A month had passed since Kenji had thrown himself into improving both his life and his family's situation. It hadn't been easy—far from it—but the results were undeniable. The atmosphere in the house had changed. It was subtle, but the tension that once clung to every conversation had loosened.
He had even completed one major milestone this month.
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[System Alert!]
New Bond Progress: Ren (100%)
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And he had gotten a perk for it.
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System Notification:
[System Alert!]
Perk Unlocked: Father's Resolve
Effect:
- Emotional Resilience: Increased resistance to psychological effects when protecting or thinking about family.
- Bond Amplification: Temporary +10% boost to Strength, Speed, and Endurance when near or protecting Ren.
- Ren's Trust: Subtle +5 to Charisma when interacting with others while Ren is present.
Description:
The bond between father and son has grown unbreakable. Ren's trust in you has unlocked a new level of resolve, strengthening your mind, body, and spirit when your family is at stake.
As for the others:
[System Alert!]
New Bond Progress: Aoi (68%)
New Bond Progress: Ayaka (43%)
New Bond Progress: Anastasia (37%)
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Anastasia, while still guarded, no longer dismissed him outright. Ayaka and Aoi were less distant, and Ren had grown closer to him, often seeking him out for small moments of bonding. It wasn't a perfect family, not yet—but it was progress. Huge progress.
He couldn't stop the smile on his face every time he looked at the progress.
Despite this improvement, Kenji remained careful. His family still had no idea about his abilities, and he wanted to keep it that way. Revealing the existence of his Gamer System or his growing supernatural capabilities would only complicate things. He had already caused them enough pain in the past; he didn't want to risk alienating them again with something they might not understand—or worse, fear.
Kenji sat in his study, his system interface open in front of him. The month-long effort had brought about significant changes, both in his personal growth and within the system itself.
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[Status Update]
Name: Kenji Takahashi
Level: 8
Free Stat Points: 24
Attributes:
- Strength: 85 (Tier-10)
- Speed: 82 (Tier-10)
- Endurance: 88 (Tier-10)
- Intelligence: 92 (Tier-10)
- Wisdom: 90 (Tier-10)
- Charisma: 78 (Tier-10)
- Luck: 95 (Tier-2)
Skills Gained:
- Advanced Negotiation (LV 3) — Further enhanced persuasion and deal-making skills.
- Business Management (LV 7) — Increased efficiency in analyzing financial situations and decision-making.
- Magic Control (LV 5) — Improved ability to harness and manipulate magical energy.
- Minor Elemental Manipulation (LV 5) — Greater control over small amounts of elemental energy.
- Unarmed Combat (LV 4) — Significantly improved technique and efficiency in close-quarters combat.
- Observation (LV 6) — Sharper awareness of surroundings and people.
- Meditation (LV 6) — Increased focus, stamina recovery, and control over mental state.
- Mana Efficiency (LV 4) — Reduced energy consumption and improved sustainability of spells.
- Spatial Awareness (LV 3) — Enhanced perception of space and distance, gained from the random skill book. (New).
One of the most significant breakthroughs had been his understanding of the Gamer System itself. With the help of the system guide, he uncovered more of its mechanics, including the tiered stat progression.
[System Guide: Stat Tier Progression]
- Tier-10: 1-99 (Within the realm of human standard)
- Tier-9: 100-199 (Superhuman)
- Tier-8: 200-399 (Urban scale of power level)
- Tier-7: 400-699 (Nuclear scale)
- Tier-6: 700-999 (Tectonic scale)
- Tier-5: 1000-1999 (Planetary scale)
- Tier-4: 2000-4999 (Stellar scale)
- Tier-3: 5000-9999 (Cosmic scale)
- Tier-2: 10,000+ (Multiversal scale)
- Tier-1: Outerversal
- Tier-0: Absolutely Boundless
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Now, Kenji understood the tiers and what he needed to reach the next level. He had an understanding that once his stats reached 100, they would change to Tier-9. Right now, his stats are in the 80s and 90s, which is good progress, but he still has a long way to go before reaching the next tier.
And then there was this.
A week into his month of growth, Kenji had finally decided to use the Random Rare Skill Book he had received from completing the Contract Negotiations quest. He had been saving it for the right moment, and with his growing understanding of the system, he felt ready.
He held the book in his hands, its cover shimmering faintly with an otherworldly glow. The title was unreadable, written in a language he didn't recognize, but the system seemed to understand it.
[Do You Wish to Use the Random Rare Skill Book?]
[YES] or [NO]
Kenji didn't hesitate. He selected YES.
The book dissolved into a stream of golden light, flowing into his body. For a moment, his vision blurred, and he felt a strange sensation as if his mind were expanding. When the light faded, a new notification appeared.
[System Alert!]
New Skill Acquired: Spatial Awareness (LV 1)
Effect: Enhances perception of space and distance, allowing for better navigation, evasion, and precision in combat. Higher levels grant the ability to sense hidden spaces or dimensional rifts.
Kenji's eyes widened. This was a game-changer. Spatial Awareness wasn't just a combat skill—it could help him in different situations, from navigating crowded streets to avoiding ambushes. This was amazing, but what got him excited was the fact that this was clearly a space related skill, meaning that if he could somehow use this to create more space skills he may find a way to create An ID.
This was just like Observation Haki.
Over the next few weeks, Kenji trained the skill diligently. He practiced by navigating the house with his eyes closed, relying solely on his enhanced perception. He even used it during his combat training, dodging attacks with pinpoint precision. By the end of the month, the skill had reached LV 3, and he could already feel the difference.
Aside from training and family bonding, Kenji had taken more responsibility in Anastasia's company, Sakura Imports. The company specializes in luxury goods and rare artifacts, operating in the highly competitive world of high-end logistics and supply chain management. With the bad relations from her family, the company had been struggling to maintain its contracts and reputation.
Kenji realized that if they wanted to expand and secure their position, they needed an edge. Something new, something that would make them stand out against larger corporations.
He thought about using his Gamer System to help. The system had given him the ability to learn rapidly—what if he used that to develop a new technology or optimization model for logistics? If he could find a way to make their operations more efficient, they could cut costs and attract major clients.
[System Alert!]
New Quest Acquired: Innovating for Success
Objective: Develop a new business strategy or innovation that gives Anastasia's company a competitive edge.
Reward: +5 Intelligence, ???
Kenji leaned back, rubbing his chin. This was exactly what he needed—something that didn't just keep the company afloat, but pushed it ahead of the competition. He would have to look at what he could do later.
If he could make this work, not only would the company thrive, but Anastasia would finally see that he wasn't just trying to make amends—he was here to stay.
[System Alert!]
New Quest Progress: Saving Anastasia's Company (50%)
One month ago, Kenji had been a failure in both business and family. Now, he was walking a new path. His body was stronger, his mind sharper, and his family was beginning to trust him.
But he knew he had to be careful. Especially with everything out there. From the small frys to the devils and gods that lurked in the shadows of this world.
He had to constantly remind himself that while this world was made to look fun and ecchi, it was absolutely dangerous on so many levels.
Still, it won't do to be on edge all the time. He had a new life and he would enjoy it despite the dangers.
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