(Max's POV - 2003)
I tapped on Enhanced Senses, seeing as that was the only one of the skills unlocked.
[Enhanced Senses: Three of the host's five senses are enhanced greatly: Vision, Smell, and Hearing. The host's vision is so great that he can see clearly from miles away. The host's hearing is so sharp that he can hear even the slightest shift in the air. The Host's smell is so precise that he can smell poisons if he were in a bad situation.]
[Ability can be unlocked. Does the host wish to unlock Enhanced Senses?]
[Yes | No]
I pressed Yes immediately, and as soon as I did, everything sharpened to such a degree I stumbled back holding my head.
Everything around me had become clearer; I could smell the smoke from the shooting of guns, even though Pure's shooting range was 3 floors up.
And my hearing, God, I could hear the breathing of PURE agents 5 floors above me.
It was hell, overwhelming, I felt like my ears were bleeding, my eyes stinging, and the inside of my nose burning.
I fell to my knees, quivering at the intense sensation. It wasn't as bad as the Serum injection, but it was definitely top 3.
I knelt there on the floor, shaking for a full 5 minutes before the pain started to fade gradually as I got used to everything.
Yet…I now had proof…I had proof I wasn't crazy! This system worked; it was a power I could use to protect others.
"What…the hell System?" I managed to rasp out.
[Would you have liked a warning?]
"Uh, yeah, duh."
[Turning on the Warning feature]
I groaned, 'That could've been good about 5 minutes ago.'
[I am sorry, host]
I blinked 'You can read my thoughts?'
[I am a manifestation of your X-Gene. Why would I not?]
'So what? No privacy? Ever?'
[No]
I frowned, not liking the thought of someone in my mind 24/7, but I could at least try since it was an…extension? Of me
[You will prevail, host.]
I sighed and stood back up. "I probably should have explored your features more before jumping the gun."
[That would have been a wise decision.]
I groaned. Josef had just lectured me on this. Stop being reckless. I need to look before I jump.
So, might as well look right?
'System, uh, can you show me…all features?'
[Of course, host]
The blue screen shifted, showing 4 different tabs.
[Templates]
[Template Progress]
[Store]
[Quests]
I clicked on the store, the blue screen shifted to a yellow background with multiple Items on frame, a price below each of them.
The amount of credits I had was displayed in the corner, and a mere 0 stood in its place.
I looked over the shop, frowning. I didn't know the exchange rate, but using Sokovian Currency, these things were absurdly expensive.
What even was a lightsaber, and why was it at 1,000,000 credits?
I pressed on the tab.
[Lightsaber]
[A weapon from the Star Wars universe, primarily used by Jedi and Sith, the Lightsaber has a heat of 25,000 degrees Celsius. Making it able to cut through steel easily and cauterise a wound instantly]
Holy hell, that would be hotter than the sun's surface. With that alone, I could probably make the revolution easier.
I kept scrolling through the System Shop, seeing things like a regular microphone, to something called the "Helmet of Fate"
There were some relatively "Cheap" items, like something called the "Staff of Alastor"...whatever that was.
I exited out of the shop and clicked on the "Template Progress" tab.
[Slade Wilson - Progression Bar]
[Progress - 0%]
[0XP - 100XP]
'Ok, so it's like a game? Are those percentages basically levels?'
I never really played games; between my times on the streets, training with Josef and my life from before, I never got to.
Games were a luxury. The only time I played one was when I pirated one off of U.S. servers out of curiosity."
[Precisely host]
'Wow, look at Mr Professional over here'
I clicked on the tab I hadn't explored yet, labelled "Quests"
When it opened, I saw two options in the "Completed" section.
One titled [Explore The System!] and the other one titled [Roll Your First Template!]
I was surprised I already completed two quests, and clicked on the first one.
[Explore The System!]
[Summary: Explore the 3 main system features! The Store, Quests, and Template features!]
[Rewards: Simple Katana, 25 XP]
[Claim: Yes | No]
I blinked. That would definitely be useful. I remember on the Templates tab, it said I needed to advance in Katana Mastery. And the rewards would also give me 25XP.
I wanted to click yes immediately, but then I remembered what happened earlier…and immediately decided to wait.
Plus, if I just had a katana out of nowhere, Josef would ask questions.
I clicked on the second quest, "Roll Your First Template"
[Roll Your First Template!]
[Summary: Roll your first template…what did you expect?]
[Rewards: 50XP]
[Claim: Yes | No]
'System, if I claim these rewards, will anything happen?'
[Physically or mentally, you will not feel anything Host]
I sighed in relief and claimed the rewards from "Roll your first template"
I didn't feel anything physically change, so I also claimed the rewards from "Explore the System"
And suddenly, a sleek katana with a black handle appeared in my hands.
'How am I supposed to hide this from Josef?'
[Storage System option available, would the host like to store Simple Katana into Storage?]
[Yes | No]
I breathed a sigh of relief. This would make things I got from the system easier to hide from Josef.
I clicked Yes, and the Simple Katana dissolved into a blue light.
"Cool", I whispered
I went to the Template Progression tab.
[Slade Wilson - Progression Bar]
[Progress - 0.75%]
[75XP - 100XP]
I rubbed my chin.
'So every XP is 0.1%? 100XP would be 1% then'
I knew what I needed to do. Even though I could bear with my new senses for now, it does not mean I could fight with them.
I needed to get used to it in battle.
I could not have myself hesitating or freezing up just in that tiny moment that would give my enemies the killing move.
I needed to react in time, too.
So I left my room in a hurry and took the elevator down to floor 69. One of PURE's many training rooms.
PURE was not poor by any standards; the main base was underground, going over 80 floors. With tech slightly ahead of the modern age.
Most of this technology was thanks to PURE agents like Marco, Sokovian mutants who had intelligence boosts.
Due to this, PURE had top-grade training facilities going from floor 60-70.
Each of these floors were pitch white rooms you could design with realistic holograms and platforms.
I got to floor 69 and walked into the blank space. I hovered my hand over a screen to my right.
I made 3 platforms rise from the bottom, each one higher than the last, and added 3 holographic enemies wearing Sokovian military uniforms on each platform.
I adjusted the settings to the most realistic way possible.
I pressed the 'Start Simulation' Button.
I charged further in, climbing up the first platform. Before I could even attack the first enemy, I heard a deafening gunshot and immediately flinched.
A holographic bullet shot into my left arm, and the room flashed red.
'Ok…faster than expected'
I hopped off the platform and restarted the simulation.
I ran in again, jumping from the side of the wall onto the first platform. I went to strike the first enemy, hearing the same booming sound, and dodged to the right into a roll.
But then came the smell, the smell of the smoke from the gun. I gagged immediately, then another holographic bullet shot into my back.
The room flashed red.
'Ok…this is going to take a while'
[Try 3]
I thought things over, I had enhanced Smell, hearing and vision, currently I am experiencing an overload of Smell and sound.
Vision.
I could use my vision to my advantage…somehow.
I start the simulation again, I change tactics, jumping onto the first pillar, then leaping to the second before they could shoot.
I rolled to a stop, looking for any sign of movement.
I see the hologram's finger start to move to the trigger of the gun, before it could shoot, I kick the hologram, making it turn red, then fizzle out.
I grinned at my victory…then the third hologram's bullet hit me in the head, and the room turned red.
Suddenly, a familiar blue screen appeared in front of me.
[Acrobatics: 0% → 1%]
My grin came back to my face.
[Try 4]
Ok, last time I managed to kill one of them, but I got too confident, forgot about the third.
I need defence as well as offence, balance.
How was I supposed to get that balance?
I sighed and started the simulation.
I sprinted towards the first platform, jumping off from the wall, and I kicked the first hologram off the platform.
I hear a slight click and immediately duck, a holographic bullet flying past me.
I leapt off the edge of the first platform to the second, landing with a slide. I swept the hologram's feet, making them crash to the ground, turning red and fizzling out.
I got back up as quickly as I could to jump to the third platform, but I already smelled the smoke.
The room flashed red.
[Try 15]
It was my speed.
I figured it out around try 12; my speed was the thing holding me back from getting to that third platform.
I needed to be faster, work on my stamina and speed.
And thankfully, this simulation was the perfect way to do that.
I took a break to catch my breath and relax.
Before pressing start on the simulation one last time.
I sprinted to the first platform, jumping on easily. I kicked the hologram away, then kicked the hologram into the range of the hologram on the second platform.
Once the hologram was shot, it fizzled red, but I didn't even pay attention; it was a head shot, no tricks up this hologram's sleeve.
I was already hopping onto the second platform. I punched the hologram's throat before it could press the trigger and sweep its feet.
The hologram fizzled red.
Finally, I leapt onto the third platform, and I landed with a roll, tackling the hologram off the third platform.
This simulation wasn't just about killing all the enemies; it was about survival.
So after I tackled the hologram with me off the third platform, I pushed off and twisted to land on my back.
The impact stung, but…
I turned to the fizzling red hologram with a grin.
I'm alive.
I stood on shaky legs and laughed.