The past three months had been nothing short of grueling.
Arin's days were filled with constant observation. From dawn until dusk, he would quietly watch the children in his neighborhood, classmates at school, and even the people passing by in the park. Every movement, every expression, every subtle habit became data to him. His mind was like a sponge, soaking up details most people wouldn't even notice: the way Kai shifted his weight before sprinting, the flicker in Lyra's eyes when she noticed something unusual, the tone changes in teachers' voices depending on the student they addressed.
Arin had trained himself to stay focused, ignoring boredom, distractions, and even fatigue. His parents, Mira and Raghav, noticed his dedication but didn't fully understand the extent. "Arin, you've been staring at the same classmate for hours again," Mira would comment, smiling softly. "Just remember to take a break."
But Arin didn't care about breaks. His goal was singular: reach 100% mastery in Observation. Every small increment mattered. Even a tiny 1% improvement could mean noticing a hidden detail that would otherwise go unseen. He had learned to break down every skill into patterns, predicting actions and intentions before they happened.
Finally, one late afternoon, while the golden sun cast long shadows across his room, Arin felt a distinct pulse deep within his soul. It was stronger than anything he had felt before. The familiar glow of his Skill Panel intensified, radiating warmth and clarity across the room.
A soft chime rang in his mind.
[System Notice]: Observation has reached Mastery.
Arin's breath caught. The moment had arrived. But then he saw the next line, and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest:
Restriction removed: You can now observe the talents of individuals of any age.
He blinked, trying to comprehend the implications. Adults, teachers, even strangers walking past—he could now perceive the talents hidden inside anyone. Every skill, every aptitude, every latent potential became visible, mapped in his mind like a living chart.
For a long moment, Arin simply sat, absorbing the magnitude of what he could now do. The possibilities were staggering. He could learn from adults, anticipate hidden strengths, and strategize with far greater precision. Every choice about Talent Copy became richer, more calculated.
He jumped to his feet, excitement coursing through his veins. He spun around in his room, clenching his fists. "All this… all this effort… it actually worked!"
Then, as he celebrated, the system spoke again, calm and deliberate:
[System Notice]: Observation has reached its maximum level.
Congratulations. You have reached your first max-level skill.As a reward for this achievement, you will receive a new skill.
Arin froze, a mixture of awe and anticipation sweeping over him. A new skill? After all this work? His mind raced with possibilities.
His Skill Panel pulsed, and a new icon appeared, glowing faintly. The description was brief, yet the energy it radiated told him everything he needed to know:
[New Skill Unlocked – Mental Insight]
Arin read the system's description carefully:
Mental Insight: Allows you to better understand people's thoughts, intentions, and reasoning based on their words, expressions, and body language.Can analyze mental states, motivations, and strategies by observing behavior and reactions.
Synergizes with Observation: The more details you notice, the more accurate your understanding becomes.
Arin's heart pounded. This was a mental skill, unlike anything he had before. Observation had allowed him to see talents, but Mental Insight would allow him to understand minds—to perceive reasoning, strategy, and even emotional states. It was subtle, yet terrifyingly powerful.
He could now anticipate decisions before they were made. Understand motives. Detect hesitation or confidence. It was more than just knowledge—it was almost like seeing the unseen workings behind every action.
Arin sank back onto his bed, letting the weight of the new ability sink in. With this, my growth won't just be physical or sensory… I can understand people on a completely new level.
He imagined Kai, standing proud with his Epic potential, and how he could anticipate his next move in the next race. He thought of teachers and parents, and how he could analyze strategies or hidden skills he had never noticed before. And most importantly, he considered Talent Copy—now, combined with Mental Insight, he could choose the perfect talent to copy, maximizing every opportunity.
Arin's fingers traced the glowing panel, feeling the pulse of Mental Insight within his soul.
This… this changes everything.
For the first time, Arin felt the full scope of his own potential. Three months of relentless effort, focus, and determination had not only unlocked Observation at its maximum but had also rewarded him with a skill that would redefine how he approached the world—mentally, strategically, and cognitively.
He smiled, excitement and anticipation mixing in his chest. The next stage of his journey was clear: train Mental Insight, understand the hidden workings of people, and choose his first Talent Copy wisely.
For Arin, this was no longer just about effort. It was about vision, strategy, and understanding the world in a way no ordinary child could.
And deep within, Observation pulsed faintly, as if acknowledging the birth of a companion skill—Mental Insight—the next tool in Arin's journey to surpass limits.