When we turn 18, we're suddenly fully grown adults. It doesn't matter how we feel, what we look like, or what we have done in the past. We are suddenly fully-fledged adults, and not all of us are ready to take society on.
But for most people, this isn't a really big transformation. It's not like they're suddenly thrown away from home, expected to fend for themselves, and their lives turn upside down in a single day.
But, with Ray, things were a little different.
｢Detecting that host reached adulthood...
Random Pull System awakened!
Generating Starter Pull...｣
Before he could react, he could see strange messages, like those out of a video game, appear in his vision. And then, a floating wheel, like those they have in game shows, appeared in front of him.
"What the fuck..."
The wheel started spinning, not giving Ray any time to react. And then, the wheel stopped.
｢Congratulations! You got the Golden Reward: {Self Improvement Quest Chain}!
Activating reward...
{Self Improvement: First Step}
Type: Quest
Description: The first step at becoming the best version of yourself!
Objectives:
1. Run 1,000 kilometers - 0/1,000
2. Do 10,000 push-ups - 0/10,000
3. Do 10,000 sit-ups - 0/10,000
4. Do 10,000 squats - 0/10,000
Rewards:
- Strength +1
- Agility +1
- Endurance +1
- {Self Improvement: Second Step}
Penalty: None｣
"Hahahaha... I must still be dreaming..." Ray murmured to himself while closing his eyes. Then, he opened them again but still saw the weird game-like interface. Not only that, but he also saw a different screen appear:
｢Name: Ray Growenner
--Attributes--
Strength - 0
Agility - 0
Endurance - 0
Perception - 0
Intelligence - 0
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Charm - 0
Luck - 0｣
"Ahhhhhh, maybe I shouldn't have drunk a whole bottle yesterday... Just go away!" Surprisingly, the strange windows in his visions did go away. This only affirmed his belief that he was simply still dreaming.
But things somewhat changed after he got out to do his morning run. Because a small window tracked the progress of his quest while he was running. If not for him running every morning for the last 4 circles, he wouldn't have been able to continue running.
But the longer his run continued, the easier it was for the reality to set in. Even if he wanted to refuse, he couldn't. The quest tracker was there, slowly increasing towards the absurd goal.
'I have no idea what this is. But where the hell does this comes from?' It will be a long, long time before Ray would have an answer to this question.
----------
A few cycles flew by all too quickly, and Ray started to get used to the Random Pull System. But, he still didn't understand how exactly was he supposed to with this system. Its only function was showing him his quest, and his stats.
｢{Self Improvement: Third Step}
Type: Quest
Description: The third step at becoming the best version of yourself!
Objectives:
1. Sprint 1,000 kilometers - 424/1,000
2. Do 10,000 pull-ups - 4,908/10,000
3. Train in martial arts to a sufficient level - 0/1
4. Optional: Learn 1 technique - 0/1
Rewards:
- Strength +1
- Agility +1
- Endurance +1
- Optional: 1*[Attribute Point]
- {Self Improvement: Fourth Step}
Penalty: None｣
Ray sighed when he looked at this quest. He started doing MMA to fulfill the third objective, but he had no idea where to start with the fourth. 'I hope that damn gacha will appear again soon with some answers.'
But right now, he could only keep grinding.
----------
And finally, another circle passed, signaling that Ray was finally 19. On Terra, they had three suns. because of that, they used a system of ticks, cycles, and circles.
Ruby Marble was the name of Terra's red sun, and each time Terra circled around it was a tick. Then, every 20 ticks, Terra would complete a circle around its second, yellow sun, and that would be called a cycle. And lastly, after 15 cycles, a circle will pass once Terra completes its orbit around its Sapphire Marble.
Ruby Marble, Topaz Marble, Sapphire Marble. Those three objects dictated the lives of those that lived on Terra.
But right now, Ray couldn't care less about his birthday, not the soft body that he was hugging on his bed. Instead, he was much more interested in the messages that appeared before him:
｢Detecting that a full cycle passed since the system was awakened...
Generating Random Pull...｣
Ray silently waited until the system would work its magic. 'Does that mean I would get another pull every circle?'
｢Congragulations! You got the Bronze Reward: [Mind Calming Technique]
Activating Reward...
[Mind Calming Technique]
Type: Technique
Tier: 0
Description: Calm your mind and focus.
Effect: Reduce stress by 50%, Increase focus by 10%｣
'This is great.' Ray was surprised that he got a technique from the system. Before that, he had to find and learn techniques on his own.
｢Name: Ray Growenner
--Attributes--
Strength - 6
Agility - 6
Endurance - 6
Perception - 4
Intelligence - 3
Charm - 1
--Techniques--
[Stellar Body] - Tier 0/★★★
[Interstellar Shift] - Tier 0/★★
[Mind Calming Technique] - Not Learned｣
'It's good that I have another one. Now I can finish {Self Improvement: Seventh Step}.' His future would be much simpler after another increase in his attributes. Back then, when he started searching for techniques that the system would accept, he had no idea it would lead him to such places...
'Not everything is bad about this.' Ray turned his head to look at the beauty sleeping next to him.
But she wouldn't stay there for long...
----------
Another day in the office. Nothing special about it, just a bunch of people sitting together in a spacious office, laughing with each other. Life was good working in tech, and even when they were serious about their work, they always found time to joke around.
And Ray rather enjoyed this atmosphere on normal days. But today, his mind seemed to be wandering to other places, completely unaware that a calamity was coming his way.
But on this day, just a day after Ray turned 20, everything will change. And the things he escaped in the past, that he left behind to "find himself", were finally catching up to him.
｢Hello, Players!
Your world, world #6508, would soon join the
Scenario: Apocalypse
Registering system...
Warning! Detected ^&$(#((^^$(@#(*$&(#&&...
...
...
...
Congratulations! You have been selected as an early adopter!
You will receive [Earth Specialty Crate]*5!
Good luck on your hunt, Player!｣
And from this moment on, Ray's life as a normal software engineer was over.