Chapter 3: The Metabolism Bomb
Alex backed away from the mirror, his heart still racing, pulling his gaze from the impossible velvet of his skin. The immediate physical change had been a jolt of hope so strong it felt like a defibrillator, shocking his deadened spirit back to life. But the sheer size of the quest—lose 20 pounds—was a sharp dose of reality.
He was facing an objective that had tormented him for his entire life, only this time, failure meant more than just disappointment; it meant stagnation in a life he had already tried to end.
He looked at the glowing blue notification
Skill Points (SP): 1.
He called up the CFES Menu and navigated to the [Skills] tab, a complex array of categorized abilities appearing before him.
The skills were categorized into four main branches:
[Physiology] (physical stats, health), [Charm] (social influence, aura), [Aesthetics] (makeup, fashion, posture), and [Utility] (data analysis, stealth).
Alex focused on [Physiology]. He needed efficiency. He needed an edge to burn the fat quickly without collapsing.
The list of low-level skills was short:
________________________________________________________________
| Skill | Cost (SP) | Effect |
| Energy Surge (Lvl 1) | 1 SP | Temporarily triples Stamina regeneration for 6 hours. (Cooldown: 48 hours) |
| Enhanced Metabolism (Lvl 1) | 1 SP | Increases the body's resting caloric expenditure by 30%. (Passive) |
| Minor Pain Dampener (Lvl 1) | 1 SP | Reduces muscle soreness and minor physical discomfort by 50%. (Passive) |
| Controlled Craving (Lvl 1) | 2 SP | Reduces urge to consume refined sugars by 50%. |
________________________________________________________________
Alex immediately dismissed [Controlled Craving]—it cost 2 SP, which he didn't have. He wasn't looking for a temporary fix like [Energy Surge]. He needed a fundamental advantage.
He selected [Enhanced Metabolism (Lvl 1)].
"System," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Purchase Enhanced Metabolism."
________________________________________________________________
[CONFIRM PURCHASE]
Skill: Enhanced Metabolism (Lvl 1)
Cost: 1 SP
Current SP: 1
---
Purchase Complete. SP balance: 0.
________________________________________________________________
The immediate effect was startling. A sudden rush of warmth flooded his torso. His stomach rumbled loudly, not with the familiar ache of emotional hunger, but with a new, insistent physical need. It was as if a dormant engine had suddenly been kick-started into overdrive.
His blood felt lighter, faster. He wasn't tired anymore. He was restless.
He pulled up the Stats screen again, scanning the subtle changes.
________________________________________________________________
[HOST STATS]
Name: Alex Maxwell
Level: 1
Title: Beginner (Active - Boost: +5% Learning Speed)
Body: Heavily Debilitated (30% Health, 10% Stamina)
Appearance: C- Rank (Current Beauty Score: 85/1000)
Charm: 25
Agility: 1
Intelligence: 15
Passive Skills: Enhanced Metabolism (Lvl 1)
Skill Points (SP): 0
Evolution Currency (EC): 0
________________________________________________________________
His health and stamina had marginally improved just from the psychological boost and the water, but now, the hunger was real. The system was now burning calories at a significantly higher rate, but Alex hadn't eaten a single healthy meal in two months. His apartment was a tomb of empty pizza boxes and chip bags.
"I need nutrients. I need proper food, not just junk."
The thought of going outside, even after the terrifying events on the roof, was enough to make his palms sweat. He had become comfortable in the deep, protective shadows of his four walls, where no one could look at him and judge the failure he felt he was.
But now, he had the skin of a celestial being and the metabolism of a furnace. He had a mission. He couldn't fail the system that had saved his life.
He looked at the reflection. The eyes were intense, clear, and focused. The flaws were gone, replaced by a delicate canvas. He was still large, but the face... the contrast was jarring.
He needed to get food. He needed exercise. But most importantly, he needed a way to move through the world unseen until his transformation was more complete. He needed to find a way to earn the 10 SP required for the next skill. Since he had 0 SP, he had to rely on himself.