A Glimpse of the Future
"97... 98... 99..." Vanitas muttered, his voice strained and hoarse. He dropped down, arms trembling as beads of sweat dripped from his brow onto the cold floor. "One last push-up, and I'll be done." With a groan, he forced his arms to push his chest off the floor. "100!" He collapsed onto the floor of his small, cramped apartment, chest heaving as he stared at the cracked ceiling. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding like a drum in his ears.
"It's harder than I thought it would be," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of his breathing. Time seemed to slow, each second stretching into an eternity. After what felt like forever, his breathing finally steadied, and he rolled onto his back, limbs sprawled out as if the weight of the world had been lifted off him.
Suddenly, a soft chime echoed in his ears, and a glowing notification appeared before his eyes.
[Task Completed. Rewards for completing the task: 10 Attribute Points. You may distribute them as you see fit.]
Vanitas sat up abruptly, ignoring the dull ache in his shoulders. "Attribute points?" he repeated, excitement creeping into his voice. "Finally, some progress!" He extended his hand, and a translucent menu materialized in front of him.
"Stats," he commanded, and the interface shifted to display his current attributes.
---
[Stats]
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Stamina: 4
Intelligence: 4
Luck: 1
Unassigned Points: 10
---
Vanitas rubbed his chin, considering his options carefully. "Strength and stamina seem like a good start," he muttered, tapping his finger against his knee. "If I'm going to survive, I need to be physically capable." Without hesitation, he assigned four points to Strength and another four to Stamina.
'Hmm… where should I assign the remaining two points?' he thought, biting his lip in contemplation. An idea sparked in his mind. "Luck. It might come in handy," he decided, applying the final two points without hesitation.
---
[Stats Updated]
Strength: 9
Agility: 5
Stamina: 8
Intelligence: 4
Luck: 3
---
As the points were distributed, a warm sensation coursed through his body, like a gentle surge of energy spreading from his core to his fingertips. "So, this is what it feels like to level up," Vanitas murmured, clenching and unclenching his fists. A grin spread across his face. "The best feeling I've had in years."
Just as he closed the stats menu, another notification popped up, the glow brighter this time.
[You have received a Shadow Box. Click to open it.]
"A Shadow Box?" Vanitas tilted his head, intrigued. "Of course, I'll open it." He tapped the notification, and a small, dark box materialized before him, floating in mid-air. It emitted an eerie chill that sent shivers down his spine. The box trembled, and a cold wind brushed against his skin.
"I hope it's a weapon, like a sword or something," he muttered under his breath. The box finally burst open, releasing a soft, warm glow that illuminated the room. A new notification appeared.
[You have received a Shadow Dagger!]
"A dagger, huh?" Vanitas said, reaching for the weapon. The blade was sleek, about three inches long, with a shadowy glow swirling around its edge. It felt heavier than he expected, and its design was ominous yet mesmerizing.
---
[Shadow Dagger]
Tier: A
Description: Forged by shadow itself, this blade can cut through most materials. Enemies struck by the blade will bear shadowy marks that weaken them by draining their energy, giving you the upper hand.
---
"This… this is amazing," Vanitas whispered, turning the blade in his hands. "A weapon that weakens enemies while making me stronger? Dope." He smirked, storing the dagger in his inventory. The glowing menu shimmered before fading away.
Vanitas approached the window, staring at the bustling city outside. Skyscrapers loomed over the crowded streets, their lights reflecting off the smooth pavement. The air was crisp, and the faint sound of car horns filled the night. The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light piercing through the thin veil of clouds.
"Wait… it's already night?" he muttered, surprised at how quickly time had passed. His attention was drawn to the faint sound of a news broadcast coming from his neighbor's apartment.
---
"Today's top story: Another person has gone missing in the valley near Seoul. This marks the fifth disappearance this week in the same area. Authorities advise citizens to avoid the valley, especially at night."
---
"Five people in one week?" Vanitas frowned, his hand unconsciously clenching into a fist. "That's not normal. Something's definitely happening there. I'll have to be cautious if I ever go near that place."
A new thought crossed his mind, causing him to furrow his brows. "But first… I need to test my unique skill: Shadow Mimicry." His eyes darkened. "But to test it… I'll need to kill someone."
The idea made his stomach churn, but he pushed the feeling aside. If he wanted to grow stronger and survive, sacrifices had to be made. He clenched his jaw, determination hardening his features. "I have no choice."
---
Vanitas stepped out of his apartment, the cool night air brushing against his face. The moonlight bathed the streets in a pale glow, and the distant sound of laughter echoed from a nearby bar. He made his way to a secluded part of the city—a dark alley where the destitute sought refuge.
He spotted a frail old man slumped against a wall, his hollow eyes staring into the distance. The man's clothes were tattered, and his thin frame trembled in the cold. Vanitas hesitated for a moment, his grip tightening on the dagger in his inventory.
"Please… help me," the old man croaked, his voice barely audible.
Vanitas swallowed hard, his conscience screaming at him to stop. But he steeled himself, his hand reaching into the glowing inventory to retrieve the Shadow Dagger. The blade felt cold in his hand as he approached the man.
"I'm sorry," Vanitas whispered. He raised the dagger, the blade glinting in the moonlight, and struck. The old man's body went limp, his life fading away without a sound. There was no blood, only a faint shadowy mark left on the man's skin.
A notification appeared.
---
[Target Defeated: Old Loner]
[Shadow Mimicry Activated]
Skill available for copy:
Precise Eye: Enhances sight and the ability to analyze surroundings.
Analytic Mind: Boosts strategic thinking and planning.
---
Vanitas stared at the options, his hand trembling slightly. "Precise Eye… I'll choose that one." He selected the skill, and the old man's body dissolved into a wisp of shadow, disappearing into the system like a soul consumed.
---
[Successfully Copied Skill 1/3]
[Skill Evolving]
[Precise Eye → Shadow Eye]
---
"Evolving?" Vanitas raised an eyebrow, intrigued. He tapped the notification to view the updated skill's description.
---
[Shadow Eye]
Allows the user to see in complete darkness.
Can zoom in and out at will.
---
Vanitas activated the skill, and the alley around him transformed. The darkness melted away, revealing every crack in the walls and every detail of the ground as if it were daylight. "Incredible," he murmured, deactivating the skill and plunging the alley back into darkness.
He glanced at the spot where the old man had been, his heart heavy with the weight of his actions. "Why don't I feel guilty?" he muttered. "Is this the system's doing?" Shaking his head, he turned and made his way back to his apartment.
---
Once home, Vanitas changed into a clean white shirt and a pair of brown shorts. He collapsed onto his bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on his body. He stared at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead.
Suddenly, another notification appeared.
---
[Daily Task System]
Push-Ups: 0/100
Pull-Ups: 0/100
Planks: 0/3 minutes
Throw Punches: 0/100
Time Left: 24 hours
[Failure Results in Penalty!]
---
Vanitas sighed, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Looks like this will be my life from now on," he muttered, closing his eyes. Sleep claimed him quickly, his mind drifting into the void as he prepared for the challenges that awaited him.
End of Chapter.