Ascension Points

Ethan sat alone in his dimly lit room, one foot tapping anxiously against the wooden floor. The rhythm matched the unease twisting in his chest.

Muted sounds drifted in from the rest of the apartment. The TV murmured from the living room, dishes clinked faintly in the kitchen where his mom was cleaning up. Usually comforting. Tonight, distant.

Something felt off.

It had started during dinner, just a flicker of discomfort. A strange sensation, like they were being watched.

He ran a hand through his hair and stood, walking to the window. The street outside looked quiet, and calm. But his gut told a different story.

'Am I being watched? Or am I being paranoid?'

He hadn't told anyone about the money. Not his family. Not his friends. No one.

So why did it feel like someone already knew?

Ethan replayed everything in his mind, searching for cracks. And then it hit him—the bank. Charles Weston, no, it was Suzanne.

Suzanne had practically shouted his account balance across the bank floor.

'She might as well have used a megaphone,' he thought bitterly.

His gaze swept over the shadows outside. He didn't even know what he was looking for.

Someone watching from the dark? A van parked too long?

And then came another thought. The deliveries.

Gaming gear. Designer clothes. Expensive tech.

All were scheduled to arrive at this fragile apartment.

His stomach turned.

"Shoot," he muttered. "That's going to look suspicious to anyone paying attention."

He began pacing. Faster.

The idea of someone targeting him was scary.

The idea of someone targeting his family? Terrifying.

He stopped, fists clenched. He had to act. Now.

First, he needed to move them. A new home, safer and private. He had the money. He could find a place tonight, book it, hire movers. Even if the packages still arrived here, he could reroute them. That part was easy.

Second, he needed safety and protection. Not just locks and cameras. He needed real defense.

"I need to protect them," Ethan said quietly. "And myself."

He pulled out his phone and shot a text to Charles.

Ethan: Know any good private security firms? Reliable ones?

Charles replied almost instantly.

Charles: I'll send the details first thing in the morning, Mr. Cole.

Ethan smiled but he wasn't reassured. Bodyguards were helpful, sure. But deep down, he knew, he couldn't rely on anyone else.

If it came to it, he had to be the one standing between danger and his family. He looked down at his hands, the thought sinking in like steel.

'Maybe this is why the System gave me Physical stats.'

But he wasn't a fighter. No training. No skills. Just a mind for code and the fortune of a lifetime.

He exhaled, almost laughing.

"I can't just become some superhuman overnight," he muttered.

Then paused. "Or… can I?"

His eyes widened as the thought clicked into place, The Skills Panel.

He recalled the Skills Panel, those intriguing but locked abilities he hadn't been able to access before.

"Wait a minute..." His eyes widened as realization dawned. "I have Ascension Points now."

Ethan had earned them after leveling up earlier.

"Let's see what you've got for me," he said under his breath.

It was more to himself than to anyone—or anything—else. Eagerly, Ethan grabbed his phone and opened the System Panel, scrolling quickly to the Skills Panel he didn't have access to, before.

"This is not how I should be using the system."

He allowed for it to appear before him.

"Yep. This is better."

He mentally clicked on the Skills Panel. Then, with a soft chime, a new notification appeared, glowing faintly in the dim light of the room.

[Skills Panel Unlocked]

'This is awesome,' Ethan thought, his pulse quickening. 'Luckily it unlocked when I reached Level 2.'

With a thought, he tapped to open the Skills Panel. As it unfurled before him, a cascade of possibilities filled the screen.

Categories upon categories stretched out in neat, shimmering rows, each brimming with skills that seemed to belong more to a hero from legend than to an ordinary young man.

His breath caught in his throat. He hadn't expected this overwhelming array of choices.

"I never thought it would be this many..." Ethan murmured.

He was amazed at what the system had to offer.

=====

[Skills Panel]

Categories:

Daily Living Skills

Cooking (Basic) Driving (Basic) Sewing (Basic) Gardening (Basic)

Creative Skills

Writing (Basic) Singing (Basic) Drawing (Basic) Sculpting (Basic)

Communication Skills

Public Speaking (Basic) Negotiation (Basic) Persuasion (Basic) Leadership (Basic)

Physical Skills

Parkour (Basic) Acrobatics (Basic) Climbing (Basic) Slacklining (Basic)

Survival and Tactical Skills

Wilderness Survival (Basic) Stealth (Basic) Tracking (Basic) Navigating (Basic)

Combat Skills

Boxing (Basic) Krav Maga (Basic) Muay Thai (Basic) Close Quarters Combat (Basic) Tactical Firearms (Basic)

Weapon Proficiency

Handguns (Basic) Rifles (Basic) Tactical Knives (Basic) Throwing Weapons (Basic)

=====

Ethan's eyes widened in amazement as he scrolled through the list of skills, his breath catching at the sheer scope of possibilities.

His gaze landed on the Combat Skills section, and for a moment, he simply stared, his imagination leaping ahead.

'This is it. The one that I needed the most right now,' he thought.

A thrill coursed through him. The names jumped out at him; Boxing, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Close Quarters Combat. They were all practical, lethal, and honed for survival.

They weren't just martial arts but tools designed for the harsh realities of combat. Ethan had seen snippets of their efficiency in online videos, where every movement was precise, every strike devastating.

"These will be really useful," he murmured, leaning closer to the screen.

His mind began to race, imagining himself as a true force—a blend of wealth and raw power. He pictured himself standing confidently, both a master of the boardroom and a formidable fighter, similar to how the young masters he'd read about in novels.

Ethan could not help but grinned at the thought. However, he shook his head quickly.

"Let's be real. This is not some kind of novel." He continued to mumble, "If I get hurt, or worse, that's it. There's no second chance."

His gaze moved back to the details, where the System elaborated on each skill. Every skill was divided into three levels; Basic, Intermediate, and Master.

Unlocking the Basic level required 2 Ascension Points, a price that made Ethan instinctively glance at his remaining balance.

'I've got ten. Enough to unlock five Basic skills... but which five?'

The Intermediate level required another 5 Ascension Points. In comparison, the Master level demanded another hefty 10 Ascension Points, and, intriguingly, each level could be mastered instantly.

To make it all the way to the Master tier, he needed 17 Ascension Points.

He believed that when he unlocked the skills, the information would surge into his mind.

No long hours of grueling practice, no years of sweat and toil. The knowledge and expertise would be his the moment he unlocked them.

"It must be that way," Ethan whispered.

But then, another thought struck him, sobering him slightly. "But it would be painful."

He recalled countless stories and novels where inheriting sudden power often came with excruciating pain or dangerous side effects.

Would the system be any different?

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, steeling himself for what might come. He could not waste his time anymore. If he wanted to protect himself and his family, he needed to be ready at any cost.

His decision settled, and his heart thudded with nervous anticipation as he muttered, "Alright, let's start with Krav Maga."

=====

[Krav Maga]

A martial art designed for self-defense and survival in violent situations. Focuses on neutralizing threats quickly and efficiently.

Cost: 2 Ascension Points (Basic)

Do you wish to unlock this skill?

(Yes/No)

=====

"Yes," Ethan whispered, clicking the button.

[Purchase Successful: Krav Maga [Basic] - 2 Ascension Points]

Suddenly, a wave of sensations hit Ethan like a lightning bolt. A torrent of knowledge and muscle memory flooded his mind and body all at once.

It wasn't the slow, steady learning that came with practice; this was sharp, overwhelming, like years of experience compressed into a single, blinding moment.

A piercing ache flared across his temples, his vision blurred, and his whole body seemed to rebel against the sudden transformation. Gritting his teeth, Ethan clenched his fists, every fiber of his being focused on staying silent.

The only thing he did not want to happen was for his family to rush in.

Even so, he felt like every passing second felt like an eternity. It was too much for him to take. Then, the pressure eased.

Ethan opened his eyes.

"Whoa…" he said, a grin breaking across his face. "That's… incredible."

He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders experimentally. Every movement felt smoother, sharper, and more precise. What had once been concepts or techniques he'd watched others perform was now second nature, embedded deep within him like instincts.

Blocking, countering, striking—it was all there, etched into his very being. He could feel the power and efficiency of Krav Maga coursing through him.

It wasn't just knowledge; it was mastery.

'This is unreal… How is this even happening?' Ethan thought, his mind racing as he paced the room.

He threw a quick jab into the air, following it with a series of fluid, instinctive strikes. Every movement felt precise, powerful, and natural like his body already knew the choreography.

He was elated. With this, he could become stronger overnight.

'What else can I unlock?'

His gaze shifted back to the Skills Panel, and his eyes landed on another skill, Close Quarters Combat.

"This… would be really helpful," he murmured.

The thought of mastering techniques used by elite soldiers and operatives sent a ripple of excitement through him.

He took a deep breath, as he knew it was worth it. Without hesitation, Ethan tapped the option to unlock it and braced for the impact.

=====

[Close Quarters Combat]

Combat skills designed for close-range fighting, often used by special forces and mercenaries in real-world battle scenarios.

Cost: 2 Ascension Points (Basic)

Do you wish to unlock this skill?

(Yes/No)

=====

"Yes," Ethan replied without hesitation.

He needed to learn all of these skills quickly.

[Purchase Successful: Close Quarters Combat [Basic] - 2 Ascension Points]

This time, Ethan braced himself. He was prepared to receive the knowledge. He could feel his head throbbing. He believed that if this situation continued for a few more minutes, his head would explode.

Luckily, it stopped after a minute. He was drenched in sweat.

Other than being impressed with the sudden knowledge, memories, and mastery of the skill, another thought crossed his mind.

"If I increase my Strength and Endurance, will this be any easier?"

It was basically a question worth pondering. He could test it later on. When the discomfort finally subsided, Ethan let out a long breath.

He shook his arms as if to dispel the lingering tension. Once again, he was elated with his newfound abilities.

"Let's give this a try."

Ethan flexed his hands, rolled his shoulders, and instinctively shifted into a stance he hadn't known before. The movements felt natural and precise—like the actions of someone who had spent years honing them.

He realized, with a jolt of amazement, that he now knew how to defend himself in nearly any situation. Hallways, stairwells, narrow alleys—spaces where every movement had to count—no longer felt like obstacles.

Ethan's mind raced with an understanding he hadn't earned but now possessed. He could see how to turn a corner into an advantage, how to use walls as leverage, and how to read an opponent's body language before they even moved.

Disarming, countering, anticipating—it all came naturally now as if he'd spent years mastering it.

"This is… unbelievable," Ethan murmured, turning his hands over, studying them like they were unfamiliar tools.

A laugh broke through his amazement, soft but incredulous.

"Will this be considered cheating?"

Truthfully, he didn't mind cheating for now. It was amazing how the system achieved this feat. But there was no denying its effectiveness.

Ethan felt, for the first time in his life, not just ready but capable of facing threats head-on.

He scrolled further through the list of skills, his eyes landing on a section labeled Tactical Firearms. He paused, considering the implications of such knowledge.

The descriptions hinted at an entirely different realm of expertise—precision, strategy, and the ability to wield firearms with calm confidence.

'I can't just go around carrying guns,' Ethan thought, his brow furrowing.

The notion was impractical, if not downright reckless. But then again, it might prove invaluable in an emergency.

"Well," he murmured to himself, "it doesn't hurt to be prepared."

=====

[Tactical Firearms]

Training in handguns, rifles, and other firearms designed for tactical and combat scenarios. Used by military and law enforcement personnel. Increase shooting accuracy by 33%.

Cost: 2 Ascension Points (Basic)

Do you wish to unlock this skill?

(Yes/No)

=====

Similar to before, he replied without a single moment of hesitation.

"Yes," Ethan confirmed.

[Purchase Successful: Tactical Firearms [Basic] - 2 Ascension Points]

Ethan felt the now-familiar sensation wash over him, though this time, it came with a strange sense of nostalgia as if he had spent years honing his aim and precision at a shooting range.

"How on earth is this possible?" he murmured. "It's like I've lived through the memories of training with guns."

The understanding came effortlessly, as natural as breathing. He now knew how to hold, aim, and fire a wide range of firearms with accuracy and confidence. He could feel their weight in his hands.

However, none were present, and he instinctively knew the steps for loading, disassembling, and maintaining them.

"I'd love to try this out for real," he admitted to himself, his voice tinged with quiet amazement.

This time, the influx of knowledge wasn't as jarring as it had been before. Perhaps his body and mind were adjusting to the process, or perhaps the complexity of this skill wasn't on the same level as the others.

But Ethan couldn't be entirely certain—he was only guessing. To him, this wasn't an easy skill by any means.

With three skills unlocked and six Ascension Points spent Ethan felt as though years of intense training had been embedded in his very being.

His muscle memory, once an ordinary part of his existence, now carried the precision and discipline of an elite soldier.

Ethan took a deep breath. He then placed a hand on his chest. He could feel that his heart was beating in excitement.

"Now I have the basic things that I need."

However, he knew well that all of this would never mean he or his family was completely safe. There were more things to be taken care of.