Emerging from the darkness of the night, Evander returned to the familiar solitude of his dome, the cool air and warm glow of the interior washing over him like a welcome home embrace. His heart rate was still fluttering in his chest from the night's events, the thrill of it all etching a ghost of a smile onto his face.

A familiar hum filled the air as he activated the built-in shower. Warm water rained down on his weary frame, cascading over taut muscles and washing away the grime and dried blood, remnants of his encounter with the creature.

His body ached in protest with each move he made, an indication of the physical exertion he had pushed himself through. But rather than feeling defeated, a sense of satisfaction nestled in his chest. It was worth it, he thought, looking at the faintly glowing magical stone resting nearby. He was no longer unarmed, and he had discovered a way to earn his keep in this new world.

After the much-needed shower, he padded his way back into the main room, toweling his hair dry. The digital clock displayed the late hour, and he could feel the pull of sleep tugging at his eyelids. The large bed in the corner of the room beckoned invitingly. He had a few hours of reprieve before the bustle of the new day would demand his attention.

Settling down onto the plush mattress, he exhaled deeply, a final release of tension from the night's adrenaline-charged events. Above him, the ceiling screen displayed the inky night sky, a digital canvas of twinkling stars and swirling galaxies that added to the tranquility of the dome.

It was then that he remembered the peculiar sensation from earlier - the one that felt like a door had been unlocked in his mind. With a furrowed brow, he closed his eyes, turning his attention inward. He searched for the sensation, like feeling in the dark for a light switch.

His mind buzzed with the day's events, but he silenced the noise, focusing on the sense of opening that lingered in the back of his consciousness. It was as elusive as smoke, slipping through his mental grasp every time he thought he had it.

With a renewed spark of determination, Evander pushed himself deeper into the uncharted territory of his mind. He plunged headlong into the hidden recesses, a tidal wave of focused intent sweeping him forward. Then, like a burst of light slicing through the veil of darkness, he found himself standing in a vast, sterile room, bathed in a soft, ethereal white glow.

In the very heart of the space, a holographic image of himself hovered, rotating slowly. Around it, data points floated in the still air, each pointing toward a different part of his digital body. The numbers were hauntingly low, all less than one, save for intelligence.

'Strength 0.8. Dexterity 0.6. Stamina 0.4. Intelligence 1.2.'

Evander took a moment to comprehend what he was seeing. Each statistic, he realized, was an attribute, a measure of his capability in this new world.

'Strength' stood for raw physical power, a measure of his ability to move heavy objects, swing a weapon, or hold his own in combat. The '0.8' next to it indicated that he was slightly below the average human norm. His physical strength was just under par, it seemed.

'Dexterity', on the other hand, denoted agility, precision, and coordination. The figure of '0.6' implied that his nimbleness was a tad more wanting than his strength.

'Stamina' indicated endurance, his body's capacity to exert itself and recover. With a '0.4' beside it, it was the attribute he was the most lacking in, making him realize how quickly he had been worn out by his earlier escapade.

And then there was 'Intelligence', the one attribute he seemed to exceed the norm in. A measure of cognitive abilities, problem-solving, memory, and learning. The '1.2' beside it stood out among the rest, implying that his intelligence was slightly above average.

Gazing at the holographic depiction of his body, Evander sighed. His current physical state was a reflection of a lifestyle left behind, one devoid of regular exercise and filled with the conveniences of modern living. A lot of work ahead, indeed, he thought ruefully.

Yet, he found solace in the fact that he had started to improve. His nightly adventure and daily exertions were already having an effect, as small as it was.

As Evander concluded his assessment of his virtual avatar, the room around him seemed to respond to his silent readiness, intuitively sensing his progression through this unexplored realm of his mind.

From the vacant whiteness of the floor, a sculpture took form, materializing like a phantasm. The figure was familiar to him, a small replica of the wyvern-vulture hybrid he had felled earlier that night. Every detail of the creature was meticulously recreated in the statuette, from the reptilian scales on its wings to the gnarled beak on its grotesque face.

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Then, in a blink, the formless room changed once again. The figurine of the beast dissolved, its intricacies evaporating into a bright shaft of light that floated in mid-air, akin to an ethereal, luminescent bar. A wave of text cascaded into view, hovering above the luminous pillar, words forming from thin air, as if painted by an unseen hand.

The words made it clear: the luminescence held the potential to augment his statistics, to initiate a skill tree of enhancements, a blueprint of growth. A tangible reward for his first kill, a way to convert his victories into personal development.

This...this changes everything. The realization dawned upon him, the corners of his mouth curling into an awestruck smile.

Driven by curiosity and an inkling of excitement, Evander reached out to the bar of light. His fingers never made contact, yet the room responded to his intention. He directed a fraction of the light towards his 'Strength' statistic.

The room hummed in response, and the 'Strength' bar pulsed, absorbing the luminescent energy. As the light dispersed, he saw the numeric value beside the word 'Strength' flicker, and then change. It increased by a small, yet significant margin, moving from '0.8' to '0.9.'

A surge of elation coursed through him. The thrill of his victory resurfaced, now magnified by the tangible gain it represented. Not only could he survive in this world, but he could also grow, adapt, and enhance himself with each conquered foe.

For the first time in this new existence, Evander didn't just feel like a man flung into an unfamiliar world. He felt like a player in an exhilarating game.

In the vast sea of his mind, Evander found himself contemplating the universe of skills he could potentially harness. No sooner had the thought emerged than the once empty white room before him blossomed into an array of thousands of icons, each signifying a different skill. Like a virtual constellation, they shone against the backdrop of the room, waiting to be explored.

Each icon held an allure of its own, shimmering with possibility and potential. It was a staggering sight, a universe of capabilities open for exploration. Like a child in a candy store, Evander was brimming with anticipation. Yet the daunting array also held an element of intimidation. Where do I even begin?

Driven by a mixture of curiosity and necessity, he reached out to a handful of the many skill icons that floated in the space before him. As his virtual hand passed over each symbol, they responded, unfurling into intricate trees of advancement that spread out in cascading branches, eerily similar to the skill progression interfaces of the fantasy games he used to play in his old world.

One symbol caught his eye - a solid, clenched fist that suggested strength. As he selected it, the symbol morphed into a complex tree. The 'Strength' skill tree branched out into numerous paths, each leading to further abilities. 'Raw Power' promised an increase in his physical prowess, the ability to lift heavier objects, or strike with greater force. 'Fortitude' seemed to enhance his resilience, allowing him to endure more physical punishment. 'Brutal Efficiency' caught his attention with the promise of perfecting the use of brute strength, enabling him to use his power in the most effective and efficient manner.

Another symbol, a blurred silhouette implying speed, unfolded into a similar web of options. 'Quick Reflexes' promised an increase in reaction times, 'Sprinter's Spirit' suggested faster sprinting speed, while 'Agility' held the potential for more nimble and fluid movements. 'Lightning Strikes', a skill further down the path, promised faster attack speed.

Awe consumed him as he browsed through the possibilities, each more tantalizing than the last. It was as if he had been granted access to a wellspring of power, each droplet promising to mold him into something more, something beyond his human self.

This... this is incredible.

Time passed in an unknowable flux within the stark white room. For what felt like an eternity but might have been mere minutes or hours, Evander delved deep into the vast constellations of skill trees before him. The seemingly infinite options danced in his mind, their potential twinkling like stars in the endless night sky. Each tree bore its own tantalizing fruit of power, a promise of becoming something more, something greater.

Yet, as he navigated through the swirling nebula of skills, a realization began to dawn on him, a flicker of understanding in the vast darkness. All of these skills are incredible, but they all seem to enhance or depend upon my basic attributes.

Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, Intelligence - these were the foundations on which all else was built, the bedrock upon which the towering structure of his abilities would stand. As fascinating as the myriad of advanced skills were, Evander understood that they would be meaningless without a solid foundation.

With a certain decisiveness, he navigated back to the stat screen. The holographic display shimmered, the figures flashing as if anticipating his touch. Each stat was like a pillar, each crucial to his survival and growth in this world. He had already committed himself to strengthening these fundamental pillars, and it was time to act on that commitment.

His gaze fell onto his Strength stat. A lean but solid 0.8 glared back at him. Could be better. Evander thought, remembering the considerable effort it took to bring down the wyvern-vulture creature. He recalled the strain of his muscles, the way his body screamed in protest as he tried to penetrate the creature's thick hide with his improvised dagger. If he was to survive in this world, he needed to be stronger. Considerably stronger.

With newfound resolve, he funneled the experience points he'd obtained from his first kill into his Strength stat. The figure quivered, then increased to a sturdy 0.9. A surge of energy pulsed through his mental projection, a feeling of subtle, yet undeniable empowerment.

Strength 0.9 Dexterity 0.6 Stamina 0.4 Intelligence 1.2

He surveyed the updated stats with satisfaction, a small smile playing on his lips. He was still far from being a formidable force in this world, but it was a start. The beginning of his evolution. As he finally pulled himself away from the interface and the white room of his mind dissolved into the comforting darkness of his dome, he felt more prepared.