Then the footsteps came—heavy boots pounding against the bunker's concrete floor. Edison turned just as the sergeant and the black soldier burst into the room, their mouths moving, their expressions urgent.
But Edison couldn't hear them.
A familiar chime rang in his skull, drowning out all other sound.
[Challenge Complete: Omaha Beach Survival]
[Reward: 200 SP]
[Soul Relocation Initiating...]
The voice was cold, mechanical.
3...
Edison's vision blurred at the edges.
2...
The sergeant grabbed his arm, his lips forming words that never reached Edison's ears.
1...
Darkness swallowed him whole.
Edison gasped as he came back to himself. His hands shot to his throat—no wound, no blood. The hammer was gone.
He was back in the stone room, sitting on the hard bed. The air smelled of mineral, not war and death.
"Welcome back," Guide said, his voice lighter than usual. "Made it in one piece. That's two for two now."
Edison looked at his hands. Clean. Steady. But his chest still burned like he'd run for miles.
"Michael..." he mumbled.
"The flamethrower soldier?" Guide's tone softened. "Yeah... that happened." A beat.
"But you got through it. And 200 SP isn't bad."
Edison didn't respond.
Guide tried again. "Look, war's never pretty. But you—"
"Did you know?" Edison cut in. "About the challenge. What it would be."
A pause. Then Guide answered, "Yeah. I did."
"Delta challenges come in two types. Survival scenarios—deserts, frozen wastes, that kind of thing. And war scenarios, where you take over a soldier's body in battle."
Edison's eyes narrowed. "You picked the war one on purpose."
"I did," Guide admitted. "D-Day was... harsh. But if you can handle that, you can handle any battlefield. The smells, the chaos, the..." He trailed off.
"It steels your nerves. Makes other fights seem smaller."
The room fell quiet. Outside, the distant clang of Ornn's hammer echoed through the mountain.
After a long moment, Edison exhaled.
"Alright."
Guide let out a chuckle. "Glad you held it together."
Edison rubbed his face, the phantom smells of gunpowder and blood still lingering in his senses.
"I needed that. Need to get stronger - not just physically, but mentally too."
He sat up abruptly. "So when can we start the next challenge?"
"Woah there, cowboy," Guide interrupted, his glow pulsing in warning. "Slow your roll. You can only do one challenge per month."
"Why?" Edison frowned.
"Because if I let you chain-run challenges nonstop," Guide explained.
"You'd basically have your own hyperbolic time chamber. Train in any scenario, earn unlimited SP - that's not how this works. There's a cooldown period for your sanity's sake."
Edison opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it. With a sigh, he flopped back onto the stone bed.
"Fine. Show me where I stand then."
A translucent screen flickered into existence before him:
NAME: Edison Fletcher
SKILLS: None
Survival Points (SP): 1202
INVENTORY:
- Frost-Resistant Leathers (Equipped)
- Flint & Steel
- Leather Canteen (90%)
- Hunting Dagger
- Mystery Jerky (0.8lb)
Note: Your Mental fortitude had elevated. You might want to headbutt a Noxian conscript after sufficient provocation. Physical capabilities remain at Ionian rice farmer. Do not attempt to headbutt a Noxian unless you want a slow and painful death.
Edison stared at the screen. "Why do you always use Noxian conscripts to compare."
"You'd be surprised how many people understand 'Noxian conscript' as a unit of measurement." Guide said cheerfully.
"And since you've got over 1200 SP now, why don't you buy yourself a proper skill?"
Edison blinked. "Wait... I can purchase skills?"
"Of course," Guide replied, projecting a glowing menu. "Both active and passive types. Given your current state... here are three that would benefit you the most."
Guide's interface shimmered as three options materialized:
1: Hyper Adaptability (1000 SP) - Passive
Your body gradually develops resistances to all environmental stressors. Gradually eutralizes toxins/diseases within hours of exposure. Begins assimilating beneficial elements (heat/cold/magic) after repeated contact.
2: Combat Instincts (900 SP) - Passive
Increase proficiency with all simple weapons. Enhanced spatial awareness during fights. 20% faster reaction time in life-or-death situations.
3: Primal Resolve (1050 SP) - Active (2 uses/day)
When activacted, enter hyper focused state for 1 hour. Temporary stabilize all wounds on your body. Pain perception reduced by 70%. Strength increased by 50%.
Cooldown: 12 hours between uses.
"Let me break these down for you," Guide said, his tone turning serious. "Each of these could save your life in different ways."
He highlighted the first option:
"Hyper Adaptability is the long game. Right now, it'll help you adapt to the harsh environmet you're in. If one day you got to deal with posion, with time your body would learn to laugh it off. And here's the kicker—" Guide's voice dropped, "Runeterra is swimming in magic. This skill could help your body start absorbing traces of it, like a sponge. Might even kickstart your own magical abilities down the line."
The second option shimmered:
"Combat Instincts would stop you from swinging that hunting knife like a toddler with a soup spoon. Faster reactions, better spatial awareness—you wouldn't need to rely on dumb luck in any war survival scenerio anymore."
Finally, the third option:
"Primal Resolve is your last resort. Bleeding out? Activate it. Facing something twice your size? Activate it. Even though it's temporary, it'll help you overcome a sure-death situation.
Edison rubbed his chin, staring at the options.
"Hyper Adaptability," he decided. "If I'm going to survive this world, I need to become part of it. And I have an idea."
[SP: 1202 → 202]
[Skill Acquired: Hyper Adaptability]
A strange warmth spread through his bones—not uncomfortable, but aware, as if his very blood had grown eyes.
The oppressive heat of the volcanic forge, which had been a constant burden since his arrival, suddenly felt... comfortable. Like slipping into a warm bath after years of icy rivers.
"Interesting," Guide mused. "Your body's already adjusting to the heat fluctuations." He paused.
"But fair warning—magical adaptation works slower. Don't go jumping into the lava just yet."
Edison stretched, rolling his shoulders as he sucked in a deep breath of the scorching air. Where before it felt like a fireball in his lungs, now it flowed smoothly, the sulfurous tinge somehow less abrasive.
Even the unforgiving stone bed beneath him seemed to mold slightly to his shape, the rough edges no longer digging into his back with quite the same insistence.
His vision sharpened— he could see the specks of smoke and embers clearly as his eyes adjusted, the details of the cavern walls coming into sharper focus.
"This feels amazing," Edison murmured, taking another deep breath, savoring the way his body seemed to hum with quiet efficiency.
Guide pulsed softly in agreement. "Now it just needs time. In a few months, you'll feel like you've been living in this land your whole life."
Edison flexed his fingers.
"Yeah," he said, lying back on the stone slab, his body already beginning to relax.
"In time."