The Countdown Begins

Chapter 3: The Countdown Begins

The first morning sun rays, through the small window in Caden's room, painted faded patterns on the walls. His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, he lay still, processing the whirlwind of events from the previous night. The bracelet, the system, the stats-it felt so dreamy to him.

But then, that now-familiar blue interface flashed right before his eyes, deleting all his doubt, and he knew this was very real.

**[System Notification: Good morning, Host. Daily Mission available.]**

**[Mission: Run 2 miles. Reward: +2 Status Points.]**

Caden sprang from his bed, sitting down and facing upwards with a heart that raced in his chest; he stared star-eyed at the message. *A 'daily mission'? You have to be kidding me. I thought it would always be that one.

He rubbed his temples, trying to wrap his head around it. The stats he'd seen yesterday-the *Strength*, *Speed*, and *Dexterity*-still felt unreal to him. Yet here was the system, pushing him forward as if it knew exactly what he needed.

A quick swipe of his hand pulled up the rest of the interface. His current stats flashed before him:

[Caden Arden | Age: 18]

[Strength: 5 | Speed: 6 | Dexterity: 6 | Perception: MAX Combat experience: 9]

[Unallocated Status Points: 4]

"Four points…", he muttered. His fingers danced upon the interface, tempting him to allocate them. But where? *Strength*-to help him with military test? *Speed*-for agility drills?

Before he could decide yet, another notification popped up.

[System Reminder: Completion of Daily Missions is crucial for the development of the Host.]

Caden let out a heavy sigh, flipping his legs over the bed. Of course, the system wasn't going to let him slack off, right? "Two miles, huh?" he whispered, stretching his arms. A little smile began to curl his lips. This was perhaps exactly what he needed to be number one.

Just as Caden was about to leave the room, a weird sensation swept his body. He felt lighter, more articulate in movement; it seemed his muscles were working subtly in unison. He flexed his fingers and twisted his wrist. All motion was done with an ease that had up until then eluded him.

Curiosity got the better of him, and Caden crouched, then leapt upward. Much to his utter shock, his head almost grazed the ceiling. He landed with a muffled thud, heart racing. *What the hell?* he thought, staring at the floor as if it would give him answers.

In response, the interface flickered on, almost as if the system were laughing at his confusion.

**[System Notification: The recent stat gain has increased the reflexes and physical control of Host. Please distribute the unspent points to enhance other abilities.] 

Caden raised an eyebrow. "Buffed? That'd explain the leap," he whispered to himself, head shaking.

His gaze returned to the hovering display, and he had four status points unallocated, very tempting to stash, yet the soft prodding of the system made him think otherwise. After all, his daily mission wasn't going to complete itself, and every advantage was going to prove priceless.

He tapped on the interface, weighing options. "Alright, let's see…," he said to himself.

**Strength +2**: He pictured the brute power that could be unleashed onto his physical activities.

-**Speed +1**: One point would not make him a sprinter, but at least he would be a bit quicker.

**Dexterity +1**: In combat, precision and agility mattered as much as strength.

He nodded after a second, confirming the allocation; there was a tingling sensation of warmth that overspread his body. Muscles tensed, he felt a change, as if the body was retuning itself toward efficiency.

To see if the change had worked, Caden took a cup off his desk and flipped it lightly into the air. When it fell, instinctively he caught it well before the cup was even halfway down. He stared in complete shock at how smooth and quick he performed the move.

"Whoa… that's insane," he said, staring at his hands as if they belonged to somebody else.

The system's interface flashed once more.

**[System Notification: Unallocated points fully distributed. Strength: 7 | Speed: 7 | Dexterity: 7.]**

The numbers were nice to see, but Caden knew they were only the beginning. If this was what two extra points could do, what would ten or twenty feel like?

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Caden, you awake?" his adoptive mother's voice called from outside.

"Yeah, Aunt Lana, I'll be down in a minute," he said, hastily closing the interface.

A determined grin curled his lips as he went out of the room. He could feel it in every fiber of his being that today was going to mark the beginning of something new.

The cool morning air slapped against Caden as he stepped outside, his old hoodie and sweatpants loose on his frame. Before him, the quiet streets stretched away in the golden glow of dawn. He pulled the laces tight on his sneakers and glanced briefly at the system interface hovering in the corner of his vision.

**Mission Progress: 0/2 miles completed.

He breathed in heavily, feeling that weird, amazing lightness in his body. "Alright," he grumbled, managing to take the first step. "Now, let's see what you've got, system."

Caden started off with a jog; his feet fell in a steady rhythm, and beside him, the system interface ran, showing his speed, distance covered, and even calories burned.

**[Speed: 7 | Current Pace: 7.5 mph | Distance Covered: 0.5 miles.]

The transformation crept over him like a spell: his breathing calmed and regular, strides sure and fluid; his thighs began not to tire as easily any more. He felt, for real- unstoppable.

Half a mile into his first mile, he surged a bit. The read-out displayed a new rate instantaneously.

**Current Pace: 9.0 mph | Distance Completed 1.0 miles.

Caden grinned, his body's reaction delighting him. "This is insane," he muttered, the wind whipping at him as he surged ahead.

By the time he'd run 1.5 miles, he wasn't testing his capabilities anymore; he was enjoying them. The world around him began to blur as his enhanced perception kicked in, allowing him to anticipate each step, each shift in the terrain.

Finally, when he crossed the 2-mile mark, the system proudly chimed in.

**[Mission Completed. Reward: +2 Status Points.]**

Caden came to a stop, his hands on his hips as he breathed in deeply. Despite running so hard, he wasn't totally exhausted. If anything, he was energized, like his body wasn't taking these new demands lying down.

The interface flashed one last time, reflecting his current stats:

**[Strength: 7 | Speed: 7 | Dexterity: 7 | Perception: MAX | Unallocated Status Points: 2.]**

He wiped the sweat from his brow, a small smile tugging on his lips. "Not bad for a warm-up," he said to himself, already fantasizing just how much stronger he'd get over the next few days.

As he turned to head back home, the system bequeathed another message.

**[Remember: Consistency is key. The daily missions will really accelerate your progress a lot.]**

Caden laughed. "Yeah, yeah. I get it."

He jogged the rest of the way back with the sun high in the sky, while in his mind, a million possibilities jostled for space. For the first time in years, he felt like he was on an equal playing field, not just to prove himself but more than what anybody had ever thought he could be.

The morning sun was inviting as he jogged his way back home, abuzz with all the possibilities this system had opened to him. By the time he got to the front porch, there was a thin coating of sweat on his body, yet he didn't feel tired but rather weirdly refreshed.

He pushed the front door open and smelled the comforting scent of breakfast wafting through the house. Before Caden could take his sneakers off, he heard Aunt Lana from the kitchen.

"You're just in time! Rush to freshen up; the breakfast is almost done!"

Caden chuckled low and kicked off his shoes. "Got it, Aunt Lana." He went upstairs to his room, the aftermath of his morning run buzzing in his veins.

In the bathroom, with splashes of cold water on his face, Caden stared into the mirror. He felt different today; his eyes seemed to be a bit sharper, and his carriage an inch more confident. He flexed his arms in amazement at how the muscles were finally taking some form.

*This system may be the real deal.*

He showered quickly and changed into his school uniform-gray shirt with matching pants-and then hurried downstairs to the kitchen. Already, Aunt Lana was setting plates on the table, her movements quick and efficient, as always.

"Caden, sit and eat," she said, motioning to the scrambled eggs and toast waiting for him. "You're going to be late again if you don't hurry."

"I won't be late," he said, snatching a piece of toast off the plate and taking a big bite. "I've got time."

"You always say that," she chided, pouring him a glass of juice. Her scolding tone now soft, she sat down opposite to him. "But seriously, how are you doing at school going? And that training you are doing for the military academy program, are you sure you can handle both?"

He didn't say anything for a moment, just looking at her. Aunt Lana had always been worried about him, ever since all that with his father. But he didn't want her to see him as fragile or overcome.

"I'm fine, Aunt Lana," he said with a reassuring smile. "School's good, and the academy stuff… well, it's tough, but there is nothing I can't handle."

She raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Just don't overdo it, okay? You've got a lot on your plate."

Caden nodded, wolfing down the remainder of his breakfast. "Now the plate is empty" Caden said joking and Lana glared at him "I'll be fine. Promise." He stood up, grabbing his bag from the corner of the room. "Thanks for breakfast! I've got to go."

"Wait!" she called after him. "Take an apple or something. You'll need the energy!"

Caden caught the apple she flung in his direction and gave a quick grin. "Thanks, Aunt Lana. See ya later!"

Once outside, the system interface popped up in front of him again, unsolicited.

**[Reminder: Host's schedule has limited free time. Finish missions efficiently.]

"I already did," Caden grumbled quietly as he pocketed the apple into his backpack. Next destination-military school, teenage high school section, Earth, where all real trials that today was going to pass through lay ahead.

Cool morning air received him, morning-walk fashion towards the academy but not much from the place, really different and distinct in air-in high contrast compared to that high life of schools of boisterous feelings that would give rise to.

As he approached, the gates loomed tall and imposing, manned by two uniformed soldiers. They nodded as he came in, but their watchful eyes gave the impression that nothing was missed. Caden straightened his posture to give off an air of confidence.

It was no less intimidating a facility than it had ever been: towering buildings, and the ever-present hum of military vehicles in the background. Caden walked briskly toward the main hall, where some students had already gathered for today's session.

Before he could look at them, a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Caden Arden."

He turned to see a couple of military people standing a few feet away from him, their faces unreadable. One of them—a tall man with sharp features—motioned for him to follow them.

"We need to have a word with you," he said.

Caden's stomach contracted, but his face did not change color. He followed them into a small office, his mind racing.

The moment the door shut, the questions started.

"Your father," the tall man started, leaning his weight against the desk. "You know of his… history, do you not?"

Caden's fists were clenched, with his jaw setting in preparation. He knew this was coming. Since the soldiers entered into his home

"I know enough," he replied levelly.

The other officer, a woman with piercing grey eyes, crossed her arms over her chest. "Then you understand why we're keeping an eye on you. We need to be sure you're not… following in his footsteps."

"I'm not my father," Caden said firmly, holding her gaze. "I'm here to prove myself. That's all."

The tall man regarded him a moment before nodding. "Good. Then don't give us a reason to doubt you."

And so, they discharged him, where he stepped out of the office into the open atmosphere; his heart beating fast. A bitter taste the encounter had left in his mouth but also fueled the determination in his gut.

*I'll prove them all wrong,* he told himself as he left the academy for his school.

As Caden walked down the path back to school, the words of the military officer kept replaying in his mind. At this thought, his fists closed, and he quickened his pace, refusing to let doubt creep into his heart.

But it wasn't until he'd reached the intersection that marked halfway to school that something inside of him seemed to click. Nothing in the external world-there were no breaking noises, nobody suspicious around him-just a ghostly sense of cognizance fluttered over him, his periphery up higher than it ever was, thrumming quietly at the back of his head.

He instinctively looked around him, his eyes scanning the quiet streets, the sparse morning crowd. A couple of students walked along in front of him, chatting casually. A man in a business suit crossed the road with his head buried in his phone. Everything was normal.

And yet, the feeling still persisted.

He hitched the strap of the bag farther onto his shoulder and kept walking, trying to force the feeling of unease away by telling himself it was nerves from what had happened back at the Academy. Yet deeper inside, he knew it felt more than that: it wasn't paranoia, because it was the system, a soft hum in his vision, although no notifications came up trying to lead him somewhere.

With a step inside the school area, his gaze kept darting toward the familiar building structure and clusters of students milling around. In that instant, he let his vigil slacken.

That was when it happened.

In one blink, the system interface glowed with an alert in new bold letters, shocking him into attention.

**[System Warning: Unusual Energy signature detectable for absorption. Detected within 100-meter radius.]

Caden's body froze, his heart stopped at the words as his gaze darted to the message.

"What the-what does that mean?" he whispered, before he again went to surveying his surroundings with much more desperation.

The system did not answer him. It continued to give its alert. There was something off about today, something he hadn't planned for.

He took a deep breath and stepped towards the school building, all the while racing his mind with thoughts. Whatever this anomaly was, it really did seem to find him.

{Author here, hope you all love the chapter}