Ayaan stood under the warm shower as he looked at the system interface.
==============================
SYSTEM INTERFACE
==============================
Name: Ayaan Rakshit
Level: 1
Class: None
Title: None
==============================
STATS
==============================
Strength (STR): 13
Agility (AGI): 16
Endurance (END): 20
Intelligence (INT): 35
Perception (SEN): 50
Available Stat Points: 5
==============================
HEALTH & MANA
==============================
HP (Health Points): 100
MP (Mana Points): 0
==============================
EXP PROGRESS
==============================
EXP: 2.7 / 1000
[□□□□□□□□□□□□] 0.27%
==============================
PHYSICAL STATUS
==============================
Fatigue: 0
==============================
SKILLS
==============================
Active Skills: None
Passive Skills: None
==============================
UPCOMING QUEST
==============================
Quest 1: The First Guardian (2 days to go)
==============================
INVENTORY
==============================
Slots: 0/10
- Empty
==============================
REWARDS
==============================
Tutorial Quest reward (Unclaimed)
==============================
The interface is almost similar. Except for the reward section. The experience he gained from the quest has been added directly, but it seems like he still has to claim the reward manually.
He clicked on the reward and another pop-up appeared beside the Stat screen.
==============================
TUTORIAL QUEST REWARD
==============================
- Standard Mutant Soldier Sword*1
- Level up +1
- All Stats +2
Claim the reward?
Yes
No
==============================
Apart from the Exp, the other rewards are displayed there. He clicked on 'Yes' and the Stat screen changed.
==============================
SYSTEM INTERFACE
==============================
Name: Ayaan Rakshit
Level: 2
Class: None
Title: None
==============================
STATS
==============================
Strength (STR): 15
Agility (AGI): 18
Endurance (END): 22
Intelligence (INT): 37
Perception (SEN): 52
Available Stat Points: 10
==============================
HEALTH & MANA
==============================
HP (Health Points): 120/120
MP (Mana Points): 0/100
==============================
EXP PROGRESS
==============================
EXP: 2.7 / 10000
[□□□□□□□□□□□□] 0.027%
==============================
PHYSICAL STATUS
==============================
Fatigue: 0
==============================
SKILLS
==============================
Active Skills: None
Passive Skills: None
==============================
UPCOMING QUEST
==============================
Quest 1: The First Guardian (2 days to go)
==============================
INVENTORY
==============================
Slots: 1/10
- Standard Mutant Soldier Sword*1
==============================
The stats all increased by two points. He didn't feel much change. Except that his muscles seemed to have gotten denser.
The stat points increased and the experience points changed. To reach level 3, he needs to gain 10,000 Exp points. And it seemed like the level-up reward didn't have any restrictions.
This made him think...if he had quit the tutorial after achieving the minimum requirements, then he would have come out with 70+ Exp points. If the hidden lab wasn't discovered, he wouldn't have gained the extra Exp and wouldn't have leveled up in the tutorial.
So, even with the reward, he would have only been at level 1.
It was a good choice for him to test Ark's words and stay for longer in the tutorial.
His health also increased with this level. The MP stat also changed showing the maximum capacity. Since he didn't gain any MP, he ignored it.
He decided to think about the assignment of the additional Stat points for later and went straight to look at the inventory.
The sword he gained is now occupying a slot.
He willed to take out the sword and it appeared in his hand.
'Heavy'
The sword is slender and very well made, but it is heavier for its size. But it is still manageable. Considering how it even cuts through a rebar without so much as a nick or a scratch, some weight is not a big deal.
He placed the sword back in the inventory and then wanted to test the inventory out a bit.
He tried to place the bottle of shampoo inside and it worked.
==============================
INVENTORY
==============================
Slots: 2/10
- Standard Mutant Soldier Sword*1
- Shampoo bottle (Half-empty)
==============================
He is glad the inventory works, but he is not sure if he can use the objects he placed in the quests directly. He took out the shampoo bottle and tested it with some other things, to see if the inventory slots had a stack effect. But no.
Even if he placed two same objects, they are occupying two different slots.
*DING*
After he tested the inventory.
he looked at the glowing Quest name in the interface and clicked on it.
==============================
UPCOMING QUEST
==============================
Quest 1: The First Guardian (2 days to go)
The player must visit one of the Quest zones
before the quest commences. If failed to do so,
The player will automatically fail the quest and incur
the failure penalty
==============================
Below that, a map appeared with a bunch of red spots glowing.
This is new information. Ark who he spoke to before the tutorial, didn't mention this.
He checked the coordinates of these spots and found the closest one. It is still a few hours away. But he has approximately two days to go there.
He closed the system and finished washing up. He got changed and sat on the chair beside Maya's bed.
He held her hand gently and said.
"I never understood why you loved this world and its people so much. It is full of disgusting vermin, in my opinion. But if saving that world, can save you… maybe it is worth something, after all."
He killed her palm gently and wished her goodnight.
He went to the bed arranged for the patient guardian and checked the time before going to bed.
1st January 2025. 00:15 AM.
Then he looked at the timer in the system interface.
==============================
COUNTDOWN TO CATACLYSM
364 DAYS 23 HOURS 44 MINS 34 SECS
==============================
Ayaan slipped into sleep.
.
.
.
.
4:00 AM
Ayaan woke up from his bed. He checked up on Maya once again and changed into his tracksuit.
He ran out and came back two hours later, all sweaty from exercise. He took another shower and got changed, before making a call.
The phone rang for a few minutes and a surprised voice was heard from that side.
"Captain!? Is that really you?"
"I need a favor."
"Favor? Captain, just give me an order and kill me if I don't follow it."
"Can you come to Vashora?"
"You are back home? You said you will call me when you come back."
Ayaan didn't reply and the other party continued.
"Just give me some time. I will be there in two hours."
Ayaan waited while he looked up some information on the question location. He checked the system interface and noticed that everyone was still talking.
At exactly 8:30 AM, the person he waited for visited.
A man in his thirties, much taller and much bigger than Ayaan. He wore a plaid shirt, Jeans, and boots. He gave off a tough aura as if he was ready to throw hands at any moment and his scruffy beard only enhanced that image.
As soon as he entered the room, his aura disappeared and his body language turned extremely humble.
*THUMP*
He stamped his foot and gave a standard military salute to Ayaan.
"Lieutenant Raj reporting, sir."
Ayaan looked at him and said.
"You are not in direct service anymore, Raj. Please be at ease."
Raj smiled while scratching his head.
"For some reason, I always go into soldier mode whenever I see you, captain. Ah.. I forgot. I heard you are a Rear Admiral now.
Anyway, why are we here? This is?"
Raj finally noticed Maya. In his excitement, he never even stopped to think about why Ayaan asked him to come to a hospital. He also didn't recognize Maya. He knew that the captain had a sister, but never saw her before.
"This is Maya, my sister."
"This…. What happened, sir?" Raj trembled in shock.
"That's what I want your help with. A few days ago, my family met with an accident while I was coming home from the base.
The police didn't contact me and I only came to know the details when I arrived here. Maya is injured severely, my parents died and their autopsy was also done.
The crime scene is cleared. They even concluded that this is an incident of road rage and there is no evidence about the culprit. Not even a lead. They are about to close the case."
"An accident?" Raj asked, a bit surprised.
"Yes, an accident. But I have some doubts. The injuries on her face… they are making me suspicious. I think there is some foul play.
I would have taken a look into it myself, but I have something to do. Will you.."
"Of course, Sir. I will surely look into it. Believe me that if there is any foul play, I will bring it to light."
"I know you will," Ayaan said and he hesitated to continue.
"What is it, sir? Please don't hesitate."
"As I said, I have something to do and I won't be able to stay beside Maya all the time. But I am not comfortable leaving her alone or in the hands of a complete stranger. Can you find someone trustworthy to take care of her?"
"Don't worry about it, Sir. My wife will take care of her. I am sure, whatever you have to do is important. I will take care of everything here. If you need anything else, just one call. I will arrange it."
"Thank you, Raj. I will never forget this favor."
"Come on, Sir. What is this in between us? If we start calculating now, I will owe for the rest of my life and more. Please don't mention it.
Just tell me, what else you need."
"Nothing. But I need to move right away."
"Consider it done."
"Thank you."
Ayaan took a deep look at Maya before he wore his jacket and backpack.
"I will see you soon, Maya."
He walked out without turning back.
Five minutes later, Ayaan raced out of the hospital campus on his motorcycle.
.
.
.
1st January 2025, 3:30 PM. City of Velastra
Ayaan's motorcycle halted in front of the Naval base. The guards at the gate helped him check in his ID card before letting him in. Ayaan drove straight to the administrative building.
Fifteen minutes later.
In the Fleet Admiral's office. Ayaan is sitting across the table from the Fleet Admiral. A man well into his fifties, with the aura of a bloody shark looked sharply at Ayaan.
"You went off saying you want to get married. I was hoping you would bring your wife back to the base so that we can celebrate. Now you are here saying you want a leave for one year?
What happened, Ayaan?"
"I am sorry, sir. It is hard to explain. And I don't want to bother you with the details. But I have something I need to do. I will be back on duty in January next year."
"What is so serious that you have to put aside your duties? Just tell me and I will help you."
"This is something, that I have to do on my own. I know it will be troublesome to just accept my request. I will just cash in my golden ticket."
The Admiral's face became serious.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I don't have much use for them. There is no place else I want to go. I will stay in the division. But if you say that you can't grant me this request, then I have no other choice but to resign."
The admiral sighed and rubbed his silver hair in frustration.
"Alright. If that is what you want. I am sure, with all of your contributions, this is the least we could accommodate.
I will grant your request in exchange for your golden ticket."
"Thank you. I will finish the paperwork and leave."
"Alright. Whatever you are trying to do, I am sure, you will do it."
"Thanks again, Sir."
They shook hands and Ayaan left. After he finished the paperwork. He went to his quarters and got some things. His two handguns. And the magazines, his combat knife, and left the base.
He had only one destination in mind.
Nalvahan village.
The location of his next quest.