Henry raised a brow at Miley's statement. "Why's that?" he asked, looking genuinely curious.
[Well, speed is how fast you move in a direction… let's say, from point A to point B. It's a linear velocity] Miley explained. [While agility is how fast your body moves and reacts to change directions. Which means you need speed to have an effective agility]
Henry nodded in understanding. "Oh. So how fast I can move in a straight line will definitely affect how fast I can move at all."
[Indeed] Miley agreed. [Speed boosts agility, and agility controls speed. Shall we proceed?]
"Yes, carry on," Henry replied.
[Alright, so moving on to Durability] Miley continued. [It is basically your physical toughness… how much damage you can take before breaking. It's very essential for a speedster to have high durability so as to be able to handle the pressure and friction from running at high speeds]
Henry made sure to take note of that info. "Alright," he said.
[Good] Miley muttered. [So finally, Perception governs your sensory awareness and reaction speed as explained earlier. And Mastery reflects your skill proficiency… how well you can learn and utilize weapons, techniques, and abilities]
Henry took in all the information, letting them sink in. Then he scanned his stats properly and winced. "So… I'm weak as hell, aren't I?"
[By the world standards? Absolutely. Your Strength is abysmal. Your Durability is barely better. The only reason you're even remotely functional is because of your high Agility and Perception]
"Great," Henry sighed. "So I'm a glass cannon."
[More like a glass pea-shooter] Miley chuckled. [It's even a miracle you're still alive]
Henry groaned. "You really know how to boost a guy's confidence."
[I'm simply being honest] Miley said softly. [You need to level up and allocate stat points if you want to survive]
"Stat points?" Henry echoed, noticing the line at the bottom. "I have zero of those."
[You'll gain stat points every time you level up or complete certain quests. You can then distribute them however you like… pump everything into Strength if you want to hit harder, or invest in Agility to become even faster. It's entirely up to you]
"Got it." Henry's gaze moved down to the Abilities section. "So… Enhanced Speed is my main power?"
[Correct. It's your Celestial ability… the core of what makes you a speedster. Everything else branches from that]
Henry frowned at the rows of question marks beneath it. "What about these?"
[Those are locked abilities. You haven't unlocked them yet]
"How do I unlock them?" He asked, already imagining the possibility of wielding multiple abilities in a world where majority only had one.
[By leveling up, completing certain quests, or meeting specific conditions] Miley explained. [The system will notify you when they become available]
"Hmm… that sounds mysterious. I like it." Henry moved to the Skills section and immediately noticed several entries marked as {Locked}. "Same deal with these?"
[Yes. Skills must be unlocked through progression or purchased from the Shop]
Henry's eyes lit up. "Wait, there's an actual Shop? I thought the option was just there for decoration," he muttered in excitement.
Miley chuckled. [There's a real shop] she said. [But we'll get to that shortly]
"Can't wait." Henry focused on the one skill that wasn't locked. "Alright, so what's Accelerated Perception? You mentioned it earlier, but I want the full explanation."
[Of course] Miley said. [Accelerated Perception is a hybrid skill… it operates in two distinct modes]
"Two modes?" Henry repeated.
[Yes] Miley replied. [The first is the Passive Mode. It is always active at a low intensity… roughly 1.3 to 2 times normal perception. It doesn't consume EP, so you don't even notice it's running. But it grants you enhanced awareness, sharper reflexes, better intuition, and a subtle danger sense. Essentially, it makes you more perceptive than an average person without you consciously realizing why]
Henry blinked. "Wait, so I've been using it this whole time?" he asked.
[Yes. It's why you're quick-witted, good at noticing odd details, and able to react faster than most people] Miley explained. [It's a constant low-level boost to your cognitive and sensory processing. And it's not noticeable unless you really focus]
"Hmm." Henry thought back to his escape from the pit, his encounter with the beasts, even his conversations with Jane and Felicity. He had noticed things quickly…subtle cues, inconsistencies, dangers. "I just thought I was naturally sharp."
[You are. But the skill enhances that natural sharpness significantly]
"Cool." Henry leaned forward. "And the second mode?"
[That's the Active Mode. It is the real Accelerated Perception] Miley explained. [When you consciously activate it… or when your body detects imminent danger, your perception jumps to 4.5 times normal, based on your current Perception Index. During this state, time appears to slow dramatically. Sensory data floods your brain at an overwhelming rate. Your thoughts accelerate like a supercomputer. You can read movement patterns, predict trajectories, and act with near-perfect timing]
Henry's pulse quickened. "That sounds incredible," he chuckled.
[It is. But it comes at a cost. This mode drains EP… approximately three points per second at your current level. It also causes significant mental strain like I explained before. You won't be able to maintain it for long, especially early on]
Henry shrugged. "So I can't just spam it."
[Absolutely not] Miley retorted. [Use it sparingly and strategically. Save it for moments when you truly need that extra edge]
Henry nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "Got it. Use it smart, not often."
[Precisely]
Henry exhaled, his mind buzzing with possibilities. "Alright. So to summarize: I'm currently an average and weak beginner speedster with decent perception and terrible everything else. I need to level up, get stronger, and unlock more skills. Did I miss anything?"
[That about covers it] Miley said. [Though there is one more thing you should know]
"What's that?" He asked.
[To level up, you need experience points… EXP. And the fastest way to gain EXP is by completing quests and defeating enemies]
Henry perked up. "Quests? Like in a video game?"
[Exactly like that. The system generates quests for you… some daily, some random, some tied to specific events. Completing them grants EXP, Shop Points, and sometimes special rewards]
Henry's brows raised at a particular word. "Shop Points?"
[Currency for the system Shop. You can use them to purchase skills, equipment, consumables, and more]
Henry's eyes gleamed. "Now we're talking. Let's check out the quests."
He mentally selected the Quests tab, and the interface shifted.
< Quests >
[Objective 1: Run 1 kilometer without stopping]
*Reward: 5 EXP, +10 km/h to Top Speed
*Status: Incomplete
[Objective 2: Lift a total of 100 kilograms]
*Reward: 5 EXP, +2 Strength, +2.5 Stamina
*Status: Incomplete
[Objective 3: Do ten pushups and twenty sit-ups]
*Reward: 10 EXP, +5 Durability, +2.5 Stamina
*Status: Incomplete
None Available
None Available
––––––
Henry stared at the screen. "That's it? Just run a kilometer, lift a few weights, and work out?"
[For now, yes] Miley replied. [Daily quests are designed to be simple and repeatable. As you level up, they'll become more challenging. But this one is perfect for a beginner]
Henry chuckled. "And I get faster just by running?"
[Correct. Every time you complete the running quest, your Top Speed increases by ten kilometers per hour. It's a small boost, but it compounds over time. Miss a day, and you miss that boost]
Henry nodded. "So consistency is key."
[Exactly. Now, as for gaining larger amounts of EXP, you'll need to hunt beasts]
Henry's excitement dimmed. "Beasts?" he asked in disbelief. "Like actual magical beasts?"
[Yes] Miley replied. [Beasts are ranked from F to S, with F being the weakest and S being catastrophically powerful. Killing them grants EXP based on their rank]
Henry exhaled sharply. "So if I want to level up fast, I need to kill a lot of beasts."
[Correct] Miley mused. [However, at your current level, even an F-rank beast would be extremely dangerous. You're untrained, under-equipped, and lack combat experience]
Henry had anticipated this. According to his predecessor's memories, magical beasts were incredibly powerful creatures. They were so formidable that only individuals ranked D and above could stand a chance against one and come out alive.
"So what do I do?" He asked.
[For now? Focus on your daily quests] Miley said firmly. [Build your foundation. Increase your stats. Get familiar with your speed and your Accelerated Perception. Once you're stronger—once you have proper equipment and training—then you can think about hunting beasts]
Henry wanted to argue, to push back, but something in Miley's tone stopped him. There was an urgency there. Almost like… worry. He didn't know if he could fully trust her, but he knew that her suggestion was the only plausible thing he could do at the moment.
"Alright," Henry said finally. "I'll focus on the daily quests for now. Get stronger the safe way."
[Good] Miley said, and Henry could hear the relief in her voice. [That's the smart choice]
Henry lay back on his bed, staring at the glowing ceiling. His mind was racing with everything he'd learned—the system, his abilities, the path forward.
"Miley?"
[Yes?]
"Thanks. For explaining everything. For… being here."
There was a pause. Then, softer than before:
[You're welcome, Henry. Now get some rest. Tomorrow, you start your daily quests. There is no time to lose]
Henry smiled, closing his eyes. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt like he had a clear direction. A purpose.
"Tomorrow. I'll start getting stronger."
And with that thought, Henry drifted off to sleep, unaware of the shadow lurking in the corners of his mind—waiting, watching, and growing stronger with each passing moment.