2025-03-17 13:55:51Chapter 3: The Awakening Interface
A cool breeze drifted through the thick forest area outside BB City as tall trees created extended shadows across wet ground. A mysterious energy disturbance remained present in the air, although it was invisible to everyone except those who could sense it. The man in a navy-blue coat stood motionless in the middle of the chaos while his intense stare focused on the massive rock structure in front of him. His stance displayed authority through his hands clasped behind his back, while his presence conveyed the power of someone who had experienced leadership roles. A researcher with spectacles approached him, wearing a sterilized white jumpsuit with caution. The man in the navy-blue coat maintained his forward direction without turning his body, yet his commanding presence required instant attention. The researcher began his report, stating that their scans showed no anomalous energy remaining. The massive energy fluctuation had disappeared completely from all detection methods. The man’s jaw tightened. "Gone?" His tone remained steady, but his displeasure became evident through his words. The research team had conducted a comprehensive scan of every area of the territory. The researcher stated that the impact site showed structural damage, but no energy signatures persisted at the location. The man narrowed his eyes. "That’s impossible. Such a significant fluctuation cannot disappear without explanation." He executed a deliberate turn, his intense stare fixing on the researcher, who automatically moved a step away. The first rays of sunlight emerged from the tree line, illuminating the sky with vibrant orange and gold colors. The rising tension between the two men remained unaffected by the sunlight. The man released a deep breath as his thoughts raced through potential explanations. He waited for a short period before giving his order. "Lock down this entire area. No one enters or leaves without my authorization. Conduct a full sweep of the surrounding forest. I want every anomaly, every trace examined. If there is anyone in this vicinity who does not belong—bring them in." The four operatives standing behind him responded instantly, vanishing into the depths of the forest with practiced precision. The researcher hesitated for a moment before muttering under his breath, "If something did happen here... then where did it go?" Little did they know, the answer lay far from their reach. The Awakening A dimly lit room bathed in the soft glow of flickering neon signs from the city streets outside. The faint hum of distant vehicles and the occasional murmur of the world beyond its walls made the space feel isolated, like a forgotten corner of BB City. In the center of the room, a young man lay motionless in an old, creaking tub. His maroon school uniform clung to his body, still marked with faint traces of dirt from the previous night’s ordeal. His breathing was steady, but his body was not still. Faint tremors rippled across his fingers. His brow twitched, and his lips parted ever so slightly, as though he were murmuring words in his sleep. His hair, normally a dull brown, flickered between hues—darkening, lightening, shifting unpredictably. Inside his mind, a stream of cryptic messages played out in silent brilliance. [System Integration in Progress - 12%] [Host has received Restoration Enhancements] [Host has received Structural Reinforcement] [Host has received Toxin Resistance] A deep warmth spread through his limbs, accompanied by an unfamiliar sensation—his body knitting itself back together, strengthening in ways he could not yet understand. [System Integration in Progress - 24%] [Host has unlocked Evolutionary Potential] [Host has gained Genetic Adaptability] The minutes stretched on. Hours passed. His chest rose and fell in rhythm with the silent process unfolding within. [System Integration in Progress - 97%] [Host has acquired Mission Functions] [Host has unlocked Progression Metrics] A soft exhale escaped his lips. His fingers curled slightly. [System Integration Complete - 100%] The moment the final notification flickered into existence, Max’s eyes snapped open. A sharp intake of breath, followed by a rush of confusion. His vision was filled with bright, floating characters, glowing softly in the dim room. [Welcome, Host. Your integration is now complete.] His body jerked instinctively, sending his elbow colliding against the edge of the tub with a dull thud. A wince escaped him, but his gaze remained locked on the glowing symbols before him. He blinked. Once. Twice. The words remained, hovering in his line of sight, refusing to disappear. "Still here...?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. His thoughts raced back to the events of the previous night—the fall, the strange apparition, the countdown, the sudden pull into unconsciousness. He inhaled slowly, gathering his thoughts. [To access system parameters, say: Interface Access.] Max hesitated. His mind screamed skepticism, but deep down, a part of him knew this was real. "...Interface Access," he muttered under his breath. The moment the words left his lips, the glowing text before him shifted. A structured display appeared, neatly arranged into sections. [System Interface] → Attributes → Enhancements & Abilities → Genetic Potential → Assigned Missions → Tactical Resources His gaze lingered over the organized text, his brain struggling to process what he was seeing. "Am I... inside some kind of simulation?" He tentatively focused on the first option—Attributes. The rest of the text faded away, leaving only a detailed breakdown. [Host Attributes] Name: Max Level: 1 Designation: [Pending] Experience: 0/100 Vitality: 100/100 Energy: 30/30 Core Attributes: → Strength: 1 → Perception: 1 → Agility: -- → Speed: 1 → Courage: -- → Intelligence: 4 → Presence: -- (Available Points: 0) Max's eyes darkened as he processed the information. "Agility, Courage, and Presence... null?" His jaw clenched slightly. Before he could dwell on the implications, a new line of text materialized. [Attributes have been calculated based on host’s natural capabilities. Lacking in key developmental areas—particularly social engagement and adaptive fortitude.] Max: "..." He narrowed his eyes at the system. "...Did you just call me a coward with no presence?" Silence. No response followed. A deep sigh left his lips as he ran a hand through his still-shifting hair. He glanced at the next section, muttering, "Let’s see what else is in here... Enhancements & Abilities." Another panel replaced the previous one. [Enhancements & Abilities] → Acceleration Burst [Lv.1] (Short burst of movement speed) → Regeneration [Lv.1] (Healing factor increased tenfold) → Morph [Lv.1] (Ability to shift minor physical traits) → Toxin Resistance [Lv.1] (Basic immunity to low-grade toxins) → Genetic Adaptability [Lv.1] (Potential to evolve based on acquired traits) Max stared at the list for several seconds, his fingers twitching slightly. "This is..." He swallowed, his thoughts racing. Then his gaze fell on the final enhancement. Genetic Adaptability. A small, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. For the first time in his life, something had changed. And for the first time in his life—Max held the key to his own evolution. A new path had begun.
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