Chapter 8: Newbie Package

"Strength isn't given, it's earned. But sometimes, fate hands you a second chance—what you do with it is up to you." -Unknown

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I staggered through the doorway of my cheap apartment, barely holding myself together.

The dull ache in my body made every step feel like trudging through mud.

My limbs were heavy, and exhaustion pressed against me like a weight threatening to crush me.

The Map function had saved me from getting lost.

A small home icon marked my destination, guiding me safely.

If only a certain green-haired swordsman had such a skill—maybe he wouldn't be infamous for his terrible sense of direction.

Then again, with his absurd luck, he could probably toss a stick and still find his way.

A mystery I'd never solve.

I let out a tired chuckle, but the moment of amusement was fleeting.

Right now, I had more important things to check.

Dragging myself forward, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the dusty mirror by the entrance. I paused.

The boy staring back at me was frail, his body scrawny and malnourished.

Hollow cheeks, lifeless eyes, and messy, unkempt hair—it was an image of someone who had struggled too much and received too little.

This was him—Belial Scarlet, a boy thrown into a world where he had to fight to survive.

Even though I knew this was my body, it felt... foreign.

The reflection didn't match who I was inside.

"So this is me now..." I murmured to myself.

My fingers ran over my face, feeling the smoothness of my skin.

I looked small, weak—nothing like the person I wanted to be.

A surge of determination flared in my chest.

I wouldn't stay this way forever.

I clenched my fists.

This body was weak.

It wasn't enough.

A soft chime rang in my head, pulling my attention back to the floating interface before me.

I turned away from the mirror and focused on my system.

The [Newbie Package] button pulsed faintly, waiting to be claimed.

Without hesitation, with a mental command, I selected it, and the familiar blue interface materialized before me.

『Ding! Transfer successful. Welcome to the Basketball Realm, Belial Scarlet. Your Newbie Package has been stored in your storage. Please check your storage space.』

I accessed my storage, a virtual inventory grid appearing before me. A single box icon pulsed with a soft light, beckoning me closer. My heart pounded as I clicked on it.

『Do you want to open your [Newbie Package]?』

[Yes/YES?]

I smirked slightly at the forced choice.

"Do I even have a choice? Yes," I whispered.

『Ding! Transfer successful. Randomizing content...』

The screen flickered with lines of text and filled my vision, listing my rewards in precise detail.

『Newbie Package contains:

※ Height Growth +2

※ Weight Gained +2

※ You have gained +2 Agility, Dexterity

※ You have gained +1 Strength, Physique

※ You have gained +3 Endurance, Spirit

※ You have gained +2 Charisma

※ You have gained +10 Luck

※ You have gained +1 Attribute Point

※ You have gained +1 Talent Point

※ You have obtained [Godspeed Impulse]

※ You have obtained [Juggernaut Body]

※ You have obtained [Cross Swish Harmony]』

The moment I accepted the rewards, a rush of warmth surged through my body, spreading like wildfire.

A strange yet exhilarating transformation took place.

Every muscle, every fiber of my being, trembled as power coursed through me.

My vision blurred for a second before stabilizing, and when I blinked, I realized something had changed.

I turned back to the mirror.

The difference was undeniable.

The boy in the reflection was no longer the same.

His frame was still lean but no longer sickly. His skin had a healthier glow, his hair had gained a natural luster, and his once dull red eyes now had a sharper, more intense glint to them.

I stepped closer, touching my cheek, my fingers tracing the new definition in my jawline.

My height had increased, my limbs looked stronger, more proportionate. My entire presence felt... better. More confident.

I reached out, touching the glass as if to confirm it was real.

"Unbelievable..."

I flexed my fingers, testing the newfound strength in my body.

The aching fatigue had dulled significantly, replaced by a sense of energy simmering beneath my skin.

I smirked.

Belial exhaled, his body buzzing with excitement.

This was it—the start of his journey.

No longer was he just a weak, forgotten kid.

He had potential now.

A real shot at becoming something great.

He turned away from the mirror, his fists clenched with determination.

This was only the beginning.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled up my [Status] window.

More numbers, more changes, all confirming what I had just witnessed.

『Status』

[Name: Belial Scarlet]

[Age: 10 / Gender: Male]

[Height: 148cm (4'10 ft) → 150cm (4'11 ft)]

[Weight: 38kg (84 lbs) → 40kg (88 lbs)]

[Blessing: Gamer System]

[Class: Player]

[Subclass: None]

[HP: 20/20 -> 20/80]

[SP: 10/10 ->15/90]

『Attributes: (Juggernaut Body: +5 physical buff)』

[Strength: 1 (+1) → 2 (+5)]

[Agility: 2 (+2) → 4 (+5)]

[Dexterity: 3 (+2) → 5 (+5)]

[Constitution: 2 (+1) → 3 (+5)]

[Endurance: 1 (+3) → 4 (+5)]

[Intelligence: 3]

[Wisdom: 2]

[Perception: 1]

[Spirit: 4 (+3) → 7]

[Charisma: 1 (+2) → 3]

[Luck: 1 (+10) → 11]

[Attribute Point(s): 1]

[Talent Point(s): 1]

[Items: None]

『Talents:

[Godspeed Impulse] (Exclusive)

[Juggernaut Body] (Exclusive)

[Cross Swish Harmony] (Exclusive)』

I exhaled sharply, my excitement barely contained.

This wasn't just a small improvement—it was a complete upgrade.

I wasn't the same weakling who had stepped into this apartment minutes ago.

I closed the interface, a sharp determination settling in my chest.

This world had given me a second chance. And I intended to use it.

For the first time in a long time, I felt something stirring deep within me.

Hope.