Russell noticed that his eyesight had dramatically improved. His previous near-sightedness of nearly 200 degrees was completely gone, and he could now clearly see even the leg of a small mosquito on the wall. His hearing had also sharpened; he could clearly hear the neighbors downstairs discussing him.
"Ha, that fool upstairs with too much money must've got duped. There are definitely some spooky things in that place, and he insisted on moving in. Just now, that terrified scream, I bet he got scared out of his wits."
"Honey, do you think we should inform security? What if he gets scared to death? They say saving a life is better than..."
"Save your big head! If we inform security, what if we anger those spooky things? Are you trying to get me scared to death too? You're sleeping on the couch tonight!"
"Ah, the keyboard again! Honey, I know I was wrong, don't do this. The kids are watching, it's embarrassing."
...
Listening to the neighbors, Russell couldn’t help but chuckle. Spooky things? Ghosts or something?
In the past, he might have been a bit scared, as the fact that this duplex hadn’t sold was indicative. But even if there were ghosts, what did it matter to him now? For Russell, it just added a layer of curiosity.
If there were any spirits daring to show themselves, they’d find themselves caught in the Heavenly Witch Spirit Trap Array he set up, which was far from ornamental.
Plus, with Caesar’s intimidating and powerful presence, Russell had no fear of any supernatural entities.
This development was beneficial as it discouraged people from poking into what was happening inside his place. Now he could focus on the transformative effects of the genetic enhancement serum, which he realized was an absolute boon despite the harrowing side effects.
His body was now more agile than ever, his strength had increased, and most importantly, his thinking was sharper. It was indeed a comprehensive enhancement, though he wasn’t sure to what extent.
He decided to check his personal stats:
Host: Russell
Points: 3715
Strength: 12 (10)
Agility: 15 (10)
Spirit: 13 (10)
Divine Energy: 3/15
System Level: 2
Host Skill: Divine Nourishment
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Russell gasped as he reviewed his stats. His strength, agility, and spirit attributes had all increased, with agility noticeably surpassing the normal value of 10.
Clearly, due to his unique physical factors, the serum had boosted his agility the most, adding an impressive 8 points, followed by a 5-point increase in strength and 4 points in spirit. According to the system’s analysis of these attributes:
Strength represents overall health, vitality, and endurance, directly affecting physical power—essential for evaluating one’s "combat ability."
Agility reflects one’s quickness, flexibility, and explosive prowess, alongside the nervous system’s reflex responses. Speed and quickness epitomize agility’s importance, often surpassing strength in practicality. Now with his agility at 15, Russell was confident his punch speed could match some swift fighters despite lacking rigorous training. His reflexive responses were extraordinarily heightened as well.
Spirit denotes mental power, inherent neuronal reflex speeds, memory, and more. This mysterious realm remains elusive to human understanding. High spirit correlates with better memory and computational abilities, significantly aiding in learning knowledge and skills. Russell’s 13 spirit points allowed him to stand out among ordinary individuals.
The effects brought by a single bottle of basic genetic enhancement serum were astonishing, difficult to describe with mere words.
"Heh." Russell swiftly sprang to his feet from a grounded sitting position, his body moving fluidly and effortlessly—a testament to his comprehensive enhancement.
He realized he had grown taller, observing his height had increased slightly from 175 cm to approximately 178 cm, shedding his former average stature.
Testing his newfound strength with a punch, he heard the air snap sharply. The combined boost in power and speed meant this punch could seriously hurt an average tough guy, possibly more bitter than swallowing a bitter herb.
Russell eyed his fists with a grin, eager to test his mettle against street thugs.
The idea of encountering bullies harassing a sweet junior seemed thrilling.
"Should I visit my alma mater?" The thought ignited a spark of excitement in his mind.
Ah, another fantasy involved having an H2 Hummer, stepping out with a polar bear bodyguard, and heroically rescuing a lovely girl—a scenario that would be truly cool.
Of course, these fantasies were unrealistic, hence the name fantasies.
Russell could only indulge these dreams in his mind, as his current resources hardly sufficed to buy a Hummer, even if they were still being produced. Even a secondhand one was beyond reach.
Taking a deep breath, he hadn’t forgotten the other task reward item—the main quest upgrade’s random item!
Russell extracted the random reward package, took a deep breath, and opened it, revealing a rectangular wooden box.
The box was crafted from an unknown material, emanating a sandalwood-like scent, yet it wasn’t rosewood. Examining it, Russell felt a peculiar sensation, as if he was about to open a martial arts manual like those in wuxia novels—"Nine Yang Divine Skill," "Great Shift of the Universe," "Demon Seed Heart Method," and so on.
The wooden box’s antique design and convenient size set the perfect stage for such a discovery.
Could it really be a martial arts manual? His heart raced with anticipation, though he already possessed his mystical cultivation technique.
Hoping for something new yet fearing redundancy, he opened the box’s silk-covered lid with a delicate touch, revealing an old, yellowed booklet exuding a musty paper odor.
It was indeed a martial arts manual.