Steven closed the door to his room, his mind buzzing with excitement. The system had already proven itself—unlocking skills, enhancing stats, guiding him through even the simplest of tasks with unexpected precision. But Steven sensed he was only skimming the surface.
He sat cross-legged on his bed, the late afternoon sun casting a soft glow across the walls. He took a deep breath and focused inward.
"System," he said clearly, "Explain your abilities in detail."
The now-familiar voice responded, smooth and neutral, yet somehow aware of the weight behind Steven's question.
[System is a hyper-advanced AI embedded within the host's spiritual consciousness. Its primary objective is to facilitate the host's development across all domains—academic, physical, artistic, linguistic, emotional, and strategic. From mathematics to martial arts, calligraphy to coding, culinary arts to chemistry—the system ensures exponential learning through experiential engagement.]
Steven's eyes widened slightly. The potential was staggering. "So… there's no limit to what I can learn?"
[There are no limits, Host. Only your willingness to explore.]
He grinned. A quiet, disbelieving grin. "This is… unreal. What other features do you have?"
[Many features remain locked until the first system update. Current system level: 1. Update in: 6 days, 14 hours. During this period, host is encouraged to adapt and explore freely.]
Steven nodded slowly, already piecing together ideas. The system was a boundless well of opportunity—if he had the discipline to draw from it.
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Steven bounded downstairs. The wooden stairs creaked under his feet, but nothing could dull the rhythm in his chest.
School had never excited him before. But now? Now it was a proving ground.
At school, morning light streamed through tall classroom windows, dust particles dancing in golden rays. Students drifted in lazily, some with earbuds in, others flipping through last-minute notes. Steven entered quietly, radiating a quiet confidence that hadn't been there days ago.
He slid into his seat by the window. Veronica, his deskmate, glanced sideways. She didn't say anything—just gave a slight raise of the brow before returning to her book.
Steven smiled inwardly. Let them underestimate him.
Mrs. Langford swept into the room, her signature scarf fluttering slightly as she set her binder on the podium. "Good morning, class!" she chirped, tapping her pen against the whiteboard. "Today, we're diving into persuasive writing."
With fluid movements, she wrote in bold cursive across the board: Environmental Pollution and Its Impact.
"A strong persuasive essay doesn't just inform," she said, turning to face them. "It moves people. Through logic, emotion, and clarity."
As students began taking notes, Steven leaned back, listening. He'd already internalised the lesson from prior readings. Instead, he reached into his notebook and began to sketch absentmindedly.
His pencil moved with purpose—outlines of the classroom took shape, quick and light. Mrs. Langford gesturing at the board. Veronica's sharp profile as she took notes. The student two rows down slouched in his chair.
[Sketching. Skill Unlocked: Sketching (Basic Proficiency: 1/10).]
He chuckled softly. Even this was a skill. The system recognized all forms of learning.
He continued sketching, layering shadows, defining contours. His grip adjusted, motions becoming more fluid.
[Sketching Proficiency Maxed. Level Up: Intermediate Proficiency (10/100).]
He paused and admired the finished piece—a candid snapshot of classroom life. Then, with a thought, summoned his status panel.
[Steven Blake – Status Panel]
Strength: 7Agility: 6.5Stamina: 9Intelligence: 12Charisma: 6Creativity: 9
[Skills]
Basic Mathematics Understanding: Intermediate (27/100)
Basic Chemistry Understanding: Intermediate (24/100)
Basic Physics Understanding: Intermediate (25/100)
Basic Biology Understanding: Intermediate (30/100)
Basic English Understanding: Intermediate (30/100)
Basic Politics Understanding: Intermediate (22/100)
Basic World History Understanding: Intermediate (25/100)
Basic Economics Understanding: Intermediate (26/100)
Basic Geography Understanding: Intermediate (27/100)
Basic Computer Science Understanding: Intermediate (32/100)
Basic Cooking: Intermediate (36/100)
Knife Handling: Intermediate (18/100)
Temperature Control: Intermediate (19/100)
Deboning: Intermediate (16/100)
Boxing: Intermediate (23/100)
Sketching: Intermediate (11/100)
Steven let the panel dissolve and returned to his sketch. His creativity stat had risen quickly, no doubt due to the system rewarding artistic pursuits.
Veronica glanced over at his notebook and frowned. "Sketching during a lecture? Back to your old habits?" she said under her breath.
Steven didn't look at her. "Some habits have potential," he murmured, his pencil still gliding.
Before Veronica could reply, Mrs. Langford clapped her hands. "Now! I want each of you to write a full essay on today's topic. This will count toward your class performance, so do your best."
As sheets of lined paper made their way across the room, Veronica turned back to Steven.
"You should've paid attention. It's not exactly your strength, remember?" she whispered mockingly.
Steven accepted the paper calmly. "I appreciate your concern."
Then he began to write.
His words flowed naturally—outlining causes of pollution, articulating real-world impacts, and proposing tangible solutions. His voice was steady, persuasive, and rooted in research. As he finished, he flipped the sheet over and began sketching an accompanying poster. On one side, the earth was cracked and dark, choked by smoke and decay. On the other, a vibrant world powered by clean energy, populated by trees and thriving wildlife.
He submitted the essay with a quiet confidence.
Mrs. Langford began reading through the stack. Veronica's was among the first. She nodded, impressed.
"Veronica, this is solid. Nine out of ten. A few phrases could be stronger, but overall very well done."
Veronica beamed.
Then she picked up Steven's.
Then Mrs. Langford moved to Steven's sheet. She expected something average at best, maybe even copied from Veronica. At first, she read with casual detachment. By the second paragraph, her eyebrows lifted. Halfway through, her lips parted slightly in surprise. When she turned the page and saw the illustration, she was silent for a full ten seconds.
Steven's essay was concise yet detailed, persuasive yet practical. The arguments were strong, the solutions innovative, and the language impeccable. Adding to that, the illustration perfectly complemented the essay, capturing its message in a single glance.
"This… is exceptional," she finally said. "Steven, full marks. Ten points—and an additional five for the poster. Outstanding work."
The classroom erupted in murmurs. Veronica's jaw dropped. "But Mrs. Langford," she protested, "Steven drew a poster when you asked for an essay."
Mrs. Langford shook her head. "Veronica, Steven's essay is exceptional. Adding a relevant poster is a smart and professional technique often used in journalism to engage readers. You should all take note of this."
She handed Steven's sheet to Veronica. "Here, read it. After you're done, take it to the stationery office and make copies for the class. This is worth studying."
Veronica took it reluctantly, scanning the writing. Her initial dismissal faded as she read. The essay was brilliant, far beyond anything she could have written.
She said nothing, but something shifted in her gaze.
The day rolled on
In math class, Mrs. Thompson handed out a challenging assignment filled with tricky problems. While the class struggled, Steven breezed through the questions, finishing long before anyone else. Even Veronica, one of the top students, found herself stumped by the first few problems.
In French class, Steven's performance stunned the teacher. When asked to read and translate a paragraph, he spoke with the fluency and accent of a native speaker. His translation was flawless, and his pronunciation impeccable.
In chemistry, Steven balanced complex equations with ease, identified chemical reactions on sight, and explained their mechanisms as if he had been studying them for years.
Physics and economics were no different. Steven solved intricate numerical problems in physics, citing the laws and their historical contexts. In economics, he provided clear, insightful answers to questions that left others scratching their heads.
By lunchtime, Steven had become the center of attention among the students and teachers.
"Did you see him in math class?"
"Dude, his French was better than the teacher's."
"He even drew this poster that's, like, insane."
"Wasn't Steven the guy who barely passed last term?"
In the faculty lounge, the teachers exchanged incredulous glances.
"I don't know what happened to Steven Blake," said Mrs. Thompson, "but I'm not complaining. The boy is… transforming."
"I agree," said Mrs. Langford. "He's thinking on a whole new level."
Meanwhile, Steven sat beneath a tree near the school's basketball court, eating quietly. His movements were relaxed, but his eyes tracked everything—the bouncing of the ball, the arc of a pass, the tension between students in different social circles.
He saw opportunities for observation in everything.
Veronica leaned against a railing nearby, arms folded, watching Steven from a distance. She was still thinking about his essay. And that sketch. And the calm way he had handled her earlier jab. For the first time, she found herself genuinely curious about him. Steven Blake was no longer just the quiet, average guy at the back of the class. He was an enigma—and one she intended to figure out.
"It's weird. It's like he got injected with genius serum or something," a friend of hers commented.
"Yeah, he is a mystery, but it's intriguing," Veronica said. "I like it."