The grim reality of his situation demanded action. With the meager supplies secured, Adam turned his attention inward, focusing on the vessel he now inhabited. This sixteen-year-old body was weak, underdeveloped from what Adam Walker's memories suggested was a life of poor nutrition and minimal physical activity. That had to change, immediately.
He cleared a small space on the worn floorboards of the apartment. Push-ups. His arms trembled after only five, the muscles burning with unfamiliar strain. He gritted his teeth, pushing out another, then collapsed, chest heaving. Pathetic. He rested for a minute, then forced himself into sit-ups, then squats. Each repetition was a struggle, his body screaming in protest. Sweat beaded on his forehead, stinging his eyes.
An hour later, he lay sprawled on the floor, muscles aching, breath coming in ragged gasps. It was a miserable start, but it was a start. Just as he was catching his breath, a faint notification appeared.
[Detected Consistent Physical Exertion.]
[Minor Endurance Parameter Increase.]
[+5 IP Awarded.]
Only five IP for an hour of agony? It wasn't much, but it proved the System registered and rewarded consistent effort, however small. It was motivation, nonetheless. He needed fuel for this training, though. Ramen and cheap bread wouldn't cut it long-term. Which brought him back to the ever-present problem: money.
He remembered the debit card mentioned in Adam Walker's memories – tucked inside a worn physics textbook on the dusty shelf near the bed. He found it easily. Now, to see if there was anything actually on it.
Pulling on his slightly-less-worn set of clothes, Adam headed out again. The [Basic Urban Navigation] guided him effortlessly toward the nearest bank branch, a few blocks away. The streets felt marginally less intimidating this time, his earlier exploration having provided a baseline familiarity.
He approached the outdoor ATM, glancing around cautiously. Mid-morning meant fewer people, but his [Danger Intuition] remained quiet for now. He slid the card in, punching in the PIN dredged up from Adam Walker's memory. The machine whirred.
Balance: $153.42
His heart sank. Less than two hundred dollars stood between him and utter destitution. Enough for maybe two weeks of ramen and rent, if he was lucky. He withdrew forty dollars, leaving just over a hundred in the account. As the machine spat out the bills, the familiar prickle returned, sharper this time, more insistent.
Danger close.
He pocketed the cash quickly, turning casually, scanning the street. His eyes landed on an alley across the way, slightly further down. Two figures had cornered a smaller, younger kid – maybe twelve or thirteen. One grabbed the kid's backpack while the other shoved him against the brick wall, hand hovering near the kid's pocket. A classic mugging.
Adam's first instinct screamed RUN. He wasn't a hero. He was weak, barely able to do ten push-ups. Getting involved was suicide. He started to turn, planning to melt back into the pedestrian flow, using his Urban Navigation to find the quickest escape route.
But then, the System chimed.
[Opportunity Quest Issued: Unseen Intervention]
[Objective: Prevent the mugging without directly engaging the perpetrators or being identified by perpetrators or victim.]
[Reward: 100 IP, 1x C-Rank Lottery Chance]
[Failure Penalty: None]
He paused. 100 IP and a lottery chance? That was significant, more than he'd get from hours of push-ups. And the objective specifically rewarded not fighting, playing to his current weakness. Unseen Intervention. It was risky, but the reward was tempting, and the lack of a penalty made it slightly less daunting. Could he do it?
His eyes scanned the environment, the Urban Navigation highlighting potential pathways and objects. The muggers were focused on the kid. Across the street, near Adam, was a stack of overflowing metal trash cans, precariously balanced. If he could just…
He needed a distraction, something loud, something sudden, happening away from him. He subtly moved behind a parked van, ensuring he was out of the direct line of sight of the alley. He took a deep breath, focused, and then hurled a loose chunk of concrete he'd spotted on the sidewalk towards the base of the trash cans across the street.
It wasn't a perfect throw, but it was enough. The concrete chunk hit the metal leg of the nearest can with a loud CLANG. The precariously stacked cans wobbled violently, then crashed over with a deafening cascade of metal, spilling garbage onto the sidewalk.
The effect was immediate. The muggers jumped, startled by the sudden noise, their heads snapping towards the sound. The kid they were roughing up seized the moment, shoving past them and sprinting down the street in the opposite direction. The muggers hesitated, glancing between the escaping kid and the noisy mess, likely worried about attracting unwanted attention. After a tense second, they cursed and darted deeper into the alley, disappearing from view.
Adam didn't wait. He slipped away from behind the van, merging seamlessly back into the flow of pedestrians walking down the street, his heart pounding. He didn't look back.
A few blocks away, when his breathing had evened out, the System confirmed his success.
[Quest Complete: Unseen Intervention]
[Reward: 100 IP, 1x C-Rank Lottery Chance Awarded.]
[Remaining IP: 500]
He let out a shaky breath. He'd done it. No combat, minimal risk, maximum reward for his current state. But the encounter left him rattled. It highlighted just how vulnerable he was. That Danger Intuition was great, but what if he couldn't avoid the threat next time? He needed more tools.
Back in the relative safety of his apartment, the first thing he did was use the new lottery chance.
"System, use the C-Rank Lottery Chance."
The mental wheel spun again, this one less brilliant than the B-Rank wheel from before. It settled quickly.
[Lottery Complete!]
[Congratulations, Host! Acquired C-Rank Aspect: Basic Stealth!]
[Aspect: Basic Stealth (Rank C)]
[Type: Active/Passive, Skill]
[Description: Enhances the ability to move quietly and remain unnoticed in shadows or crowds. Reduces noise generated by movement, improves awareness of sightlines. Requires conscious effort for active use, provides minor passive benefits.]
[Integration Cost: 50 IP]
Perfect. It complemented the non-confrontational approach he'd just used. "Integrate Basic Stealth," he commanded.
[Deducting 50 IP. Integrating Aspect...]
[Integration Complete! Remaining IP: 450]
[Current Integrated Aspects: Danger Intuition (B), Basic Urban Navigation (C), Basic Stealth (C)]
[Available Integration Slots: -/3]
He felt another subtle shift, a heightened awareness of the room's shadows, the way sound carried. He took a few steps, consciously trying to be quiet, and noticed his footfalls seemed slightly muffled.
Three slots filled, 450 IP in reserve. He had survived his first day, completed his first real quest, and gained a new tool. But the money problem remained, and his physical weakness was a glaring liability. Tomorrow, he needed a more sustainable plan than relying on random opportunities. He needed income, and he needed to train harder than ever. The echoes of power were faint, but they were a start.