Finally, after all this work, I'm at level two.
And every time you level up, you get a new skill at your new level.
"Yes! I can't wait to see what I get!"
Even though my whole body hurts like hell, I can't help but get excited.
[new skill] level 2 "punch"
All my hope bursts like a balloon.
All that work for a stronger punch?
I can barely reach my arm out, let alone punch someone.
This skill is useless.
But it wouldn't hurt to… just test it.
I pull my arm back and I feel the muscles tighten.
The tension builds and builds, until I release it and punch the air.
[skill used]
[new stat] "energy level"
[energy level] - 2
[new energy level] 98/100
Wait!
Now I can actually punch?
That's insane! I've been sick my whole life and… now it feels like I can do anything.
But I shouldn't get ahead of myself, all I can do is punch, and apparently that takes away from my "energy level".
Whatever that is…
Suddenly, a menu pops up in front of me.
[tutorial page: energy levels]
[When you use a skill, it takes away the number of its level from your energy level.
You cannot use a skill whose level is higher than your current energy level and when your energy level goes to zero, you die.
You're energy level capacity increases as you level up, and can be refilled by sleeping, eating, and drinking.
Your energy level will also reflect on your daily life and physical state, if you have a low energy level, you will feel very tired, and you will feel energized with a full energy level]
So it looks like I am limited to how much I can use my skills.
That definitely complicates things.
I feel energized, but a little less compared to how I felt right after I leveled up.
But it is a very tiny difference.
All of a sudden I felt strange
Wait a second, I've been standing perfectly for 2 minutes!
How am I doing this?
Wait… now that I think about it, my body never deteriorated, my muscles may be small, but it was always an overwhelming exhaustion that kept me from moving.
Maybe it was because I didn't have an energy level!
And now I do, so maybe, I might not be doomed after all.
The doctor might've diagnosed me with the illness because I didn't know how to read for a long time due to my parents being so poor therefore not being able to know my daily quests and never leveling up which leads to never getting an energy level!
But now that I have access to mandatory school, I can read the menu, find my quests, and level up!
Finally, my life isn't a train wreck and I actually have a chance at beating dungeons!
And maybe even save my family from this terrible poverty… just maybe.
But I know I won't give up until I either die, or achieve that dream.
Not ever.