Michael continued fighting, battling rabbit after rabbit. After a few grueling hours, he had gained only one level but completely depleted his stamina.
His progress in swordsmanship, however, was significant. His Beginner Swordsmanship skill had leveled up from 1 to 3.
His updated stats reflected the gains:
[Stats:
(Strength: 12.57) || (Constitution: 12.06)
(Speed: 8.46) || (Reaction: 8.67)
(Intelligence: 8.20) || (Wisdom: 8.12)]
[Skills: Dash (LVL 2), Power Blow (LVL 2)]
Michael had distributed his newly earned stat points evenly between strength and constitution. Despite this, he wasn’t satisfied with his overall gains—but it would have to do for now. His blessing was growth-oriented rather than combat-focused, and its true potential would take time to manifest.
DAY 2
By the time he logged off, it was already morning. Eight hours had passed in the real world, matching the eight hours he had spent in the game due to its 1:1 time ratio. Most players logged in during their sleep hours to maximize efficiency. While it was possible to spend more time in the game, doing so would negatively affect mental health and long-term performance.
Michael opened the capsule and climbed out, stretching his stiff body. He immediately noticed something remarkable—his physique had changed overnight. His muscles were more defined, and he felt significantly stronger.
In the real world, a 10-point stat in any category represented the pinnacle of human ability—something only Olympic athletes or elite fighters could achieve. Michael had surpassed this threshold casually, reaching 12 points in strength after just one night.
This was the advantage of being an F-type lifeform, and it was only the beginning. At higher levels, humanity could evolve into E-class at level 1,000, D-class at level 2,000, and beyond. The power of an individual grew increasingly terrifying with each advancement.
A C-class lifeform could destroy a planet if they exerted themselves to the point of exhaustion, and some B-class lifeforms were said to be capable of effortlessly obliterating Earth-sized planets with a single skill.
Michael smiled to himself. This was only the beginning.
He left his room and went downstairs to have breakfast. His parents, Rose and Laurent, were already awake. Michael helped himself to eggs, bread, milk, and green tea, savoring the familiar routine.
Watching the morning news with his parents was customary, but today’s broadcast shocked him. For the first time, a B-level talent blessing had been reported among humans.
The announcement brought visible joy to his parents. The war against the Xalarxes—an advanced alien species—was an ever-present concern for ordinary citizens. Any positive development was a source of relief and hope.
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The name, gender, and other details of the individual with the B-level blessing were classified for security reasons.
“Humanity has a strong future,” Rose said, her face lighting up with a hopeful smile.
“That goes without saying. The Xalarxes must be getting nervous by now,” Laurent added, his expression filled with pride.
The atmosphere was celebratory, their hearts lifted by the news. Humanity had clawed its way back from one devastating defeat after another, gradually improving its position. They were now on the verge of surpassing their enemies—a prospect that filled them with pride.
However, Rose’s joy gave way to worry as she turned her gaze to Michael. “How about you, honey? Did you get a good blessing?” she asked anxiously.
Despite her best efforts to remain calm, her concern was evident. A good blessing could shape her son’s future, and the uncertainty had kept her awake the previous night.
Both Rose and Laurent were F-class talents, which meant limited access to resources. They could only use capsules occasionally, renting them at special centers. Rose was level 38, while Laurent was level 59—far from the front lines of humanity’s struggle.
Michael, on the other hand, had access to a personal capsule, provided by the city for promising students. He wouldn’t have to return it until he finished his studies. Still, Rose couldn’t shake her anxiety.
“It doesn’t matter if your talent isn’t great,” she reassured him. “Plenty of people live fulfilling lives with F-class talents.”
“You don’t have to pressure yourself,” Laurent added, though his shifting gaze betrayed his own worries.
Michael smiled, deciding it was best to share part of the truth. “I have a C-class talent,” he said confidently.
His parents froze, their faces a mix of disbelief and shock.
“C-class?” Rose repeated, her voice trembling.
Laurent leaned back, staring at Michael with wide eyes before shifting his gaze to Rose. For a moment, suspicion flickered in his eyes.
'Is that really my son?' he wondered. Rose noticed Laurent's expression and understood him well enough to understand what this expression meant on his face. She glared at him.
Her glare was sharp enough to make him flinch, and Laurent quickly flashed an apologetic smile. He resolved to make it up to her later, already bracing himself for several nights on the couch.
“Is this real? What type of talent is it?” Rose asked, her voice tinged with both excitement and disbelief.
Michael nodded. “It’s called Physical Strengthening. I gain additional attributes every time I level up. It’s a growth-oriented talent.”
Rose’s expression softened with relief, and a small smile tugged at her lips. “A growth-type talent is good. You’ll need to focus on the game and be diligent. Growth talents start weak but have excellent long-term potential.”
Her face turned stern as she continued, “But listen to me carefully: you must not tell anyone about this. Other than us, no one else can know you have a growth-type talent. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Michael replied, his tone calm. He had already decided to keep the full extent of his abilities hidden. It wouldn’t be difficult to pass his attribute gains off as another type of blessing.
Laurent leaned forward, his expression serious. “Michael, I’m proud of you, but remember this—no matter how strong you become, never forget where you came from. Don’t look down on people with lower talents than you.”
He gestured meaningfully. “One of humanity’s greatest strengths has always been cooperation. No one has ever achieved greatness alone. Think of Oppenheimer—the father of the atomic bomb. He wouldn’t have succeeded without thousands of scientists working alongside him.”
Michael nodded, silently agreeing. What his father didn’t know was that his talents could evolve endlessly. But Laurent’s words still resonated. No matter how strong he became, he knew he couldn’t do everything alone.
Besides, he had no desire to live in isolation. Strength wasn’t his ultimate goal—it was a means to an end, a tool to secure freedom and improve the lives of those around him.
As he thought about his future, plans began to take shape in his mind.