The dining area was quiet, the faint clatter of dishes echoing as Rey and his family finished their meal.
He tried to help, reaching for the plates, but his mother immediately waved him away.
"Go study. I'll handle this," she said firmly, already pushing him out of the kitchen.
Rey had no choice but to retreat to his room, glancing back once as Emmy plopped onto the sofa, eyes glued to her favourite TV show.
The moment Rey entered his room, he shut the door and locked it from the inside.
Only then did he relax.
With a thought, broken weapons and cracked equipment spilt out onto the floor, scattering across the room.
Aiden watched silently, surprised.
He had assumed Rey's obsession with getting stronger would fade after a few days. A burst of motivation. Nothing more.
He was wrong.
Very wrong.
Rey didn't slow down. He didn't complain. He didn't stop.
He repaired, over and over again.
Blades. Arrows. Bent metal. Fractured edges.
His hands moved with growing familiarity, his focus sharp, his breathing steady.
Days passed like this.
Then more.
And more.
Ten days later.
The sky was still dark, a faint blue line barely visible on the horizon.
It was around five in the morning.
Near Rey's house, a figure jogged through the empty street, sweat soaking his clothes as if he had trained all night.
Instead of heading for the front door, the figure veered toward the side of the house.
He looked up.
Then jumped.
His fingers caught the wall effortlessly, his body flowing upward with practised precision. In seconds, he reached the window connected to Rey's room and slipped inside.
The hood came down.
It was Rey himself.
He bent over slightly, hands on his knees, breathing heavily as steam rose faintly from his body.
Opening his closet, he grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face and neck. The towel was soon drenched and reeked of effort. With a grimace, he tossed it aside.
Only then did he relax.
He summoned his status screen.
Today mattered to him.
It was his birthday.
His phone had reminded him earlier during training, a simple notification lighting up the screen. He had paused for a moment, surprised.
No wishes.
No knocks on his door.
He brushed it off quickly. His mother and sister were probably busy. That was all.
What mattered more was progress.
And the results were… satisfying.
Over the past ten days, his skills had improved rapidly, even if his base stats lagged behind. But that wasn't from laziness.
On the very first day, while repairing items nonstop, a system notification had appeared, informing him that his Intelligence had increased from prolonged mental strain.
When he asked Aiden about it, the spirit had only smirked.
"I already told you. Thinking is training, too."
That single sentence had changed everything.
Rey began splitting his time.
Repairing items to sharpen control.
Physical training to push his limits.
But doing it inside the house was impossible.
So he adapted.
Every morning before dawn, Rey slipped out through his window, trained outside until his body screamed, and returned before Jasmine woke up.
Day after day.
During that process, skills came naturally.
Dash awakened while sprinting.
Strength Burst formed when he forced his body past exhaustion.
Parkour emerged the first time he climbed down his window and realised how naturally his body moved.
Each skill fit him perfectly.
And each one changed him.
Now, his growth spoke for itself.
Item Repair had reached C+.
Stealth had stabilised at D.
Dash climbed to E+.
Strength Burst had awakened at F.
Parkour settled into E-.
Rey studied the skill screen quietly, eyes sharp, memorising every detail.
This wasn't just power.
This was the foundation.
======
<<
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A refined repair skill that ensures efficient restoration of damaged equipment.
At this level, repairs are highly reliable, with a greater likelihood of enhancing an item's durability and structural integrity.
Occasionally, a repaired item may experience a slight performance improvement. Items repaired retain 20% more of their original durability with a 2% chance for the item to gain a minor boost in performance.
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A more refined version of stealth, allowing the user to blend more effectively into their surroundings.
Movement while in stealth is smoother, reducing the chance of detection.
Enemies with lower perception will struggle to notice the user unless in close proximity, with a 10% chance to automatically evade non-targeted detection methods.
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An upgraded version of Dash, allowing the user to burst forward with greater speed and control. The acceleration is smoother, reducing strain on the body while improving reaction time during movement. CD: 5 sec | MC: 10 MP
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A basic combat skill that momentarily enhances the user's physical strength, allowing for more powerful strikes and increased carrying capacity. This burst of strength lasts for a short duration before fading. CD: 10 sec | MC: 8 MP
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A movement-based skill that enhances agility and adaptability, allowing the user to traverse urban and natural environments with greater ease. Improves balance, reflexes, and efficiency when navigating obstacles. After a successful parkour action, grants a 5% agility boost for 3 seconds.
======
As he stood there in his tracksuit, reviewing his progress, a sound reached his ears.
Footsteps.
Approaching his door.
The doorknob turned.
Rey froze.
The door opened...