[Final Task: System Synchronization]
— Calibration process.
— Meditate for 30 minutes.
He forced himself into a cross-legged position on the floor. "Meditate for thirty minutes… sounds easy enough."
The system's screen flickered.
[System Sync initiated. Please remain still. Breathe deeply. Align with the system's flow.]
He shut his eyes. At first, it was nothing but the faint hum of traffic outside and the tick of a leaky pipe somewhere in the back. His mind drifted, restless, but then—
Whum.
A low vibration pulsed through his body, like invisible threads tugging at his muscles, veins, even his heartbeat. His skin prickled, every nerve alive with static.
"What the—" He gasped, but the moment he shifted, the screen chimed.
[Warning: Movement disrupts synchronization. Please remain still.]
Vincent clenched his jaw and forced himself back into place.
The pulse returned, steadier this time, almost like a rhythm—breathing in sync with something beyond himself. The ache in his arms from push-ups and knife drills dulled ever so slightly, as though his fatigue was being siphoned away. His heartbeat slowed, his breath deepened.
Then the simulations began.
Darkness gave way to glowing lines, neon streams of energy that mapped his body in fine detail—every stat, every limit. His "Strength" shone as a burning red vein across his shoulders and arms. His "Agility" pulsed like quicksilver in his legs. Recovery Speed was a dim, flickering ember near his chest.
He reached for it instinctively. The ember flared, warm and steady, spreading across his limbs like liquid fire. His body felt lighter, cleaner, as though exhaustion was burning off his muscles.
Thirty minutes passed in a haze of warmth and vibration.
When the chime finally rang, Vincent exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. His shirt was damp with sweat, yet his fatigue was… less. Not gone, but the crushing weight had eased.
[System Sync complete. Recovery Speed increased. Fatigue buildup reduced.]
Vincent opened his eyes slowly. The world seemed sharper, brighter. Even the ache in his bones felt… manageable.
He flexed his fingers and smirked. "Out of everything so far, this might just be my favorite task. Finally—something that doesn't leave me half-dead."
————————————
[System Synchronization: Complete.][Daily Task Set: Complete.]
[Rewards Distribution Initiated]
• +10 SEU granted.
SEU balance: 65
• Restaurant Blueprint Progress: +5%
Unlock: Foundation & Floor Layout (basic ground plan, plumbing + wiring points).
Cost to finalize: 20 SEU
Note: Without SEU investment, it's just a glowing grid on the ground.
• Random Drop acquired → Frost Pebble
————————————
Vincent blinked, squinting at the glowing words. "Frost… pebble? What the hell is that, some kind of fancy ice cube?"
A faint shimmer materialized on his bedside table. Resting there was a smooth, palm-sized stone, faintly glowing with a pale-blue mist. When he picked it up, the surface was cold—colder than marble left in winter—but not painful.
The system's voice chimed in, calm and clinical:
[Item: Frost Pebble]
[Grade: Auxiliary Tool – D]
————————————
Description: A crystalline sphere designed for culinary preservation and state-change. Encased in a stable mana core, the tool generates adjustable cold output for rapid temperature control.
Modes of Operation:
• Chill Mode (Default): Low-output field. Rapidly cools liquids or semi-solids within 10–30 seconds. Does not alter texture or flavor. (Effective range: 1 meter radius.)
• Freeze Mode: Medium-output field. Instantly solidifies liquids or freezes ingredients up to 5 kg per use. (Cooldown: 10 minutes per activation to prevent structural damage to tool.)
• Preserve Mode:
Passive-output field. Creates a localized preservation field (1-meter radius).
Prevents spoilage and bacterial growth for up to 24 hours. Minimal energy cost.
Limitations:
— Grade C capacity restricts mass beyond 5 kg in Freeze Mode.
— Continuous use beyond standard duration (Preserve Mode >24h) risks overload and tool degradation.
— Cannot freeze or chill structures heavier than 5 kg (solid blocks, furniture, etc.).
— Efficiency decreases if attempting multiple modes simultaneously.
Regulation: Modes can be cycled manually by:
— Double-tap (switch mode)
— Triple-tap (reset to Chill Mode)
— Hold for 3 seconds (deactivates field completely)
————————————
Vincent turned the marble-sized crystal over in his hand, frost prickling faintly across his palm.
"…So, I've got a portable freezer, fridge, and anti-spoilage field all packed into a magic snowball." He smirked. "And it even comes with an instruction manual. Not bad, system. Not bad at all."
[Host has acquired the Frost Pebble. Proper application will improve food quality, freshness, and storage efficiency.]
Vincent's grin widened. "Guess you just saved me from fighting with broken coolers and overpriced ice machines. Yeah… this one's a keeper."
The smile hadn't even settled before it cracked. He had been so carried away by the random drop item reward that he didn't notice the blueprint reward came with a catch—a required payment.
His face dropped as the lines of text flickered across his vision:
————————————
• Restaurant Blueprint Progress: +5%
Unlock: Foundation & Floor Layout (basic ground plan, plumbing + wiring points).
Cost to finalize: 20 SEU
Note: Without SEU investment, it's just a glowing grid on the ground.
————————————
"Wait. Payment?" Vincent blinked, then jabbed a finger at the glowing panel as though it could hear him. "You've got to be kidding me. I just turned myself into a half-dead sweat fountain doing your little torture routine—and now you're telling me the reward comes with a bill?"
The System's voice, ever flat and unbothered, cut in like a judge dropping a gavel.
[Clarification: You earned the right to unlock. Ownership requires purchase. Be grateful the System offers convenience.]
Vincent dragged his hands down his face, groaning. "Convenience? I've got blisters on my palms and enough sweat in my shirt to water a lawn. You really know how to drain a guy dry, don't you?"
[Option: Proceed with payment, or decline installation. Unclaimed rewards remain in stasis until transaction is complete.]
He rubbed his temple, muttering curses under his breath. He hated how the System never gave ground, never softened. It was always a wall of ice—cold, immovable, smug without even trying.
"Fine, fine," he snapped. "Take it. Just take it. I'll pay."
[Confirmation required. Spend 20 SEU for Stage One blueprint installation?Yes / No]
Vincent jabbed Yes so fast he could have dented the panel.
The System chimed, bland but final:
[Transaction complete. Congratulations, Host. First stage of restaurant blueprint finalized.
Progress: 5%
You may inspect the changes on-site.]
[SEU balance: 45]
Vincent sagged back against the wall, half-exasperated, half-thrilled. "Yeah, yeah… daylight robbery, but at least it's done."
It was still early afternoon. By the time he dragged himself into the shower and scrubbed away the sweat of the day, the sting of parting with his SEU had dulled. Clean shirt on, hair still damp, he headed toward the restaurant with low expectations.
The doors creaked open, and his eyes widened.
The System had carved the foundation straight into reality. What had once been a cracked, uneven ground was now leveled and solid, a smooth foundation slab stretching across the entire floor space. Glowing grid lines had vanished, replaced with tangible divisions—kitchen zone, dining hall, storage corner, wash area.
He knelt, tapping the surface. Rock-solid. The faint hum of embedded plumbing nodes and wiring points pulsed faintly against his fingers. It was like the blueprint had branded itself into the earth.
His jaw went slack. "The System… actually built it."
Every detail was crisp, exact, with no wasted space—tables still absent, but flooring reinforced, walls straightened, plumbing visibly adjusted. It was eerie, efficient, unreal.
Vincent stepped further in, fingertips brushing the newly laid wood. The faint chill of fresh polish clung to the air.
Slowly, a smile crept back across his face—one that no system prompt could erase.
"…Okay. Worth every SEU."