Kael leaned back against the wall of his room, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. His muscles still ached from the push-ups, and his legs felt like someone had replaced them with sacks of bricks.
But despite all that, he couldn't help the faint grin tugging at his lips. His first day, and he'd already survived the hell the system threw at him.
The screen in front of him flickered, the words Daily Quest: Complete glowing faintly before fading. A new notification popped up.
Shop Unlocked
Kael sat up straight, his eyes narrowing. "Shop?"
"You heard me," the system said, its tone smug. "You've unlocked the shop. Feel free to browse—if you can afford anything, that is."
Kael's grin widened. Finally, something cool. "All right," he muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Time to see what you've been hiding from me."
He tapped the notification, and the glowing screen shifted, revealing a list of abilities.
Shop Menu:
Spark Flicker – 10 Points
Warmth Aura – 15 Points
Ember Grip – 20 Points
Basic Ichor Recovery – 30 Points
Flame Wisp – 40 Points
Kael's excitement drained from his face in an instant. He blinked, staring at the screen. "What… the hell is this?"
"This," the system replied, its voice laced with amusement, "is your shop menu. Impressed?"
Kael threw his hands up. "Impressed? No! What is this garbage? 'Spark Flicker'? 'Warmth Aura'? These sound like... like beginner-level scraps!"
"That's because they are," the system said bluntly. "You didn't think you'd be throwing fireballs at Level 1, did you?"
Kael's eye twitched. "I mean, yeah, kind of! What's the point of having a system if I can't do anything cool with it?"
"The point," the system said, its tone infuriatingly calm, "is to build you up slowly. Your body is barely capable of handling its own weight, let alone advanced abilities. These options are tailored to what your pathetic frame can handle. Want better skills? Get stronger."
Kael groaned, burying his face in his hands. "You could've told me this before I got my hopes up."
"I could have," the system said lightly, "but where's the fun in that?"
Kael glared at the glowing screen. "I swear, you're doing this on purpose."
"Who, me?" The system's voice practically oozed fake innocence. "I'm just here to help, Kael."
"Sure you are," Kael muttered.
He turned his attention back to the shop menu, scrolling through the list. The prices made his stomach churn. He only had 10 points, and everything even remotely interesting was way out of his budget.
"'Flame Wisp,'" he read aloud, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Forty points for a little floating light. What a steal. Truly, this shop is the pinnacle of generosity."
"You know," the system said, "for someone who just unlocked the shop, you sure are ungrateful."
Kael snorted. "Ungrateful? This is the worst shop I've ever seen. I've seen leftover scraps that were more useful than this."
"And yet, here you are. Would you like me to explain how it works, or are you just going to keep complaining?"
Kael crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. "Fine. Enlighten me."
The system's tone shifted slightly, adopting a faintly lecturing air. "The shop is designed to match your current level and physical capabilities. Only abilities your body can handle are displayed here. As you grow stronger, both in level and stats, more powerful options will unlock. It's a gradual process, Kael. You can't sprint before you learn to crawl."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "And let me guess. Right now, I'm not even crawling?"
"Correct," the system said brightly.
Kael groaned.
Kael sighed, staring at the shop screen like it had personally offended him. "So let me get this straight. I'm supposed to spend my hard-earned points on... this." He jabbed a finger toward the first option, Spark Flicker.
"That's exactly what you're supposed to do," the system replied calmly. "Unless, of course, you'd like to save your points for something you can't use yet."
Kael rolled his eyes. "I don't know, maybe I'd like to save for something useful. You know, like... anything else?"
"Useful? At your level?" the system said, its voice dripping with amusement. "Kael, let me remind you: you struggled to finish ten push-ups. Ten. Your body is barely holding itself together. The abilities here are perfectly matched to your... unique situation."
"Unique situation?" Kael repeated, narrowing his eyes.
"You're weak, Kael," the system said flatly. "No sugarcoating it. But that's why we're here—to make you less weak. Start small, and work your way up. You'll thank me later."
Kael sighed again, dragging a hand down his face. "Fine. I'll play along. Let's see what Spark Flicker can do."
"Excellent choice!" the system said, its tone annoyingly chipper. "Go ahead and make the purchase. I promise, you won't regret it."
Kael grumbled something unintelligible under his breath but tapped the Spark Flicker option. The screen flickered, and his remaining points dropped to zero.
"Congratulations, Kael. You are now the proud owner of Spark Flicker, the pinnacle of beginner-level flame manipulation."
Kael stared at the screen, deadpan. "That's not helping."
"Just wait until you see it in action," the system said, ignoring his tone. "Now, let's get started."
First Attempt: Summoning the Spark
The shop screen vanished, replaced by a small, glowing notification:
New Skill Acquired: Spark Flicker
Summon a small, controllable spark in your hand.
Ichor Cost: Minimal.
Effective for lighting fires or basic ichor control practice.
"It's a simple skill," the system began, its tone taking on a more instructive edge. "Think of it as your first step toward mastering flame manipulation. Now, listen carefully. This requires focus."
Kael crossed his arms, frowning. "I'm listening."
"Good. First, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Focus inward, just like you did during meditation. Feel the ichor inside you—it's faint, but it's there. Flowing like a river, remember?"
Kael did as instructed, closing his eyes and exhaling slowly. He focused on the warmth deep in his chest, the same flicker of energy he'd felt earlier.
"Now," the system continued, "imagine that warmth traveling to your hand. Picture it as a tiny flame, no bigger than a spark. Don't force it. Coax it, like you're feeding a fragile ember."
Kael furrowed his brow, his hand outstretched. He concentrated on the image, willing the warmth to flow downward. For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, with a faint pop, a small spark appeared in his palm.
It flickered weakly, no bigger than the flame of a match, but it was there.
Kael opened his eyes, staring at the spark. His jaw dropped. "Whoa. I actually did it."
"Of course you did," the system said, sounding almost proud. "See? Not so useless after all."
Kael's Disappointment
The spark sputtered and fizzled out a few seconds later, leaving a faint wisp of smoke curling from his palm.
Kael blinked. "...That's it?"
"That's it," the system confirmed.
"You've gotta be kidding me," Kael said, throwing his hands in the air. "I just spent ten points on something that lasts five seconds?"
"It's a start, Kael," the system said patiently. "This isn't about instant results. It's about learning control. That little spark you summoned? It's the foundation for everything else you'll learn. Master this, and you'll be able to handle more advanced skills later."
Kael crossed his arms, pouting. "It still feels like a scam."
"You'll change your tune when you accidentally set something on fire," the system said dryly. "Now, try again. And this time, focus on making it last longer."
Second Attempt: Building Control
Kael sighed but extended his hand again. He closed his eyes, repeating the steps: breathing deeply, focusing on the warmth in his chest, and guiding it toward his palm.
This time, the spark flared to life more quickly. It was still small and weak, but Kael could feel the faint warmth it gave off, like holding a tiny piece of the sun in his hand.
He furrowed his brow, concentrating on keeping it steady. The spark flickered, threatening to fizzle out, but Kael focused harder, willing it to stay.
"Good," the system said. "You're getting the hang of it. Remember, the goal isn't power—it's control. Keep feeding the flame slowly, and don't let your focus waver."
Kael gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead. The spark burned a little brighter, holding steady for a few extra seconds before finally fading out.
He let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, wiping his palm on his pants. "Okay. That's... kinda cool."
"Told you," the system said smugly.
Kael rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small smile creeping onto his face. "Fine. It's not much, but it's a start."
"Exactly. Small steps, Kael. Every spark leads to a blaze—if you're willing to work for it."
Ending Scene: Determination Rekindled
Kael stared at his hand for a moment, imagining what that tiny spark might one day become. He thought about the Twelve Families—the ones who'd wronged him, humiliated him, and left him to die.
A smirk spread across his face as he clenched his fist. "Just wait. One day, this spark will burn you all to ash."
The system didn't reply immediately, but Kael swore he could feel a faint sense of approval radiating from it.
"That's the spirit," it said finally. "Now, let's see how far you can take it."