The morning mist blanketed the campus softly as sunbeams poured through the ajar window of Room 304. Aaryan woke up, the remnants of sleep disappearing from his consciousness.
A gentle chime awakened him completely. The familiar glowing translucent panel glided quietly into view, glowing like mist against the light of dawn.
> **\\[Daily Check-In: Successful]**
> **Reward: Physical Enhancement Potion – Tier I**
> **Effect: Overall physical attributes increased by 15%. More stamina, quicker reflexes, and better muscle efficiency. Duration: Permanent (One-time baseline upgrade).**
There was a fleeting moment when a tiny glass vial appeared briefly inside the panel's frame—a holographic image of the prize.
> **"Use now?"** asked the panel.
Aaryan didn't wait.
"Use."
The feeling was instant and suffocating. A gentle warmth seeped through his limbs, followed by a constricting pulse, as if the whole of him had just reset. His senses came alive—the wind through the window was fresh, the outside noises stacked in detail he never realized existed.
He slowly stood up. His balance was different—tighter, more stable. He curled his fingers and shrugged his shoulders. Power thrummed quietly beneath the surface, like an idling engine.
> **\[System Hint: Baseline conditioning enhanced. Physical capabilities stretched. Caution recommended for adjustment phase.]**
Aaryan's face crept into a small smile. This was not magic. It was more than that—**engineered transcendence**.
He prepared in haste, glanced at the class timetable, and walked towards the lecture block. Passing through the central courtyard, whispers trailed behind him—some friendly, others tinged with jealousy. Since the ragging episode and the notice-board put-down, people had begun to take notice. Not as a target. As something else.
He walked into the lecture hall just as Professor Raghavan started talking.
Good morning. As discussed last week, we will start initial evaluations next week. You will each be graded according to your Composite Skill Index—your understanding of theory, hands-on application, and problem-solving in lab settings."
The room bristled a little.
Aaryan sat in his habitual place against the wall, serene but on high alert.
Raghavan went on, "The three highest scores this round will be publicly posted. Everyone else… do better next time.
Just as the whispers were about to grow again, a sudden, silent ping materialized in front of Aaryan's eyes.
> **\\[WEEKLY CHALLENGE: UNLOCKED]**
> **Objective: Overcome Projected Top 3 in Composite Skill Index**
> **Deadline: 6 Days**
> **Reward: Smartwatch-Compatible Bio-Chip Blueprint – Tier I**
> – Optimized for smooth integration with Tier I Smartwatch
> – Supported by: Advanced Bio-Feedback Loop, Adaptive Learning Algorithms, Health Monitoring Enhancer
> – Demands: High Precision Fabrication Setup
Aaryan's lips opened a little.
This was it.
The **Smartwatch Blueprint** he'd been given before was already a phenomenal piece of technology. But this—this chip would propel it to another level. He could almost visualize it: a device not only tracking human vitals, but forecasting failures, learning behavioral trends, adjusting in real time. Something that would one day change the face of personal healthcare and emergency diagnostics.
> **[System Hint: New modules need to be tested in practice exam conditions. Fabrication necessitates collaboration or special access.]**
Collaboration. That equated to lab time. That equated to going over faculty. Or… dominating everybody so completely that permission would become moot.
His AI assistant spasmed to life within the panel.
> "**Blueprint complexity: 81%. Recommend constructing supportive components ahead of time. Best use-case: medical-grade wearable.**"
The challenge was time-limited. The stakes were accelerating quickly.
But for the first time, Aaryan did not feel outgunned.
His thoughts were sharp. His body was aligned. The system was synchronizing his development at each step—and now, the road ahead was clearer, more directed.
The rest of class listened to the professor's words. Aaryan, on the other hand, was already thinking through several designs in his head—thermal dissipation, embedded sensors, modular strap adaptation. He was no longer just going through the motions.
He was climbing.