The morning sunlight filtered through the classroom windows, but James Lee's mind was elsewhere. His first recruits were loyal, the name Valhalla was whispered with quiet respect, but he knew this was only the beginning. To truly dominate the timeline, he needed power—and the system to accelerate it.
He accessed his QuestSim interface discreetly under the desk:
[QuestSim System Active – Level 2]Stats: Strength: 2 | Agility: 2 | Intelligence: 4 | Charisma: 3Skills: Observation +3 | Strategic Analysis +2Perks: Leadership Insight, Aura of AuthorityQuests Available: 5
He scanned the list carefully:
[Quest 1: Train recruits to improve loyalty and observation.][Quest 2: Complete observation and influence tasks around school.][Quest 3: Engage in controlled combat challenges to increase strength.][Quest 4: Establish dominance in small conflicts.][Quest 5: Create tactical alliances with influential students.]
James Lee smirked faintly. These were all perfect. Each task would level him up, increase stats, and unlock new perks.
First, he focused on training Yamagishi and Kazutora. He organized a small rooftop session, using simple but effective drills:
Observation exercises: identify patterns in student interactions across the courtyard.
Loyalty tests: subtle challenges to see if recruits would follow instructions under pressure.
Physical coordination drills: teamwork exercises to improve agility and strategy.
The system responded immediately:
[Yamagishi – Observation +2, Loyalty +1][Kazutora – Agility +1, Combat Awareness +1][James Lee – Leadership +1, Strategic Insight +1, Experience +10]
"Good," James Lee said, his James Lee persona calm and commanding. "Valhalla isn't just about strength. It's about thinking ahead, reading people, and acting decisively. Every skill you build now is a weapon later."
Next, he decided to complete personal quests to grow his own stats. He scanned the school, picking minor challenges that would push him physically and mentally without attracting attention:
Moving through crowded areas quickly without being noticed: Agility +1
Calculating the outcome of small arguments and intervening subtly: Charisma +1
Practicing controlled combat on rooftops using improvised methods: Strength +1, Combat Skill +1
Each quest completed pinged the system:
[Quest Complete: Observation Challenge – Experience +5][Quest Complete: Influence Exercise – Charisma +1][Quest Complete: Rooftop Combat – Strength +1, Agility +1]
James Lee felt the surge of progress. His body, mind, and aura were improving incrementally, each point gained giving him a slight edge over everyone else in the school.
By evening, he had a clear strategy. His recruits were learning, stats were rising, and hidden talents were slowly unlocking. The system highlighted a hidden quest:
[Hidden Quest: Expand Valhalla's Reputation]Objectives:
Complete three personal growth quests to increase stats.
Ensure recruits demonstrate loyalty and competence.
Subtly assert Valhalla's influence across school.
James Lee smirked. "Perfect. Growth isn't just physical—it's influence, intelligence, strategy. Each task completed makes Valhalla stronger… and me stronger."
He reviewed the system stats before heading home:
[James Lee – Level 3]Stats: Strength: 4 | Agility: 4 | Intelligence: 5 | Charisma: 4Skills: Observation +4 | Strategic Analysis +3 | Combat Awareness +1Perks: Leadership Insight, Aura of Authority, Tactical Vision (Unlocked)
The city outside glimmered under neon lights. The first threads of Valhalla were solidifying, and James Lee knew that each level gained, each skill unlocked, and each recruit trained was one step closer to dominating the timeline.
"Tomorrow," he muttered, eyes glinting, "we take another step. Valhalla grows. I grow. And soon… no one will underestimate us."