The System has upgraded
Aiden woke up slightly late today, around 10 a.m. He felt a bit drained from the training and the emotional turmoil he experienced yesterday.
He had to tidy and pack up late at night, which added to his exhaustion. He started his day with his usual morning routine, including showering and such.
After that, he decided to eat brunch outside today. "I should start to experience the life of a rich man, I can't keep my poor man habits." He thought, whilst thinking about the usual morning bun he ate.
"I will go grab something to eat, then grab the suitcases and go to my house."
As he headed towards the city centre of New Avalon, he couldn't help but think about what is the purpose of the system.
Aiden often wondered why his parents had given him the necklace or artefact to be more precise just before they left, only to be declared dead a few days later.
The unanswered questions weighed heavily on his mind: the purpose of the artifact, the system it seemed to connect him to, and why he had been chosen as its keeper.
Despite the urge to unravel the mystery, Aiden knew that dwelling on these questions would only overwhelm him.
The answers were beyond his reach for now, and there was little he could do to change the past.
Instead, he tried to focus on the present, pushing aside the questions that lingered at the edges of his thoughts. Acting oblivious to the uncertainties allowed him to concentrate on the present, so he decided to do just that.
Lost in his thoughts whilst walking, Aiden found himself in front of Avalon Grille. A well-known, and respected brunch restaurant with delicious food that improves your body's constitution.
After the invasion of the Enigmi, the world we knew changed drastically. Everything evolved, including humans, animals and plants.
After the evolution, humans who gained powers attempted to prevent the extinction of humanity. Unfortunately, not all share the same noble purpose. Some used their newfound abilities for evil, while others dedicated themselves to stopping these threats, and became known as the Defenders.
Avalon Grille gained fame for its evolved animal meats, which were known to gradually enhance the body.
These unique delicacies attracted people from all over New Avalon, drawn by the promise of subtle but lasting improvements to their strength and vitality. Unfortunately, Aiden wasn't able to afford it as a poor student.
Students received an allowance that was usually sufficient for their everyday needs but not nearly enough for visits to high-end places like Avalon Grille or Star Café. So, Aiden was quite excited about the prospect of dining at Avalon Grille.
Given its high ratings and reputation, he had high expectations for the food and was eager to experience the renowned flavours and unique culinary offerings for himself.
After entering Avalon Grille, Aiden was immediately enveloped by the sweet aroma of sizzling steak and a variety of other delicacies.
The décor featured sleek, metallic surfaces interspersed with soft, ambient lighting that adjusted to enhance the dining experience.
Tables were equipped with interactive holo-screens that allowed guests to browse the menu and customize their orders.
The seating arrangements were designed for comfort and privacy, with plush, ergonomic chairs and tables that seemed to float slightly above the ground, giving a sense of weightlessness.
As Aiden walked through the restaurant, a sophisticated AI host greeted him, its voice smooth and friendly. "Welcome to Avalon Grille. Please follow me to your table."
As Aiden followed the host to his seat, he marvelled at the futuristic features: a touch-sensitive table surface that displayed real-time updates of his order status and an advanced culinary interface that allowed him to see detailed information about each dish, including its origin and nutritional benefits.
Sitting down, Aiden could see the open kitchen through a transparent wall, where skilled chefs expertly prepared meals with high-tech cooking equipment, flames dancing in controlled stoves.
After browsing the menu, Aiden decided to order the sirloin steak, opting for the novice-rank cow option.
The menu described it as a premium cut from a specially raised breed known for its tender texture and rich flavour, thanks to its controlled environment and careful feeding regimen.
Soon, a sleek, robotic server glided to his table, presenting the sirloin steak with a flourish. The steak was perfectly seared, with a mouth-watering aroma. Alongside it were precisely arranged sides, including a fresh salad and a selection of advanced, nutrient-rich sauces designed to complement the steak's flavour.
As Aiden took his first bite, the rich, savoury taste of the steak confirmed the high quality of the meal. The meat was tender and flavorful, meeting and exceeding his expectations.
As Aiden finished eating. He was surprised by a notification from the system.
[Stat gained: +1 Endurance]
Not bad, thought Aiden as he looked at the improvement in his endurance, just from eating steak. Although the Star Cafe herbs might have also contributed to this increase, it's still worth it in his eyes.
After eating, Aiden paid the bill which was 90 Low Mana Crystals.
After paying the bill, he left the restaurant and called an AI XL taxi for a 2 stop journey, the first stop being his dorm, and the second being his villa.
After arriving at the dorm and gathering his personal belongings, Aiden had a moment of realization.
He could have stored everything in his inventory, which would have saved him considerable trouble and effort.
He shook his head with a wry smile, knowing it was too late to change the past. "No point crying over spilt milk," he muttered to himself, accepting that the situation was what it was.
After storing everything in the inventory, he headed down towards the awaiting taxi. As the taxi smoothly glided through the city streets, Aiden's anticipation grew.
The prospect of moving into his new villa filled him with excitement, he especially wanted to try out that advanced training room. Soon enough, Aiden arrived at the gate of the exclusive residential area.
As Aiden's taxi approached the entrance of the residential complex, it was met with an unexpected delay. A few guards stepped forward, their expressions stern and vigilant.
"Excuse me, sir," one of the guards said, holding up a datapad. "We need to verify your ownership of property in the complex. Typically, our tenants drive luxury vehicles, so we need to ensure everything is in order."
Aiden was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood the situation. The guards' scrutiny was likely due to the unusual mode of transportation. He reached into his inventory and retrieved the necessary documents and identification for the villa.
"Of course," Aiden said, handing over the required information. "I'm moving into one of the properties here."
The guards examined the documents on their datapads, comparing them with their records. After a few moments, they nodded in acknowledgement.
"Everything seems to be in order. You're clear to proceed," the guard confirmed. "Welcome to the complex, Mr. Aiden. If you need any assistance, please don't hesitate to contact the management office."
With the verification complete, Aiden thanked the guards and settled back into his seat as the taxi continued toward his new villa.
Soon enough, Aiden arrived at the villa. He entered the villa and made his way to his room, where he began sorting out his belongings.
With everything in place, Aiden took a deep breath and felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him.
After finishing his room setup, Aiden put on his training set and headed to the training room. His goal for the day was to exercise and gain some attribute points.
As he prepared to exercise, the system notification rang.
[System Upgraded!]
[New functions Unlocked!]
[Recommend the host to explore the new system functions]
"It finally upgraded.. Let's see what changed" said Aiden, feeling excited about the system's new functions.
"System are you able to talk back now?" said Aiden, trying out his luck with the system.
"Yes Host, I am now able to talk to you." replied the system, with a childish voice.
"Nice, can you explain to me what are the new features."
"Yes, host" replied the system, as it showed him an easy-to-understand holographic screen.
[The system can now help the host understand its functions, to help him unlock his hidden potential.]
[ Skill shop ---> Magical Shop]
[ Magical Shop: Allows the host, to use a new currency called Gold Coins (GC) to buy a myriad of items including skills, magic weapons, herbs and most importantly talents.]
[ GC: This can be earned by doing quests and killing enemies. The amount varies depending on the difficulty of the quest, or the strength of the opponent. They can be used for either buying things from the Magical Shop or to upgrade current skills.]
[ Quests now contain a new category called Daily Quests. Daily Quests: Easy to complete with low rewards.]
"Wow, so many changes. I can't wait to try out all these different things." Said Aiden, as he read through the changes.
His eyes then fell on the notifications bar.
[Daily Quest: Becoming Strong ] (unread)
[Main Quest] (unread)