The system was silent. Its cold indifference was irritating — yet oddly motivating. If it was truly connected to this world, to its power and possibilities, then perhaps understanding it was the key.
He clenched his fists.
"If I want to know the truth… if I want to grow stronger, I need to find a way to improve it."
Nyx looked around, realizing that standing still would get him nowhere. First, he needed to figure out where he was in the timeline. Maybe the system would offer more options once he began to grow.
Phone.
He quickly pulled the device from his inventory and unlocked the screen.
Calendar.
July 12th, 2007.
"2007...?" he frowned.
Fragments of information surfaced in his mind. He knew this universe. He had watched the movies, read the articles, studied the theories.
"Tony Stark gets kidnapped next year… 2008. That's when he builds his first suit in that cave... the Mark I…" Nyx mused. "And then — the press conference. 'I am Iron Man'. The beginning of the entire Marvel era."
He froze, narrowing his eyes.
"And if I remember correctly... Hulk appears that same year. Bruce Banner should already be hiding somewhere in South America. He hasn't returned to the U.S. yet… but it's only a matter of time. Soon he'll be fighting Abomination. That happens after Tony shows up."
"Everything's just beginning…" he muttered, lost in thought.
But if everything truly begins in 2008, that meant he had time.
Suddenly — a flash.
A new window appeared before his eyes. No warning, no sound — it simply manifested, as if it had always been meant to be there.
[New Quest Activated]
Title: Strength Training
Type: Daily Quest
Description: To survive in this world and unlock the system's potential, start with the basics. Your body must become your weapon.
Objectives:
– Do 100 push-ups
– Do 100 squats
– Do 100 sit-ups
– Run 10 kilometers
Reward:
Notification: A reward will be granted upon completion.
Note: Quest resets daily. Skipping = penalty.
"No reward shown, huh… this'll be fun."
Nyx sighed and looked around the room. It wasn't ideal for training, but he had no choice.
"Well… if this is the price for power, I'd better get used to it," he muttered, stretching his wrists.
He dropped into position and began. First push-up. Then second. Then third. Then ten…
His body warmed up, muscles tensing, but he pushed forward.
"Thirty…" he whispered through clenched teeth. Breathing was heavier, arms beginning to shake. "Didn't think it'd be this hard after so long…"
By the sixtieth rep, his shoulders were on fire. Sweat dripped down his face.
"Seventy-five… damn it…" He gritted his teeth, forcing himself onward. "Eighty… ninety… ninety-five…!"
Final push.
"One hundred!" he gasped, collapsing onto his back.
A short rest — then the next round.
Squats.
He got up, steadied his breath. Knees slightly bent, back straight.
One. Two. Ten. Twenty…
His legs burned, but he didn't stop. Halfway there. Seventy. Eighty…
"Ninety-nine… one hundred!" he exhaled, falling onto the bed.
Sit-ups next.
"Last stretch…" he groaned, rising up.
Fingers locked behind his head, feet wedged under the bedframe, he began.
Ten. Twenty. His lungs were burning. Fifty. Seventy…
"Almost…!" His muscles screamed, but he kept going.
Final ten felt like forever.
"Ninety-nine… one hundred!"
He fell back, gasping. Sweat streamed down his face, his shirt clinging to his skin.
"This… is just the beginning…" he muttered, staring at the ceiling.
Throwing an arm over his eyes, Nyx breathed deeply. Every inch of his body ached, but he felt... satisfied. It had been tough, but he'd done it.
"Just the run left…" he whispered, moving his hand away.
He sat up, wiped the sweat off his face, and glanced down at himself. Soaked.
"Damn, I'm already drenched…" he scoffed and stood. "Alright, shower first."
He headed to the bathroom.
15 minutes later
Cooled by the water and refreshed, he stepped out of the shower, towel drying his hair. He quickly threw on fresh clothes — light track pants, a tank top, and running shoes.
"Well then… time to stretch my legs," he smirked, stretching.
Opening the map app, Nyx searched for the nearest open area — Central Park.
"Perfect. Open space, and not too crowded at night," he muttered, setting the route.
He left the house, walking briskly to warm up.
15 minutes later
He stood at the park's entrance, doing a few warm-up moves. The night was calm, only a few passersby on the trails.
"Ten kilometers…" Nyx inhaled deeply, checked his laces, and started running.
The first stretch was easy. But after a few kilometers, tension crept in. Every step pushed his endurance further.
"Steady pace… keep it controlled," he murmured, regulating his breathing.
Streetlights lit the path, and the cool night air wrapped around him. It kept him from overheating, allowing him to press on, kilometer after kilometer.
4 km.
Breathing deeper now. Heart pounding faster — but his body held.
6 km.
Sweat poured down his temples, legs burning. But he couldn't stop now. He knew failure meant punishment. And system penalties might not be pleasant.
8 km.
His heart pounded in his chest. Every step ached, yet something deep inside surged with strange satisfaction. He felt alive.
9 km.
Almost there. His lungs burned, but he smiled.
"Almost… there…"
10 km.
Finish.
Nyx stopped, bending over, hands on his knees, breath ragged.
[Quest Completed!]
A new window popped up:
Nyx opened the interface and saw three reward choices:
Choose one reward:
1. +3 Stat Points — instantly improve your attributes.
2. Status Recovery — erase fatigue, fully restore energy.
3. Mystery Box — an unknown item; could be valuable or useless.
He stood in place, staring at the options. His body was exhausted, but his mind swirled with curiosity. What could be inside the mystery box?
He could restore himself, continue training, but that spark of uncertainty… what if the item was something amazing?
"Damn…" Nyx rubbed his neck, weighing the pros and cons. "Recovering sounds safe… but the box…"
He glanced over the options again:
1. +3 Stat Points — useful, but maybe not urgent.
2. Status Recovery — tempting, considering how beat up he felt.
3. Mystery Box — unknown, risky, but thrilling.
"Alright…" Nyx took a deep breath. "Can't ignore fate. Not when the stakes are high."
"I'll take the risk. I choose the mystery box."
[You selected: Mystery Box!]
A small black container appeared in his hands, adorned with golden patterns. No markings, just a smooth, elegant surface.
Nyx decided not to open it just yet. He placed it in his inventory and headed home — he wanted to examine its contents in peace.
Tired but intrigued, he walked quickly, mind racing with possibilities. What could be inside? Something valuable… or a complete dud?
But a chance like this — he couldn't waste it.
Back at his small apartment, Nyx shook off his exhaustion, got comfortable, and pulled out the box. He stared at it, curiosity burning.
Turning on the lamp, he set it down and prepared to open it, hoping for something worthwhile.
"Let's see what you've got…" he muttered, opening it carefully.
Inside lay a dagger. Small, elegant. The blade was coated in a dark patina, the hilt engraved with intricate patterns.
Lightweight. Sharp. Ideal for stealth.
"A dagger…" Nyx picked it up, feeling how perfectly it fit in his hand.
This weapon was made for quick, precise strikes — for stealth and precision.
He activated Scan, focusing on the dagger. A flicker ran across the screen as the system analyzed it.
Assassin's Dagger
Type: Melee Weapon — Light
Rarity: Rare
Modification: None
Material: Ancient Steel, Shadow-coated
Weight: 0.5 kg
Base Stats:
• Damage: 15–25
• Attack Speed: High (1.5 sec between strikes)
Special Effects:
• Silent Steps: Reduces footstep noise by 50% for 1 minute.
Bonus:
• +2 Agility when wielding the dagger
Hidden Abilities (Unlock at Lv. 5):
• Phantom Shadow Strike: A stealth attack that bypasses armor and increases damage by 50%. Cooldown: 20 minutes.
Nyx raised an eyebrow as he read the details. Not only did Scan reveal the obvious stats, but it also hinted at hidden properties — ones that could be game-changing.
He realized this dagger wasn't just a weapon — it was a tool. One for infiltration, for surprise. He would need to master it fully to use it to its potential.
"This… is a damn good fit," he thought, studying the weapon again.
Nyx turned it in his hands, feeling the balance and craftsmanship. The blade shimmered faintly under the light. It was made for those who struck first — and struck fast.
"Just like in the movies…" he smirked, recalling scenes of silent takedowns and secret missions.
He placed the dagger into his inventory, feeling a growing sense of readiness. This tool would serve him well — when the time came.
Finally, he opened the system screen and stared at his status.
Name: Nyx Kaiser
Level: 2
HP: 130 / 130
MP: 90 / 90
Strength: 10
Agility: 13
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 16
Wisdom: 14
Luck: 7
EXP: 50 / 200
Stat Points Available: 3
Skills:
• Scan (Lv. 1) — Analyze targets, reveal basic info (level, stats, weak points).
– Cooldown: 3 sec — Can be leveled up.
Inventory (12 Slots / 11 Used):
A spatial storage space, invisible to others.
Instant access and storage, contents unaffected by the external environment.
— Assassin's Dagger
Passive Skills:
• Cold-Blooded: Maintains absolute composure when receiving critical information or during extreme situations.
– Effects: Panic resistance, enhanced clarity, faster logical processing.
• Danger Sense: Instinctively detects threats before they appear.
– Effects: Reacts to sudden/hidden threats, improves dodge chance, boosts intuition in danger.
Nyx glanced over his stats and skills, contemplating the best way to allocate his points. He knew that boosting his attributes could be useful, but felt it would be wiser to wait until he faced a more dangerous situation. That moment — when he was on the edge of risk or confronted with a real threat — might be the perfect time to enhance his survival abilities.
"So, what do we have here..." Nyx squinted, assessing his available points. "For now, I think I'll wait. My Wisdom, Intelligence, and Agility are good enough for stealth operations and analyzing situations. But if it comes down to retreat or combat — that's when I'll boost Endurance and Strength."
He set aside the stat allocation for the moment, choosing not to rush his decision. Circumstances could change at any time.
"Better to wait for the right moment..." he murmured, taking his eyes off the interface and focusing once again on the world around him.
The next day, after completing the first stage of physical training, Nyx could feel his body adapting to the strain. He was already becoming more resilient and faster. Over the past two days, he'd pushed himself hard, improving steadily — but his goals weren't limited to just physical preparation.
Reward Selection: Random Box
He reached for the box and carefully opened it. What fell out made him blink in confusion, then laugh.
It was a plastic hammer. About the size of a pen, bright red, with the words "For Emergency Use Only" written on it.
Nyx shook his head in disbelief, inspecting the object with curiosity.
"A plastic hammer?" he exhaled, trying to hold back his laughter. "Is this for hitting myself on the head when enemies get too smart? Or maybe I'm supposed to run a hammer-based intelligence test? Hmm..."
He kept examining the strange item. At first glance, it seemed neither useful nor dangerous. Not even funny, really. Just a random, pointless object — clearly meant for some very specific use, though definitely not anything tied to actual threats.
"Well then..." Nyx pulled out the hammer and jokingly tapped it against a nearby table. "Maybe it's for a game of 'toy wars'. But if I ever run into an enemy with a steel-plated head — this might be the perfect weapon."
He chuckled, realizing that sometimes fate handed out the weirdest things. Nyx placed the hammer carefully into his inventory, figuring that in a truly desperate situation, this bizarre little item might actually turn out to be useful.
Item:
Plastic Hammer
Unknown
Description: For Emergency Use Only
Effects: None detected
Still, despite how odd it was, Nyx was ready to laugh and accept whatever items appeared along the way. Sometimes even the most ridiculous things could come in handy when least expected.
---
Day 2:
Nyx felt a bit worn out after his run and push-ups, but despite that, he opened his interface and saw that the quest progress was continuing. With curiosity, he opened another reward box, knowing that anything could be inside — from useful to completely unexpected.
He carefully tore open the package, and this time, instead of something strange or useless, his eyes lit up at the sight of what lay inside.
A bundle of money — five thousand dollars.
Nyx picked it up, unable to believe his luck.
"Now this is something..." he smirked. "Money is always useful. It can solve a lot of problems. And here, in this world? This could be a real bonus."
He flipped through the bills, their texture and weight confirming they were very real. Cold hard cash — ready to be spent wherever and whenever he needed.
"I've told myself a thousand times: 'Money isn't everything,' but..." Nyx shrugged, smiling. "Sometimes, it can be way more useful than abstract things like magic or artifacts."
He stored the money in his inventory, knowing that his financial situation just got a little more secure. After all, money was always a good safety net — especially in a world full of surprises and danger.
Item:
$5000 Cash
Use: Freely spendable, exchangeable, or usable for purchases when needed
---
Day 3:
After training, Nyx opened yet another reward box and discovered something entirely unexpected — a Dungeon Key, Rank E. Its cold metal surface shimmered slightly as he picked it up. The key had a unique design, with strange symbols carved into it that he couldn't immediately decipher.
Item:
Dungeon Key (Rank E)
A key that unlocks an entrance to a low-level dungeon. The dungeon is located nearby and can be used to gain experience, loot, and face challenges. Despite its low rank, the dungeon can still be dangerous to those who are unprepared. Carelessness may lead to serious consequences — even death.
System Notification:
You have received a map showing the dungeon's location. Proceed with caution — entering the dungeon unprepared may be hazardous.
Nyx narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. Dungeons like these often contained a variety of trials, monsters, and valuable resources. He immediately guessed that the nearest dungeon was likely in an alley close to his apartment — and if he chose to enter, it might be a chance to test his new skills and abilities.
"This could be the perfect starting point to try out what I've learned so far," Nyx thought.