The two years that passed between my "awakening" at age four and my entry into formal education were a war of attrition against my own infant biology. To my parents, Arthur and Elena, I was an unusually mature child—someone who preferred observing the inner workings of an alternator over playing with balls. Due to my accelerated learning capacity and a vocabulary far beyond my years, the Millers made a decision after consulting with school psychologists: I would skip kindergarten and enroll directly into first grade.
At six years old, my adult mind was trapped in a body that was only just beginning to coordinate, but the results of my silent training were starting to pay off.
During those 730 days, my routine was strict. I took advantage of every minute of solitude and every interaction with my parents to "farm" experience in the areas I deemed critical. I hadn't learned to repair complex engines yet, but my Mechanics skill rose to Level 4. I learned the name of every tool, the tension required to tighten a bolt without stripping it, and the basic physics of levers. My Strength (STR) rose from 2.1 to 3.5 just by carrying heavy toolboxes and helping my father move old tires.
My mother started taking me with her on some weekends when she had no one to leave me with. I observed wounds, learned the importance of asepsis, and memorized the names of common drugs on the shelves. My Medicine skill reached Level 5. My Perception (PER) soared as I practiced visual diagnosis: I would try to guess what was wrong with a patient before Mom even checked them.
Every night, without fail, I practiced meditation. I managed to raise my Perception (PER) from 5.5 to 7.2. Now I could hear the engine of Arthur's car turning the corner of the block long before Elena realized he had arrived.
My Intelligence (INT) stayed at 15 initially, but thanks to intense study of books from the local library—history and geography encyclopedias—I managed to push it to 17.
[SYSTEM EFFECT: SPATIAL GROWTH]
Previous INT: 15 / Current INT: 17
Storage Increase: +2 m3
Total Capacity: 3 m3
Note: It's still useless for now. I can't loot anything valuable without raising suspicions at home, and I have nothing to hide that doesn't fit under my bed. I'll reserve it for when I have my own mobility.
September 1977. Georgia felt like an oven. Elena buckled my blue canvas backpack and gave me a kiss on the forehead. Arthur gave my shoulder a squeeze—one of those that said, "make me proud." Because of my maturity, I was sent to a class of children who were mostly a year older than me.
Upon entering the first-grade classroom, the chaos hit me. The smell of used crayons and the noise of twenty-five children was overwhelming but manageable for my enhanced Perception. I sat in the back, watching how the teacher, Miss Higgins, tried to maintain order.
Skill Unlocked: Psychology (Lvl 1)
Skill Unlocked: Leadership (Lvl 1)
While the other children struggled to read simple sentences, I spent my time analyzing my classmates as strategic assets for the future. My mind, boosted by the system, began labeling the children according to their potential utility for when the outbreak occurred in 33 years:
Ralph: A rough boy from a family of hunters. He had superior natural Strength. The physical leader of the group.
Sarah: Meticulous and empathetic. Potential for logistics or nursing under my mother's tutelage.
The "Noise": The majority. Those who still cried for their mothers at noon.
During recess, I decided it was time to start leveling my Social skills. I approached a group of boys arguing over who was faster.
"It's not just about running," I interjected with a calm that silenced them. "It's about knowing how long you can maintain the pace before your legs give out."
The boys looked at me like I was a freak. Ralph, the seven-year-old tough guy, stepped up to me with his chest puffed out, annoyed that a "little" kid was speaking with such confidence.
"What do you know, Miller? You're just a know-it-all," he said, giving me a light shove.
[COMBAT ALERT]
Target: Ralph.
Win Probability: 98% (Technique vs. Brute Force).
I felt the temptation to use a self-defense technique I remembered from my past life, but I stopped myself. A leader does not impose himself with unnecessary force in front of teachers. He imposes himself with his mind.
"I know that if you push me again, I'll have to tell Miss Higgins that I saw you putting the eraser from her desk into your backpack yesterday," I lied with a cold smile. I had seen another kid do it, but Ralph was the perfect scapegoat because of his bad reputation.
Ralph went pale. Fear of authority was his current weakness.
"I... I didn't do that," he stammered.
"Then don't touch me again," I told him, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder that carried a clear message of dominance. "Better yet, let's play soldiers. I'll be the commander, and you'll be my sergeant."
Skill Up: Charisma (Lvl 2)
Skill Up: Intimidation (Lvl 1)
Skill Up: Persuasion (Lvl 2)
By the end of the day, the group of boys followed me across the yard. Not because they liked me, but because I gave them structure. I told them what to do and they felt important. I was cultivating my loyal subordinates and my network from the roots up.
Back at home, after a quiet dinner where my parents asked how it went ("Fine, the other kids are interesting," I replied with as much innocence as possible), I locked myself in my room. I needed a summary of my first day as an "advanced student."
[ STATUS: WILLIAM MILLER ]
Age: 6 (Skipped to 1st Grade)
Level: 4 (EXP: 150/400)
STR: 3.5
AGI: 4.2
END: 4.0
INT: 17.0
PER: 7.2
Storage: 3 m3 (Empty)
NOTABLE SKILLS:
Mechanics: Lvl 4
Medicine: Lvl 5
Charisma: Lvl 2
Stealth: Lvl 3 (Practiced moving through the house at night)
Languages: English (N), Spanish (Lvl 5), French (Lvl 2)
I lay down and closed my eyes. The system flickered in the darkness of my mind. Three cubic meters of empty space waited in my sub-dimension. For now, the storage was useless, but it served to practice the silent diversion of matter.
Tomorrow, I thought, I'll start studying Latin. If I am to be a god among men when the world falls, my knowledge must be absolute.