Chapter 15 - Titles and skills
24th July - Windsor Square - 8.12AM
The morning sunlight filtered softly through the heavy curtains in Kai's room, casting golden streaks across the walls. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, the serenity of the moment lingered. But as he blinked away the haze of sleep, a familiar sight greeted him.
'This feels familiar,' Kai mused, staring at the floating blue screen that materialized before him. Seeing the system's interface first thing in the morning brought a sense of déjà vu, though it had only been two weeks since this journey began. Yet, so much had changed in those short weeks—he felt like a completely different person. More driven, more determined, and perhaps, a little more at peace with himself.
Shrugging off the lingering thoughts, Kai focused on the screen hovering in front of him.
Skill: Singing - Level 2 → 4
His eyebrows shot up. "Level 4?" he murmured. How had it completely skipped Level 3? It was odd but not entirely surprising. Over the week, he'd often felt like he was teetering on the edge of a breakthrough, only to feel something inexplicable holding him back. Perhaps last night's emotional release had been the key, unlocking the barrier he hadn't even realized was there. The realization brought a small wave of relief. Maybe he wasn't as stuck as he had feared.
As he continued staring at the screen, another notification popped up, pulling him from his thoughts.
[Pending Missions]
Quest - Upgrade your singing to Level 3 or above
Time Limit - 15 days
Rewards - Mysterious Title, B-rank vitality elixir, 250 points
Failure - The S.T.A.R System will be uninstalled, and the user will live a sad life.
The text on the quest screen suddenly turned green, and a notification flashed: Completed.
Kai exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The pressure that had been suffocating him for days finally began to ease.
[Quest objective - Upgrade your singing to Level 3 or above]
Status - Completed.
Rewards - Mysterious Title, B-rank vitality elixir, 250 points.
Obtain rewards? Yes/No
Kai immediately clicked Yes, and the rewards were added to his profile. The system chimed with another notification.
[Congratulations! User has obtained the Title - Voice of Empathy.]
Kai eagerly read the title description:
Voice of Empathy - Using this title, the user is able to express his empathy 30% easier through his craft. The user's songs, acting, and other skills have a 30% higher chance of invoking empathetic feelings, thus increasing the overall impact of their performance.
His jaw dropped. "This is insane!" he exclaimed, shaking his head in disbelief. A 30% boost to invoking empathy wasn't just a minor advantage—it was monumental. Empathy was the heartbeat of any great performer. This title would make his work resonate more deeply, tugging at the hearts of his audience. The possibilities were endless.
Kai grinned, his excitement bubbling over. But before he could fully bask in the moment, another prompt appeared.
[Hidden Quest - Level up an additional skill to Level 3 or above]
Status - Completed.
Rewards - Mysterious Title, Mysterious Skill, 500 points.
He blinked in surprise. "A hidden quest?" he muttered. He hadn't even realized this was a possibility. Learning the piano with Jeff had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, one born out of curiosity and a desire to expand his horizons. He never expected it to trigger a hidden quest.
Eagerly, he clicked Claim.
[Congratulations! User has obtained the Title - Limit Break.]
Limit Break - This title allows the user to break their limits when facing a difficult situation, provided they possess the mental fortitude to surpass it. The user has an additional 25% chance to deliver a stellar performance beyond their current level.
Kai's eyes widened. "...Is this even fair?" he muttered, barely able to process the implications. The title seemed almost too good to be true. With the ability to push beyond his limits during critical moments, it was a tool that could make the difference between mediocrity and brilliance.
As he tried to wrap his head around the significance of his new titles, the system chimed once more.
[Congratulations! User has obtained the Skill - Observe - Level 1.]
Observe - This skill allows the user to observe another artist for 10 seconds and comprehend their mannerisms in fine detail. This can significantly speed up the user's progress in relevant skills if utilized properly. [Cooldown: 15 days. Note: As the user is unaccustomed to this skill, there is a high probability of severe headaches as it is stamina-intensive. Use with caution.]
Kai let out a low whistle. "This is... a cheat code," he said, shaking his head with a mix of amazement and disbelief. The ability to dissect and absorb techniques from other artists? It was the kind of skill most people could only dream of. Yet, there were caveats: the risk of headaches, the stamina drain, and the lengthy cooldown.
"No spamming my way to success," he muttered with a wry smile. And honestly, he was okay with that. What was the point of success if it wasn't earned? That belief had always been his anchor.
He glanced back at his stats to take it all in.
[User Stats]
Name- Kai Jones
Talent Grade- E (B)
System Level- 1 (750/1000)
Titles- Voice of Empathy, Limit Break
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Strength- 4(9)
Agility- 0(12)
Intelligence- 14
Stamina- 8Charisma- 6(12)
Luck- ??
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Skills-
Observe
Singing - Level 4
Piano - Level 3
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Inventory-
B-ranked vitality elixir
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The vitality elixir caught his eye. It was the reward he had worked so hard for. He quickly navigated to his inventory and selected the elixir. The icon showed a small glass jar containing a swirling, blueish liquid. Kai's hand hovered over the "Retrieve" option, but he hesitated.
"Wait... how will I explain my recovery?" he thought aloud. The thought of suddenly being able to perform without any physical limitations was tempting, but it came with complications. How would Jeffrey react? Or Steven? The idea of being scrutinized or questioned made his stomach churn.
He groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Fu*k," he muttered. For now, he decided to leave the elixir untouched. There had to be a better way to use it without drawing unnecessary attention.
Leaning back in his chair, Kai took a deep breath. The morning had already been eventful, and his mind buzzed with possibilities. The titles, the skill, and his progress felt like validation for all the struggles he had endured.
But it wasn't just the system that had propelled him forward. His thoughts drifted back to last night—to the song he sang, to Nana's memory, and the emotions he had allowed himself to feel. He realized that growth wasn't just about leveling up skills or gaining new abilities. It was about facing the parts of himself he had been avoiding and finding the courage to move forward.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Kai gently stretched, ready to tackle whatever challenges lay ahead. This was only the beginning.