He expected silence. He expected the void to ignore him.
Instead, the air shattered with the sound of a slot machine hitting a jackpot. Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
[PLAYER SYNCHRONIZATION IN EFFECT] [Survival Skills have been granted.]
Windows cascaded down his vision like a waterfall of text.
[Skill: Appraisal learned.] [Skill: Sixth Sense learned.] [Skill: Enhanced Movements acquired.] [Skill: Enhanced Body acquired.] [Skill: Silent Step learned.] [Skill: Natural Regeneration learned.] [Skill: Iron Will acquired.]
Sid blinked, stunned. "Hmm. Okay. They should have at least started with this. Maybe I’m not totally screwed. Let’s see what I’m working with."
He focused on the list, expecting power.
- Appraisal (Active): Identifies objects and reveals hidden information based on proficiency.
- Sixth Sense (Passive): Heightens all 5 senses and intuition capabilities.
- Enhanced Movement (Passive): Improves body and mind coordination.
- Enhanced Body (Passive): Improves the defensive and offensive capabilities of the physical body.
- Silent Steps (Active): Reduces the sound created by movement.
- Natural Regeneration (Innate/Passive): Increases the body's natural healing capabilities.
- Iron Will (Innate/Passive): Increases the brain’s capacity to think clearly in critical situations.
"Okay, standard starter kit," Sid muttered. He looked at the bottom right corner of the descriptions.
[Rank: F] [Rank: F] [Rank: F]
"F? The lowest rank?" Sid groaned, clutching his head. "What is all this trash? Why even give me something so useless if it’s barely going to work?"
As if to mock him, another window popped up with a cheerful ping.
[NOTICE] Due to the effect of the Unique Talent [Jack of All Trades], all skill ranks have been adjusted. [Rank F] -> [Rank -F]
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Minus F?!" Sid yelled, his voice cracking. "The fuck does minus F even mean?! Am I going to trip over my own feet with Enhanced Movement? Is my Sixth Sense going to make me blind?!"
Before he could rage quit life itself, the room grew warm. A massive Golden Window descended from the ether, radiating an aura of authority far greater than the standard blue screens.
[CONGRATULATIONS, RONIN] The Journey of the Tower is about to begin. As one of the First 100, you have the right to ask ONE question to the Tower's Administrator.
Sid paused. The rage simmered down, replaced by the cool logic of his new Iron Will skill—even if it was Rank -F.
Think, Sid. Don't waste this. Ask about my body? Pointless. I'm stuck here. Ask about the Tower's lore? I can find that out myself. Ask for a map? It’ll probably change.
He looked up at the Golden Window, his eyes narrowing. "That only leaves one thing."
He took a deep breath and shouted, "HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SURVIVE WITH NO CLASS AND USELESS SKILLS?"
The air in the room shimmered. For a fleeting second, the holographic text warped, forming the vague outline of a smiling face. A smirk.
[ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSE:] "Fair point. Let me grant you something that can help you, little glitch."
[Skill: DEMOLISHER granted.]
Sid’s eyes widened. Demolisher? That sounds overpowered.
But before the skill could settle into his soul, the room turned violent red. Sirens blared.
[WARNING!] [FOREIGN INTERFERENCE DETECTED] [Skill Acquisition: UNSUCCESSFUL] [The skill 'Demolisher' has been rejected by the user's destiny.]
"Oh, for God’s sake!" Sid yelped, kicking the air. "I was about to get one decent skill! Are you kidding me with these errors?"
The red light faded, replaced by a soothing, vibrant Green Window. It smelled of wet earth and old parchment.
[FOREIGN ENTITY INTERVENTION] [Bestowed Skill: ARJUNA’S WISDOM]
"What is this now?" Sid wondered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Appraisal! Check 'Arjuna’s Wisdom'!"
[Arjuna’s Wisdom (Unique/Growth Type)]
- Effect 1: Drastically reduces the time taken to learn and master new skills.
- Effect 2: Grants the aesthetic favor of the Heavens (Charisma/Appearance adjustment).
- Description: The eyes of the legendary archer see all; the visage of the legendary prince charms all.
Sid read it twice.
"In simpler terms... I can learn skills faster now." He touched his face, feeling the bone structure beneath his skin. "And... wait. Wasn't Arjun from the Mahabharata supposed to be the most beautiful man under the heavens? Like, literally divine levels of handsome?"
He looked down at his hands. They looked slightly more refined, the calluses of a student replaced by the grip of a warrior.
"Okay," Sid smirked, finally feeling a spark of hope. "Maybe this isn't so bad. If I can learn fast, then 'Jack of All Trades' isn't a curse. I just need to grind."
[TUTORIAL INITIATION] [Teleporting to Floor 1: The Goblin Forest]
[3... 2... 1...]