Arin's eyes narrowed as he stared at the floating system panel.
"Task: Join Aetherion Academy. Completion required to progress main plot."
He froze. "Wait… what?" He glanced at the system. "Do you know how old I am?"
"Host age detected: 10. Academy minimum age: 16. Time remaining to meet requirement: six years."
Arin sank onto a rock, staring at the mountains in the distance. Six years. That sounded like forever… and yet, he could feel the weight of the task pressing down. Survival wasn't just about escaping beasts and monsters now—he had a deadline.
He ran a hand through his jade hair. "Six years… six years to go from a ten-year-old village kid to someone the academy will even look at… great. No powers yet, no system stats, just me."
"Warning: failure to complete main plot task within time limit results in permanent termination."
Arin groaned, letting out a long breath. "Of course. Of course it comes with a timer. Why would it ever be simple?"
And yet… beneath the frustration, a spark of excitement flared. Six years. That was long enough to train, explore, and maybe bend the rules of the world itself. It was terrifying—but it was also a challenge.
"Task timer activated. Host… plan and progress toward joining Aetherion Academy."
Arin clenched his fists, looking out over the grasslands. "Step one: survive. Step two: grow stronger. Step three… somehow become sixteen before the academy refuses me."
Arin rubbed his temples, muttering to himself. "Okay… maybe I can't join the academy yet… but at least I can check my stats. That's standard, right? Every game ever…"
He straightened and shouted toward the floating system panel:
"SYSTEM! SHOW ME MY STATS!"
The golden letters flickered, and then a translucent window appeared, displaying sparse information:
Host Name: Arin Vale
Age: 10
Mana Type: Unknown
Current Skills: None detected
Inventory: Empty
Health: Normal
Experience: 0
Arin stared. "…That's it?" His jaw dropped. "No mana level? No combat skill? No hidden cheat stats?"
"Host attributes are incomplete. Further exploration and experience required to reveal full potential."
He groaned, letting out a frustrated laugh. "Of course. Nothing is ever straightforward."
Arin rubbed his jade-skinned arms. "So let me get this straight: I'm ten, powerless, in a village in the middle of nowhere, with six years to join the academy, and my 'status' is basically useless. Perfect."
"Task timer active. Survival and main plot progression remain mandatory."
Arin threw his hands in the air and muttered, "Yeah, yeah. Got it, system. I'm going to survive. Somehow.
Arin sighed, staring at the status panel. "Okay, so I'm basically useless right now… what next?"
The system shimmered and a new notification appeared:
"Optional Side Quests Available. Rewards: mana insight, skills, equipment, or rare items. Completion recommended to assist main plot survival."
Arin raised an eyebrow. "Optional, huh? Finally… something that actually makes sense."
"Side Quest 1: Hunt and collect three mana-infused herbs from the nearby forest. Reward: basic mana attunement and skill proficiency."
"Side Quest 2: Assist village hunters with scouting local wildlife. Reward: survival gear and experience points."
"Side Quest 3: Train your body using natural terrain challenges (mountains, rivers, forests). Reward: stamina boost and combat readiness."
Arin's eyes lit up. "Finally! Something I can do while waiting six years to join the academy. And… if I do this smart, maybe I'll unlock something useful for later."
"Warning: side quests are optional, but some rewards may be crucial for survival. Task timer continues in parallel."
Arin stretched his jade arms and grinned. "Okay… let's do this. Step one: scout the forest and get those herbs. Step two: survive. Step three: figure out how to bend this world to my favor."
For the first time since waking up, Arin felt a spark of excitement. The challenge wasn't just survival anymore—it was strategy, growth, and opportunity.
The system panel shimmered, displaying the optional side quests once more.
"Optional Side Quest: Physical Conditioning and Survival Training. Rewards: stamina, strength, agility, and combat readiness."
Arin squinted at the list.
Task 1: Sprint across the village perimeter ten times.
Task 2: Complete fifty push-ups, fifty sit-ups, and fifty squats.
Task 3: Climb the nearby hill and descend without injury.
Task 4: Swim across the river and back without using mana (if any).
Task 5: Hunt small wildlife using basic tools (no weapons provided).
Arin blinked. "…Seriously? Fifty push-ups at ten years old? And run ten times around the village?" He rubbed his jade arms. "Great. This is going to hurt… physically and emotionally."
"Note: Consistent completion increases survival efficiency and unlocks skill potential."
He sighed, stretching his legs. "Fine… at least it's something I can actually do right now. Step one: survive. Step two: follow instructions. Step three: somehow not break my arms or legs in the process."
Arin gritted his teeth, a mix of dread and excitement bubbling up. This wasn't just optional exercise—it was a test of endurance, strategy, and adaptability. And if he succeeded… maybe, just maybe, he'd have a chance at the academy before the six-year deadline.
His body was exhausted not physically but mentally.
So he went back to sleep. Until new faces appeared.