The First Upgrade

Biodun stared at the glowing menu in front of him. The Evolution System's interface felt oddly natural now, like checking his phone for the time. His eyes traced over the available options: Skills, Inventory, Quests. He focused on Skills and selected his first ability—Basic Fitness. A new prompt appeared:

Upgrade available. Would you like to enhance your Basic Fitness skill?

The system made it sound so simple, yet the implications ran deeper. If this Evolution System was anything like the games he used to play, an upgrade could mean real, tangible benefits. Biodun hesitated only a moment before choosing Yes.

A surge of energy coursed through his body, as though every muscle fiber was suddenly electrified. He staggered back, gasping, feeling his strength, agility, and endurance subtly but unmistakably shift. His senses sharpened; the world around him seemed crisper, more vivid.

He clenched his fists and flexed his arms, testing the change. It was small but significant. Running that kilometer earlier had left him winded and sore, but now… He crouched and leaped, clearing a height that would have taken effort before. “Whoa,” he muttered, impressed by his own ability.

A familiar ding echoed in his ears, the system's chime pulling his attention back to the glowing text.

New Quest Available: Help an Elderly Person Cross the Street. Reward: 50 XP, Minor Healing Potion.

"Seriously?" Biodun raised an eyebrow. It seemed mundane, almost absurd. But then again, this system didn’t seem to care about his preconceptions. If it said there was XP to be earned by helping someone, who was he to argue?

He headed out, scanning the streets for any sign of someone in need of help. Lagos, with its usual hustle and bustle, offered no shortage of opportunities. He soon spotted an elderly woman standing at the edge of a busy intersection, looking lost amidst the chaotic traffic.

Without hesitation, he approached her. "Ma, do you need help crossing?" he asked, his tone respectful.

The woman’s face lit up with relief. "Ah, thank you, my son. These cars won’t stop, and my legs aren’t what they used to be."

Biodun stepped forward, signaling for a pause in the flow of vehicles. With a commanding presence he hadn’t possessed before, he guided her across. Once they reached the other side safely, she patted his hand. "You’re a good boy. God bless you."

As she walked away, a familiar sound rang in his ears.

Gssmzzz! Ding!! Task Completed: Help an Elderly Person Cross the Street. Earned 50 XP. Reward Received: Minor Healing Potion.

A notification flashed before him, and he couldn’t help but grin as he checked his updated status.

[Level 1] [XP: 200] [Skills: Basic Fitness (Upgraded)] [Weapons: None]

He opened his inventory and found the healing potion waiting for him—a small vial filled with a shimmering liquid. The realization hit him like a freight train: This system wasn’t just about grinding for XP; it was shaping his world in ways he hadn’t anticipated.

Biodun sat at his desk, the healing potion resting beside his open notebook. The bright system notification still lingered in his vision, fading gradually as if waiting for him to fully grasp its significance. He let out a low whistle. “A healing potion… just for helping someone cross the street,” he mused. The system seemed to reward the simplest of actions, yet each reward felt strangely meaningful.

He glanced at the screen again as a new prompt appeared.

New Task: Study for 3 hours straight. Reward: 50 XP.

"Study? For real?" He chuckled, but then paused. The system didn’t just challenge him physically—it demanded his mental engagement too. For a moment, it felt like the system was guiding him toward a balance he hadn’t considered before. Strength of body, yes, but also of mind.

With a resigned sigh, he grabbed his textbooks. The looming exam he’d been putting off was still weeks away, but if the system was going to reward him for doing what he should be doing anyway… Why not?

The first half hour went smoothly enough, but as the minutes dragged on, so did his focus. Biodun’s mind began to wander, and the temptation to check his phone or take a break became overwhelming. He glanced at the clock—two hours left.

“Come on, Biodun. You’ve run a kilometer today and helped a granny. You can handle a few hours of studying,” he muttered to himself.

He pushed on, forcing his attention back to the words on the page. He started to feel the familiar strain behind his eyes, the dull throb of fatigue setting in. His mind was cluttered with equations and theories, but the system’s promise kept him going. Every time he was about to falter, the thought of that 50 XP dangled in front of him like a carrot on a stick.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, his timer buzzed. Three hours. He dropped his pen, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh. The system responded immediately.

Gssmzzz! Ding!! Task Completed: Study for 3 hours. Earned 50 XP.

A subtle smile crept across his face as the familiar sound filled the room. His XP bar edged closer to the next milestone. Checking his updated stats, he noted the change.

[Level 1] [XP: 250] [Skills: Basic Fitness (Upgraded)] [Weapons: None]

The numbers weren’t the most exciting part, though. What mattered was how this system was subtly pushing him to improve. For once, studying hadn’t felt like an obligation—it was progress. Measurable, tangible progress. The system was slowly transforming how he approached life, making even mundane tasks feel purposeful.

Biodun took a long look out the window, the bustling sounds of Lagos filtering in. The world continued its chaotic rhythm outside, oblivious to the changes happening within him. He was changing, evolving. Each task, no matter how small, was building him into something more.

What would come next? Would the tasks become harder? More demanding? And where was all this leading?

As he pondered these questions, the system remained silent, giving no hint of what lay ahead. But for the first time, Biodun felt a growing anticipation rather than apprehension. If this system could turn something as simple as studying into an opportunity for growth, what could it do when real challenges came his way?

He flexed his fingers, the energy from his earlier upgrade still humming beneath his skin. Whatever it was, he was ready.