Leo sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the translucent black screen floating calmly in front of him. The silver glow along its borders pulsed faintly, steady and restrained, as if the system itself were breathing.
At the top of the interface were four neatly aligned tabs, arranged like browser tabs:
Status || Sphere of Influence || Sphere of Dominion || Shop
The Status tab shimmered in soft silver, its black text crisp and clear. The other three remained dark, black panels edged with silver, waiting. Then the calm robotic voice echoed inside his head.
[So, Leo, you should be familiar with this interface. The first tab currently open is the Status Tab. Here, you will find all general data related to yourself. These values are calculated in comparison to the current average of human beings on this planet.]
Leo swallowed lightly.
"…Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what kind of person I am now."
The silver light rippled once, and the panel unfolded.
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STATUS
Name: Leo Archer
Age: 18
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 67 kg
Condition: Normal (Slight Post-Synchronization Fatigue)
Level: 1(0/100)
Skills: Programming(Level 3), Cooking(Level 1)
Physical Attributes:
Strength: 7
Determines raw physical power and muscle output.
Stamina: 7
Represents endurance and resistance to fatigue.
Agility: 9
Affects speed, balance, reaction speed, and fluid body movement.
Recovery: 8
Determines how fast the body heals and recovers from strain.
(Average Human Standard: 10)
Mental & Emotional Attributes:
Focus: 18
Determines how long and how deeply the mind can concentrate.
Discipline: 16
Measures consistency, self-control, and work ethic.
Willpower: 13
Represents mental resistance against pressure and temptation.
Stress Tolerance: 12
Determines how well one performs under emotional pressure.
Logical Processing: 14
Measures reasoning speed and analytical thinking.
Influence-Oriented Attributes:
Creativity: 11
Defines originality and content ideation capability.
On-Camera Presence: 7
Represents confidence and natural expression in front of a lens.
Communication: 12
Determines clarity, persuasion, and emotional delivery.
Aesthetic Sense: 9
Controls visual taste, style composition, and framing.
Audience Sensitivity: 8
Measures how well one understands viewers' emotions and interests.
Growth Points:
Attribute Points (AP): 0
System Points (SP): 0
Influencer Points (IP): 0
Dominion Points (DP): 0
-----------
Leo scanned through every line slowly. He saw his name and other things.
Then his eyes landed on Skills.
Programming (Level 3), Cooking (Level 1).
Those were skills he had built in his previous life, late nights debugging code, quiet evenings trying to cook decent meals alone.
"So experience carries over… but the body resets," Leo said calmly.
Then he pointed at the skill levels and asked, "Omni, what do these levels actually mean?"
The system answered right away.
[Skill Levels measure how deeply a skill is mastered.][
Level 1 means the fundamentals are fully understood and executed correctly.]
[Level 2 means the skill is becoming smooth and natural through repetition.]
[Level 3 marks professional-level control, where the host stands above average.]
[Level 4 represents authority and innovation.]
[Level 5 is true mastery, where instinct replaces effort.]
Leo nodded and then his gaze went on physical attributes and they were… bad.
Not sickly. Not malnourished. Just weak.
He glanced at his thin arms and narrow waist and sighed quietly. Years of sitting in his room, studying endlessly, had left him undertrained. He already knew what this meant.
"I need to eat properly now," he said to himself. "And start training too."
Then his eyes moved to the mental and emotional section. These were far better. Focus stood absurdly high.
He frowned slightly.
"…Omni," he said, "what are the highest stats a human can gain?"
[The highest stat a human can gain naturally is 30. A human can be classified as a genius if a stat exceeds 20.]
[Humans may exceed 30 with external genetic enhancement, potions, or unnatural modifications.]
A quiet breath escaped him.
"Then… I'm just two points short of being a genius if we take focus into account."
Then another sentence struck him.
"And wait, what do you mean by potions?" he asked slowly. "Are there things like that on Blue Star?"
[Yes, Leo. But they exist in extremely limited quantities.]
"…Holy sh*t."
The words left his mouth on instinct.
After steadying his breathing, he shifted his attention to the Influence-Oriented Attributes. Only communication and creativity stood above average. His on-camera presence was embarrassingly low.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Yeah… I guessed that much."
Then his gaze dropped to the Growth Points section.
"Hey Omni," he asked, "can you explain these growth points to me?"
[Certainly, Leo.]
[Growth Points are the core currency of advancement.]
[They are used to increase attributes, enhance skills, and purchase items from the System Shop.]
[There are four types:]
[Attribute Points (AP): Gained upon leveling up. Used to upgrade any attribute.]
[System Points (SP): Earned through completing various missions. Used in the System Shop.]
[Influencer Points (IP): Earned through Influence-path missions. Used to level Influencer skills.]
[Dominion Points (DP): Earned through Dominion-path missions. Used to level Dominion skills.]
Leo let out a low whistle.
"Damn, Omni… that's pretty meticulous."
[Thank you.]
Then the system continued.
[Now, moving forward, the Sphere of Influence tab is available.]
[Focus on it or think about opening it to access.]
Leo's eyes lifted to the second tab.
"…Alright," he said quietly. "Let's see what this looks like."
The silver highlight slid smoothly from Status to Sphere of Influence.
The panel shifted.
-----------
SPHERE OF INFLUENCE
Path Status: Active
Current Rank: Beginner Creator
Followers: 0
Genuine Fans: 0 / 1,000
Platform Connected: Fastgram
Audience Trust Level: Uninitialized
Public Reputation: Neutral
Influence Points: 0
Influencer Skills: None
Active Mission: None
-----------
Leo studied the panel for a few seconds, then frowned slightly.
"So… Omni," he said, tapping the air where the tab floated, "explain this to me properly. What exactly is the Sphere of Influence?"
The silver lines along the interface pulsed once.
[The Sphere of Influence represents your public existence in this world.]
[It governs how the world sees you, reacts to you, and emotionally connects with you.]
Leo leaned back a little, listening carefully.
[Everything related to your identity as a creator is recorded and evaluated here.]
[Your followers, your genuine fans, your reputation, your audience trust, and your growth as an influencer.]
He glanced again at the numbers on the screen—zero across the board.
"So this is basically… my fame, my image, and my connection with people."
[Correct.]
[But influence is not limited to popularity.]
New lines appeared faintly beneath the panel.
[True influence is measured by impact.]
[How deeply people care about your words.]
[How strongly they resonate with your content.]
[And how much your presence can shape their choices.]
Leo's expression grew more serious.
"And the genuine fans?"
[Those are the core of your influence.]
[They are not passive viewers.]
[They are people who actively choose you.]
A faint weight settled in his chest.
[Every genuine fan increases the stability of your influence.]
[They unlock higher-level missions and advanced influencer skills.]
[They also determine your rank.]
Leo's eyes drifted to the line at the top of the panel.
Current Rank: Beginner Creator
"…So this rank depends on genuine fans too?"
[Yes, Your rank is determined solely by your number of genuine fans. Followers measure visibility. Genuine fans measure influence.]
Leo let out a slow breath.
"And what happens when my rank increases?"
[Higher ranks unlock advanced missions. They unlock higher-level influencer skills. They improve your public reputation. And they gradually remove restrictions placed on locked functions.]
His gaze shifted instinctively toward the sealed Sphere of Dominion tab.
"So… this is the foundation."
[Yes, Without influence, your other path cannot exist. The higher your influence grows, the broader your future options become.]
Leo leaned back against the bed.
"That means there are no shortcuts."
[Correct, Empty fame decays. Only genuine influence endures.]
Then the system responded calmly.
[Now, host, the third tab is the Sphere of Dominion.]
[It is currently locked and will only be unlocked when you gain 1,000 genuine fans.]
Leo nodded slowly.
Then the system continued.
[The last tab is the System Shop.]
[You will be able to purchase skills, artifacts related to the influencer and dominion paths, and other material items available on Blue Star.]
[All purchases will be legal. Any required documentation will be handled by the system.]
A brief pause.
[The shop is currently locked.]
[Unlock Condition: 100 System Points (SP).]
Leo stared at the locked tabs for a second, then let out a small laugh.
"Well, Omni… half of your functions are locked. What kind of system are you?" he said in a sarcastic, teasing tone.
The robotic voice replied neutrally.
[Leo, the system is not here to spoon-feed you. You should understand that you are the only person in this universe who possesses this system.]
[You already have a terrifying advantage over others. Work hard and you will be rewarded.]
"Yeah, yeah, sure. I was just joking, man!" Leo said with a grin.
[Whatever.]
Then the tone shifted slightly.
[Moving on. Since you asked about missions earlier, here are your current missions.]
The translucent black screen blinked once, and then two screens appeared side-by-side with new information on them.
-----------
[Mission: Influencer Essentials]
Description:
Now that you have created your social media account, it is time to acquire the basic tools required for content creation.
Required Purchases:
• Tripod
• Clip-on microphone.
• A small portable LED light.
Reward:
Camera Visual Control Skill (Level 1)
A foundational skill covering framing, angles, panning, lighting awareness, and stable handheld shooting.
10 Influencer Points (IP), 5 System Points(SP)
Penalty:
None
-----------
-----------
[Mission: Daily Foundation Training]
Description:
A healthy body is the base of every long-term path. Before you build influence, you must rebuild yourself.
Daily Requirements:
• Push-ups: 3 sets × 20 reps
• Bodyweight Squats: 3 sets × 25 reps
• Plank Hold: 3 rounds × 45 seconds
• Stretching: 10 minutes (full body)
• Running: 2 kilometers at a steady pace
Time Limit:
Must be completed once every day.
Reward:
5 System Points (SP), 5 Experience Points(EXP)(Used to Level Up)
Penalty:
None
-----------
Leo studied the missions for a moment.
"Well… that's not too hard," he said. "The Foundation Training mission is just a bonus reward since i was going to start training my body from today onwards. And for the first mission, it'll burn some money, yeah, but getting a skill and IP along with it? That's still a great deal."
Then he checked his bank balance on his phone.
$214.60
This was his one year saving from the pocket money he received from emily which was $50 a month.
"Alright," he whispered. "More than enough."
He sat back down and opened the Amaze Shopping App, the most popular online marketplace on Blue Star.
First, tripod.
Since he was filming on mobile now but would upgrade to a camera later, he selected a hybrid model.
-----------
Product: AstraHold ProTrip-X2
Type: Aluminum hybrid tripod (mobile + DSLR)
Height: 45–160 cm
Load Capacity: 4 kg
Price: $59.99
A sturdy, long-lasting hybrid tripod suitable for both phone and camera use.
Next, the microphone.
-----------
Product: VoxPure LumaClip Pro
Type: Wired lavalier condenser mic
Price: $49.50
A clear-audio clip-on mic designed for outdoor and indoor videography with minimal noise distortion.
Then, the LED light.
-----------
Product: Lumora NeoPanel Mini
Type: Rechargeable bi-color LED
Battery Life: Up to 3.5 hours
Price: $44.25
A compact lighting panel for even facial lighting during night or indoor shoots.
-----------
He added all three to the cart.
The total came out to:
$153.74
Kind of expensive, but solid, long-term equipment. Leo stared at the checkout screen for a second… then tapped Buy.
Then the bank message came.
-----------------------
[Bank Notification]
Credit Alert: $153.74 has been credited from your account
To: XXXX-3237
Available Balance Updated: $60.86
-----------------------
The first real investment of his new life was complete.
Leo let the confirmation screen fade, then his gaze shifted to the next mission.
Daily Foundation Training.
He checked the time.
10:07 AM.
Plenty of room before evening. He has dinner plan in the evening, and the afternoon was reserved for figuring out what kind of content he wanted to start with.
"No point delaying," he muttered. "Might as well get used to this."
He changed into his track pants, pulled on his running shoes, grabbed his water bottle, and stepped outside.
The late-morning sun hung comfortably high above the buildings as he made his way to the small park near the apartment complex. The air was fresh, not too hot, not too cold, perfect for movement. A few joggers circled the track, dog walkers strolled under the trees, and a couple of elderly men practiced slow tai chi near the benches.
Leo found an open patch of grass and started with light stretches, rolling his shoulders, loosening his legs, waking up a body that hadn't known consistent training in years.
Then he began.
The push-ups hit him first.
By the ninth rep, his arms began to tremble. By the twelfth, he barely pushed himself back up, chest heaving as sweat dotted the grass beneath him.
"…So weak."
The bodyweight squats burned his thighs relentlessly. His legs shook halfway through the second set, breath growing ragged as he forced himself through all three.
The plank was worse.
His core screamed in protest before thirty seconds passed. Sweat dripped from his chin as he clenched his jaw and stared at the ground, counting each second like it was a small battle.
Don't drop.
Then came the run.
The park loop stretched on longer than he expected. The first kilometer passed quickly. The second one dragged painfully. Before the last stretch, his lungs burned and his steps grew heavy, but he didn't stop.
When he finally finished, he bent forward with both hands on his knees, breathing hard.
"…So this is my starting point."
As he straightened and wiped sweat from his face,
Ding.
The translucent black screen shimmered into existence before him.
[Mission Complete: Daily Foundation Training]
Reward Acquired: 5 System Points (SP), 5 Experience Points(EXP)]
Leo stared at the floating text for a moment.
Then he smiled softly.
The reward wasn't anything spectacular, and it wasn't something he could even use right away, but the feeling it left behind was unexpectedly satisfying.