The Potential Within

A Night of Restless Thoughts

Kaizer lay on his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling above him. The faint sounds of the village at rest drifted through the open window. But his mind was anything but calm. Ever since he unlocked the interface, questions had been racing through his head.

"Mana..." he whispered into the darkness. "If I have mana, then there must be magic."

He shifted slightly, replaying the details of his interface over and over again in his mind. Health—900. Mana—750. Far too high for a simple NPC. His thoughts spiraled further.

"NPCs in games don't usually have access to these kinds of abilities. But this world isn't following any normal rules." He furrowed his brow. "If I have skills, if I have mana... then what else is possible?"

The concept of a mere NPC having the ability to wield magic or combat skills was almost laughable. Almost. But the more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. "In every adventure game, there's always a way to break the norm." He smirked slightly. "Maybe I'm more than just an NPC."

The Morning After

The morning light filtered through the window, chasing away the shadows of the previous night. Kaizer sat at the small table in his room, his mind still preoccupied with his discovery. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his existence in this world than what he'd initially believed.

His thoughts circled back to his interface. "If I have mana, I should be able to use it. But for what?" He clenched his fist slightly, considering the possibilities. "Magic... combat... can NPCs evolve beyond their standard roles?"

He stood up and began pacing the room. "I've already gained skills. So why wouldn't I be able to gain combat skills?" The idea felt strange to him, but at the same time, it held a certain appeal.

Internal Debate

Kaizer moved to the window and gazed out at the village below. The villagers were going about their daily routines, blissfully unaware of the systems that governed their world. To them, Kaizer was just another villager—someone who belonged. But deep down, he knew he was different.

"Am I really just a part of the world?" he questioned, eyes narrowing. "Or can I break free from the mold and grow stronger, like the adventurers?"

He remembered his Health—higher than what any normal NPC should possess. "Health and Mana—stats that belong to adventurers. But they're also mine." His hand brushed against the table, fingertips tapping rhythmically as his mind raced.

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. If he could gain skills through simple actions, then it stood to reason that he could also acquire combat skills. "A fighting NPC... a joke, right?" he muttered with a wry smile. But what if he wasn't wrong?

Experimentation Begins

Kaizer stepped out of his room, his mind made up. The village seemed peaceful, as it always did, but Kaizer's thoughts were anything but serene. He needed to test his theory. The only way to confirm whether he could gain combat skills was to try.

He wandered toward the outskirts of the village, where the forest began. The Veilwood Forest loomed in the distance—its dark, thick canopy creating an eerie sense of foreboding. This place held mysteries, dangers... and perhaps answers.

Kaizer picked up a nearby stick, inspecting it closely. "A crude weapon," he remarked quietly, twirling it in his hands. "But it'll do for now."

His mind buzzed with questions. "If I engage in combat, will the system respond the way it does when I perform tasks?" He glanced at the stick in his hand again. "Can I acquire combat skills... just like I acquired handiwork and persuasion?"

The possibility intrigued him. "I won't know until I try."

First Test

Kaizer moved further into the forest, finding a quiet clearing where he could experiment in peace. The forest was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and distant chirps of birds. He held the stick in a defensive stance, his body tense and ready.

For a few moments, nothing happened. He stared at the empty space around him, feeling slightly foolish. But then, from the shadows, something stirred.

A creature emerged—a majestic deer, though its appearance was unlike any he had ever seen. Its coat shimmered with an ethereal glow, its antlers gleamed with a faint, magical light. The air around it seemed to hum with energy. Kaizer's eyes narrowed as he analyzed it.

"An enchanted deer?" he murmured, gripping the stick tighter. He prepared himself, muscles coiled, ready to strike. "This will be my true test."

As he moved closer, the deer snapped its head toward him, its eyes glowing unnervingly bright. Kaizer braced himself, but as he took another step forward, a notification suddenly flashed in his mind.

[Warning: Name and level information unavailable due to NPC restrictions.]

Kaizer paused, momentarily taken aback. "So even the system hides information from me," he muttered. "But that won't stop me."

The deer charged at him, moving with unnatural speed for a creature of its size. Kaizer barely had time to react as the creature slammed into him, knocking him off balance. He hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him. His interface flashed again:

[Health: 750/900]

[Damage Taken: 150]

Kaizer gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "That thing hits harder than I expected," he muttered through gritted teeth, forcing himself back to his feet. "But I'm not backing down." He readied his stick again, positioning himself for a counterattack.

As the deer charged once more, Kaizer's mind raced, recalling Newton's Third Law of Motion—for every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction. He realized that trying to fight the deer head-on was futile; its strength far exceeded his own.

"I don't need to match your strength," Kaizer whispered to himself, sidestepping the charge. "I just need to use it against you."

The deer rushed at him again, and this time, Kaizer timed his movements carefully. Just before the deer could hit him, he stepped aside, using the creature's own momentum to send it stumbling forward. The deer nearly lost its balance, crashing into a nearby tree.

"Got you." Kaizer smirked, quickly striking the deer's side with the stick while it was off-balance.

[Health: 600/900]

[Damage Taken: 150]

The deer regained its footing and lunged at Kaizer, but he remained calm. Instead of blocking the attack directly, he redirected the deer's force, stepping to the side at the last second, causing the creature to miss and charge into another tree.

"For every action, there's an equal and opposite reaction," Kaizer muttered, his eyes gleaming with understanding. "You can keep charging, but you're only going to hurt yourself."

The deer turned, disoriented from the impact, and Kaizer took advantage of its momentary confusion. He swung his stick again, landing a solid blow to the creature's legs.

[Health: 400/900]

[Damage Taken: 200]

Kaizer winced as the deer managed to land a glancing blow with its antlers, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on. "This ends now."

With one final effort, Kaizer sidestepped the deer's attack once more, causing it to overextend. He swung his stick with all his might, aiming for the creature's head. The impact was enough to bring the enchanted deer down, its glowing form collapsing to the forest floor.

Panting heavily, Kaizer stood over the fallen creature, his body trembling from exhaustion and pain. And then, a series of notifications appeared.

[Skill Acquired: Basic Combat (Level 1) (Active)]

Effect: Basic proficiency in handling improvised weapons such as sticks, clubs, and simple swords. Increased accuracy and power in attacks.

Kaizer's eyes lit up as he saw the notification, but another soon followed.

[Experience Gained: 300 EXP]

[Level Up: Level 2]

[Level Up: Level 3]

[Health: 1,200/1,200]

[Mana: 950/950]

[EXP Progress: 0/800 to Level 4]

Kaizer stood frozen for a moment, staring at the notifications in disbelief. "Level up... twice?" he whispered under his breath, a mixture of confusion and exhilaration filling him. "I jumped straight to Level 3 from that kill..."

He glanced down at the fallen deer, feeling a rush of triumph. His health and mana had increased—far beyond what he had originally thought possible. "A mere NPC with combat skills, leveling up... this world really is breaking its own rules."

He dismissed the interface and turned his gaze back toward the village, a cold smile playing on his lips. "This is only the beginning."

Back to the Village

Kaizer returned to the village with a new sense of purpose. The questions that had been plaguing him all night had finally been answered—NPCs could indeed gain combat skills and experience, and even level up quickly with enough effort. He felt stronger, more capable, and with each level, the restrictions of his NPC status seemed to loosen ever so slightly.

As he walked through the village square, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of power. He wasn't just an NPC—he was something more. And with each passing day, he would continue to push the boundaries of what this world expected from him.

"There are no limits," Kaizer whispered to himself as he passed by the other villagers. "Not for me."

He had taken the first step, and there was no turning back now. The path ahead was clear—he would continue to test the system, gain more skills, and grow stronger. And eventually, he would surpass even the adventurers who thought they ruled this world.