to harvest attributes from those around you," the voice explained. "Living beings, beasts, demons—as long as they possess energy, they are yours to claim. Survive. Thrive. Or perish."
Edil's mind raced. He didn't understand, but the urgency in the voice was undeniable. The ground trembled again, but this time it wasn't natural. From the distance came an otherworldly roar. Edil turned to see a massive creature—a beast unlike anything he had ever imagined—bursting through the city streets. It was a monstrous amalgamation of metal and flesh, its glowing red eyes scanning the chaos.
Name: Mutated Raptor
Level: 3
Attributes: Strength: 15, Speed: 12, Endurance: 10
The screen's information hovered before him as the creature barreled closer. Around him, people screamed and fled. He froze, his legs refusing to move. The beast's eyes locked onto him, and it let out a guttural growl.
"Run, idiot!" someone shouted, yanking him out of the way just as the creature lunged. Edil stumbled to the ground, his heart pounding. He looked up to see a familiar face grinning down at him.
"Ernie?" he asked, disbelief coloring his tone.
Ernie Cruiz, his old friend from the orphanage, extended a hand. Chubby and cheerful as ever, he gave Edil a wink. "Long time no see, buddy. But we don't have time to catch up. That thing looks hungry."
The raptor roared again, silencing their banter. Edil scrambled to his feet as Ernie pulled out a crude-looking energy blade. "You have one of those systems too?" Ernie asked, glancing at Edil's confused expression.
"Uh, yeah. I think so," Edil replied. "But I don't know how to use it."
"Figures," Ernie said with a sigh. "Just stay close and try not to die. Watch and learn."
Combat Mode
The mutated raptor charged, its claws scraping against the ground and sending sparks flying. Ernie dashed forward, surprisingly nimble for his size, and slashed at the beast's side. The blade connected, leaving a deep gash. The creature howled in pain but retaliated with a swipe of its massive tail.
"Watch it!" Edil yelled. Ernie ducked just in time, grinning as the tail whooshed over his head.
"That all you got, tin can?" Ernie taunted. "I've seen bigger scratches on my grandma's cat."
The spectators, hiding behind overturned vehicles and rubble, murmured in awe. "Who is that guy?" one whispered. "He's actually holding his own."
"Yeah, but what about the other one? He's just standing there," another pointed out, gesturing to Edil.
Edil's fists clenched. He wasn't going to be a bystander in his own story. The screen flashed again, offering him a prompt:
Activate Skill Duplication?
He didn't hesitate. "Yes!"
Energy surged through him, and his vision sharpened. Ernie's movements slowed in his mind, every strike and dodge becoming clearer. When the raptor lunged again, Edil stepped forward, mimicking Ernie's technique. His fist glowed faintly as he struck the beast square in the jaw, sending it reeling.
The spectators gasped. "He… he's strong too!"
Ernie glanced at him, his grin widening. "Not bad, Edil. Not bad at all."
The raptor, now furious, let out a deafening roar and charged at both of them. But this time, Edil wasn't afraid. For the first time in his life, he felt something unfamiliar yet exhilarating—power.
And he wasn't going to waste it.