Charles was sitting at his kitchen table, eating his Cheerios. He loved his kitchen table. It wasn’t big or particularly nice, but it had a lot of good memories.
To his left is where Monty usually sat. Monty had an irreverent sense of humor and could be cynical at times. But when things you knew that he always had your back.
To Charles right was Jessica’s seat. Jessica had a keen eye for people and a quick wit. She genuinely liked people and people liked her back.
Across from Charles was Greg’s chair. Greg was usually an unobtrusive person. He spoke quietly, he walked softly, and he avoided making waves. Put him behind a game master’s screen and he would come out of his shell. Sometimes he would take the role of a kind king and beseech us to save his people. Other times he would be a maniacal villain twirling his invisible mustache.
The four of them would sit at this table and cast off the complexities of real life. They could be whoever they wanted to be. Do whatever they wanted to do. They would go on a grand adventure to find some random guy’s missing wedding ring. Jessica’s huntress would seduce the barmaids. Monty’s rogue would marry the charming prince. Charles’ sorceress became the regional chess champion.
Charles smiled as he took another bite of his cereal. They had a game scheduled for tonight. He was wearing black slacks and a white collared shirt like he always wore to work. It did no favors for his skinny frame. His hair would need a trim to keep his corporate drone image. At the game he could wear something he was more comfortable with.
He was bringing another spoonful to his mouth when a message window popped up in front him with a happy little jingle.
Warning!
Your world has been inundated with magic.
To facilitate your survival, you have been gifted use of the Enhancement System and Essence Points according to the change in danger level of your area.
“What? Danger level? Magic?” Charles put his spoon back in the bowl.
Congratulations!
You now have access to the Enhancement System.
Speak or concentrate on the phrase ‘Enhancement System’ to open the Enhancement System.
Charles stood up from his chair. He was torn between checking outside, exploring this ‘Enhancement System’, and hiding in his closet.
10,538,263 EP have been transferred to your account.
Ten and a half million!? If that number was related to how dangerous it was, Charles had to check out the situation and use the Enhancement System for all it was worth.
Charles went to the bedroom which had the only window in his apartment. He peeked between the curtains and what he saw caused him to take a quick inhalation. On the roof of the building across the street there was what could only be a wyvern. It was mottled tan and brown except for the end of its long tail that was bright green. It had large leathery wings with a twenty five foot span. The wyvern was arranging the pieces of scrap metal into a rough circle. It didn’t take Charles long to realize that the wyvern was nesting.
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Charles tore his eyes away from the monster in front of him. He could see other flying forms in the distance that he doubted were birds but couldn’t quite make them out. Down on the ground he saw a group of ankylosaurs making their way down the street. Charles ensures that the curtain is tightly shut as he backs away from the window.
He collapses onto his bed and covers his face with his hands.
After a few minutes, Charles slowly sits up. It’s time to see if this Enhancement System can help him survive Jurassic Park fantasy edition.
Enhancement System
10,538,263 EP
Status
Strength: 115
Dexterity: 253
Agility: 132
Vitality: 215
Resilience: 112
Senses: 438
Magic: 9
Psionics: 2
Race
Human - 47% Germanic, 53% Scandinavian - Male
Class
Active: none
Inactive: none
Skills
none
Property
Vehicle - 2009 Chevrolet Impala
Status. Race. Class. Skills. This Enhancement System looked like a character sheet. At first glance it seemed simple enough, but the more he saw, the more he realized it was horrifically complicated. He could use 115 EP to raise his strength by 1 to 116. He could also improve just his upper body, his lower body, or his core. Or he could improve muscle groups or individual muscles. That was just his strength stat. Everything had submenus upon submenus. It would take him weeks to go through everything.
If this were a game he would just make a joke character to get a feel for the system. This isn’t a game. He needed to come up with the most munchkin character he could, because whatever he chose, he was stuck with. And his life was on the line. At least he was familiar with such systems.
That thought stopped him cold. A lot of people were not used to such systems. He didn’t think he had the leeway to try and save other people. Especially if he had to convince them that he knew what he was talking about when he wasn’t completely sure he did.
The Johnsons next door were different. The Johnsons were in their eighties. They had trouble getting around and were terrible with technology. Charles would pick up their groceries and help them Skype their great grandkids. Mrs. Johnson would pay him in delicious casserole and chocolate chip cookies. Charles couldn’t save everyone, but he could help the Johnsons while he considered what to do for himself.
Charles went to his front door. Using the peep hole and then carefully cracking the door he checked for velociraptors. All he found were some of his neighbors clustered in a group and looking worried. Charles nods to them and walks to the Johnson’s door. He knocks and listens as Mr. Johnson comes to the door. As the door opens Mr. Johnson squints through his thick glasses.
“Is that you Charles?”
“Hi, Rick. It’s me.”
“Did you need a cup of sugar? Or is this about armageddon? Either way, come on in. Mary Ann is making cookies.”
Charles smiled. Who could resist cookies?