Ethan Cole stepped outside into the cool morning, the sky a mix of soft blues and pale yellows.

"It's a good day today," Ethan said, taking a deep breath. Though the air wasn't fresh because he lived in the city's lower parts, it felt good to be outside.

He looked around. Novan City was just starting to wake up; the streets were not yet crowded with the usual rush of people.

Ethan adjusted his backpack and started walking to the bookstore, but his mind was not on the day ahead.

'Unlimited System... I haven't really explored the system yet,' Ethan thought.

His thoughts weren't about work or bills but about something unbelievable he had in his pocket—the system.

It had been less than a day since his life changed completely. A billion dollars. And not just once—a never-ending supply of money.

No matter how much he spent or moved around, his account always returned to that unbelievable amount. His balance never went below $1,000,000,000.

'I wonder how the system keeps the balance without the bank noticing. Or maybe they haven't noticed yet.'

It was as if some unseen hand was refilling his account, again and again, without fail or delay.

Magic?

That seemed too fanciful, even for something as fantastical as this.

No, Ethan reasoned, it must be some kind of technology—far more advanced than anything this world had yet conceived. It had to be.

How else could it operate without triggering alarms at the bank or raising red flags somewhere along the line?

Ethan had already spent more in the last twenty-four hours than he had ever dreamed of having in a lifetime—$12,000 on clothes and gifts as small tokens of care for his family.

He pushed aside the thought of explaining the purchases. He had decided earlier, with no small degree of conviction, that he owed no one an explanation.

Not anymore. His parents had believed him well enough after that morning—reluctantly, yes, but they had believed. That was all the permission he needed to spend as he wished. And spend he would.

Still, there was something about the balance that gnawed at him.

No matter what Ethan did, the number never changed. It stayed there, solid and unshaken, as though the system itself were saying, Go on—try me.

"Where's it coming from?" Ethan murmured, his breath forming small clouds in the chilly morning air. "Is it really just… unlimited?"

The words sounded absurd even as he said them. His mind whirled with questions. Could the balance grow beyond a billion? Did the system have limits, or was it as endless as it seemed?

'Can I be listed among the richest men now?' Ethan laughed aloud at the thought, the sound echoing faintly down the quiet street. Here he was, barely a day into this new reality, already entertaining wild dreams of being listed among the richest men in the world.

It was ridiculous, of course. And yet… was it?

Shaking his head, Ethan decided not to think too much about the how. This was his new reality. The system had chosen him—why or how he didn't know, but it had.

There was no point in questioning what was already done. The only thing to do now was figure out what the system was capable of—and what, if anything, it might want in return.

But even as he tried to focus on the system's possibilities, a deeper worry crept into his thoughts. Safety. Not just his own but his family's. How long could he keep this secret?

The sudden change in their circumstances would draw attention—it always did. People noticed things like new clothes, new cars, and new lives. And people asked questions.

"Should I hire bodyguards?" he muttered to himself, then immediately dismissed the thought. His parents would be terrified at the very idea, and his siblings—well, they'd think he'd lost his mind.

No, there had to be a subtler way to protect them, something that wouldn't draw too much attention. But what?

He unlocked his phone, half-expecting the system's interface to vanish like a dream upon waking. But it didn't. Instead, the same screen appeared, clear as day, as though mocking his disbelief.

"Unlimited System," he whispered to himself, the words tasting strange and unfamiliar.

"What's happening?" Ethan murmured, his voice barely audible above the faint rustle of the waking city. He stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide as he stared at the system interface that had appeared—no, not on his phone, but before him.

It hovered in midair, faintly glowing, its edges shimmering like the surface of a pond rippling under sunlight. There was no mistaking it. This wasn't the app on his phone, nor some ordinary screen.

This was something else entirely—something far beyond the bounds of what he understood to be possible.

Ethan blinked, half-expecting the image to vanish, to flicker out like a faulty projection. But it didn't. It remained as solid and present as the ground beneath his feet, its sharp, clean lines glowing faintly against the soft morning light.

Yet here it was, undeniable and immediate, as though the system itself had decided to step out of fiction and into his reality. It hung there in the air as if to say, Go on. Touch it. See what happens.

Ethan's heart raced, his pulse thudding loudly in his ears. He lifted a hand hesitantly, his fingers twitching in the direction of the interface. But before he could reach it, the panel responded—not to his touch, but to his thought.

The icons shifted, rearranging themselves with a smooth, effortless precision as though they had been waiting all along for the silent command.

He stumbled back a step, his breath catching in his throat. "This… this isn't real," he whispered, though the words rang hollow even to him. He knew it was real.

The system seemed to pulse faintly as if acknowledging his presence. Ethan stared at it, the questions swirling in his mind too many to grasp at once.

'How is this possible? What else can it do?'

No answers came. The system remained silent, its glowing numbers and symbols holding all the secrets Ethan had yet to uncover.

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Each icon seemed alive with promise, hinting at possibilities he could only guess at. He flipped through them with a thought, the selections gliding smoothly under his invisible command.

But as he walked, a small, nagging worry crept into his mind. The panel hung openly in front of him, unseen by anyone else but impossible for him to ignore.

What if someone happened to notice his odd behavior?

A young man staring into space or making tiny, unconscious gestures wasn't the strangest sight in the city, but it was unusual enough to draw attention.

'Perhaps I can move the display back to my phone,' Ethan thought, his brow furrowing slightly. 'It would look more natural there.'

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than the panel flickered. It shimmered softly, folding inward like a bird tucking its wings, and then it was gone.

A moment later, it reappeared on his phone's screen, crisp and orderly, as though it had been waiting for precisely that request all along.

"Well," Ethan murmured, his lips curving into a faint smile. "That's more like it."

The system, it seemed, wasn't just responsive; it was perceptive. It had shifted to meet his need before he'd even properly voiced it, as though it understood him better than he understood himself.

Ethan found the thought both comforting and unnerving, though he couldn't quite decide which feeling was stronger.

=====

[Status Panel]

Name: Ethan Cole

Level: 1

EXP: 0 / 1000

Ascension Points: 0

Wealth: Unlimited

Physical Stats:

Strength: 4

Speed: 5

Endurance: 4

Intelligence: 15

Charisma: 5

Free Attribute Points: 0

Skills: [None Unlocked]

=====

Ethan gazed at the Status Panel hovering before him, its neat rows of text displaying his physical attributes with a clarity that left little room for interpretation. Strength, Endurance, Intelligence, Charisma—each measured, each quantified, each a reminder of his all-too-ordinary state.

He sighed softly, his breath misting in the cool air.

"So, I'm that weak," he murmured, half to himself, half to the panel. The numbers didn't lie, and they weren't flattering.

'But what are these attributes even for? He wondered, frowning slightly. 'I thought this system was just about spending money—or am I supposed to protect it, too? That would be… inconvenient.'

He shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. Protecting anything—let alone a billion dollars—wasn't exactly within his skill set. Right now, he was just an ordinary young man.

His Strength and Endurance, as the system had so helpfully informed him, were average—good enough for lugging groceries or jogging across the street to catch a bus, but little more.

His Intelligence, at least, was slightly above the norm, whether thanks to long hours of studying or a touch of natural talent he'd never given much thought to. But even that small comfort was overshadowed by the pitiful number assigned to his Charisma.

"No surprises there," Ethan muttered with a rueful grin.

Charm and sociability had never been his strong suits. He wasn't the sort of person who lit up a room or effortlessly drew others into his orbit. And yet, as he studied the panel, he couldn't help but notice something encouraging—a tiny glimmer of hope buried in the numbers. There was room to grow.

Leveling up, the system called it. The phrase sounded strange, like something from a game, but the more Ethan thought about it, the more intrigued he became.

What might leveling up unlock? What hidden aspects of the system lay waiting for him to discover? The possibilities tugged at his imagination, tempting him with thoughts of what could be.

His eyes drifted to the corner of the display, where a new tab shimmered faintly, its label clear and inviting: Mission Panel. With a quick mental command, Ethan shifted his focus, anticipation sparking in his chest.

=====

[Missions Panel]

[1. Mission: Improve Your Status]

Objective: Utilize the system's resources to better your life and those around you.

Reward:

1. 1,500 EXP

2. 10 Ascension Points

=====

"How do I complete this mission?" Ethan murmured, his voice soft in the quiet of the room.

The mission statement hovered before him, broad and open-ended, offering no clear instructions but suggesting endless possibilities. From what Ethan could gather, it involved improvement—but improvement of what, exactly?

Was it as simple as upgrading his apartment? Buying new clothes? Perhaps even moving his family to a better home altogether? The vagueness of it both frustrated and intrigued him.

"Security and home…" he mused, running a hand through his hair. His mind swirled with ideas, a jumble of things he longed to do for his family. And yet, as he considered them, a small frown tugged at his lips.

These were all new territories for him—uncharted waters filled with unfamiliar challenges. He'd never hired a security agency before, and the very idea of bodyguards patrolling their humble apartment struck him as faintly ridiculous. It would be like placing a golden lock on a cardboard box.

And then there was the thought of buying a new house. That, too, felt daunting in its own way. He could pay in cash, of course—that was the easy part. But the logistics, the paperwork, the sheer enormity of such a decision—it all loomed large in his mind. Ethan wasn't sure where to start, but the idea tugged at him nonetheless, quietly persistent.

His gaze drifted back to the mission panel, glowing softly as if waiting for him to act. The mission had been there from the start, offering a broad scope for action, and yet its simplicity belied its depth.

Improving his status sounded straightforward enough, but the more Ethan thought about it, the more he realized the system wasn't simply about wealth.

No, money was only the beginning—a means to an end. A tool to reshape his family's life and lift them from the financial struggles that had defined them for so long. And perhaps, Ethan thought, it was also meant to shape him.

"I'll start small," he said aloud, the decision settling like a stone in his chest. "Maybe the things I bought will do at first. Then, maybe replace a few things around the apartment."

The thought gave him a sense of control, a foothold in the overwhelming terrain of possibility. He would begin by updating their wardrobe, replacing worn furniture, and improving their diet—gradual changes that would, he hoped, lay the foundation for something greater.

He didn't want to overwhelm his family with a transformation too sudden or dramatic. Yet, at the same time, he felt the urgency of it pressing on him. They deserved better, and for the first time, he had the means to give it to them.

His thoughts shifted to the panel once more, his eyes narrowing on the phrase that had puzzled him from the start: Ascension Points.

They remained a mystery, glowing faintly in the corner of the display like an unopened gift. What did they mean? How could they be used?

"What does it really mean…" he wondered aloud, his voice trailing off as he checked on the Shop Panel.

=====

[Shop Panel]

Available Items:

1. Lower Grade Basic Strength Potion (1 Ascension Point)

2. Lower Grade Speed Potion (1 Ascension Point)

3. Lower Grade Charisma Potion (1 Ascension Point)

4. Lower Grade Intelligence Potion (1 Ascension Point)

[Locked Items – Level Up Required]

=====

"This is just like a game…" Ethan murmured, his voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and quiet amazement as he stared at the Shop Panel.

Before him was an array of possibilities so vast it seemed to stretch beyond the limits of imagination. Lists of items that enabled upgrades and boosts gleamed invitingly on the screen, each one promising some new way to transform himself.

All of them required Ascension Points. He now understood where these points played their role. It acted as the currency or so he believed in this system.

Ethan scanned the descriptions, his eyes widening as he began to understand.

"I could become a superhuman with this," he chuckled, though the laughter felt hollow in the stillness around him. The idea was absurd, but the system seemed entirely serious.

And that was what unnerved him most of all. It felt too good to be true, yet there it was, offering him the chance not just to change his life but to change himself. Strength, speed, intelligence, endurance—all waiting to be improved if he could meet the system's conditions.

"Ascension Points, EXP… it's all connected," Ethan mused aloud as he resumed his walk toward the bookstore.

His thoughts churned, trying to piece together the system's true purpose. He had begun to see it more clearly now like a faint outline slowly sharpening into focus.

The system wasn't merely about financial gain or the comforts of an easier life. It was something larger, something more intricate.

The panel wasn't offering him wealth alone—it was offering him the means to grow, to evolve, to become more than he had ever thought possible. And yet, the thought carried with it an undercurrent of unease. 'Why me?' He wondered. 'Why now?'

Just then, a faint chime echoed in his mind, soft but unmistakable, like the tolling of a distant bell. Ethan froze mid-step, instinctively glancing around, though he knew no one else could have heard it. Another notification from the system appeared, hovering in his vision with its quiet glow.

He relaxed slightly, realizing what it was. The chime wasn't unpleasant—in fact, it felt strangely reassuring, like a tap on the shoulder from an unseen guide.

Whatever the system wanted, it seemed determined to keep him on its path, gently but firmly.

=====

[New Mission: Expand Your Network]

Objective: Forge meaningful connections with influential individuals. Establish a network to boost your status.

Number of connections (0/2)

Reward:

1. 2,500 EXP

2. 10 Ascension Points

=====

"Expand my network?" Ethan stopped in his tracks, reading the mission notification again. The words hung in his mind, their meaning both clear and unsettling.

Until now, the system's tasks had been practical, focused on self-improvement—things he could handle quietly, on his own. But this was different.

The system was urging him to reach outward, to build connections with others, and to step beyond the careful boundaries of his world.

"Influential individuals…" he murmured, considering the phrase. He thought of the people in his life—his family, a few close friends, the boss of the bookstore.

None of them could be called influential in the sense the system seemed to mean. The task wasn't just unfamiliar; it was uncomfortable. Ethan had never sought out powerful people, and the idea of doing so now felt daunting.

'Why does the system care about this?' Ethan wondered. The mission felt deliberate, purposeful in a way he couldn't yet understand, as though it was steering him toward something larger than he had imagined. There was no question of refusing—it wasn't that sort of arrangement. The system wanted him to grow, to reach, to act.

Ethan adjusted his backpack as the bookstore came into view, his mind buzzing. One thing was becoming clear; his life was no longer his alone to control. The system, with its strange logic and endless possibilities, had its own plans for him.

And it was only just beginning.