The faint emerald glow that had led me to Bramble had faded, replaced by the warm, dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy.
Bramble, now practically vibrating with rock-finding enthusiasm, had already scurried off deeper into the jungle, convinced he was on the verge of discovering the geological equivalent of buried treasure.
I chuckled. Good for him. Everyone deserved a passion, even if it involved slightly shinier pebbles.
My Systems Trader dashboard shimmered in my mind's eye. Points: 10.
Ten glorious points. No longer relegated to the realm of 'Enthusiastic Rock Collection,' I felt a genuine spark of excitement.
This was real progress! Now, what could a budding cosmic vending machine afford with a whole ten points?
As I walked, the jungle sounds slowly receded, replaced by the distant murmur of human voices.
The trees, though still immense, began to thin, revealing glimpses of a sky that was now a vibrant cerulean, dotted with fluffy white clouds.
My internal compass (aka the system guidance) wasn't giving me a glowing path anymore, but I sensed civilization was near.
Maybe a village, hopefully one with less-slippery terrain and, ideally, some actual pizza.
(A guy can dream, right?)
While I ambled, I scrolled through the system catalogue, focusing on the 10-point options.
There were surprisingly many, ranging from the mundane to the mildly impressive.
[Super Speedy Laundry System] - Cost: 10 Points (Cleans clothes instantly with a thought, removes even the most stubborn stains!) – Useful, but not exactly a crowd-pleaser.
[Minor Telekinesis System] - Cost: 10 Points (Allows user to move small objects with mind, max weight 1kg.) – Intriguing, but 1kg isn't going to win any wars.
[Expert Fishing System] - Cost: 10 Points (Grants unparalleled skill in angling, always finds the biggest fish!) – Could be handy for a village by a river.
[Enhanced Sprinting System] - Cost: 10 Points (Increases running speed by 20%, reduces stamina drain.) – Hmm, now this has potential.
[Perfect Pitch System] - Cost: 10 Points (User can perfectly replicate any sound or melody, gains admirers through musical talent.) – Would be great for a bard, if those existed here.
The "Enhanced Sprinting System" caught my eye. It sounded practical, something a villager might actually want.
Plus, it indirectly tied into physical prowess, which felt like a step towards the
"sports football, evolution, matches" theme I was supposed to be grounded in.
Maybe this world had its own version of sports? I filed it away as a strong candidate.
Finally, the trees parted completely, revealing a sight that made my heart leap: a village! It wasn't huge, just a cluster of sturdy wooden huts with thatched roofs, surrounded by fields of what looked like some kind of glowing root vegetables.
Smoke curled lazily from a few chimneys, and the scent of woodsmoke and cooking filled the air. Life! Actual, bustling, human life!
I walked towards the village cautiously. A few villagers paused their work – some tending the fields, others mending nets – and stared at me.
I probably looked like a bewildered tourist who'd gotten very lost on a hiking trip.
As I stepped onto the main dirt path, an older woman with kind eyes and a face etched with laughter lines approached me.
"Greetings, traveler," she said, her voice warm. "You look… new to these parts. Are you lost, perhaps?"
"Something like that," I replied, forcing a friendly smile.
"My name's Alex. I… uh… woke up nearby and just followed the path. What's this place called?"
"This is Oakhaven Village," she said, gesturing around.
"My name is Elara. We don't get many outsiders here. What brings you to our humble home?"
I fumbled for an explanation.
"Well, Elara, I'm a… a systems trader. I travel around, helping people out with unique… enhancements. Looking for opportunities, you know?"
I tried to make "systems trader" sound like a perfectly normal, everyday occupation. It didn't quite land.
She just tilted her head, a puzzled but amused expression on her face.
"Enhancements, you say? Like, a new hoe for my garden?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.
"Uh, not exactly," I laughed nervously.
"More like… internal enhancements. Abilities. For people."
I quickly decided not to mention the "Enthusiastic Rock Collection System" just yet. Best to start with something more relatable.
Suddenly, a gruff voice boomed from nearby. "What's all this chatter about, Elara? And who's this fancy-pants stranger?"
A man strode towards us.
He was built like a sturdy oak tree, with broad shoulders, a thick beard, and a weathered leather tunic that seemed to have seen its fair share of scrapes.
A formidable-looking axe was strapped to his back. This, I deduced, was probably the village warrior. Jackpot.
"Greetings, traveler," the warrior said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took me in.
"I am Borin. You speak of 'enhancements'? What trickery is this?"
"No trickery, Borin," I said, trying to project confidence despite the growing knot in my stomach.
This was my moment. "I possess the ability to grant unique systems. Meta-abilities. Powers, if you will."
Borin let out a booming laugh that made Elara wince. "Powers? And you, a scrawny lad in curious trousers, claim to grant powers? Are you a jester, boy?"
"Hey, my trousers are perfectly functional for light jogging!"
I retorted, then quickly regained my composure.
"Look, I know it sounds wild, but it's true. I can give you a system. A power." My gaze flickered to the Enhanced Sprinting System.
Perfect for a warrior who might need to chase down a beast or escape danger.
"And what would this 'power' cost?" Borin asked, crossing his arms, clearly still amused.
"Well," I began, adopting my best salesman voice,
"for someone of your… formidable build, I have just the thing.
The [Enhanced Sprinting System]." I made the internal command for its description to appear in his mind, though I knew he'd only 'see' it if he was receptive.
"It increases your running speed significantly and helps you never run out of breath during a chase or retreat."
Borin's eyes flickered, a momentary blankness, then widened.
"What… what was that?" He rubbed his temples.
"I… I just saw words in my head. 'Enhanced Sprinting'… are you some kind of mind mage?"
"Something like that," I said, leaning in conspiratorially.
"uh, how about… 50 copper coins?" I figured money would be a good bonus to get things started in this world.
Borin stared at me, then burst into another fit of laughter.
"Fifty copper? Boy, you drive a hard bargain for a hallucination!"
He took a step closer, towering over me. "Are you trying to rob me?"
"No, no! It's an investment! A one-time activation fee!"
I insisted, stepping back slightly.
"Tell you what, Borin. I'll activate it for you for free. If you don't feel a change, if you don't feel faster, then you owe me nothing. But if you do… then you pay me the 50 copper and acknowledge my abilities to the village!"
Borin stroked his beard, a thoughtful look replacing his amusement. Elara, beside him, seemed intrigued.
"A free trial, you say?" Borin grunted.
"Alright, boy. I'll bite. But if this is some trick, you'll be running faster than any system could grant you, with my boot behind you!"
"Deal!" I exclaimed, barely containing my excitement.
I extended my hand, and the translucent icon for the [Enhanced Sprinting System] pulsed into existence above his open palm.
Borin flinched but didn't pull away. I mentally commanded the system to transfer.
A whoosh of green light, a brief, invigorating warmth, and then… nothing. The icon dissolved, absorbed into Borin.
For a moment, he just stood there, looking confused. Then, his eyes widened.
He took a tentative step, then another.
"I… I feel… lighter?" He took off in a sudden, powerful sprint across the village clearing.
He moved with a speed that was clearly unnatural for a man of his build, leaving a small dust cloud in his wake.
He zipped to the edge of the clearing and back, skidding to a halt right in front of us, barely winded.
His jaw hung open. "By the Ancestors' Beards!" he roared, his voice filled with genuine astonishment.
"I've never run so fast in my life! My legs feel like… like they're made of wind!"
He flexed his muscles, practically vibrating with newfound energy.
"And I'm not even breathing hard!"
Elara clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief and awe.
Other villagers, who had stopped their work to watch the exchange, were now murmuring, pointing, and staring at Borin with a mixture of fear and wonder.
"So, Borin," I said, a smug grin spreading across my face,
"that'll be 50 copper, please. And… your public endorsement?"
Borin, still beaming, fumbled in a pouch at his belt and pulled out a handful of copper coins, pressing them into my hand.
"Fifty copper, and you can have my endorsement, boy! By the roaring rapids, this is no trick! This boy… Alex… he speaks the truth! He can grant abilities!"
The village, which had been murmuring, erupted into a cacophony of excited shouts. Everyone started talking at once, pointing at me, then at the still-grinning Borin.
"Did you see that?"
"Borin's faster than a wild boar now!"
"He actually has powers!"
"Can he do that for me?"
Suddenly, I was surrounded. Villagers pressed in, their faces a mix of curiosity, hope, and eagerness.
"My fishing nets are always empty!" cried a grizzled fisherman.
"Can you give me something to catch fish better?"
"My crops wither too fast!" wailed a farmer. "Do you have a system for… stronger plants?"
"I want to be able to jump higher!" shouted a young lad, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
My dashboard pinged with glorious notifications:
[Enhanced Sprinting System] - STATUS: Allocated to 'Borin'
[Successful System Allocation Bonus! Points: +20]
Twenty points! And money! I now had 30 points, and a pouch full of jingling copper. This was way better than dodging banana peels.
I raised my hands, trying to calm the clamoring crowd.
"Alright, alright, one at a time!" I grinned, feeling a rush of exhilaration.
This was it. This was my calling.
"As a Systems Trader, I can help you, but these systems aren't just given away. We need to talk prices, what you're willing to trade, and what system best fits you."
A small, determined woman with a loom-calloused hand stepped forward.
"I have a fine bolt of woven cloth, the best in Oakhaven! Would that be enough for a system to mend clothes faster?"
Another villager chimed in, "My prize pig! She's got the juiciest bacon in the valley! Can I trade her for a system that helps me find lost things?"
I looked at the eager faces, the shouts of various trades and offerings swirling around me.