'Yes'
With just that simple word, Rhine agreed to become stronger.
| Installing Nano System into host body...
Installing...
Installation Progress: 30%...
40%...
50% |
The text continued to appear before Rhine's calm eyes, which were already beginning to lose the luster of life; he had lost too much blood, and his small body could no longer endure.
'Ah, what a cursed life.'
| ....
100%
Installation complete.
Scanning body... |
| Multiple critical and minor injuries found in the host's body:
Severed pulmonary artery
Severed wrist
Fractured cervical vertebrae (neck)
Due to the host's weakness, the Beginner's Prize will be unlocked.
Do you accept? |
Rhine looked at the numerous messages before his face with a calm indifference, still believing this was merely a dream or a strange hallucination. He was barely conscious now, his soul on the verge of departing his body at any moment. Nevertheless, Rhine felt this hallucination was peculiar, and at the same time, he felt an urge to respond rather than remain silent.
'Yes'
| Beginner's Prize Pack opened.
Obtained:
System Interface
Mid-Quality Healing Pills |
| Do you wish to consume a Mid-Quality Healing Pill? |
With this question, Rhine's mind began to weigh the matter while his spirit grew faint and dim.
'Is this perhaps real? Will I truly get a chance to become stronger? Yes.'
Without any hesitation or delay, Rhine answered the question.
| Consuming Mid-Quality Healing Pill...
Treating the most critical injuries first...
Minor neck fracture healed.
Wrist laceration healed.
Pulmonary artery laceration healed.
20% of the Mid-Quality Healing Pill remains; it will be distributed across the rest of the body.
....
Critical injuries fully and completely healed.
Some secondary and minor injuries healed.
Some minor secondary injuries remain untreated. Do you wish to consume another Mid-Quality Healing Pill for them? Yes / No |
With these words, Rhine looked at his body in astonishment; the wound around his wrist that he had just cut was truly healed! The pain in his chest that had made breathing incredibly difficult had vanished, and his breath was now natural and calm. That nagging pain in his neck that always forced him to keep his head down was now healed as well.
All these critical injuries were truly treated just by consuming a single Mid-Quality Healing Pill.
'By the heavens, I have truly received a chance to become stronger! How many Mid-Quality Healing Pills do I have? Can I ask, System?'
| Of course you can; I am here to assist you, Host.
To answer your first question: You possess only three Mid-Quality Healing Pills. |
'Then no... do not use another pill. The remaining injuries aren't critical or fatal—just some minor cuts and burns not worth consuming a heavenly item like a Mid-Quality Healing Pill.'
Rhine looked at his body again; it was like finding a heavenly treasure that grants eternal life while living in a purely mortal world. It was a shock and a surprise for Rhine at the same time, for despite being cured and the injuries being healed, deep down he still thought all of this might just be the afterlife and that he had already died.
'Am I dead? No... I can feel everything I felt before cutting my wrist. Everything is there, and everything is the same. This is truly real.'
Rhine smiled with incredible joy and almost jumped from his place at this miracle that had fallen upon him, but he hid his happiness as he looked at the window before him.
'Right, what is the System Interface?'
| The System Interface is a window that will display all the host's statistics, from age to everything else. Do you wish to see it? |
'Yes'
| Name: Rhine
Age: 13 years
Level: 1
Physical Strength: 2
Endurance: 4
Speed: 2
Spiritual Energy: 1
Expected Lifespan: 2 Days |
Between amazement and shock, Rhine stared at the status window before him; it summarized his entire condition completely and accurately. From physical strength to spiritual energy, everything was laid out and accounted for generally.
'System, why is the expected lifespan only two days?'
| Well, the matter is this: a normal human lifespan is many years, but you have been threatened by Zan Shi and have not executed what he told you, so yes. |
'Oh... damn it, in these few minutes I forgot everything regarding Zan Shi. Fine, fine, I have two days before I face death, but if I play my cards calmly and intelligently, perhaps I'll have a chance. I was the one lamenting my luck all the time, and now I've got another chance. I truly don't know who the Supreme Entity is that gave me this "Nawan" or whatever it is, but I certainly won't waste this opportunity.'
(Rhine does not know how to pronounce the word Nano because it is foreign to his society and era)
| It is "Nano," Host. |
'Nano... Nano... fine, I think I understand a little, but more importantly, Nano, is there a way for me to become a bit stronger or even gain some influence?'
| For the time being, nothing. |
'Ah, damn... but—'
Rhine sighed quietly, then opened his eyes, looking at the classroom before him.
'I will never waste this chance; I will live no matter what happens, and I will become stronger.'
| The System is impressed by your persistence and resolve. Quest Window unlocked.
Quest: Challenge the class teacher.
Duration: Five minutes.
Reward: Increase expected lifespan to 1 month + 2-point increase in all statistics.
Failure: Death. |
'I asked for a chance at life, not at death, damn it!'
Rhine cursed his luck, then looked at the teacher, noticing she was now looking at him calmly.
'Challenge the teacher... challenge the teacher... challenge the teacher.'
Rhine repeated the phrase quietly, thinking of a solution to this dilemma that had just befallen him.
"If your strength is weak, do not even try to continue; the gap in qualifications between families, support, and power is vast."
Rhine looked at the teacher calmly, and a thought rose to the surface of his mind, demanding to be let out. Rhine finally understood the point of the quest.
"Teacher, wasn't the leader of Plum Blossom City just a commoner, and wasn't the Zan family considered an intermediate family back then as well?"
At Rhine's question, everyone looked at him in silence and wonder; this boy who had spent his time in the shadows was now questioning the teacher—the same boy who had spent his time silent, being bullied without uttering a single word or even a glance.
"Well, yes, but do you expect to become like him?"
At the bewildered expression of the teacher, Zan Nu, Rhine smiled:
"Well, why not? How about this? The aptitude test will take place two months from now. My strength is truly weak, very weak. What if I could increase my strength and pass the test?"
"The test is in two months, and you want to increase your strength from a spiritual energy level of 1 to 100? Are you serious?"
"It's just a challenge, Teacher."
Rhine smiled calmly while looking at the teacher, noticing the looks of anger and hatred from Zan Shi, who was staring at him now. Rhine took note of it; Rhine had not done what Zan Shi ordered him to do.
"Very well, so be it, but why don't we make the challenge better? If you manage to pass the aptitude test two months from now, I will give you a three-star Iron-type demonic soul. And if you fail, you must leave the Plum Blossom City school."
Rhine looked into the teacher's eyes calmly, knowing exactly why she said that.
"It's a deal."
| Quest completed successfully |
| Name: Rhine
Age: 13 years
Level: 1
Physical Strength: 4
Endurance: 6
Speed: 4
Spiritual Energy: 3
Expected Lifespan: 30 Days |
| Quest:
Pass the aptitude test two months from now.
Duration: Two months.
Reward: Five-star Iron-type demonic soul + 5-point increase in statistics + 5 Mid-Quality Healing Pills.
Failure: Death at the hands of Zan Shi. |