The morning sun filtered through the windows of OR 7 as Ethan scrubbed in for his first surgery since the accident. His hands moved through the familiar ritual, but everything felt different now. Enhanced. The water temperature registered precisely in his awareness, his tactile sensitivity had increased dramatically, and he could feel his pulse steady at exactly 62 beats per minute.
[SURGICAL MODE ACTIVATED]
Operating Room 7 - Seattle General Hospital
Procedure: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Patient: Margaret Walsh, 58, Acute Cholecystitis
Difficulty Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (Moderate)
Bonus XP Available: First Surgery Achievement
The system interface had evolved overnight. Where before it showed simple diagnostic overlays, now it displayed a full heads-up display with real-time biometrics, procedural guides, and something that made his heart race with excitement—a live XP counter in the corner of his vision.
[Current XP: 50/100 to Level 2]
System Points: 60
Enhanced Focus: 3/3 Available
Yesterday's successful diagnosis of Miguel Santos had apparently triggered a system upgrade. The interface was more sophisticated, more game-like, and significantly more powerful than during his first tentative experiments.
"Dr. Graves?" The OR nurse, Janet, looked at him with concern. "You've been standing there for thirty seconds. Everything alright?"
Ethan blinked, realizing he'd been staring at the interface overlays. "Sorry, just... focusing. It's good to be back."
As he entered the OR, his enhanced awareness immediately catalogued everything: the precise temperature (68.4°F), humidity (45%), the subtle anxiety radiating from the anesthesiologist Dr. Patel, and most importantly, a detailed readout of his patient's condition floating in his peripheral vision.
[PATIENT ANALYSIS - MARGARET WALSH]
Age: 58 | Weight: 142 lbs | BMI: 24.1
Cardiovascular Status: Stable - Minor Arrhythmia Detected
Respiratory Function: Optimal
Surgical Risk Assessment: Low
Predicted Complications: 12% (Below Average)
Recommended Approach: Standard 4-Port Laparoscopic
Hidden Factors Detected: Previous Abdominal Surgery - Scar Tissue Present
The last line made Ethan pause. He pulled up Margaret's chart on the room's monitor, scanning through her history. No mention of previous abdominal surgery anywhere in her records. Just like with Miguel yesterday, the system was seeing things that conventional medicine had missed.
"Dr. Patel," he said, "has Mrs. Walsh mentioned any previous surgeries to you?"
The anesthesiologist checked his notes. "Nothing documented. Why?"
[ENHANCED DIAGNOSTIC ACTIVE]
Confidence Level: 94%
Recommendation: Modify surgical approach to account for adhesions
XP Bonus Available: Prevent Surgical Complication (+50 XP)
"Just being thorough," Ethan replied, but his mind was racing. The system was becoming more aggressive, more gamified. Where yesterday it had simply guided his diagnosis, today it was offering bonus points for preventing complications. The implications were staggering—and terrifying.
"Let's begin," he announced, accepting the laparoscope from Janet.
The moment the camera entered Margaret's abdomen, Ethan's enhanced vision kicked into overdrive. The standard monitor showed the typical laparoscopic view, but his system overlay painted additional information directly onto his visual field.
[SURGICAL ENHANCEMENT ACTIVE]
Tissue Density Analysis: Real-Time
Vascular Mapping: Enhanced
Adhesion Detection: Multiple Sites Confirmed
Recommended Dissection Path: Highlighted
Precision Bonus: +2 XP per Perfect Cut
Golden pathways appeared in his vision, showing optimal cutting lines and safe zones. It was like having the most advanced surgical guidance system ever created, except it existed only in his mind.
"Significant adhesions present," he announced, his instruments moving with fluid precision. "Looks like she had some kind of procedure years ago that wasn't documented."
Dr. Patel looked surprised. "How can you tell so quickly?"
"Experience," Ethan replied, but internally he was marveling at how the system guided his every movement. His hands moved with superhuman precision, dissecting adhesions with minimal tissue trauma. Each cut was perfect, each movement economical and exact.
[SURGICAL PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS]
Precision Rating: 98.7% (Excellent)
Efficiency Score: 94.2% (Outstanding)
Tissue Damage: Minimal
Perfect Cuts: 23/25
XP Earned: +46 (Running Total)
The numbers climbing in his peripheral vision were intoxicating. Every perfect cut, every flawless movement earned him points. It was like the most advanced video game ever created, except the stakes were real lives.
"Beautiful work," Dr. Patel commented as Ethan approached the gallbladder. "Your technique looks even sharper than before your accident."
If only he knew, Ethan thought, as the system highlighted the optimal dissection plane around Calot's triangle. The critical view of safety appeared in his vision with mathematical precision—no guesswork, no uncertainty.
[CRITICAL ANATOMY IDENTIFIED]
Hepatocystic Artery: Isolated
Cystic Duct: Clear Visualization
Safety Margin: Optimal
Complication Risk: Near Zero
Achievement Available: Flawless Critical View (+25 XP)
His instruments moved like extensions of his will. The gallbladder came free cleanly, with no bleeding, no bile spillage, no complications. In his old life, this would have been a very good surgery. With the system, it was surgical perfection.
[SURGERY COMPLETED]
Total Time: 31 minutes (Average: 54 minutes)
Complications: None
Precision Score: 99.1%
Perfect Technique Bonus: +30 XP
First Surgery Achievement: +25 XP
Flawless Critical View: +25 XP
TOTAL SESSION XP: +126
CUMULATIVE XP: 176/100
[LEVEL UP!]
Congratulations! You have reached Level 2
New Abilities Unlocked
System Points Awarded: +50
Total Available: 110 Points
The level-up notification blazed across his vision in golden text, accompanied by a rush of euphoria that felt like the best drug imaginable. Every cell in his body seemed to vibrate with enhanced capability.
[LEVEL 2 ABILITIES UNLOCKED]
• Surgical Precognition - Predict complications 30 seconds before they occur
• Enhanced Stamina - Operate for extended periods without fatigue
• Perfect Memory - Instant recall of any medical information ever learned
• Accelerated Learning - Master new techniques 10x faster than normal
• Pain Nullification - Ignore physical discomfort during procedures
"Dr. Graves?" Janet was looking at him strangely. "You're smiling."
Ethan realized he'd been grinning like an idiot while staring at his patient statistics. "Sorry, just... satisfied with the outcome. Mrs. Walsh should recover beautifully."
As they closed the small incisions, Ethan experimented with his new abilities. He accessed Perfect Memory and suddenly recalled every surgical video he'd ever watched, every technique he'd ever seen, every anatomical detail from medical school—all with crystal clarity. It was like having a photographic memory of his entire medical education.
[SYSTEM STORE AVAILABLE]
Spend Points to Enhance Abilities
SURGICAL SKILLS:
Master-Level Technique: 25 Points
Ambidextrous Operations: 20 Points
Microscopic Precision: 30 Points
DIAGNOSTIC POWERS:
X-Ray Vision (Soft Tissue): 40 Points
Disease Detection Range +50%: 15 Points
Genetic Disorder Recognition: 35 Points
PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENTS:
Surgeon's Hands (Tremor Immunity): 20 Points
Enhanced Reflexes: 25 Points
Photographic Visual Memory: 30 Points
SPECIAL ABILITIES:
Time Dilation (Slow Motion Mode): 50 Points
Surgical Telepathy (Know Patient's Condition): 45 Points
Miracle Worker (Impossible Saves): 75 Points
Ethan's eyes widened as he read through the options. These weren't just enhancements—they were supernatural powers that would make him the greatest surgeon who ever lived. The temptation was overwhelming.
But as Margaret was wheeled to recovery, a sobering thought struck him. Yesterday, his enhanced diagnosis of Miguel's appendicitis had seemed like exceptional clinical skill. Today's perfect surgery would be harder to explain away. If he kept advancing at this rate, people would start asking questions he couldn't answer.
Dr. Webb appeared in the hallway as Ethan finished his post-operative notes.
"Heard the surgery went exceptionally well," Webb said, but there was something calculating in his eyes. "Thirty-one minutes for a cholecystectomy with significant adhesions? That's... unusual."
"Just one of those days when everything clicks," Ethan replied carefully.
"Hmm." Webb studied him intently. "You know, Ethan, in thirty years of surgery, I've learned to recognize when someone's operating at their peak. But I've also learned to recognize when someone's operating beyond their established capabilities."
Ethan's blood ran cold. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that your performance over the past two days has been remarkable. Diagnostically brilliant yesterday, surgically flawless today. It's almost like you've become a different surgeon overnight."
The system interface flickered a warning:
[ATTENTION DETECTED]
Recommendation: Moderate Performance to Avoid Suspicion
Stealth Mode Compromised at Current Advancement Rate
"I've been studying hard during my recovery," Ethan said. "Reviewing techniques, watching surgical videos. Maybe the time off helped me reset."
Webb nodded slowly. "Perhaps. Just remember, Ethan—consistency is what builds careers. Sustainable excellence over the long term trumps brief moments of brilliance."
As Webb walked away, Ethan realized his biggest challenge wasn't learning to use his powers. It was learning to hide them while still using them effectively. The system was making him incredibly powerful, but that power came with the constant threat of exposure.
He looked at his point total again: 110 points, enough to buy multiple enhancements that would make him superhuman. The temptation was almost irresistible.
But Webb's warning echoed in his mind. How much power could he reveal before people started asking questions he could never answer?
[Daily Quest Available]
"Master of Restraint": Complete tomorrow's surgeries with 95%+ precision while appearing merely "very good" to observers
Reward: +25 XP, Advanced Stealth Protocols
Failure Penalty: Increased Scrutiny Risk
The system was adapting, learning from his dilemma. It wanted him to get stronger while staying hidden. The question was: could he resist the intoxicating rush of surgical perfection long enough to figure out how to use his powers safely?
As he headed home, Ethan realized that his greatest enemy wasn't surgical complications or difficult patients.
It was his own rapidly growing hunger for more power.