Kenji woke up with a start, his body jolting upright as if pulled by an invisible force. His heart raced, and for a moment, he was disoriented, the remnants of the previous night's battle still fresh in his mind. The fight with the Stray Devil had been brutal, and he had barely made it out alive. His body had been battered, his mana depleted, and his spirit pushed to its limits. Gamer's mind kicked in and he suddenly felt calm and awake, as he blinked away the sleep, he realized something was different.
[System Alert!]
Health Fully Restored!
Mana Fully Restored!
Kenji stared at the glowing blue interface in front of him, the words blinking reassuringly. He flexed his fingers, then his arms, testing his body. There was no pain, no lingering fatigue. It was as if the fight had never happened. His wounds were gone, his muscles felt strong, and his mind was clear.
"Just like a game," Kenji muttered to himself, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Full HP and MP after a good night's sleep. The Gamer's Body perk really is something else."
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, stretching his arms above his head. The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. For the first time in what felt like forever, Kenji felt... good. Not just physically, but mentally too. The fight with the Stray Devil had been a wake-up call, but it had also been a turning point. He had survived. He had grown stronger. And now, with his stats upgraded and his skills leveled up, he felt ready to face whatever came next. Well whatever small thing that came (let's not test the universe.).
[System Alert!]
Daily Quest Available: Morning Routine
Objective: Complete your morning routine to start the day with a boost.
Rewards: +1 to all stats, +100 Experience Points
Kenji raised an eyebrow. A daily quest? That was new. But it made sense. The system was designed to encourage growth, and what better way to start the day than with a little extra motivation?
"Alright, system," Kenji said, rolling his shoulders. "Let's do this."
Kenji started with a quick shower, the warm water helping to wake him up fully. As he dried off and got dressed, he couldn't help but notice how different his body felt. His muscles were more defined, his movements more fluid. The Tier upgrade had clearly made a difference, and he was eager to see just how much stronger he had become.
Next, he headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. Cooking had become a part of his daily routine, not just because it helped him bond with his family, but because he had come to enjoy it and it was a way to show them that he was trying. That he cared. Today, he decided to make something special—pancakes with fresh fruit and a side of scrambled eggs. As he worked, he couldn't help but smile. The simple act of cooking felt... rewarding. Like he was building something, one small step at a time.
[System Alert!]
Basic Cooking has leveled up! (LV 5)
Effect: Cooking speed and efficiency have improved. Dishes now provide a slight boost to stamina and mood and help recover HP.
Kenji chuckled, The system really did reward effort in every aspect of life.
As the smell of breakfast filled the house, the rest of the family began to stir. Ren was the first to appear, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the pancakes.
"Dad, pancakes!" Ren exclaimed, bouncing on his heels.
Kenji grinned. "Of course. Gotta start the day right, right?"
Ren nodded eagerly, taking a seat at the table. Aoi and Ayaka followed soon after, their expressions less enthusiastic but still appreciative. Anastasia was the last to join, her usual guarded demeanor softened slightly by the smell of food.
"Morning," Kenji said, setting a plate of pancakes in front of her.
Anastasia nodded, her eyes flickering with something Kenji couldn't quite place. "Morning."
It wasn't much, but it was progress. And for now, that was enough.
After breakfast, Kenji retreated to his study to check his system interface. The daily quest had been completed, and the rewards were waiting for him.
[System Alert!]
Daily Quest Completed: Morning Routine
Rewards: +1 to all stats, +100 Experience Points
Kenji's stats updated automatically, and he felt another small surge of energy as the system's rewards took effect. It wasn't much, but every little bit helped. He opened his status screen to review his progress.
[Status Update]
Name: Kenji Takahashi
Level: 12
Free Stat Points: 0
Attributes:
- Strength: 03 (Tier-9)
- Speed: 02 (Tier-9)
- Endurance: 02 (Tier-9)
- Intelligence: 02 (Tier-9)
- Wisdom: 03 (Tier-9)
- Charisma: 01 (Tier-9)
- Luck: 95 (Tier-2)
Skills:
- Unarmed Combat (LV 8)
- Magic Control (LV 4)
- Mana Efficiency (LV 4)
- Mana Shield (LV 4)
- Mana Punch (LV 4)
- Spatial Awareness (LV 4)
- Danger Sense (LV 3)
- Mana Ball (LV 4)
- Mana Rope (LV 2)
- Basic Cooking (LV 5)
Perks:
- Gamer's Body (Passive): Grants immunity to physical exhaustion, enhances recovery rate, and prevents permanent injury from non-fatal wounds.
- Gamer's Mind (Passive): Grants immunity to psychological effects such as fear, stress, and mental manipulation, while allowing calm, logical decision-making.
- Father's Resolve (Passive): Increases resistance to psychological effects when protecting or thinking about family. Provides a temporary boost to Strength, Speed, and Endurance when near or protecting Ren.
-Devil Slayer: (Increases damage against devil-type enemies by 15%)
Kenji leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smile on his face. He had come a long way in just a few weeks, but he knew this was only the beginning. The fight with the Stray Devil had shown him just how dangerous the world could be, and he couldn't afford to get complacent.
Kenji's eyes fell on the Random Skill Ticket in his inventory. He had been saving it for the right moment, and now felt like as good a time as any to use it. But before he did, he decided to take a moment to prepare. He cleared a small space on his desk and arranged a few items—a candle, a small bowl of water, a few snacks, and a piece of paper with the words "ROB" and "RNGeus" scribbled on it. It wasn't much, but it was the closest thing he could think of to a shrine.
"Alright, ROB, RNGeus, whoever's out there listening," Kenji muttered, closing his eyes and clasping his hands together. "I don't know if you're real, but if you are, I could really use your help right now. Bless me with a good skill, please. Something that'll help me protect my family. Help me Gacha gods. I'll owe you one."
He took a deep breath, then opened his eyes and selected YES on the system prompt.
[System Alert!]
Random Skill Ticket Detected!
Would you like to use it now?
[YES] or [NO]
The ticket dissolved into a stream of golden light, flowing into his body. For a moment, his vision blurred, and he felt a strange sensation as if his mind were expanding. When the light faded, a new notification appeared.
[System Alert!]
New Skill Acquired: Instant Dungeon (ID) Creation (LV 1)
Effect: Allows the user to create a pocket dimension for training, combat, or resource gathering. The dungeon's difficulty and rewards can be customized based on the user's level and preferences. Higher levels increase the size, complexity, and customization options of the dungeon.
Silence...
Kenji's eyes widened, and for a moment, he was speechless. Then, a wide Grinch like smile spread across his face.
Muhaha, Muhahahaha, Muhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahaha.
He would never admit to the villain like laugh that escaped his lips.
"YES! FINALLY!" Kenji shouted, pumping his fist in the air. "ID Creation! This is exactly what I needed!"
He couldn't believe his luck. After weeks of struggling to find a safe place to train, he had finally unlocked the ability to create his own Instant Dungeon. This was a game changer. NO this was THE game changer.
No more worrying about collateral damage or drawing unwanted attention. He could train as hard as he wanted, push his limits, and grow stronger without putting his family at risk.
Not to mention he could gain exp, loot, skills, weapons, etc.
"Thank you, ROB. Thank you, RNGeus," Kenji said, bowing his head slightly. "I won't forget this."
Kenji couldn't wait to try out his new skill. He quickly finished his morning routine and headed to the isolated clearing in the woods near his home. It was the perfect place to test his abilities without being disturbed.
Once he reached the clearing, Kenji took a deep breath and focused on the new skill. He closed his eyes and willed the dungeon to form, imagining a simple training area.
[System Alert!]
Instant Dungeon Created!
Enemies: None
Kenji opened his eyes and found himself standing in a vast, empty space. It was the same area he had been in and had he not known the skill he was activating he would have thought it failed but no, it did work, a large replica of space, The only difference is that it was empty, with no signs of life what so ever, not even animals.
"Level 1 ID is... empty," Kenji muttered, looking around. "Well, I guess it makes sense. I need to level it up to get anything useful."
He walked around, checking the surrounding. The space was large enough for basic training no problem, but it was clear that he would need to upgrad the dungeon if he wanted it to be more useful.
He needed enemies to practice on after all. Still, an empty dungeon was still useful even if it was just to relax in peace.
[System Alert!]
ID Escape Available!
Would you like to exit the Instant Dungeon?
[YES] or [NO]
Kenji selected YES, and the dungeon dissolved around him, returning him to the clearing. It wasn't much, but it was a start. With enough practice, he could create dungeons tailored to his needs, pushing himself to new heights and unlocking even greater power.
As Kenji walked back home, a new notification appeared in his system interface.
[System Alert!]
New Quest Acquired: Reach Level 20 by the Weekend
Objective: Gain enough experience to reach Level 20 before the end of the week.
Rewards:
- +5 to all stats
- New Perk
- New Weapon
- New Skill
Bonus Objectives:
- Complete 5 Instant Dungeon Runs
- Defeat 50 Bosses
- Kill 2000 Zombies
Kenji's eyes widened as he read the quest details. This was a big one. Reaching Level 20 in just a few days would be a challenge, but the rewards were more than worth it. And the hidden objectives gave him a clear path to follow.
"Alright, system," Kenji said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's do this."
As Kenji walked back home, his mind raced with thoughts of the future. The fight with the Stray Devil had been a wake-up call. He had been too weak, too unprepared. If he wanted to protect his family, he needed to get stronger—no matter what.
He thought about the Multiversal Group Chat System, the second system he had unlocked but had been too cautious to activate. It was a risk, but it was also an opportunity. If he wanted to grow stronger, he couldn't afford to hold back. He needed every advantage he could get.
Kenji stopped in his tracks, his resolve hardening. He opened his system interface and navigated to the Multiversal Group Chat System. The prompt blinked at him, waiting for his decision.
[System Alert!]
Multiversal Group Chat System Detected!
Would you like to activate the Multiversal Group Chat System?
[YES] or [NO]
Kenji took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it. The moment of truth.
"Yes," Kenji said, his voice steady. "I need to get stronger. No matter what it takes."
He selected YES, and the world around him seemed to shift. A new interface appeared, filled with names and messages from across the multiverse. Kenji's eyes widened as he realized the possibilities.
[System Alert!]
Multiversal Group Chat System Activated!
Welcome, User Kenji Takahashi.
Kenji smiled, a sense of determination filling him. This was just the beginning. He would grow stronger, no matter what it took. For his family. For himself.
The road ahead would be long and difficult, but he was ready. Step by step, he would grow stronger. And one day, he would be strong enough to protect everything he cared about.
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