A strange glow illuminated my dimly lit apartment. My breathing hitched as I stared at the translucent interface floating before me. This couldn't be real. I blinked rapidly, rubbed my eyes, and even pinched my arm to make sure I wasn't dreaming. But no matter what I did, the interface remained, hovering silently in front of me.
"This kind of thing only happens in web novels," I muttered under my breath, disbelief heavy in my voice.
Taking a hesitant step closer, I squinted at the glowing text displayed before me:
— Welcome to the Extraction System, Host —
I inhaled sharply. "Extraction System?"
The words pulsed with an otherworldly glow, as if responding to my confusion. My heart pounded as I continued reading the brief description beneath the system's name.
— As the name suggests, this system grants the ability to extract anything from movies and games. The more detailed the object, the more accurately it can be brought into reality. —
My eyes widened. The implications of such an ability… were absolutely insane. If this was real—if I could truly extract anything—then the possibilities were limitless. Spaceships, advanced technology, weapons, even abilities... I could pull them all from fiction into reality.
Excitement surged through me, but it was short-lived. "Wait, what's the catch?" I asked aloud, hoping the system would respond.
Silence.
Frowning, I tried again. "Hey, system? Can you answer me?"
Nothing.
I sighed. It looked like I wasn't going to get any more information than what was already displayed. If this was like any system in the novels I'd read, there had to be a menu. I hesitantly reached out, and as if responding to my intent, two icons appeared beneath the glowing text.
[ Profile ] [ Mission ]
I tapped on Profile, and a new screen appeared before me.
Profile:
Name: Zero Celestia
Age: 24
Strength: 2 (10 is the human limit)
Wisdom: 6
Agility: 2
Vitality: 2
Charm: 2
Luck: 5
Extraction: 1 (Used to extract anything from movies or games. Extraction recovers every 24 hours. Additional points can be earned through missions.)
I groaned as I looked at my stats. "Damn, I'm weak…"
Strength 2. Agility 2. Vitality 2. In every metric except wisdom and luck, I was practically at rock bottom.
It made sense, though. I was no athlete. I spent most of my days either working or playing games, and my only form of exercise was walking to the convenience store to get snacks.
Sighing, I switched over to the Mission tab, hoping to find something that could help me improve.
Mission Panel:
Daily Mission: Improve Yourself
(In order to traverse the universe, you must make yourself stronger. You are currently too weak to survive beyond Earth's atmosphere. Start training!)
Squats: 3 sets of 15 reps
Push-ups: 3 sets of 10 reps
Running: 2 km daily
Deadlifts: 3 sets of 10 reps
Sit-ups: 3 sets of 20 reps
Rewards: +1 to all attributes, +1 Extraction Point
Mission #1: Stabilize the Earth
(Before embarking on your journey to the stars, your home planet must be stable and united. After all, home will always be home. You have 5 years to accomplish this task.)
Mission Remaining Time: 5 years
Rewards: +10 to all attributes, +10 Extraction Points
I nearly dropped to the floor. "Unite the planet? Are you kidding me?"
That was way beyond the scope of a normal person. I wasn't a world leader, a general, or a revolutionary. I was just some guy! How the hell was I supposed to stabilize the entire planet?
A headache formed as I considered the sheer impossibility of the mission. But before I could spiral into despair, my eyes flicked back to the Daily Mission.
Unlike the world-shaking task of stabilizing Earth, this one was straightforward. I just had to train.
I took a deep breath, calming myself. "One step at a time," I murmured.
If I was going to survive whatever madness the system had planned for me, I had to get stronger. My current stats were embarrassing. With only 2 Strength, I was barely stronger than a child. 2 Agility meant I was sluggish. 2 Vitality meant I had no endurance.
I clenched my fists. "Fine. I'll do it."
Without hesitation, I changed into workout clothes, feeling determination rise within me. I didn't have any fancy gym equipment, but that didn't matter. Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, running—I'd do whatever it took to raise my attributes.
I stepped onto my balcony, looking up at the vast expanse of the night sky. Somewhere out there was the Final System, the destination that mysterious entity had spoken about. If I wanted to reach it, I had to start here. Now.
Taking a deep breath, I began my first set of push-ups.
One.
Two.
Three…
My arms started shaking embarrassingly fast, and I barely made it to ten before collapsing onto the floor, gasping for air.
"…Wow. I really am weak."
I forced myself back up and kept going, sweat dripping down my forehead. This was just the beginning. I had five years to prepare for whatever lay ahead. I would get stronger. I would complete the missions. I would claim the power of the Extraction System.
No matter what it took, I would reach the stars.
As I struggled through another set, a small notification popped up in the corner of my vision.
[ Daily Mission Progress: 10% Complete ]
I grinned despite the burn in my muscles. This was going to be hell. But if hell was the price to break free from mediocrity and touch the stars, then so be it.
End of Chapter 2.