The days after the accident were quiet. Arin's body had a few scrapes and bruises, but nothing serious. Mira fussed over him constantly, and Raghav wouldn't stop reminding him to be careful. Even Lyra kept a watchful eye whenever they were together.
Yet, deep inside, Arin felt a change.
Late that night, alone on his futon, he stared at the glowing Skill Panel:
[Skill Panel]
Hard Work – Advanced
Movement Mastery – Advanced (98%)
Observation – Mastery (50%)
Enhanced Communication – Advanced (75%)
Sensory Domain – Intermediate (20%)
A soft chime rang in his mind.
[System Notice]: Hard Work has reached Advanced.
New Ability Unlocked: Talent Copy
You can copy the talent of any person. Can only copy once per year at Advanced level.
Synergizes with Hard Work: the more effort you put into mastering it, the easier it becomes to fully control copied talents.
Arin's eyes widened. Touch someone… and copy their talent… once per year…?
He remembered the Sports Fest, Kai's Epic potential, and Lyra's new talents. This ability… if I train carefully… I could overcome limits that even natural talent can't reach.
He stood, excitement coursing through him, but also a hint of caution.
I have to choose wisely. I can't just touch everyone recklessly… and once per year… that's a long cooldown.
Arin clenched his fists. Tomorrow, I'll think carefully about how to use this. I can't waste this opportunity.
The Hard Work skill pulsed faintly, acknowledging him. For the first time, effort and strategy merged. He wasn't just growing stronger—he was stepping into a new kind of power, one that required thought, patience, and planning.
The journey ahead just became more interesting…