The next day, Alex woke up feeling completely refreshed. Something was different, though he couldn't immediately name it. It wasn't the ordinary sense of waking from a good night's sleep. This was deeper—more profound. Every part of him felt alive, energized, as if the very essence of his body had been upgraded overnight. Muscles, nerves, senses… all seemed sharper, more responsive.
Am I becoming superhuman? he wondered. The thought wasn't far-fetched, considering the system he had recently gained, but the sensation was more intense than anything he had imagined. He could feel power humming beneath his skin, a latent strength waiting to be tested.
After a moment, he spoke aloud, "System, is there a way to track my progress every day?"
[Yes.]
[I can generate an interface for the user to monitor daily progress.]
Alex frowned. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"
[The user did not ask.]
He exhaled, a mix of annoyance and mild amusement passing through him. "Alright… can you generate it now?"
[Generating user stats interface…]
[Scanning user body…]
[Comparing with previous stats…]
[Normalizing data…]
[Please choose a default stat value.]
[The default stat will serve as your starting power level. Future growth will be calculated as a percentage increase from this value.]
[I recommend choosing 1, as it will make progress easier to track.]
"Okay, use 1 then."
[Finished]
[User: Alex Anderson]
[Strength: 1.5]
[Mind: 1.1]
[Defense: 1.4]
[Endurance: 1.4]
[Soul: 2.0]
[Mana: 0.0]
[Power: In awakening (30%)]
[Skills: None]
"So these are my stats now…" Alex said, his voice barely a whisper, as if saying it aloud might make it less real. He paused, studying the numbers, feeling a mix of disbelief and awe. "Wait… you're saying my strength has improved by more than half?"
[Yes.]
"That is crazy," he muttered, flexing his fingers slowly, feeling the energy thrumming through his body. "But now that I think about it, everything feels easier to do."
It wasn't like Alex had been weak before. He had trained for years in martial arts, building a body that could handle almost any physical challenge. Even after a year of inactivity, the muscles remained, strong and defined. But now… the system said his strength had increased significantly. And it felt true. Lifting, pushing, moving—it all required less effort than before. Even simple motions felt powerful.
He decided it was time to test this new strength. He got dressed quickly, putting on clothes that allowed him full movement, and stepped outside into the crisp morning air. The world seemed brighter, sharper, as if his senses had become more acute overnight. He began running, one foot in front of the other, letting his body carry him without conscious thought.
At first, the speed felt normal, but then he realized it wasn't. His legs moved smoothly, each step longer and more forceful than expected. He glanced at a passing car, noting how easily he outpaced it. He estimated he had reached around 20 km/h, yet it felt almost effortless.
He pushed harder, increasing his stride and extending his arms to pump efficiently. Every movement was perfectly coordinated, energy flowing naturally from muscle to muscle. Soon, the world blurred around him. Cars, pedestrians, and street signs became streaks of color as his speed climbed. 30 km/h… 32… 35.
The fastest human is about 44.7 km/h, he thought, astonished. And I'm not even close to my limit yet. He slowed briefly, catching his breath—or at least, what he assumed was necessary—and marveled at how easy it had all been. He realized with a shock that surpassing top human speed might only take another day of effort.
A shiver ran through him as he considered what that meant. If he, someone not even fully awakened, could reach this level of power, then the true Awakeners must be unimaginably strong. And if the world were filled with them… survival would be a challenge for everyone.
He stood still for a moment, gazing at the sky. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting shifting shadows on the empty street. Memories surfaced: the injuries that had once threatened his future, the friends he had lost, the mysterious system that had suddenly appeared, the looming apocalypse he had been warned about. For a moment, all of it seemed distant, like a faint echo. Then something settled inside him, a sense of resolve. He couldn't afford to treat this lightly. This wasn't a game.
Suddenly, a shout cut through the quiet: "Thief! Stop him!"
A man sprinted past, clutching a bag, with an old woman struggling to reach him. Instinctively, Alex reacted. He moved with speed and precision, sliding around a corner, narrowing the distance in an instant.
The alley constricted the thief's path, guiding him perfectly. A sidestep, a firm shoulder into the man's back, and the thief stumbled. He tried to regain balance, but Alex pivoted sharply, sending him to the ground with a grunt.
Alex pressed a knee briefly into the man's side—not enough to hurt, just enough to immobilize him. Once the thief remained still, he released him. The bag was unharmed.
On the street, the old woman froze, staring as the bag gently floated into her hands. "Oh… thank you?" she whispered, disbelief clear in her voice.
Alex smiled faintly, then disappeared into a side street, blending seamlessly with the flow of people. His body hummed with exhilaration—today had been a test, and the results had been undeniable.
He returned home, feeling a lightness of spirit he hadn't felt in years. Yesterday, he had gained a job he never would have dreamed of. Today, he had discovered a strength beyond what he thought possible. It almost felt unreal. After a shower, he dressed in his school uniform, mentally preparing for the day ahead.
School passed as usual, with classes unfolding in predictable rhythms. But at the end of class, Catherine approached his desk, as she always did, drawing attention from all the students nearby.
"I hope you're ready. I'll show you our club place," she said.
Whispers circulated around them:
"What club?"
"Are they in the same club?"
"Is our ice beauty in a club? Why didn't we know?"
Alex followed her without question. Once outside, he asked, "Isn't our club in the school?"
Catherine shook her head, smiling faintly. "Our school has many clubs, but there isn't enough space for the one I want to make. So I found a location outside school."
Alex raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Catherine led him to a waiting limousine. The butler opened the door, and they began their drive. When they arrived, Alex was stunned. The club location wasn't a typical room or hall—it was a mansion. A sprawling estate, with manicured lawns, a massive swimming pool, and a backyard that seemed to go on forever. About twenty maids stood at the entrance, greeting them politely.
Inside, the mansion was equally astounding. Each room served a distinct purpose: sparring rooms, a professional kitchen, a pool for relaxation and training, and open spaces for outdoor exercises. Every corner reflected careful planning and immense resources—expected from a princess, yet astonishing in scale.
Catherine turned to him, smiling nervously. "So, how do you like the club place? Is it good?"
Alex hesitated, taking in the grandeur. "Yes… it's actually greater than I imagined."
Pride shone faintly on her face. She gestured to a maid. "Carla, call the other members."
Four students arrived shortly: three boys and one girl. Alex studied them quickly. The girl looked weak. Two of the boys seemed inexperienced. Only the first boy showed any sign of prior training.
"Are you sure these are your martial arts club members?" he asked.
Catherine nodded confidently. "Yes. They are weak now, but they have potential. They just need some time."
Alex allowed himself a small smile, processing the day's events. The mansion, the test of strength, the awakening of power—it was all a beginning, a glimpse of what lay ahead.