But let's forget all those unnecessary descriptions for now.
Ren froze slightly, then a rush of excitement swelled in his chest, spreading into a strange, indescribable shiver.
An item that could permanently increase stats, even by just one point each, was already something incredibly rare in any MMORPG.
It wasn't a temporary buff, not an equipable item that could be replaced or lost. It was a permanent enhancement, etched into the user's very body.
He stared intently at the tiny icon of the Silverfruit in his inventory, as if trying to confirm once more that it truly existed.
For a few seconds, he even feared it might just be a display glitch, or some kind of cruel joke played by the system. But no. It was still there, silent and quietly emanating an irresistible allure.
The corners of Ren's lips lifted unconsciously, a smile that was both amused and bitter. So, in the end, he had become one of those lucky bastards, the ones he used to envy to the point of madness.
The kind he silently cursed whenever they boasted about some rare loot that randomly dropped, while he grinded day and night without even managing to find a single valuable scrap.
The kind who might casually walk across a patch of grass, open some mundane chest, or slay an unremarkable monster… and suddenly walk away with a priceless treasure.
He had always believed he'd never be one of them. Never.
And yet now…
Ren let out a quiet laugh, so soft he wasn't even sure he'd really laughed at all.
He had never trusted his luck in games. But maybe, just this once, luck had actually smiled on him, a slow, mysterious smile, one that he couldn't tell was a blessing or a curse.
He didn't hesitate for a second longer. The moment he laid eyes on the Silverfruit's icon in his inventory, he immediately tapped it and selected Use without any doubt.
A faint light flared in his palm and slowly faded away, revealing a small silver fruit resting neatly in his hand.
It didn't look particularly special, just slightly larger than an ordinary apple. Its smooth skin seemed to be wrapped in a soft, silvery glow, reflecting the moonlight in a faint shimmer.
No flashy effects, no triumphant system jingle, not even a dramatic announcement of the item's worth. Only a deep, encompassing silence.
Ren turned the fruit slowly in his palm, his eyes scanning every detail carefully. It had no distinct scent, just a faint, unnameable trace of something lingering in the air.
As his fingertips brushed its surface, he felt a strange coolness, like touching a small stone freshly lifted from the depths of a stream.
There was something… off about it. Something that clearly set it apart from any ordinary fruit.
But instead of wasting time analyzing or trying to uncover its origins, Ren chose the simplest option: he ate it.
He shrugged, raised the fruit, and took a bite.
The moment his teeth pierced the skin, a gentle sweetness bloomed in his mouth, subtle, never overpowering, like tasting the purest form of honey.
The initial chill quickly turned into a comforting warmth, spreading down his throat as if an invisible current of energy was flowing into every corner of his body.
The fruit's flesh was unbelievably soft, almost melting upon contact with his tongue, leaving behind a clean aftertaste that words could never quite capture.
Ren furrowed his brows in surprise. He'd eaten many in-game foods before, but none had ever given him a sensation quite like this.
He kept eating, bite after bite, savoring the fruit's unique flavor without hesitation.
Moments later, all that remained in his hand was the bare stem.
Right then, a faint notification appeared in the corner of his screen:
[All of your stats have increased by 1 point.]
Ren blinked, swallowed the last bite, and let out a long, quiet breath.
He didn't know where the Silverfruit had truly come from, or who had cultivated it. But no matter its origin, one thing was certain: he would never turn down any advantage that could help him survive a little longer in this world.
Right after finishing the final bite, a strange sensation began spreading throughout his body, like a warm stream gently coursing through his muscles, soaking into his joints, flowing all the way into the depths of his mind.
It wasn't just the kind of physical recovery he was familiar with in games, this went far beyond that.
It felt as if an invisible hand had reached into his soul, soothing wounds he hadn't even realized he'd been carrying.
All the tension, anxiety, and exhaustion built up over the days seemed to wash away, leaving behind a lightness so profound it caught him off guard.
Ren blinked, realizing his vision had started to blur.
Not the kind of drowsiness from fatigue, but something more like his consciousness was being gently pulled into a serene dream, so tender, he couldn't even resist it.
His breathing slowed. His body felt light, like it was floating in still water.
The ever-present alertness within him began to fade, replaced by a soft drowsiness that crept in quietly, inescapably.
And then, before he even realized it, his eyes slowly closed, and he let himself drift into sleep.
In the stillness of the night, only the soft rustling of wind through the leaves remained, blending with the steady rhythm of Ren's breathing.
There were no chaotic dreams pulling him into fragmented images, no lingering thoughts keeping him trapped in a whirlwind of anxiety and vigilance.
Only a rare peace, gently wrapping around him like a warm blanket in the cold night.
He slept deeply. Not the half-awake, restless kind of sleep from previous nights, but a real, profound rest, like his body had finally let go of all its exhaustion and surrendered to silence.
Nothing happened.
A quiet, uneventful night passed by.
No howling winds. No suspicious noises echoing from afar. Just the tranquil veil of darkness blanketing everything, with the pale moonlight stretching softly across the ground.
Time flowed on, in rhythm with the breath of the world. And amidst it all, Ren remained sound asleep, peaceful, almost strangely so.
...
The next morning, soft rays of sunlight filtered through the treetops, scattering shimmering patterns on the ground, shifting gently with every passing breeze.
The early air carried a faint chill, laced with the scent of damp grass and soft soil, completely different from the heaviness of the previous night.
Ren stirred slightly, blinking a few times as if still not fully awake. His body felt weightless, free from the usual stiffness or lingering tension.
It took him a moment to register where he was, his gaze drifting lazily toward the swaying canopy above.
And then, as his breathing steadied, he realized, this might be the first time in a long while that he'd truly slept well.
No dreams. No sudden awakenings. No racing thoughts pulling him from a fragile peace.
Just… a complete, undisturbed sleep.
Ren slowly sat up, rubbing his eyes and letting out a quiet yawn. His mind felt unusually clear, as if all the strain and fatigue from the past days had been washed away by the sleep he just had.
He stretched, letting his joints pop with a satisfying crack, then looked around.
The area remained as quiet as before, only stirred by the occasional breeze ruffling the grass and leaves. The sky above was a vivid, cloudless blue, heralding the start of a new day.
Ren swiped his hand to open the status screen. His eyes scanned the numbers quickly, and just as the notification had said yesterday, all of his stats had increased by one point.
Not a huge boost, but still a difference. A difference he hadn't needed to fight or grind endlessly to earn.
A small smirk tugged at his lips.
Not a bad start.
But then, something else occurred to him, something more pressing.
How long had he been asleep?
Ren immediately stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes and scanning the area, trying to reorient himself.
He still had things to do. A journey to continue. He couldn't afford to fall behind just because of one good night's sleep.
Not far off, soft voices reached his ears, snapping him out of his thoughts.
He turned his head and quickly spotted Yuna and Nautilus, already awake.
The two of them were sitting beneath a large tree not far away. Yuna seemed focused on adjusting her gear, while Nautilus was carefully inspecting his sword.
Ren blinked. He didn't know how long they'd been up, but clearly, he was the last to rise.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, he scratched his head and made his way over.
"Morning."
Yuna looked up at him, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
"So you're finally awake, huh?" she teased with a playful smile. "We thought you were planning to sleep till noon."
Nautilus glanced at him, then spoke softly, "We didn't want to disturb you, so we let you sleep a bit more."
Ren looked at the two of them for a moment, then sighed lightly. Well, either way, a good night's rest wasn't exactly something to complain about.