I took a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself as the wave of exhaustion and nausea slowly receded. Five seconds had been too much. But after a few moments, I felt like I could stand again. Carefully, I got back on my feet and leaned against the counter, staring at the tiny droplet of blood on my thumb.

"Okay, let's try this again," I muttered to myself.

Pricking my thumb once more with the sterilized needle, I activated [Isha's Mercy] again, this time aiming to sustain it for just a bit longer. I felt the familiar warmth and tingling in my thumb, but I focused on keeping it going without collapsing. One second passed, then another, before I felt the wave of exhaustion hit me again. I quickly deactivated the skill and sank to the floor, breathing heavily.

Two seconds. I managed to sustain it for two seconds this time. Not great, but better than before. And now I knew my limit. I needed to rest for about five minutes before trying again.

Sitting on the cool kitchen floor, I let my mind wander. The knowledge from the system had integrated so seamlessly into my brain that it felt like second nature. I understood the mechanics, the stats, and the importance of training. If I wanted to stand a chance in this new reality, I needed to get stronger. And that meant grinding my skills.

Five minutes later, I felt ready to go again. This time, I pricked a different finger, not wanting to overuse my thumb. I activated [Isha's Mercy] and held on for as long as I could. Two seconds. Another wave of exhaustion, but this time it was a bit more manageable.

I repeated the process over and over again, resting for five minutes between each attempt. Each time, I pricked a new finger, switching hands when necessary. The process was slow and tedious, but I could feel myself improving, little by little. After what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the total of 60 seconds of healing time needed to level up the skill.

[Isha's Mercy] leveled up!
[Isha's Mercy] Level 2 – Touch a wounded target to accelerate their body's natural regeneration. Current rate of enhanced regeneration is 600% faster than what is natural. (Use of for a total of 90 seconds to level up)

I couldn't help but smile at the notification. The increased healing power was a significant improvement, but I knew I had a long way to go. Leveling up the skill now required 90 seconds of total healing time, and I could only sustain it for two seconds at a time. It would be another grueling grind, but I was ready for it. Tomorrow morning, however, I was joining mom on her jog. I needed to level up my VIT as quickly as possible.

Feeling a bit more confident, I decided it was time to make my first purchase. The [Laspistol] was 300 War Points, and although it would leave me with only 200 War Points, it seemed like a worthwhile investment. I navigated through the system's interface, selected the [Laspistol], and confirmed the purchase.

The [Laspistol] materialized in my hand, its weight both familiar and foreign. It was a strange, deadly-looking weapon, and I felt a strange sense of power holding it, but it definitely looked like a pistol – no doubt. I had no idea how to use it properly, but I figured I'd learn in due time. For now, just having it was a comfort.

Exhaustion finally caught up with me. Between the repeated use of [Isha's Mercy] and the mental strain of navigating the system, I was utterly drained. I stumbled back upstairs to my room, sending the [Laspistol] into my [Inventory] as I did. My mind was spinning with possibilities, plans, and the realization that my life would never be the same again. But right now, all I could do was sleep.

I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring. Groaning, I reached out to silence it, the memory of last night rushing back. The [Laspistol] in my inventory, [Isha's Mercy] now at level 2, and the knowledge that my mundane life had taken a sharp turn into the extraordinary. I sat up, rubbing my eyes and stretching. Today was the first day of the rest of my life. It was almost difficult to believe, honestly, knowing that I'd been perfectly normal... not even twenty-four hours ago. That I could simply will forth the [Laspistol] from my [Inventory] and into my hand was proof enough that it'd been all real. Everything else from now was going to be real as well.

I got dressed quickly, donning some of my most comfortable sports clothes, which I had not worn for years now. Honestly, with how sedentary I lived, I was lucky I didn't grow fat and jiggly. And so most of my old clothes still fit my pretty well. Mom was usually out the door by six for her morning run, and I didn't want to miss her. As I headed downstairs, I could hear her bustling in the kitchen.

"Morning, Mom," I said, trying to sound as casual as possible. I succeeded, I think.

Mom looked up, surprised. At the age of 42, I gotta say my mom looked great. Dad often said that a lot of younger guys often hit on her, thinking she was still in her twenties. Well, she took care of herself. I knew that, aside from her morning runs, mom also attended a gymnastics class in the afternoon. If she had stats, then she'd outclass me by miles. "Morning, Amir. You're up early."

"Yeah, I figured I'd join you for your jog," I said, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl that we kept close to the front door. Not sure why, honestly. But, hey, dad often said that fruits made for the best snacks.

Mom raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. "Alright then, let's get going. Time's a wasting."

We stepped out into the cool morning air, the sun just beginning to rise. The neighborhood was quiet, save for the chirping of birds and the occasional car passing by. We started at a slow pace, and I matched her stride, trying to focus on my breathing. See, this was why Maine was way better than the big cities, like New York; the air in here was clean and cool. The one time we visited New York City, I cringed every single time I breathed in, because good god did that city stink like shit.

"You okay, Amir? You're not usually one for morning runs," she said, glancing at me as we made our way down the street.

"Just trying to get into better shape," I replied, already huffing. "Thought it'd be nice to spend some time with you too."

She smiled, and we fell into a comfortable silence as we ran. The rhythmic pounding of our feet on the pavement was almost meditative, and I found myself thinking about my next steps. Increasing my VIT was crucial, and these runs would help. I also needed to find a way to improve my DEX and STR. Joining a gym was an option, but I'd have to figure out the best way to utilize my time and resources.

After about thirty minutes, we completed our circuit and returned home. I was winded, but it felt good. Mom patted me on the back. I checked my stats.

STR – 5
DEX – 4
VIT – 5+(1)

Somehow, I understood immediately that the +1 to my VIT meant I'd have to actually sleep first before it became a part of my actual stat. I... didn't like that, but that was honestly still supernatural compared to the development of other people. And, unlike them, my fitness won't deteriorate if I decide to pig it out for a few months. So, I'd sleep tonight and, tomorrow, my VIT would be six.

"Good job, Amir. Keep this up and you'll be in great shape in no time." Mom said, smiling as she patted me on the back.

"Thanks, Mom," I said, catching my breath. "I'll definitely keep it up."

With the run out of the way, I headed back to my room. I had classes later, but I had some time before they started. I decided to check the system for any quests or tasks that could help me earn more War Points. I opened the interface, the familiar screen hovering before me.

Welcome back, Amir Azad. Would you like to check your Daily Quests?

Huh, that was new. I confirmed, and a list of potential tasks appeared. Most were vague, but a few stood out:

Assist in a Medical Emergency – 100 War Points
Win a Physical Competition – 150 War Points
Discover a Hidden Secret – 200 War Points

The first quest seemed the most achievable with my current skill set, especially since I knew a lot about basic medical treatment and First Aid from dad. The others would require more physical prowess or sheer luck. For now, I decided to focus on any opportunities that might arise throughout the day.

After a quick shower, I grabbed my bag and headed out to the university. The day was typical, classes and lectures passing by in a blur. Nothing special. Most of my friends were absent, because I suddenly remembered, just now, that there had been a party last night that I did not attend, because I didn't feel like it. I kept my eyes peeled for any potential emergencies, but everything seemed normal. By the time my last class ended, around 2:00 pm, I was starting to feel a bit disheartened.

No big deal, however, since Daily Quests would always be there. That was the whole point of them. They didn't give out a lot of War Points, but I could always rely on them to be there for a constant supply. If I didn't accomplish any of them today, then that was fine. It was only my first day as a Gamer, after all, and no one was coming after me just yet. Still, being able to help in a medical emergency would be nice.

As I left the campus, lost in thought about the missed opportunity for a Daily Quest, I heard a commotion near the parking lot of a nearby restaurant, which was maybe two blocks away from the University itself – hadn't even noticed how long I'd been walking. A small crowd had gathered, and there were urgent voices. My heart raced as I made my way over, hoping this could be the opportunity I needed.

Pushing through the thin crowd, I saw a young woman on the ground, clutching her ankle and wincing in pain. A guy, presumably her boyfriend, was kneeling beside her, looking worried.

"Someone call an ambulance!" he shouted.

I stepped forward.

"I can help," I said, my voice steady. "I have some medical training."

He looked at me, desperate. "Please, she twisted her ankle really badly. We were just walking, and she tripped."

I nodded and knelt beside her, assessing the injury. Her ankle was swollen, but there didn't seem to be any open wounds. This wasn't a situation where [Isha's Mercy] would be appropriate and, honestly, at its current level, it wouldn't be useful for anything; she needed proper first aid, not weird magic. Her ankle was visibly swollen, and she winced when I gently palpated the area. There were no obvious signs of deformity or open wounds, which was a good sign.

"Okay," I said calmly, "Let's get her sitting up gently. Can you help me support her?"

The boyfriend nodded, and together we carefully helped her into a seated position against him, ensuring her injured leg remained elevated.

"Can you tell me where it hurts the most?" I asked her gently.

She winced again, pointing to the outer side of her ankle where the swelling was most pronounced.

"Right here," she said, her voice strained.

"Alright," I said, thinking quickly. "It looks like a sprain. We need to immobilize it and apply some cold therapy to reduce the swelling. Do you have anything cold we can use?"

The boyfriend quickly rummaged through his bag and handed me a bottle of frozen water.

"Perfect," I said, taking the bottle and wrapping it in a small towel handed to me by a bystander. I placed the makeshift ice pack gently on her ankle, ensuring it was positioned correctly without putting too much pressure.

The girl relaxed slightly as the cold began to numb the pain.

"Thank you," she murmured, her relief evident.

"Just take it easy," I reassured her. "We'll wait for the ambulance to arrive so they can assess it properly."

I maintained conversation with her to keep her mind off the pain, reassuring her and monitoring her condition closely. The boyfriend stayed close, visibly relieved that help had arrived.

When the paramedics arrived, I briefed them quickly on the situation and the initial treatment provided. They nodded appreciatively and took over, checking her vital signs and conducting a more thorough examination of her ankle.

As they prepared to transport her onto the stretcher, the girl managed a weak smile.

"Thank you so much," she said gratefully. Beside her, the boyfriend nodded at me, smiling. "You really helped."

"It was nothing. Just be more careful after this, yeah?" I nodded and smiled, feeling a surge of relief and satisfaction. While it wasn't a magical ability like [Isha's Mercy], being able to assist in a real medical emergency was immensely gratifying. I'd never done it before, honestly. No... more accurately, I would not have done it before, even if the opportunity presented itself. I would have walked away after telling myself that it wasn't my problem.

A notification popped up in my vision:

Quest Complete: Assist in a Medical Emergency – 100 War Points!

War Points: 300

I watched as the ambulance drove away, feeling a mix of emotions. Helping someone had felt natural, almost instinctual, and seeing the gratitude on her face made it all worth it. It was a reminder that even in this new reality of stats and abilities, the basic human desire to help others remained unchanged. Huh, you know what? I decided right then and there that I was going to be this world's first super hero, become my own planet's version of superman.

Sure, it'd definitely attract attention – both human and supernatural. But... well, fuck em.

I, Amir Azad, was going to be the symbol of hope... just as soon as I had enough stats to become superman.