Two weeks had passed since the afternoon Theo had gained his newfound Spider-Sense, and he couldn't be happier with his second life. His store had flourished into a staple of Forks; the addition of modern books, comics, magazines, and manga had brought in a younger demographic who were more than happy to spend their money.
His training had reached somewhat of a plateau, unfortunately. It had nothing to do with his own body or lack of effort, but rather the absence of stronger external stimuli. He'd taken to wearing his weighted clothing in the depths of the ocean just outside of the Reservation, attempting to find resistance against the crushing pressure and currents.
Depending on one's perspective, he should have been ecstatic that he'd achieved such exponential growth in roughly a month of training, but Theo had developed a thirst for seeing his body evolve in real-time. When that progress slowed due to environmental limitations, it dampened his mood momentarily.
Instead of remaining disheartened, Theo decided that he'd worked hard enough to earn a break. During this prolonged period of relative physical rest, he found himself with hours of free time that desperately needed to be filled.
After the first week of routine work in his store, Theo decided that if he couldn't train his body any further until the Gacha rewards aided him, he'd move onto enhancing his mind. Though he wasn't a stupid man, it would always be beneficial to be sharper than he was the day before.
With that new goal in mind, Theo spent the following week utilizing the books in his store to their maximum capacity. Hours upon hours were spent poring over geography, history, mathematics, English, art, and any subject that pulled his interest.
With his ever-evolving and adapting abilities, Theo was soon to realize how little he had tapped into his potential. His mental faculties took a complete 180-degree turn; theories and subjects he'd once struggled with began to unravel and make sense as the hours passed. His mind began to work at faster speeds as he quizzed himself, and he noticed an astronomical increase in his memory retention. He had become a sponge, absorbing everything his eyes came in contact with.
It was this thirst for knowledge that found Theo ensconced behind the counter of the store one late Friday night, a dense book on biological anatomy resting on his knee as he nursed a warm cup of coffee. The torrential downpour outside battered the windows, turning his store into an oasis of warmth and comfort for anyone lucky enough to be inside.
Alice sat next to him, a gentle smile on her lips as she flipped through one of the latest magazines the store had in stock. The two had become close since the afternoon she'd forced her way into his apartment, and Theo was more than thankful she had done so.
"So, you're really not planning on taking online classes?" Alice asked, glancing at the thick tome balancing on his lap.
"Nope. I'll probably go to college in a year or two, or just stay in town and do the online option. But it's too early right now; I've got enough on my plate running the store daily."
"That is a bold-faced lie, and we both know it," Alice laughed, the sound bright against the drumming rain. "Bella and Angela practically run this place. I'm pretty sure I caught you napping in the basement just two days ago."
"It's called 'tactical rest', actually. You should try it sometime; it makes dealing with high school students significantly more bearable." Closing the book gently, Theo turned his full attention to Alice. "Besides, avoiding customers is a full-time job. You wouldn't believe the amount of times I've had to tell Eric Yorkie that I wouldn't give him a 'Friend and Family' discount. The dude is persistent."
Alice rolled her eyes playfully as she leaned closer, propping her chin on her hand. "Okay then, Mr. Businessman. Who does make the cut for the illustrious 'Friends and Family' discount?"
The flirtatious tone was obvious, and Theo found himself leaning into the banter.
"Well, Charlie has been a treat, so definitely him. Bella and Angela get the employee discount, naturally. Hmm... I think Edward might get the option too, out of pity."
Alice slapped his shoulder lightly and leveled a glare at him. "That's it? Just them?"
"Huh? Oh, well..." His eyes scanned her face, teasing her for a moment before he smiled kindly. He noted how bright and vibrant her amber eyes looked as she anticipated his next words. "Your dad's a pretty chill dude. Yeah, Carlisle can get a discount too!"
With a scoff and a hand clutching her chest in feigned pain, Alice pouted as she leaned back in her chair. Theo couldn't help but chuckle at the easy rhythm the two had fallen into over the past two weeks.
It was refreshing to be friendly with someone who wasn't his employee—to have a confidant who was truly interested in spending time with him simply for who he was. His previous life hadn't been lonely, per se, but he'd been so busy with classes and part-time jobs that he'd never connected this well with the opposite gender.
Theo had wondered if there was something hidden within his Ancient Human heritage that had turned him into someone with more confidence, someone who could flirt as if it were second nature. Though, he mostly associated the newfound confidence with his ever-increasing physical capabilities and improving aesthetics.
'It's weird, and I never really thought about it, but my looks have changed slightly. Sure, the features are the same, but I've become more... optimized. Sharper jawline, a taller and more muscular physique—maybe the genetics are altering me to become the archetype of humanity.'
He laughed internally at the grandiose thought, but part of him wondered if there was validity to it.
"Sorry Alice, got lost in thought. What did you say?" Theo asked, realizing he'd drifted off again.
"I said, have you thought about my earlier question?" she asked with a small, hopeful frown.
"You mean the prom invitation?" Alice nodded vigorously, and Theo hummed as he tapped a finger along the armrest of the chair. He had no reason to reject the proposition, and with each passing day, his reservations about the vampire girl were shrinking.
With a definitive nod, Theo responded. "You know what? Sure. It's still months away, and you might come to your senses eventually regarding me. But if not, I'd be happy to be your date."
Alice's demeanor brightened to an alarming level at his reply; her eyes shone with newfound life as she bounced in her seat with energy.
"Thank you!" she cried, launching herself at him.
Without a conscious thought, Theo's arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a secure embrace. She was lithe, yet surprisingly curvaceous against him. For a split second, he felt her freeze—a statue in his arms—likely realizing her momentary lapse in control.
He could feel her pull back slightly, testing his grip, but his immense strength gently held her in place. He noted the hesitation, possibly wondering how she was being matched in raw strength, but after a moment, she melted into the embrace, her 'breath' touching his neck, whilst her hair tickled his face. The shampoo combined with her natural scent brushed against his nose. It was odd, but everything compounded into a sensation of warmth blossoming within his chest.
"Theo?" she whispered, her voice laced with a mix of question and concern.
"It's fine," he mumbled into her hair. "You feel... really nice in my arms."
If Twilight vampires could blush, Theo was certain the girl in his arms would be a shade of crimson. He didn't know what overcame him, but when he felt her form meld against his own, he couldn't help but hold her tight.
'Am I that lonely that the first bit of real contact dissolves my defenses?' It was a valid question. Even though Theo was friendly and charismatic, he had lacked any physical warmth since his grandmother's passing. Sure, Alice wasn't warm in a literal, thermal sense, but temperature meant next to nothing to him after nights of training in the frozen forest.
"Guys, you know we're working right here, right?"
Theo's eyes widened instantly as his arms unwrapped from Alice. She shot back into her seat, busying herself with a magazine and looking anywhere but at the voice's source.
Turning towards a grinning Bella and Angela, Theo couldn't help but grumble at their expressions. He knew they wouldn't let him live this moment down for weeks.
Angela turned to Bella, a sly smile dancing on her face. "Oh, c'mon Bella, the boss is just a big softie inside. Stop teasing him."
"Not a chance in hell," Bella retorted. "Maybe this will teach him to stop pestering us about learning to be 'cultured'."
With a sigh, Theo looked at Alice apologetically, hoping she wasn't embarrassed about being teased by two teenage girls, but his worries were unfounded. She held a bright, victorious smile upon her lips as she stared kindly into his eyes.
"Alright, ladies, how about a truce? We forget about this moment, and I stop giving you recommendations on heavy literature. Even though you desperately need it..." he muttered the last part under his breath.
Bella and Angela looked at one another, a silent conversation passing between the two before they turned back to him.
"Fine." "Deal." They agreed in unison, wearing accomplished smiles.
"Perfect! Now, Bella, I believe you've got some floors to clean, and Angela? That coffee machine needs another thorough deep cleaning." He was being petty, but with no malice in his words; the girls merely scowled playfully before returning to their tasks.
With a chuckle, Theo turned back to Alice and resumed their conversation, the intimacy of the moment bridging the gap between them just a little more.
Hours later, night had fully settled over Forks. Theo sat on his apartment balcony, his daily steak consumed and the plate on the table wiped clean.
He was currently browsing through his System Inventory, though his strategy was slightly different from previous instances. With his newfound mental capacity—thanks to his continuous studies—Theo had decided to test a function of the System in which he could pool his draws together to increase the chances of higher-tiered rewards.
Instead of having fourteen random, and possibly trash, draws, he'd combined them into two higher-grade draws, totaling seven regular draws into one superior tier.
'Gacha Gods, you answered my prayers last time. Are you shining your light down on me once again?'
With a thought, he willed the System to execute the first draw.
[Drawing...]
[Congratulations on obtaining Winchester Chevy Impala (System Modified)]
[Vehicle: The Metallicar (Winchester Special)]
Source:Supernatural (1967 Chevy Impala)
System Upgrades:
Ownership: The vehicle is registered in your name, with valid documentation already applied to the current world.
The Trunk (The Armory): The trunk acts as a Bag of Holding. It opens to reveal a massive storage space. It never smells, and it never gets full.
Indestructible: The chassis is reinforced with supernatural wards.
Stealth Mode: A dashboard switch that kills all lights and engine noise instantly, allowing you to coast in total silence.
'Well,' Theo thought, a grin spreading across his face as he pictured the iconic car. 'I was looking at fixing up Grandpa's car, but I got a better one in its stead.'
He was a fan of the series when he was younger, and the car had a certain rugged charm that any fan of the show was drawn to. The additional changes to the vehicle were a massive bonus, and Theo wondered if his act of pooling the draws into a higher tier allowed the rewards to be modified to a certain degree.
Looking in the System Inventory, he could see the icon representing the vehicle. He'd have to wait until morning to pull it out, as he had one more draw to focus on.
'Okay System, you've done an incredible job so far. Let's go for a home run now!'
With another thought, he watched in anticipation as the draw began.
[Drawing...]
[Congratulations on obtaining The Master Key (Hide and Seek)]
[Item: The Master Key]
Source:Hunter x Hunter (Knov)
Function: Creates a portal on any flat surface (wall, tree, floor) that leads to a private, four-story mansion in a separate dimension. The dimension is cut off from reality.
The Interior: Contains 21 distinct rooms, including a Reinforced Warehouse, Cold Storage, Master Suite, Kitchen, Bathhouse, Storage, and more.
Travel: You can enter a door at school, walk down the hall, and exit a door in the deep woods instantly. You must set physical checkpoints in reality to travel between locations.
Theo gulped, the sound loud in the quiet hum of Forks nightlife, as his eyes widened at the reward description.
He knew almost nothing regarding Hunter x Hunter, but that did nothing to detract from the reality that he now owned a large mansion in its own dimension, completely separated from reality. The concept of owning such a monstrous and mind-shattering item dawned upon him, causing his hands to shake slightly.
'I... I have my own personal world?' he thought, his mind racing. 'I can create doors to places I've been before and use the mansion as a connection to travel anywhere in the world once I've made checkpoints?'
His mind momentarily shut down at the sheer utility of his reward. Willing himself to focus on the brass key now sitting in his inventory, Theo read through the more complex description of the item. The more he read, the more excited he got.
'I have an indestructible warehouse where I can train at full power without holding back. The cold storage can hold hundreds of tons of food, while the master suite is dozens of meters in size, fully furnished. A whole bathhouse—not just a random room with a large bath, but a complete area solely for that one function.'
He desperately wanted to explore the place. He wanted to get lost in his new personal dimensional home, and Theo did everything to convince himself he should go ahead and explore right now, but he restrained himself.
He needed to read deeper into the information that came with the key and figure out the security needed for the 'door' he could open in reality. He couldn't risk leaving a portal open in his living room by accident.
Closing the System interface, Theo picked up his dishes and moved back into the apartment, his mind already formulating plans for the following day.
'So, firstly we'll unload the car and place it inside the garage behind the store; no one will question its appearance if I state it was always in there. Depending on how busy the day is, I'll try and find time to explore the new home. Maybe opening a door somewhere in the apartment would be the safest option for now.'
Placing his dishes in the dishwasher, Theo turned toward the bathroom. He needed a warm shower and sleep before tackling the next day.
**********
Yahallo! New day, new chapter for you lovely people. The MC is getting smarter as the days pass, and with those smarts, he's testing new things. What did you think about the rewards? He's slowly getting closer to Alice, and I'm wondering if I should throw a Cullen POV in next, thoughts?
Keep donating those powerstones, commenting and leaving reviews. Seeing your appreciation makes me want to post more!