After that library quest, Zaro needed some serious meditation time. And by meditation time, he meant sitting down and finally figuring out what the hell this system is all about. The librarian's smug face was still haunting him as he set up camp in a small clearing just outside the city. I mean, who puts combat wraiths in a library? That's like putting sharks in a swimming pool. Technically effective security, but massive overkill. Zaro chuckled to himself.

Zaro found a fallen tree that provided a nice log to lean back on. He got comfortable and pulled up the system interface.

System, show me everything.

SYSTEM STARTUP INITIATED.

Loading Basic Functions.

Collecting Void Data.

Searching for Manual.

Manual Not Found.

Attempting to Recreate Manual.

Recreation Failed.

Loading Backup Systems.

Convincing Stats to Display.

Warning, Sarcasm Levels Critical

Adjusting Parameters.

Loading Complete!

SYSTEM TIP. Remember, Aetherium can upgrade your system!

SYSTEM TIP. Tap screen to subscribe to giraffe facts... Just kidding, this isn't a touchscreen.

PATCH NOTES version 1 dot 1.

Fixed issue where Void Step occasionally teleported users into walls.

Adjusted meditation to prevent accidental astral projection.

Removed feature where saying I am the void actually worked.

Added comprehensive stat comparison to normal humans.

Bug fix. Users can no longer accidentally create black holes while sneezing.

A comprehensive interface materialized before him. Finally, some straight answers. Let me break this down for my own sanity and yours, future me, when you inevitably question your life choices. He thought.

Base Stats Breakdown, according to this surprisingly snarky system.

Level 10.

Class Voidwalker.

HP 800.

MP 400.

Attributes.

Strength 30. Started at 7.

What this means in human terms.

10 is average joe who hits the gym occasionally

20 is that guy who never shuts up about crossfit

30 is could probably juggle horses but still-struggles with pickle jars level.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

System Note. Please do not attempt to juggle horses

Agility 25. Started at 3.

Quick Reference.

10 means you can chase down a bus... and still miss it.

20 is soccer pro quick.

25 means you could probably race a cheetah, for about three steps.

30 would be peak human ability level. Think Olympics quality or parkour master or master of speed jump roping.

System Note. Cheetah racing not recommended.

Intelligence 40. Started at 8.

Brain Power Scale.

10 is solving a rubik's cube in under a day

20 is solving quantum physics for fun

30 is understanding why kids love cinnamon toast crunch.

System Note. Results may vary based on breakfast cereal preference

Realistically, the intelligence stat didn't actually seem to raise Zaro's IQ. It just seemed to grease the wheels and make his brain work smoother. And powered his mana.

Vitality 800. Thanks system reward!

Instead of basic HP that just goes down until you die like some amateur, vitality gives you that sweet, sweet regeneration. Three second delay after damage, then health goes up by 3 per second while in combat. All regeneration seemed to happen much faster outside of combat. Stack that with meditation and he might be a basic bootleg Wolverine.

Stamina 30. Started at 8.

Endurance Scale.

10 is climbing a few flights of stairs without dying.

20 is marathon runner territory.

30 is that one guy who never gets tired at parties

System Note. Dancing skills not included. It's basically peak human level stamina.

Mana 400

Which means he can spam void bolts like a kid who just discovered the fireball button in their first RPG.

ACHIEVEMENT PROGRESS.

First Blood.

Heart of Gold.

City Slicker.

Squad Goals.

Giant Slayer.

Wraith Hunter.

Lesser Glutton for Punishment.

Eight Legged Freaks Minor.

Finding System Manual. 0 of 1. Good luck with that one.

Unspent stat points 1, skill points 6, unspent skill upgrade points 4.

Let's look at skills for upgrade.

Skills.

Vitality Regeneration Level 2

Analyze Level 2.

Void Bolt Level 2.

Void Sense Level 2.

Void Control Level 2.

Void Drain Level 1.

Void Step Level 2.

Void Shield Level 2.

Temporal Dilation Level 1.

Shadow Camouflage Level 1.

Eye of the Storm Level 2.

Will of the Void Level 1.

Zaro considered which skill would be best to upgrade.

He decided on the tranquility skill tree and upgraded Eye of the Storm to level 5.

Eye of the Storm.

Level 5.

Recovery is 5 points per second. User keeps situational awareness, but cannot perform tasks that require concentration. The user can also move a little bit. Walking or any activity that doesn't require concentration. The user must remain focused on keeping the skill active or the effect is broken.

After spending 3 skill upgrade points on this meditation skill, Zaro wanted to see what he could do with it and how it felt now.

He got comfortable and sat down. Then activated Eye of the Storm. He wanted to see if he could impact it with breathing techniques.

He started with basic breathing exercises, then moved on to more advanced techniques. Box breathing, reverse breathing, that weird thing where you hold your breath until you see stars, you know, the classics.

That's when things got interesting. Through his void sense, he could see two distinct types of energy swirling inside of himself. Everytime he used void sense during meditation it would break the meditation skill and he would have to start it up again. The two energies were there. The familiar void energy, dark and powerful, and something new, a green energy that reminded him of the chee he had learned about it while in martial arts back home.

Zaro tried separating the energies, moving them through his body like he was playing the world's most dangerous game of spiritual ping pong.

He imagined compressing the energy with each inhale and expanding the energy with each exhale.

He did this for 10 minutes until the energy was as small as a pea when compressed and then expanded it as far out as it would go. He saw it bloom out around himself like a dome, several feet away in all directions.

SYSTEM ALERT. Aura discovered!

Warning. Please do not attempt to go Super Sayan. Physics engine not equipped for hair color changes.

He realized that his aura was his power level and life force energy. And it wanted to flow. He noticed the campfire in front of him flickered and swayed, responding to an invisible wind. Zaro also realized his aura could affect the world around him. Much like all the anime he used to watch. He spent the next few hours experimenting, pushing and pulling the energy, trying to shape it into something useful. And compressing the energy faster. Eight hours passed like minutes, and suddenly the sun was peeking over the horizon.

Achievement unlocked. Minor Meditation Master. You have meditated for 8 consecutive hours.

Reward. Being one with the universe is its own reward.

Alright system, whatever. Zaro thought.

The morning air was crisp and clear as Zaro started his jog back to Everlight. The sun's rays filtered through the lush green canopy, dappling the well worn path with patches of golden light. With his new stats, he felt like he could run for days, his feet barely touching the ground as he moved through the tranquil forest.

Though knowing his luck, he would probably trip over a rock and face plant in front of some legendary warrior. At least now he would regenerate from the embarrassment.

Time to see what else this world has in store for him, he thought. Maybe he would even find that system manual.

Yeah, right. And maybe Chad will admit his hat isn't actually magical. Zaro joked to himself.

As he ran he tried to really enjoy the freedom of movement as he felt the fresh clean air in his lungs and made sure not to let any of this gift be lost on him.

He had big plans. Getting as strong as possible was high on that list.