When I finally opened my eyes, sunlight was already creeping through the blinds. Gamer's Body worked wonders—the soreness was completely gone. With a quick stretch, I got up and checked my phone. The System's interface shimmered to life the moment I sat up.
[You have unspent stat points.][Would you like to allocate them now?]
"Yes, show me my stats."
[STATUS]Name: Liam Vale
Level: 5 (0/500
)HP: 160/160
MP: 150/150
STR: 14
DEX: 16
VIT: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 14
CHA: 14
Points: 15
Skills:
Gamer's Mind (Passive): Congratulations, you're now immune to mental breakdowns.
Gamer's Body (Passive): Pain? What pain? Just sleep it off.
Basic Combat (Passive Lv 4): You can fight, but you're not even Robin level yet. You're getting there. (Each level increases damage by 10%; current: +40%.)
Forget Me Why? Because I Wanted (Passive)
Stealth (Active, Lv 2)
Observe (Active, Lv 3): Stare creepily at things and learn about them.
Inventory
Shop: Locked
Quests: 2 Active
"I remember in some fanfics, if they got to a certain point in stats they could unlock a new skill. Can you do that?"
[Yes, but I won't tell you what you have to get to. You will find out soon.]
"Soon? So I'm close then. Let's put 9 into DEX and 6 into STR."
[STATUS]Name: Liam Vale
Level: 5 (0/500)
HP: 160/160
MP: 150/150
STR: 20
DEX: 25
VIT: 16
INT: 15
WIS: 14
CHA: 14
Points: 0
[New Skill – Clockbreak Lv 1]Description: Manipulates the user's perception of time for brief moments, making the world appear slower.Effect: Increases reaction time and precision dramatically.
"Nice! Wish I had this yesterday."
[You were still gonna get your ass beat.]
"Yeah, whatever. Now, down to business."
"Show me my inventory."
[Inventory]
500$
Pistol x2
"Well, time to get some new clothes then."
I threw on my old shirt and jeans and headed outside. The moment I stepped out, the cool morning air hit me, carrying the faint scent of coffee from the café down the street. Everything felt sharper than before. Was this because of the DEX boost? The world seemed… crisper. Details popped out—the twitch of a sparrow's wing, the tiny crack on the sidewalk I'd never noticed before. My steps felt lighter, almost silent.
"Okay, let's try this out."
I immediately started sprinting. I was running faster and faster, easily over 40 mph.
"Wow, this is amazing!"
Eventually, I reached the mall. Slowing down from that speed was tricky, so I tripped and rolled across the pavement.
[HP: 140/160]
"Fuck, that hurt." I pulled myself up, dusting off my clothes like nothing happened. "Well, back to business."
Inside the mall, I browsed quickly and grabbed a light red trench coat, a dark red shirt, black tactical boots, gloves that wouldn't restrict movement, a white scarf, and black pants.
"How much, man?"
"360, kid. You got that?"
"Fine. Man, I swear this is a scam, but the drip is clean."
After putting it on, I left and asked the System a question.
"Hey System, do you have an auto-loot function? It would be helpful."
[Yes, Liam. Would you like me to turn it on?]
"Please do."
Now with that done, I needed information. What I got from the office in the last warehouse were just a couple of stash and load locations, so I had to check them out to find more.
"More bosses… fun."
Making my way to the first stash house, I saw an actual warehouse this time—not one shoved into an alleyway like before.
"System, activate skill Forget Me Why."
With the new outfit, I almost felt like a proper vigilante—or at least someone cosplaying as one. The System pinged faintly, as if it approved.
[New Side Quest: Investigate the gang stash houses.]Objective: Infiltrate at least one location without being detected.Reward: 250 EXP + Random Item.
I crouched low behind a stack of crates outside the warehouse perimeter. The place buzzed with activity—men in black jackets hauling crates, a few of them armed, and cameras scanning the entrances. Definitely not low-level thugs this time.
[Stealth Activated. Lv 2 → Lv 3][Effect: Noise reduction improved. Detection radius decreased by 20%.]
Observe, I thought, locking eyes on one of the guards.
[Target: Gang Member – Lv 8]
HP: 200/200
Notes: Armed. Slightly alert. Weak to surprise attacks.
"Level 8? That's the same as the last boss. What the fuck? Yeah, I'm not picking a fight here unless I have to."
Scanning the area, I noticed an unguarded window halfway up the wall. With my boosted DEX, scaling the drainpipe was almost too easy. My fingers gripped like hooks, my balance flawless.
"Clockbreak," I whispered.
[Clockbreak Activated. Duration: 5 seconds.]
The world slowed to a crawl. Droplets of dew hung in the air as I vaulted the ledge in what felt like an eternity. By the time the skill ended, I was crouched inside, undetected.
[Clockbreak Deactivated. Cooldown: 45 seconds.]
I moved through the hallway, checking every door until I found the office. But someone was inside.
Observe.[Target: Rico Perez – Lv 15]
HP: 375/375
Notes: Hungry. Weak to surprise attacks. Drunk and a bit horny?
"System, that's too much information. But he should be easy to take out Assassin's Creed style—minus the wrist blade."
I waited for Clockbreak to be ready.
"Okay, been long enough. Clockbreak."
Quickly moving in, I grabbed him from behind by the neck and choked him out. With my new STR, it was easy—even with him at Lv 15.
[Boss Rico Perez – Lv 15 Defeated. XP +700]
Dragging his limp body into the corner, I searched the office and found his phone still open. The messages made my stomach turn.
"Fisk wants it done by tonight, and unless you want to be gone by tomorrow, you better get it done."
"Fisk… as in Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen?"
With more searching, it was confirmed—it was that Kingpin.
"Fuck. I need to get out of here."
I waited for the cooldown, activated Clockbreak, and left as fast as I could, running all the way back to my apartment.
[Side Quest Completed: Investigate the gang stash houses.]Reward: 250 EXP + Random Item.
[Main Quest Completed: Investigate the 'Big Man' (Kingpin).]Reward: 1000 EXP + New Skill: Predator's Instinct – Temporarily heightens senses when in danger (Passive Lv 1; range: 3 meters).
[Level Up! Lv 5 → Lv 8][Item added to your inventory.]
Sitting on the couch, I stared at the System. I was glad I had Forget Me Why—Kingpin couldn't track me through most means.
"System, wake me up tomorrow. I need time to think."
[Of course, Liam.]
(1104 word)