Dean focused upon the panel that has appeared in his mind.
***[ World Travel Panel ]***
Name: Dean Ross
Age: 23
Store points: 200
Current World: From (TV Show)
World Progress: 0.05% / 100 %
Time Limit: 3 Years
Missions
World Store
***
Dean stared at the glowing blue text floating in his vision, his eyes fixed on the number that now seemed to shine brighter than the rest:
World Progress: 0.05% / 100%
It hadn't been that before. He was sure of it. The first time he saw the panel, the progress bar had been empty—zero percent. But now it had gone up, even if only by a little. That meant something he did had been counted. Something he had done had moved things forward.
Maybe the earlier mission was responsible for it? He truly had no clue as the mission didn't specifically state that he would get 0.05% progress from completing that mission.
While thinking about this, his eyes drifted towards another tab in the panel.
Missions.
Until now, he hadn't thought much about that tab. Who would? When you were busy running for your life, there wasn't time to sit back and check menus. But now that he finally had a moment to breathe, curiosity pushed him to try.
'Alright,' Dean thought to himself. 'Let's see what you've got.' Maybe the mission panel would tell him why the progress increased by 0.05%
He focused on the word, and the panel responded right away. A ripple ran across the blue screen, and a second window opened next to the first one. It looked smooth and neat, like something built for a game.
But it was empty.
Dean blinked. He waited. Nothing showed up. No words, no list, no directions. The panel stayed blank, like it was teasing him for expecting answers.
"…Nothing?" he whispered.
His stomach twisted.
'How the hell am I supposed to complete the progress if you don't tell me what to do?' he asked in his mind, frustrated.
But the panel stayed silent providing no particular advice to him.
Dean dragged a hand through his messy hair, his thoughts spinning. Maybe missions didn't just sit there waiting. Maybe they only appeared when something important happened, something plot related. Or maybe the panel only reacted when he was in real danger. That made sense—the mission hadn't shown up when he was resting. It had only appeared when monsters were after his life.
He sighed and stopped playing with his hairs. His mind raced back to all those protagonists he used to read about in webnovels—guys who woke up one day with some flashy "system" floating in their heads. Most of them spent their early chapters whining that the system was a dictator, forcing them into dangerous missions. Do this. Kill that. Defeat the boss in seven days or die. And if they failed? Punishments. Penalties.
He used to roll his eyes at those system protagonists with no free will. Now, though… now he understood both sides of the coin.
He didn't want to be controlled either. The very idea of some cold, mechanical voice hijacking his life and dictating his every step made his skin crawl. Yet his own situation wasn't much better. Apart from the three-year ultimatum hanging over his head, his system didn't guide him at all. No clear path. No guaranteed missions. If he wanted progress, he had to walk into danger on his own, throw himself into the fire, and hope—hope—the system might acknowledge it and assign him something. And even then, there was no certainty it would.
It sucked. It sucked as hell.
Still… Dean let out a slow breath. He couldn't deny it was better than those nightmare systems where every mission was compulsory, where failure meant instant death. At least here, he still had some measure of freedom.
But that so-called freedom came with its own chains. Because now the truth was clear: no risk, no voluntary involvement, no mission.
The realization hit him like a stone sinking into his gut. If he spent the next three years hiding, staying safe, waiting things out, then nothing would change. No missions would appear. Without missions, there would be no progress. And if the progress bar didn't reach 100% by the time the clock ran out… he had no doubt something terrible was waiting for him.
'Unimaginable Consequences', that's what the system had stated. The words made his skin crawl. Death seemed like the obvious answer. Maybe the panel would just shut him down like turning off a light. But what if it was worse? What if death wasn't the punishment, but the mercy? What if the panel had something much crueler waiting? Eternal nothingness? Being trapped here forever? Or something his mind couldn't even picture?
Dean closed his eyes. Maybe that was the whole point. Maybe the panel wasn't letting him sit on the sidelines. Maybe it wanted him to take part, to change things, to step into the fire instead of avoiding it. That would explain the 0.05%. His decision to fight, to survive when it mattered, had been enough to move the bar forward.
The thought troubled him. He wasn't a soldier. He wasn't a hero. He was just Dean—ordinary, human, unprepared… and definitely not that Dean Winchester from the damn Supernatural TV show. But maybe the panel didn't give a shit about any of that. Maybe it didn't care who he was, or what he could or couldn't do.
Maybe the only way forward was to change, to adapt—whether he liked it or not.
Dean looked at the blank mission panel one more time, his jaw tight.
'Fine,' he thought softly. 'If you won't hand me missions, I'll make my own.'
The panel glowed quietly, giving no response.
But Dean didn't need one. He'd made up his mind.
For now, though, there was one last thing to check. His eyes shifted from the empty mission tab to the other tab for which he had actually opened the panel.
World Store.
His heart beat faster. If he was going to face danger head-on, he couldn't do it empty-handed. And maybe those 200 points could give him the edge he needed.
With a single thought, the mission panel was replaced by the World Store panel showing the list of abilities, skills and provisions he could buy.
**Abilities**
1) Suspiciously Lucky Coin Flip – 5 Points
Flip a coin that somehow always lands in your favor… unless it's life or death
2)Reverse Psychology Aura – 20 Points
People are 25% more likely to do something if you say not to do it.
3)Speed Whisper – 50 Points
Can whisper directly into someone's ear from up to 15 meters away.
4) Echo Mute – 60 points
Silence all sounds you make for 15 seconds.
Cooldown: 20 minutes
5) Adrenal Surge – 100 points
Double strength and speed for 20 seconds. Cooldown: One hour
6)Blood Rush – 95 points
Push past exhaustion for 30 seconds. Fatigue after use is doubled.
Cooldown: One hour
7) Predator's Instinct – 200 Points
Your reflexes sharpen to an animalistic edge. Reaction speed and dodge timing doubles.
8) Marathon Heart – 150 Points
Your stamina skyrockets — run at full speed, fight, or exert yourself without tiring for 1 full minute
Cooldown: 2 hours
9) Night Hunter's Focus – 175 Points
For fifteen minutes, your vision adapts to the dark night. You see as clearly as in daylight.
Cooldown: 1 hour
10) Undying Stubbornness – 200 Points
Even with fatal wounds, you can keep moving and fighting for 1 minute before collapsing. Wounds will heal twice as fast
Cooldown: 1 day
11)True Awareness – 200 Points
Constant 360° awareness. You always sense the presence of others — human or monster — within 10 meters.
**Skills**
1) Nap Anywhere Protocol – 45 Points
Can fall asleep instantly, even in danger. Helps in regaining mental stamina.
2) Professional Side-Eye – 15 Points
Grants the ability to silently judge others so intensely they feel vaguely guilty.
3)Keen Eyes – 60 points
Enhances visual perception. Spot movement in the dark and notice small details others would miss.
4)Silent Step – 100 points
Greatly reduces noise made when walking or running, useful for sneaking past monsters or enemies.
5) Iron Will – 80 points
Grants high resistance to fear, panic, and mental pressure. You can think clearly in stressful situations.
6. Forager's Instinct – 125 Points
You can easily spot edible plants, usable scraps, or makeshift tools in your environment.
7. Iron Stomach – 190 Points
Eat almost anything without sickness — dirty water, questionable food, or long-expired rations.
8. Survivor's Endurance – 150 Points
Reduces fatigue from lack of sleep, food, or water. Lets you push your body far past normal limits.
9. Primal Combat Flow – 180 Points
In life-or-death fights, your body reacts instinctively — giving you combat efficiency even without training.
**Provisions**
1. Rusty Pocket Knife – 5 Points
Barely sharp, but it's better than nothing. Good for close defense or utility cutting.
2. Lighter + Half Pack of Matches – 15 Points
Firestarter kit. Works even if it's damp, but limited uses.
3. Canned Rations (3 meals) – 80 Points
Enough food to keep you going for a day.
4. Flask of Clean Water – 50 Points
1 liter. Purified and safe — crucial in a place where water may not be.
5. First-Aid Kit (Basic) – 40 Points
Bandages, antiseptic, and painkillers. Heals minor injuries and stops bleeding.
6. Reinforced Boots – 140 Points
Tough leather boots. Reduce fatigue on long runs and protect from glass, nails, and sharp ground hazards.
7. Flashlight + Spare Batteries – 80 Points
Strong beam, lasts about 8 hours. Batteries can be swapped 3 times.
8. Hunting Bow + 6 Arrows – 150 Points
Silent ranged weapon. Decent stopping power if aimed well.
9. Protective Vest (Kevlar-lite) – 180 Points
Absorbs some blunt and piercing damage. Won't stop claws entirely, but reduces injury.
10. First-Aid Kit (Advanced) – 125 Points
Better supplies: stitches, antibiotics, stronger painkillers. Can stabilize even serious wounds.
11. Crossbow + 10 Bolts – 170 Points
Silent, powerful, reusable ammo. Takes time to reload, but deadly accurate.
12. Protective Tailsman – 180 Points
Wooden ward you can nail above a doorway or window.
**
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