《My Name is Mr. Fireman》


 Chapter 1 (Day 1 to 4)

    <h2>Day 1, Tuesday</h2>


    Hello, and Good Day to Myself,


    Starting today, I will keep a personal journal to record everything that happens in my life and document how much I change over time.


    *****


    My name is Sanjaya¡ªPrabu Sanjaya, to be exact. I am a thirty-year-old office worker who still enjoys watching animated movies, cartoons, and anime, as well as reading fantasy novels and playing video games.


    When it comes to my office life, it¡¯s pretty ordinary at best. Fortunately, I¡¯ve managed to climb the corporate ladder, rising from the bottom ranks to become a supervisor of a small team. But life isn¡¯t meant to be easy, is it? Despite my title, I still handle the technical workload of a regular employee. Most of my day is spent glued to my computer, except when I have to move around the office to coordinate with other supervisors.


    As for my anime obsession¡ªwell, let¡¯s just say that while I¡¯m a fan, I¡¯m not that kind of hobbyist. My soul can still be saved, if you know what I mean.


    *****


    Something strange happened this evening around six p.m. I was on my way to the parking lot after work when, out of nowhere, an unknown object hit my head. It didn¡¯t hurt or anything¡ªit just hit me. Confused, I looked around the ground to find whatever had struck me, but there was nothing.


    Probably some random kids playing a prank, I thought. But when I scanned my surroundings, I realized the parking lot was completely empty. No kids. No adults. No one.


    Everything seemed normal¡ªtoo normal, in fact, which only left me more confused. But I didn¡¯t dwell on it for long. I had anime waiting for me at home, and I couldn¡¯t waste any more time.


    When I got home, I quickly changed out of my work clothes and had dinner with my family. Our household consists of my father, my mother, my younger brother¡ªwho¡¯s on track to becoming a manager at a major company¡ªand my younger sister, who just started working at one of the most prestigious banks in the country.


    My parents love bringing up the future¡ªspecifically, my future and why I should start thinking about settling down. But honestly? I couldn¡¯t care less right now.


    My brother, on the other hand, enjoys talking about his job¡ªthe excitement, the challenges, how it¡¯s shaping him into a great leader. My father listens intently, clearly proud of him and his accomplishments.


    My sister, meanwhile, is the chatterbox of the family. She talks about anything and everything, always cracking jokes and filling the house with laughter. Without her, our home would feel dull and empty.


    And me? Well, I¡¯m just a hobbyist. Again, I¡¯m not an anime freak or anything like that. I simply enjoy watching anime and cartoons because they¡¯re fun, entertaining, and full of great stories¡ªnothing more, nothing less.


    As for relationships, I keep my eyes open, but no one has really caught my attention recently¡ªor in the past two years, for that matter. Am I turning gay? I don¡¯t think so. So, I just keep living my life as usual.


    After an hour of what felt like a depressing dinner¡ªfilled with unsolicited advice and unwelcome comments about my life choices¡ªI quickly retreated to my room and powered up my laptop. My fingers moved swiftly across the keyboard, and within minutes, the episode I had been waiting for was ready to play.


    Time to binge-watch.


    <h2>Day 2, Wednesday</h2>


    I Swear, This Was the Weirdest Morning of My Life.


    When I opened my eyes, I saw a scroll of paper floating right in front of my face. It hovered at eye level, adjusting its position no matter where I moved, as if it were locked onto me.


    What made it even stranger was that I couldn¡¯t touch it. Every time I reached for it, my hand would suddenly lose strength, or something would distract me just enough to make me abandon the attempt.


    After a few frustrating minutes, the scroll suddenly unfurled itself, revealing elegant lines of text. The words were written in an intricate, calligraphic style¡ªone that looked like something out of a medieval manuscript. But to my surprise, it was in English.


    <hr>


    You have been chosen as a new wielder of the System of Power.


    Please, choose your first skill!


    <ul>


    <li>Sword Mastery</li>


    <li>Ranged Weapon Mastery</li>


    <li>Fire Manipulation</li>


    </ul>


    <hr>


    I had no words to describe how I felt reading that scroll.


    Confusion? Obviously.


    Curiosity? Of course.


    Fear? Definitely.


    Excitement? Hell yeah!


    But despite my emotions running wild, I knew exactly what was happening. I just never thought something like this could actually become real. I mean, novels and anime have been hyping up systems like this for years. Stories about them are so common that you can find one in almost every new anime.


    The real question now was: What should I do with this choice? And what would happen if I picked one of these skills? Not that I was scared of the consequences¡ªthough I had no clue what they might be¡ªbut because I genuinely liked all three options.


    Sword Mastery would almost certainly let me wield a sword, something you¡¯d never get to do in modern life.


    Ranged Weapon Mastery seemed versatile¡ªmaybe it allowed me to use any weapon, or perhaps even turn everyday objects into projectiles.


    Fire Manipulation was a bit basic but undeniably cool. If the name was anything to go by, I¡¯d be able to control fire at will. But would I need an existing source of fire? If so, that might be a problem¡ªfire isn¡¯t exactly easy to come by, and let¡¯s be real, nobody likes someone playing with fire.


    I was just about to make my choice when I glanced at my alarm clock. Crap! I was almost late for work.


    The world might be ending, but the office doesn¡¯t care. Your attendance is all that matters.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    *****


    Apparently, I wasn¡¯t the only one who had a weird morning.


    Turns out, everyone got the same floating scrolls!


    The office was buzzing with conversation as people shared their experiences. They had all woken up to find a scroll in front of them, just like I did. And just like me, they were given three choices.


    Most of my male coworkers had combat-related options like Sword Mastery or Weapon Mastery, while the women¡¯s options were more varied, ranging from offensive abilities to support and utility skills.


    Since I had a decent amount of experience with games and novels, I started categorizing the abilities into two main types. My coworkers quickly adopted my classification since it made things easier to understand:


    Battle-Type Skills ¨C Abilities focused on combat, such as sword fighting, long-range weaponry, and elemental manipulation. While they could be used for non-violent purposes, their primary function was to cause harm.


    Support-Type Skills ¨C Abilities designed to assist others, such as healing, buffs, or skills like Soothing Voice. While they could be used creatively in battle, their core function was to aid rather than attack.


    Some coworkers had already made their choices. They claimed that after selecting a skill, a second scroll appeared, displaying a set of parameters¡ªessentially a Status Page. I called it that, but most people preferred the term Number Page.


    One other strange thing became clear: no one could see anyone else¡¯s scroll. To make things even weirder, someone discovered that the scrolls could become translucent, allowing people to see through them. That explained why everyone at the office was casually talking about their new abilities instead of freaking out at home.


    *****


    That evening, I Finally Made My Choice. I picked Fire Manipulation.


    As soon as I made my selection, the scroll''s text vanished in a beautiful, flashy transition before new words appeared:


    <hr>


    Congratulations on acquiring your new power!


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33


    Health: 100


    Mana: 100


    Strength: 5


    Dexterity: 4


    Endurance: 4


    Intelligence: 7


    Wisdom: 9


    Mentality: 5


    Skill:


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 1 ¨C Allows the user to manipulate fire slightly.


    <hr>


    As expected, Fire Manipulation didn¡¯t let me create fire¡ªonly control it. That was a problem since I didn¡¯t smoke and had nothing on me that could produce flames.


    Luckily, there was a small convenience store near the parking lot. I went inside and bought five cheap gas lighters before heading home.


    After another thrilling dinner filled with my parents reminding me that my job hadn¡¯t improved much over the years, I retreated to my room, eager to test my new ability.


    I flicked on one of the gas lighters, watching as a tiny flame danced at the tip. It was ordinary¡ªsmall, controlled, harmless. The fire didn¡¯t feel special at all.


    But as I stared at it, a strange sensation washed over me. It was as if the flame and I were somehow... connected. The feeling was subtle, almost like how you instinctively know how to move your fingers without thinking about it.


    I focused, trying to make the flame move.


    At first, I felt resistance¡ªlike trying to move a limb that had fallen asleep. The fire was there, but it refused to obey.


    I kept trying.


    With each attempt, the resistance weakened. The flame began responding, shifting slightly in the direction I willed it to move.


    Then, suddenly, the scroll reappeared in front of me.


    <hr>


    Skill Level Up!


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 2!


    <hr>


    As the words flashed across the scroll, I could feel it¡ªmy control over the fire had improved, even if only slightly. The flame flickered more naturally in response to my thoughts.


    I grinned.


    This power was amazing.


    <h2>Day 3, Thursday</h2>


    I spent almost the entire night training my new skill and ended up making more progress than I expected.


    For one, I finally succeeded in making the fire move exactly the way I wanted. I also discovered that I could slightly increase or decrease the size of the flame¡ªthough at the cost of burning through more gas.


    When I checked my Status Page by actively thinking about it, I saw the results of my efforts:


    <hr>


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33


    Health: 100


    Mana: 100


    Strength: 5


    Dexterity: 4


    Endurance: 4


    Intelligence: 7


    Wisdom: 9


    Mentality: 5


    Skill:


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 4 ¨C Allows the user to manipulate fire slightly.


    <hr>


    With this small victory, I went to work in a great mood, a big smile on my face.


    Unfortunately, that smile didn¡¯t last long.


    By midday, the government made a nationwide announcement banning citizens from choosing or using the skills granted by the scrolls. According to the new law, anyone caught using their abilities would be detained indefinitely until the government could assess the potential risks.


    Strangely, most of my coworkers didn¡¯t seem too upset about it. Some even looked relieved. They admitted their abilities felt too dangerous¡ªlike weapons that could easily spiral out of control and lead to disaster.


    For me, and a few others who had already made our choices, it was nothing short of disappointing. Just when things were starting to get exciting, the government stepped in and shut it all down.


    Still, I kept my thoughts to myself. I¡¯ve learned the hard way that my opinions tend to be... less than mainstream. And in a world where people get offended at the slightest provocation, it''s often best to just smile and nod.


    *****


    Later that night, back in my room, I decided to test my powers again.


    This time, I aimed for something more ambitious. Instead of simply making the fire wiggle or grow, I wanted to shape it¡ªto mold it into something entirely new.


    As expected, the resistance from the fire was much stronger than before. It felt like trying to squish your own cheek into a ball¡ªuncomfortable, unnatural, and stubbornly resistant. The flame pushed back against my control as if it had a will of its own.


    But I didn¡¯t give up.


    For three hours, I kept pushing, focusing, and experimenting. And slowly, that resistance began to fade. The fire started responding more easily, bending to my will with less struggle.


    Then, just before I called it a night, the scroll appeared in front of me once again.


    <hr>


    Skill Level Up!


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 5!


    Skill Level Up!


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 6!


    <hr>


    I smirked.


    If the government wanted to ban skills, they¡¯d have to catch me first.


    <h2>1.1.4.   Day 4, Friday </h2>


    Everything seemed to be back to normal.


    No one talked about the scrolls anymore.


    At work, my coworkers were once again caught up in endless discussions about deadlines, reports, and client demands. The past two days had been far less productive than they should have been, so today was a frantic scramble to make up for lost time. I encouraged my team to put in extra hours to catch up.


    Fortunately for me, I managed to slip out of the office in the evening.


    I knew my coworkers would be pissed at me come Monday, but today was Friday, and there was no way I was spending my weekend kickoff trapped in the office. Absolutely not.


    *****


    Later that night, back in my room, I decided to push my skill as far as I could.


    Lately, playing with fire has become far more interesting than watching anime.


    And it was definitely getting harder.


    I could feel the growing resistance¡ªmy control wasn¡¯t as effortless as before. But instead of discouraging me, it made me even more excited. If something pushes back, it means you¡¯re making real progress, right?


    I kept working at it, trying to mold the fire from its usual teardrop shape into something more controlled¡ªlike a perfect sphere. I made significant progress. The flames were no longer just flickering randomly; they were starting to hold their form.


    But the moment I lost focus, the fire snapped back to its original shape.


    Of course, that made sense. Fire, like all natural forces, doesn¡¯t like being controlled. It resists, always trying to return to its natural state.


    At least, that¡¯s what I believed.


    Still, it was frustrating as hell.


    But apparently, that frustration paid off.


    <hr>


    Skill Level Up! Fire Manipulation Lv. 7!


    Skill Level Up! Fire Manipulation Lv. 8!


    Skill Level Up! Fire Manipulation Lv. 9!


    Skill Level Up! Fire Manipulation Lv. 10!


    <hr>


    I smirked.


    Looks like I was getting somewhere.

 Chapter 2 (Day 5 - Day 7)

    <h2>Day 5, Saturday</h2>


    Last night was incredibly productive.


    I spent the entire night¡ªand part of the early morning¡ªpushing my skill to its limits, leveling it up as much as I could.


    Luckily, today was Saturday, which meant I had the luxury of sleeping in until midday.


    After a late lunch, I returned to my room, eager to train some more. The midday sun poured through my open window, filling the room with scorching heat, but I welcomed it. The warm breeze carried a sense of energy, fueling my excitement.


    The moment I flicked on the gas lighter, I felt it¡ªa stronger connection to the fire than ever before.


    It was strange. The sensation was even more intense than it had been last night.


    As I tried to manipulate the flame, it responded effortlessly, as if it had been waiting for me. This time, I finally succeeded in shaping it into a perfect sphere¡ªsomething I had struggled with for days.


    I held the fireball in my palm for as long as I could, savoring the moment. But eventually, the lighter ran out of fuel, and the fire was extinguished.


    For a brief second, an unexpected pang of sadness hit me, as if I had just lost something precious. It felt¡­ personal. it is like a part of me had been snuffed out along with the flame.


    But the feeling faded as quickly as it came, and my thoughts shifted elsewhere.


    <hr>


    Status Page


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33 Years


    Health: 100


    Mana: 100


    STR: 5


    DEX: 4


    END: 4


    INT: 7


    WIS: 9


    MEN: 5


    Skill:


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 10 (Max) ¨C Allows the user to manipulate fire slightly.


    <hr>


    I stared at my Status Page, frowning.


    Max level?


    Did this mean I had already reached my limit? That I could only control fire at this level and nothing beyond it?


    No way.


    There had to be something more.


    Every game, every novel, every fantasy story told me that level ten was never the true limit. There was always another step¡ªsomething hidden beyond the so-called ¡°max¡± level.


    I just needed to find it.


    That wasn¡¯t the only thing bothering me.


    For a while now, I had noticed two stats that I had never really explored: Health and Mana.


    Health was straightforward¡ªit was my lifeline, the amount of damage I could take before, well, dying. But in my current situation, what could possibly harm me more than my own fire?


    And then there was Mana.


    Health was easy: take 100 damage, and you¡¯re dead. Simple.


    But Mana?


    That was something no one in this world truly understood¡ªnot ordinary people, at least. Maybe those who practiced old voodoo tricks or dabbled in mystical arts had some idea, but even they probably didn''t grasp the true nature of it.


    Gamers and anime fans¡ªnot me, of course¡ªsaw Mana as a representation of magic power, the energy required to cast spells.


    Which led me to a bigger question:


    How do I wield magic?


    I had a theory, but that could wait.


    For now, my focus shifted to another mystery: the Status Page.


    STR, DEX, END¡ªthose were all familiar terms, at least for gamers. They represented physical attributes, indicators of strength, speed, and endurance.


    Unfortunately, judging by my own stats, my physical build was pretty terrible.


    I didn¡¯t have a reference point yet, but something told me that anything below five was bad.


    On the other hand, my mental stats seemed above average.


    But there was one stat that completely threw me off: MEN.


    No game had ever used MEN as a stat before. And no, it clearly didn¡¯t stand for "Men" as in gender.


    So, what did it mean?


    *****


    Later That Evening


    I stepped out to buy more gas lighters.


    This time, I didn¡¯t just buy one¡ªI bought an entire pack of a dozen. The cashier gave me a weird look, probably wondering why someone needed that many lighters.


    Thinking fast, I lied.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m planning to open a small shop in my office,¡± I said casually.


    Surprisingly, they bought it.


    Satisfied with my purchase, I rushed home, carefully hiding the lighters in my room. The last thing I needed was my parents stumbling upon them and accusing me of either smoking or planning something reckless.


    After enduring yet another unnecessary family dinner, I finally escaped back to my room.


    Tonight, I was going to try something new¡ªsomething that had been on my mind for a while.


    *****


    I cleared some space in my room and sat down in a cross-legged position, trying to mimic the lotus pose I had seen in meditation images I found online.


    Closing my eyes, I imagined something.


    I pictured invisible particles of Mana floating in the air around me¡ªsomething I had read about in countless novels and seen in fantasy movies.


    Of course, this was all theory. I was just a regular office worker, not some hidden martial artist or mystical prodigy.


    Still¡­


    Something changed.


    My thoughts began to drift, but then¡ªI felt it.


    Faint. Subtle.


    Like sensing the warmth of a candle without seeing the flame.


    It was there.


    That same sensation was happening to me now.


    Holding back my growing excitement, I focused.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    I reached out, willing the Mana to come to me¡ªnot with my hands, but with my mind, my heart, my very being.


    And it responded.


    Slowly. Cautiously. Like a wary animal approaching an outstretched hand.


    I stayed still, keeping my breathing steady, letting it draw closer.


    Then, it touched me.


    It entered my body, slipping in like a ghost possessing a human host.


    And at that moment¡ª


    A scroll appeared before me once again.


    <hr>


    New Skills Acquired!


    Magic Power Gathering Lv. 1!


    Magic Sense Lv. 1!


    <hr>


    As I stared at the glowing text, I could feel it¡ªsomething filling me from within.


    This new sensation¡ªthis Mana¡ªwas settling inside me.


    But as it continued flowing in, an unexpected pain spread through my body.


    It wasn¡¯t unbearable, but it was sharp, like a container being pushed past its limits, each drop threatening to overflow.


    I gasped, forcing my eyes open.


    My gaze flicked to the clock on my nightstand.


    Midnight.


    How¡­?


    <h2>Day 6, Sunday </h2>


    <hr>


    Status Page


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33 Years


    Health: 100


    Mana: 100


    STR: 5


    DEX: 4


    END: 4


    INT: 7


    WIS: 9


    MEN: 5


    Skill:


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 10 (Max) ¨C Allows the user to manipulate fire slightly.


    Magic Power Gathering Lv. 1 ¨C Allows the user to gather and absorb mana from their surroundings.


    Magic Sense Lv. 1 ¨C Allows the user to sense mana around them.


    <hr>


    This morning, I checked my Status Page before heading to church.


    Church is non-negotiable in my family. As Christians, skipping service is only allowed for urgent reasons¡ª like life-or-death situations.


    So, I went.


    The service lasted two hours, and the priest¡¯s sermon was surprisingly relevant. He spoke about trials from God, drawing parallels between faith and the scroll that had appeared, along with the Status Page.


    It made me think.


    By the time the service ended, an idea had taken root in my mind, and I needed to test it.


    Of course, I couldn¡¯t just say, "Hey, I need to go experiment with magic." That would sound insane.


    So, I lied.


    "Hey, I have an appointment with some friends," I said before slipping away.


    I had no such appointment.


    What I really needed was a secluded spot¡ªsomewhere to be alone, somewhere I could experiment without being disturbed.


    I spent the next hour riding my motorcycle, taking roads I¡¯d never been on before until I finally stumbled upon a hidden space tucked behind a housing complex. It was out of sight, quiet, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªempty.


    Perfect.


    After parking my bike, I walked deeper into the area until I found a relatively open space. The ground was mostly dirt, with patches of dead grass and barely any trash. Not the cleanest place, but good enough.


    I spotted an old rusted metal drum nearby and decided to use it as a makeshift seat. Settling into what I hoped resembled a lotus position, I took a deep breath.


    This time, I wasn¡¯t just manipulating fire¡ªI was going to create it.


    The problem?


    I had no idea how.


    The closest reference I had was from anime, where characters struck ridiculous poses and shouted over-the-top incantations. Just thinking about doing that made me cringe.


    Instead, I focused inward.


    Last night, I had absorbed Mana. Now, I needed to do the opposite¡ªI needed to release it.


    I closed my eyes and visualized the Mana inside me, a formless energy flowing through my body. Carefully, I willed it outward, directing it toward my hands.


    Nothing happened.


    I tried again. Harder.


    Still nothing.


    Frustrated, I pushed even more, forcing the Mana out of my body.


    That was a mistake.


    The moment I attempted to eject the Mana, it felt like my organs were being torn out through my rib cage.


    A searing, excruciating pain shot through me, radiating from my chest to my fingertips.


    I barely held back a scream.


    Doubling over, I gasped for air, my vision blurring for a moment.


    I had no idea what I just did, but one thing was clear¡ªthat was NOT the right approach.


    My hands trembled as I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing.


    No more training for today.


    Nope.


    I was done.


    I was going home.


    And I was going to rest.


    <h2>Day 7, Monday</h2>


    Monday is the enemy of most office workers.


    It''s the day that reminds you that reality is harsh and unforgiving, but you have to face it anyway¡ªbecause if you don¡¯t, you won¡¯t have anything to support your life.


    This Monday, however, was harsher than most.


    Why?


    Because when I opened my eyes, a scroll was floating in front of me, delivering what could only be described as a death sentence.


    <hr>


    Thank you for waiting.


    The peace period is over. Now, everyone with a system must follow the mission assigned by the system.


    Mission: Kill a monster!


    Reward: Level up or Status Points


    Punishment: Death by implosion!


    <hr>


    I bolted out of my room, half-expecting to have imagined the whole thing.


    I hadn¡¯t.


    The world was in chaos.


    My parents were screaming at each other, blaming one another as if our family argument was the root cause of the madness unfolding outside. The television blared an emergency news bulletin, urging people to stay indoors and wait for military assistance.


    Outside, people were screaming in terror. Neighbors cried out in fear, their voices echoing down the streets.


    Meanwhile, I was thinking about how to kill a monster.


    Should I try to burn it with my barely usable fire? My so-called Fire Manipulation was about as effective as a cheap gas lighter¡ªa tiny flame that barely reached past my own hand.


    Pathetic.


    In the end, I decided to follow the government¡¯s orders and stay inside, all while trying to calm my parents. They were still yelling, my father barking useless commands while my mother panicked.


    My younger brother and sister clung to each other, trying to stay composed.


    Did I mention them before?


    Well, they¡¯re not that important to me anyway.


    *****


    This Monday felt endless.


    The military had attempted to help civilians, but instead, they made things worse.


    One soldier killed a monster that wasn¡¯t assigned to them. The result? The person who was supposed to complete that mission imploded¡ªsuddenly compressing into a small ball before popping like a balloon.


    After that, the military changed tactics. They decided not to kill monsters directly. Instead, they focused on containing them, limiting their movement to help civilians complete their missions. This was broadcast nationwide, warning everyone to handle their own fights to avoid further casualties.


    That was their problem.


    Our problem appeared shortly after.


    The monster we were supposed to kill oozed out from the cracks in our walls and floors.


    I decided to call it "Dirty Slime." It looked like a living puddle of filthy water, moving painfully slow¡ªso slow that we all felt stupid for being scared.


    But it was a monster.


    And real monsters are always dangerous.


    One of the slimes suddenly spat a stream of water at us. It missed, but the moment it landed on the floor, the wood began to melt.


    Acid.


    The water was acidic.


    And that hole in the floor? It became another entrance for more slimes.


    The fear we felt wasn¡¯t so stupid anymore.


    Then there was my family.


    My mother fainted the moment the slimes appeared. My father? He stood there, barking more useless orders, telling us to stay behind him¡ªas if he had any idea what to do.


    My younger brother, somehow mustering courage, apparently has chosen a skill and grabbed an umbrella, wielding it like a sword.


    I could only hope sword-related skills accepted umbrellas.


    Then there was my sister.


    She raised her hand, and to my shock, a yellow light formed and shot toward my brother.


    His stance changed instantly¡ªfrom hesitant to confident.


    He charged at the slimes without hesitation.


    I wasn¡¯t sure how effective an umbrella would be against a horde of acidic water monsters, but I learned something important from my sister.


    <hr>


    Skill level up! Magic Sense Lv. 2!


    <hr>


    The notification confirmed what I suspected.


    I could feel Mana moving inside her¡ªflowing through her hand, forming what I assumed to be enhancement magic.


    My brother was stronger than he should have been.


    She was a support type.


    Watching him fight triggered something in me. I wanted to be useful too.


    Following her example, I tried guiding my Mana through my hand, shaping it with precision and speed.


    This time, there was no pain.


    Awesome.


    As the Mana gathered, I hesitated.


    Would it actually become fire? Or just a useless wisp of formless energy?


    I hoped for fire.


    I needed fire.


    I wished for it.


    And then, I felt it change¡ªan indescribable sensation, something new and raw.


    Then, fire burst forth from my hand.


    A wide, spreading red flame surged forward, like a raging torrent of water¡ªonly made of pure fire.


    For a moment, nobody spoke.


    My brother stared. My sister stared. Even my father, who had been standing as far back as possible, stared.


    Acting on instinct, I used my Fire Manipulation skill to control the flames¡ªand they obeyed.


    <hr>


    New Skill Learned! Fire Magic Lv. 1!


    New Skill Learned! Magic Pathway Lv. 1!


    <hr>


    Ignoring the notifications, I focused on my fire.


    I willed it to only burn the slimes.


    Fear gripped me as the flames surged forward¡ªbut miraculously, they only hit their targets. The slimes burned away, leaving no damage to the floor or walls.


    Half of them were gone.


    My brother, snapping out of his shock, quickly finished off all but three, which began sliding away in retreat.


    I wouldn¡¯t let them escape.


    Summoning my fire again, I sealed off the hole they were trying to flee through, creating a ring of flames around them.


    Then my sister, the little genius, turned to our father.


    "You have to kill one," she told him.


    Then she convinced our mother to do the same.


    It took an hour to get our father to kill one.


    And another hour to get our mother to do it.


    By the end, we were all exhausted.


    Thankfully, no more slimes emerged. Still, just to be safe, we decided to stay together in the same room for the rest of the day. Safety in numbers.


    My father turned on the television.


    The news was grim.


    The entire world was spiraling into chaos.


    Monsters were everywhere.


    And this was only the beginning.

 Chapter 3 (Day 8 - Day 10)

    <h2>Day 8, Tuesday</h2>


    Today started with the scroll floating in front of my face again.


    This time, I was already used to it. I even expected it to appear at any moment.


    <hr>


    Mission Complete!


    Please choose your reward!


    Level Up / Status Point


    <hr>


    I reached out to touch the scroll, and surprisingly, this time, I could.


    I tried to pick it up¡ªmaybe move it somewhere else¡ªbut the moment I attempted it, my mind wandered. By the time I realized what was happening, my hand was already moving on its own.


    What a neat trick.


    Anyway, "Level Up" might refer to my skill level, since that''s the only thing that¡¯s leveled up so far. Meanwhile, "Status Point" definitely refers to the parameters on my Status Page¡ªthough I still don¡¯t fully understand them. I mean, why are they even there if they don¡¯t seem to affect me in any way?


    With that in mind, I chose Level Up as my reward.


    I wasn¡¯t prepared for what happened next.


    <hr>


    Level Up!


    You are now Level 2!


    <hr>


    Wait¡­ does this mean I can level up¡ªnot just my skills, but myself?


    I quickly summoned my Status Page to confirm, and sure enough, it had changed.


    Which only left me more confused.


    <hr>


    Status Page


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33 Years


    Level: 2


    Health: 110


    Mana: 110


    STR: 6


    DEX: 5


    END: 5


    INT: 8


    WIS: 10


    MEN: 6


    Skills:


    Fire Manipulation Lv. 10 (Max) ¨C Allows the user to manipulate fire slightly.


    Fire Magic Lv. 1 ¨C Allows the user to summon and use fire magic.


    Mana Gathering Lv. 1 ¨C Allows the user to gather and absorb Mana from their surroundings.


    Magic Sense Lv. 1 ¨C Allows the user to sense Mana around them.


    Magic Pathway Lv. 1 ¨C Gives the user knowledge of the Magical Pathway inside their body.


    <hr>


    First, I¡¯m now Level 2.


    To my surprise.


    Like¡­ how? why now?


    Second, every single parameter increased by one. That¡¯s amazing, but it also raises some questions¡ªlike, what effect does it actually have?If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    Third, leveling up feels incredible.


    I can feel my body getting stronger, my hands more dexterous, my stamina improving. My mind feels sharper¡ªas if my understanding of everything I already knew has deepened in a way that can only be described as magical.


    And the weirdest part?


    I feel ready for whatever comes next.


    Even though I have no idea why.


    What kind of system is this?


    *****


    For the rest of the day, I tried contacting my office and my coworkers.


    Because even when the world is in chaos, I still need money to survive. And my source of income is my job.


    Or at least, it was.


    The building where my office was located had become a casualty of yesterday¡¯s events¡ªalmost reduced to rubble. I saw it on the news not long after we cleared out the Dirty Slime.


    I tried calling my office. No one picked up.


    I tried calling some of my team members. Still nothing.


    Does this mean I can¡¯t go to work anymore?


    On the one hand, yay¡ªno more jobs.


    On the other hand, fuck¡ªno more job.


    And that wasn¡¯t even the worst news of the day.


    Half of my coworkers were either injured or dead.


    Mostly injured.


    I only found out because, after one last attempt, someone finally picked up.


    It wasn¡¯t who I was calling.


    It was a family member of one of my teammates. They told me that the person I was looking for had fallen victim to a monster. Apparently, others had been calling and asking about them too.


    From what they said, some of my coworkers had chosen their skills at the last minute, thinking it would help them kill monsters.


    They were wrong.


    Almost immediately, they were overpowered and later found barely alive by the military.


    Lucky for them, they were still alive.


    But with all this information, I could only come to one conclusion:


    There is no more office.


    Not for me.


    Not for anyone.


    Not anytime soon.


    <h2>Day 9, Wednesday</h2>


    Today is the day I can officially call myself jobless.


    Which means I need to figure out a way to make money¡ªoutside of working in an office.


    Unfortunately, with everything going on, there doesn¡¯t seem to be a single profitable job available nearby.


    The news is filled with updates about the government¡¯s ban on using chosen skills, claiming that civilians shouldn¡¯t wield such dangerous weapons.


    The problem?


    Ever since the mission to kill monsters, almost everyone has ignored that law and started training their skills as much as possible.


    Now, the entire country¡ªscratch that, the entire world¡ªis caught in a dilemma.


    But honestly? That¡¯s their problem.


    My problem right now is figuring out how to level up my skills safely.


    I¡¯ve learned how to produce fire on my own and tested it several times today. But I¡¯ve run into an issue.


    Creating fire costs a lot of Mana.


    With my current 110 Mana, I can only fire off three torrents of flames¡ªmaybe four, if I push myself into the negative.


    I¡¯ve never gone into the negative, and I don¡¯t plan to.


    Not unless I know what happens first. No need to take unnecessary risks.


    And despite all the training, I still haven¡¯t leveled up my Fire Magic.


    Like, how?


    <h2>Day 10, Thursday</h2>


    Today, I¡¯m going to meditate¡ªout in the open, under the blazing midday sun¡ªhoping it will help me level up my Fire Magic.


    I head to the secluded spot I found a few days ago, only to discover it¡¯s now packed with people. Looks like they¡¯re training their skills, maybe even forming a group to fight back against monsters or the military with sheer numbers.


    As for me? I say no to crowds.


    Crowds aren¡¯t fun.


    So, I spend another hour searching for a quiet place and eventually find an old, abandoned storehouse¡ªnot too far from home. Probably around a thirty-minute ride on my motorcycle.


    Inside, I clear out some space and sit in a lotus position.


    The midday heat burns through the storehouse¡¯s broken walls, but there¡¯s no direct sunlight. Maybe that won¡¯t matter.


    Once I get comfortable, I summon my fire, directing it toward an empty spot nearby, hoping it won¡¯t set anything ablaze.


    Immediately, I feel Mana flowing through me, following a predetermined path I hadn¡¯t noticed before, before shooting out of my hand in a torrent of flames.


    The fire torrent flies farther than I expected, landing on some wet wood in the distance. The wood dries almost instantly¡ªthen bursts into flames.


    I rush toward it, about to put it out when suddenly, something shifts inside me¡ªsomething strange.


    I stare at the fire, burning in bright yellows and deep reds, devouring the wood, turning it into blackened charcoal¡ªand I realize...


    It¡¯s beautiful.


    So beautiful that I can¡¯t look away.


    An overwhelming urge takes hold of me. I want to hold it¡ªas if it were a handful of sparkling water.


    Acting on instinct, I activate Fire Manipulation, reaching out to cup the flames in my hands.


    The fire lifts from the charred wood, hovering over my palm for a few seconds¡ªbut then it starts dying out.


    A sudden fear grips me.


    I don¡¯t want it to disappear. I want to see it again.


    Something clicks in my mind.


    Without hesitation, I direct a small amount of Mana through the pathways in my hands, feeding it to the flame.


    The moment Mana touches the fire, it erupts into a massive blaze¡ªso large it scorches the walls in front of me for a few seconds before finally burning out with a puff.


    I look at my hands, feeling the lingering energy still pulsing in my palms.


    And I smile.


    So this is how you create a real magical fire.


    <hr>


    Skill Level Up! Fire Magic Lv. 2!


    Skill Level Up! Magic Sense Lv. 3!


    New Skill Learned! Mana Mastery Lv. 1!


    Skill Evolved! Fire Manipulation Lv. 10 (Max) ¡ú Fire Manipulation I Lv. 1!


    <hr>

 Chapter 4 (Day 14 - Day 17)

    <h2>Day 14, Monday</h2>


    <hr>


    Status Page


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33 Years


    Level: 2


    Health: 110


    Mana: 110


    STR: 6


    DEX: 5


    END: 5


    INT: 8


    WIS: 10


    MEN: 6


    Skills:


    Fire Manipulation I Lv. 2 ¨C Allows the user to manipulate fire slightly.


    Fire Magic Lv. 2 ¨C Allows the user to summon and use fire magic.


    Mana Gathering Lv. 2 ¨C Allows the user to gather and absorb Mana from their surroundings.


    Magic Sense Lv. 3 ¨C Allows the user to sense Mana inside or around them.


    Mana Mastery Lv. 2 ¨C Allows the user to control and manipulate Mana within themselves.


    Magic Pathway Lv. 1 ¨C Grants knowledge of the Magical Pathways inside one''s body.


    <hr>


    It has been four days since I started learning how to wield my skills better.


    As of now, I can summon more fire while using less Mana by carefully limiting the amount used each time. With this improvement, I feel confident that I could handle a monster fight if needed.


    And, lucky for me, the system decided to test my confidence.


    <hr>


    You have a new mission!


    Mission: Kill the Dungeon Boss Together


    Reward: Level Up or Status Point


    Punishment: Trapped in the Dungeon until the next mission!!


    <hr>


    Right after the mission appeared in front of me, another scroll popped up, displaying a list of dungeons I could enter.


    Some of them were so close that I could reach them on foot.


    Before I could decide where to go, my younger brother suddenly barged in, dragging our younger sister along.


    He invited me to join him in the nearest dungeon, saying I¡¯d be a valuable addition to his team.


    It didn¡¯t take long for me to agree¡ªI had my reasons.


    First, both my siblings are Battle Type and Support Type. Together, they could form an effective duo, but my brother knew better.


    He was a gamer¡ªa good one. And any good gamer knows that an effective party needs at least three or four members.


    They needed a tank¡ªsomeone to draw the monsters¡¯ attention. That¡¯s my brother.


    They needed support, especially a healer. My sister could cover that role.


    Lastly, they needed a damage dealer¡ªsomeone who could dish out massive damage in a short burst. That¡¯s where I come in.


    Ideally, we¡¯d add a fourth member¡ªa speedy, agile fighter to balance out the team. But beggars can¡¯t be choosers.


    We didn¡¯t know anyone else, and our parents were too distracted to help us.


    Oh yeah¡ªdid I mention that our mom had a serious panic attack after barely surviving the monster mission a week ago? Probably not.


    *****


    The nearest dungeon was located at a school, just five minutes away on foot.


    The dungeon itself appeared as a circular magical gate.


    When we arrived, another group of people tried to enter, but they were blocked by ten students.


    These students were demanding a huge fee from anyone wanting to enter.


    Seeing this made me want to turn around and look for another dungeon.


    But my brother thought otherwise.


    He walked straight up to the group, acting bossy, barking orders as if he owned the place.


    Strangely enough, the ten students obeyed him without question, stepping aside and letting us through¡ªconfusing everyone else who had been stuck waiting.


    He called me and my sister over, introducing us to the group.


    That¡¯s when I realized they were wearing the same uniform my brother used to wear.


    Turns out, he was their senior, and he had just used that authority to flex on them.


    I couldn¡¯t help but feel proud of him for that.


    With no further obstacles, the three of us stepped through the magical gate and entered the dungeon.


    *****


    The experience of entering the dungeon was... weird¡ªbut oddly soothing.


    One moment, we were in our familiar neighborhood¡ªthe next, we were in a completely different world.


    But instead of feeling lost or out of place, I felt... at home.


    The air, the ground, the atmosphere¡ªeverything felt right.


    The dungeon was a cave¡ªhot and dry.


    The floor was strangely smooth, with no sand or loose stones.


    The walls were cracked, revealing streams of lava flowing behind them, radiating intense heat.


    And yet, only I seemed to feel it¡ªmy siblings didn¡¯t react at all.


    Scattered throughout the cave were strange plants and minerals.


    Clusters of orange crystals grew out of lava cracks.


    Coral-like flame plants sprouted from the walls, their branches burning like candle flames, serving as natural torches.


    *****


    With curiosity and excitement, the three of us ventured deeper into the dungeon¡ªready to explore the unknown.


    Out of the three of us, I am the only one who feels comfortable in this place. My siblings, while not exactly uncomfortable, don¡¯t seem to be enjoying it at all.


    After walking for about five minutes, we encounter a monster slowly making its way toward us. It¡¯s a snail the size of a motorcycle. It moves sluggishly, its soft, jelly-like body wiggling slightly with each step. Its translucent flesh glows with the heat of the lava inside, radiating warmth that makes me want to hug it¡ªdespite knowing it''s a monster. For now, I decided to call it a Lava Snail.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    The three of us notice the creature at the same time and prepare ourselves. My sister and I simply raise our hands in front of us, while my brother, out of nowhere, draws a sword and wields it with an air of pride. He immediately starts giving us orders as if he¡¯s the leader of this little group.


    Honestly, I feel a bit offended by his attitude, but with a monster standing before us, I choose to stay quiet. My sister casts her magical enhancements on him, and he charges at the Lava Snail. He slashes at it several times before backing away to assess the damage he has inflicted.


    His attacks have wounded the Lava Snail heavily, causing lava to spill from its wounds. Delighted by the sight, my brother rushes forward again to finish it off. When the monster finally dies, it disintegrates, leaving behind a small, glowing slime ball. My brother tries to pick it up but quickly withdraws his hand¡ªit¡¯s too hot. My sister also attempts to grab it but fails, looking oddly disappointed. Maybe she has a hoarding problem?


    I reach out and pick it up, only to find that it isn¡¯t as hot as they made it seem¡ªjust pleasantly warm. With that, we continue deeper into the cave, eventually reaching a fork in the path.


    *****


    An hour passes, and I¡¯ve collected a few of these slime balls. We haven¡¯t encountered any other types of monsters, only more Lava Snails, and honestly, it¡¯s getting boring. When another one appears, my brother refuses to engage and simply walks away.


    On the other hand, I finally have time to satisfy my curiosity. I¡¯ve been experimenting with the hot slime balls, and I¡¯ve discovered that my Fire Manipulation I skill allows me to control the fire inside them. Now, I want to test it on a living Lava Snail.


    I raise my hand and activate my skill, attempting to seize control of the fire within the creature. I immediately feel resistance¡ªlike trying to pull a rope from someone else¡¯s grasp. I focus harder, but the more I try, the more it fights back. The effort makes my body heat up as if I¡¯m burning from the inside.


    We continue this silent struggle until, suddenly, the Lava Snail gives up. Its fire is wrenched from its body, leaving behind an empty husk. Now, I control a floating ball of fire that was once part of a living creature. It feels strange¡ªalmost unnatural. I release my grip on it, and the flame vanishes instantly as if it were never there.


    Somehow, I feel incredibly satisfied.


    *****


    Another hour passes, and we finally arrive in a vast cavern, at least ten times bigger than the previous ones. As we step inside, we find ourselves face-to-face with a massive horde of a hundred Lava Snails. At the center of the swarm is an enormous, menacing snail.


    My brother is about to charge in recklessly, but I stop him. Instead, I try something new. I raise both hands and attempt to take control of the fire within all the smaller Lava Snails at once.


    The resistance I feel is immense¡ªlike trying to pry a boulder from the depths of a mountain with my bare hands. Then an idea comes to me. I channel my Mana into the effort, and suddenly, it becomes much easier. Pouring in even more magic, I reduce the struggle to nothing more than a simple tug-of-war with a child.


    One by one, the fires are wrenched from the snails, leaving behind empty husks of slime. I grin, pleased with my success, as my siblings stare at me in shock. I always love surprising them.


    My sister asks what I plan to do with all the fire I¡¯ve gathered. Honestly, I have no idea. I simply shrug in response.


    My brother, unimpressed, ignores my display of power and rushes at the massive Lava Snail. With my sister supporting him, he manages to wound it. I attempt to assist by sending some of the fire under my control toward the giant snail, but instead of harming it, I somehow heal it.


    My brother glares at me, clearly frustrated. I can only respond with another shrug.


    In the end, I do nothing except maintain control over the fire I took from the smaller Lava Snails. After a tough battle, my brother finally slays the giant creature. It leaves behind three items: a sword with a glowing red blade, a staff with a red snail shell at one end, and a large, burning ball of slime.


    My brother instinctively claims the sword. I offered the staff to my sister and took the burning slime ball for myself.


    As I hold it, a dark thought creeps into my mind. What if I try to push all the fire I¡¯ve gathered into this slime ball? Acting on impulse, I do exactly that. The fire is absorbed effortlessly. I repeat the process a few more times, stuffing every last bit of stolen fire into the slime ball.


    Then, something unexpected happens¡ªthe burning slime ball solidifies, transforming into a glowing red stone. It looks valuable. Maybe it could sell for a high price? Who knows.


    With our loot secured, we exit the dungeon. The moment we step outside, the entrance abruptly collapses and vanishes like a popped balloon. The crowd waiting in line glares at us with expressions of shock and resentment, which I think is unfair¡ªthis wasn¡¯t our fault.


    Ignoring them, we quickly leave the area and split up. I head straight home, locking myself in my room before finally checking the scroll that appeared when we left the dungeon.


    <hr>


    Mission Complete!


    Please choose your reward!


    Level Up / Status Points


    <hr>


    Of course, I choose to level up. After all, nobody else has figured out a way to gain levels aside from these missions.


    Once I select my reward, I open my status page. I must have missed some details while I was in the dungeon.


    <hr>


    Status Page


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33 Years


    Level: 3


    Health: 120


    Magic: 120


    Str: 7


    Dex: 6


    End: 6


    Int: 9


    Wis: 11


    Men: 7


    Skill :


    Fire Manipulation I Lv. 5 - Allows user to manipulate fire slightly.


    Fire Magic Lv. 2 - Allows user to summon and use fire magic.


    Mana Gathering Lv. 2 - Allows user to gather and absorb Mana from their surroundings.


    Magic Sense Lv. 4 - Allows user to sense Mana inside or around them.


    Mana Mastery Lv. 4 - Allows user to control and manipulate Mana inside them.


    Magic Pathway Lv. 2 - Grants knowledge of the Magical Pathways inside one''s body.


    <hr>


    My level has increased to three, along with an improvement in my stats. There are also a few noteworthy changes. My Fire Manipulation skill has increased by three levels, which likely explains my ability to extract fire from the Lava Snails and infuse it into the Fire Stone.


    I also gained levels in Magic Sense, Mana Mastery, and Magic Pathway, probably due to my experimentation with magic while controlling the fire.


    All in all, I¡¯m satisfied with today¡¯s mission.


    I just hope the world doesn¡¯t change too much after this.


    <h2>Day 15, Tuesday</h2>


    The world looks like it''s about to end.


    This morning¡¯s news reported that several unchallenged dungeons have begun spilling their monsters into the world. These monsters are now destroying everything in their path and killing innocent people.


    With only a handful of people actually capable of fighting, the monsters are running rampant, spreading destruction wherever they go.


    My brother, who has somehow become obsessed with the idea of being humanity¡¯s hero, decided to take my sister on an adventure to hunt down the loose monsters in our neighborhood. He claims that by training his body and mind, he will become a famous hero in this new era of magic and swords.


    With them gone, it¡¯s up to me to protect our home and our parents.


    Speaking of my parents, I have to admit they¡¯ve become quite a burden, despite having their own skills. I know I shouldn¡¯t say this, but I also want to be strong and famous¡ªthough not as much as my brother.


    But that¡¯s life. Never fair.


    <h2>Day 16, Wednesday</h2>


    It has been a day since my siblings left the house.


    We haven¡¯t heard from them since yesterday. We don¡¯t know if they¡¯re safe or not.


    This has made my parents worried, but I reassure them that my siblings are strong. They can take care of themselves.


    Today, I also realized something.


    It seems that not everyone receives the mission to kill the boss monster in the dungeon.


    My parents are a good example. They haven¡¯t left the house since the first mission, they never trained their skills, and they haven¡¯t killed anything other than a slime.


    If they had received the mission, the system should have killed them by now. But not only are they fine and healthy, they also have no idea about the second mission. They think we¡¯re just looking for an excuse to leave the house and chase danger.


    Of course, we¡¯re not just out there for the thrill. Who in their right mind would willingly go to that Lava Snail cave just because the monsters look cute and warm to hug?


    ¡­Hmm. Probably me. They do look warm to hug.


    <h2>Day 17, Thursday</h2>


    Today, I heard that the world is becoming even more chaotic.


    People with skills have started rioting, stealing, and killing innocent civilians while establishing their own hideouts in large places like malls and office buildings.


    My siblings¡¯ whereabouts are still unknown, but the news has reported several heroic individuals who are helping the innocent instead of taking advantage of them.


    As for me, I decided to train my skills today in preparation for the current situation.


    In my room, I trained Fire Magic along with Mana Mastery by trying to produce as much fire as possible while minimizing the Mana cost.


    The training was difficult¡ªvery difficult.


    It felt like trying to blow air out of your nose while pinching it shut. Painful, frustrating, but ultimately rewarding.


    Whenever I ran low on Mana, I practiced Mana Gathering to replenish it. At first, I could only absorb one or two points of Mana at a time. Fortunately, by the end of the day, I was able to gather about three to four points within the same timeframe.


    All in all, today¡¯s training was incredibly productive. I need to do this more often.


    <hr>


    Skill Level Up! Fire Magic Lv. 4!


    Skill Level Up! Mana Gathering Lv. 4!


    Skill Level Up! Mana Mastery Lv. 4!


    Skill Level Up! Magic Pathway Lv. 2!


    <hr>

 Chapter 5 (Day 18 - Day 19)

    <h2>Day 18, Friday</h2>


    We finally heard about my siblings on today¡¯s news.


    Turns out, they¡¯re leading a team of good guys, working alongside the military to help innocent people and fight against the bad guys.


    The news even showed their pictures¡ªmy brother proudly raising his red sword high, while my sister looked a bit shy but satisfied at the same time.


    My parents immediately started comparing me to them, saying that I should follow in their footsteps and become a hero too. It was annoying, really.


    I tried to remind them that I was staying here for their sake, but they insisted that they could protect themselves and that I should be out there making them proud instead of staying home.


    I decided to stay silent after that. I was too tired to argue.


    Today''s training routine was similar to yesterday¡¯s, but I added a few new tests based on some ideas I had.


    I got the idea after remembering a television show about a master of the four elements.


    Of course, I only have fire for now, but I decided to take inspiration from one of the elements in the show.


    Based on that, I realized that I needed to learn martial arts.


    With my current skills, I¡¯d be best suited for long-range combat¡ªwaiting for the right moment to deal heavy damage from a safe distance. It¡¯s a good strategy, but not versatile enough.


    With bad guys everywhere, there will come a time when I won¡¯t have the luxury of attacking from far away. In those situations, I need a way to defend myself. One way to do that is by learning martial arts as a defensive measure against close-range attacks.


    At the same time, it could also allow me to become a mid-range fighter¡ªnot too far in the back, not right on the front lines, but adaptable enough to fit into any role.


    The only problem now is figuring out how to learn martial arts and get it registered in the system.


    Should I just teach myself and hope it gets recognized like I did with magic-related skills?


    Or should I wait for the system to grant me the skill, like how I obtained Fire Manipulation?


    Clearly, I can develop skills on my own, and they should be registered¡ªbut that has only worked for magic-based skills so far. Can I do the same for physical skills like martial arts?


    <hr>


    You have a new mission!


    Mission: Learn how to get new skills!


    Reward: A small piece of information about the system


    Punishment: Manual skill generation will be disabled


    <hr>


    A scroll suddenly appeared in front of me, informing me of a new mission.


    The mission itself is directly related to my question about learning new skills. Is this the system¡¯s way of confirming that I can gain new skills on my own?


    After that, I continued my training while thinking about how to learn martial arts.


    Luckily, the internet is still working fine, which means I can download some instructional videos later for reference.


    That night, after a full day of training, I downloaded several martial arts videos from different styles, specifically choosing ones with easy-to-follow moves so I could copy them more easily.


    Today was productive. I hope tomorrow will be the same.


    <hr>


    Skill Level Up! Fire Manipulation Lv. 6


    Skill Level Up! Fire Magic Lv. 5


    Skill Level Up! Magic Sense Lv. 4


    Skill Level Up! Magic Pathway Lv. 3


    Skill Level Up! Mana Gathering Lv. 5


    Skill Level Up! Mana Mastery Lv. 5


    <hr>


    <h2>Day 19, Saturday</h2>


    This morning started with a problem.


    Several bad guys appeared in our neighborhood, claiming our housing complex as their own and demanding tribute from us in exchange for "security."


    There were five of them, wearing what I could only describe as stereotypical bad-guy uniforms¡ªdirty leather jackets, ripped pants, grimy shirts, and tattoos covering their skin.


    I know I''m stereotyping, but they really looked like default bad guys.


    The five of them began to spread out while their leader waited at the complex gate, blocking anyone from trying to escape.


    One of them, heading in my direction, was wielding a gas lighter in one hand and a ball of fire in the other. It was almost comical.


    He threatened my neighbor with his fireball, tossing it at non-flammable objects just to scare everyone.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    But I wasn¡¯t scared. Instead, I felt excited.


    The fire he threw around seemed to be calling to me, almost begging me to take control. It wanted to be mine.


    As the bad guys got closer to my house, I stepped outside, standing several meters in front of him.


    He cursed at me and spat out threats, but he didn¡¯t seem ready to act just yet.


    When he realized words wouldn¡¯t work on me, he finally threw his fireball straight at me.


    As I saw the fire flying toward me, I instinctively tried to take control of it¡ªand to my surprise, it was effortless.


    The moment it left his hand, I could manipulate it however I wanted.


    At that moment, I felt superior to him. I wanted to toy with him.


    So, instead of dodging, I simply bent the fireball¡¯s trajectory, making it crash harmlessly into the ground beside me.


    The bad guy looked confused when his attack was missed, but he kept throwing more and more fireballs, hoping one of them would hit and burn me.


    Of course, I wouldn¡¯t let that happen, though something inside me whispered that even if it did, I would only feel warmth.


    After five minutes of wild fireball throwing, the bad guy finally realized it was useless.


    He pulled out a pocket knife and charged at me.


    Honestly, seeing someone rush at you with a weapon is terrifying. My feet felt frozen in place.


    But I didn¡¯t let him get close.


    The moment he lunged at me, I summoned a torrent of fire, engulfing him completely.


    His screams of agony burned themselves into my mind, along with the image of his body being consumed by flames.


    The strangest part? I wasn¡¯t scared or even surprised.


    I felt excited.


    And deep in my heart, buried beneath my conscience, there was a small part of me that wanted to burn more people¡ªno matter how wrong that thought was.


    I snapped myself out of it and extinguished the flames.


    What remained in front of me was a charred corpse, barely intact from the sheer intensity of my fire.


    I stood there for a few minutes, taken aback by how effective my flames were.


    Before I could process it fully, three more bad guys arrived, shouting angrily, pointing fingers, and spewing curses at me.


    As if they had already forgotten what happened to their friend, they drew their weapons and attacked.


    One of them threw a pair of daggers at me, while the other two charged¡ªone with a sword, the other with a staff.


    Being attacked by one person was already frightening, but now there were three, each wielding a different weapon.


    Panicked, I shot my fire too early, making my enemies hesitate.


    They quickly stepped back, watching me with wary eyes, realizing I was far more dangerous than they had assumed.


    Then, the one who had thrown the daggers turned and ran toward the complex entrance, likely going to fetch their leader.


    The other two tried to flank me from both sides.


    I could only glance at the fleeing man in frustration before turning my full attention to the remaining two.


    The two bad guys seemed to rely solely on their weapon skills without any additional abilities to support them. They also didn¡¯t have anyone to enhance them, like how my brother was strengthened by my sister.


    I steeled myself to finish them off, remembering how I killed the first bad guy and how exhilarating it felt to watch him burn to death.


    Both bad guys charged at me simultaneously, trying to catch me off guard. In response, I rushed toward one of them¡ªspecifically, the one with the sword.


    The reason was obvious. I needed to take out the more dangerous opponent first¡ªthe one who could kill me the fastest¡ªso I could deal with the remaining one more easily.


    The sword-wielding bad guy was caught off guard by my sudden attack. He was even more shocked when, mid-charge, I unleashed a torrent of fire at him. He barely managed to dodge, but not completely.


    Note to self: Frontliners tend to be more agile in combat.


    Although I failed to kill him outright, I managed to scorch his left side, leaving him disabled. He screamed in agony, staring at his burned flesh in horror.


    The second bad guy caught up to me a few seconds later and struck me in the back of the head. The impact was nearly enough to knock me unconscious. I collapsed to the ground, blood pouring from my head, and struggled to get back up.


    He laughed triumphantly, boasting that he had made a major contribution and would soon be promoted to leadership. Just as he was about to finish me off, a heavy flower vase crashed into his head.


    Note to self: Frontliners are physically stronger than normal people.


    The bad guy barely reacted to the impact, aside from being startled and a bit dirtied by the debris. He craned his head to see who had thrown it, but he couldn¡¯t find anyone.


    Before he could focus back on me, he suddenly let out a scream as he was engulfed in a torrent of fire.


    At that moment, while the bad guy was distracted by the vase, my mother¡ªwho had apparently chosen a healing skill a week ago¡ªrushed out of the house and began healing my head. The healing wasn¡¯t great, only dulling the pain rather than fully closing the wound, but it was enough for me.


    As soon as the pain was reduced to a tolerable level, I spun around and unleashed a torrent of fire at the distracted bad guy, burning him alive.


    Once he was dead, my mother continued healing me for another few seconds before she suddenly passed out from exhaustion. My father caught her before she hit the ground and carried her back inside the house.


    Meanwhile, I turned my attention to the sword user, finishing him off by burning him to death with my last use of fire.


    With the last of the bad guys dead, I slumped to the ground near their charred corpses, feeling a sense of relief. I had cleaned up the mess and saved my housing complex.


    But as if to remind me that the problem wasn¡¯t over yet, the bad guy who had escaped earlier returned¡ªthis time with their leader.


    They screamed curses and insults at me for killing their friends. The female bad guy threw a dagger at me, and I desperately tried to crawl back as fast as I could to dodge it.


    Just when I thought it was over¡ªthat I was about to die¡ªmy neighbors suddenly stormed out of their homes, wielding whatever weapons they could find, and launched a full-on assault on the two remaining bad guys.


    The female bad guy threw daggers at anyone who got too close, but she soon ran out of them. Left defenseless, she was forced to resign herself to becoming a punching bag for the furious moms.


    Meanwhile, the leader had a better escape plan. Seeing the situation turning against him, he bolted without a second thought, not even glancing back at his abandoned comrade.


    By the end of the day, my brother returned to retrieve the female bad guy. He interrogated her and assured us that there would be no more trouble from them in the future.


    My neighbors thanked my brother for his promise, but I noticed how some of them secretly gave me a nod of gratitude¡ªthe one who had actually fought back and protected them.


    That made me feel a little happy¡­ though, to be honest, I would have been even happier if they had paid me for my protection.

 Chapter 6 (Day 20 - Day 23)

    <h2>Day 20, Sunday</h2>


    Today started with two of my neighbors coming over and sharing their food with my family. Since there were only three of us in the house, the food they gave us was too much to eat in a single sitting.


    Please come again, my kind food source!


    Of course, we accepted their gift with appreciation and a smile¡ªwho in their right mind would refuse such a thoughtful offering?


    In the news that day, reports of dungeons spilling out their monsters had increased. Now, there were monsters in nearly every part of the cities and villages across the country.


    On a global scale, the population of animals and monsters had become nearly equal. It felt like the world was suddenly filled with creatures instead of humans. This was due to uncleared dungeons located in the ocean or on uninhabited islands, where monsters had begun to escape and spread into empty spaces.


    Back to me.


    After yesterday¡¯s events, I realized that I still had a lot to learn before I could call myself strong.


    That hit to the back of my head made me realize that I was still a fragile human¡ªnot some overpowered fire lord.


    That¡¯s why I decided to start learning martial arts from the videos I downloaded a few days ago.


    At first, I tried to replicate the moves as best as I could. I practiced for about two hours, and I thought I did pretty well. The problem was that the mission to learn a new skill hadn¡¯t triggered again, which meant I hadn¡¯t actually learned a new skill or figured out the right way to do it.


    But if that was the case, why was it so easy to learn magic-based skills before? Were those skills an exception? Or was I missing something?


    After a break for lunch and a few quick mobile games, I tried learning martial arts again. I kept training and training until I was exhausted¡ªbut still, I didn¡¯t get the skill.


    Later that night, I lay in bed thinking about what I had done wrong. I had copied the moves as best as I could. I even slowed the video down to replicate the movements in detail, but I still got nothing.


    There had to be something I was missing.


    <h2>Day 21, Monday</h2>


    Today''s news is quite concerning if I have to say.


    The government has declared that our nation is no longer safe, and military personnel are not enough to protect everyone everywhere. Because of this, the government has decided to call on everyone living outside major cities to relocate for their safety.


    Regional governments have also been ordered to establish secure borders around the cities to ensure that no hostile monsters can enter. This means that military forces across the nation will now be concentrated in several major cities instead of being spread out evenly for protection.


    It has been almost a month since everyone received the system, and the world has changed for the worse.


    To make matters even worse, my mother¡¯s condition hasn¡¯t improved much since she passed out two days ago while healing my injury. I can only assume it¡¯s because she used too much Mana, draining every last bit of it.


    Unfortunately, since her condition is caused by something completely new, we can¡¯t expect doctors or any medical personnel to help. All we can do is wait and hope for the best.


    My father is the one most affected by my mother¡¯s condition. He seems to blame himself and chooses to stay by her side almost every moment, tending to her and whispering words of love and care all day long.


    I can only see this as a sign of true love¡ªand be grateful for it.


    *****


    Today, I continued my training but with a different approach.


    Instead of focusing on replicating the moves from the video, I shifted my focus to understanding each movement I performed.


    I decided on this approach because it reminded me of how I tried to meditate in the past. The concept of meditation and energy circulation had been something I had thought about for years¡ªback when my mind was more active and filled with fantasies.


    This meant that I already had some understanding of meditation and Mana, even before the system came to me.


    Following that same logic, for the system to register martial arts as a skill, I needed to truly understand martial arts and its movements¡ªnot just copy them.


    That led me to another question: how could I deepen my understanding of these moves?


    To find the answer, I decided to go back to how I used to think when I was obsessed with cartoons.


    I picked a few simple punching techniques and attempted to perform them to shoot fire from my fists¡ªjust like in the cartoons.


    At first, I simply imagined fire bursting from my punches as I executed the moves. However, after several attempts, I started to notice inconsistencies. It felt like these movements were meant to follow a proper sequence rather than being thrown randomly.


    I paused my training for a few minutes to think and plan out the sequences, but for some reason, my ideas stopped flowing the moment I rested. So, I decided to keep training while thinking.


    As I repeated the punching movements over and over, I began to understand how they should connect. Gradually, I built a fluid sequence of punches¡ªas fluid as I could make them, at least.


    Using the same method, I worked on my kicking techniques until I had two complete sets of moves: one for punches and one for kicks.


    By the time I had finished putting everything together, I realized the day was already ending, and I needed some rest before I could perfect my techniques.


    In the meantime, I had dinner and went to bed early¡ªmy body was sore from all the training.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    <h2>Day 22, Tuesday</h2>


    Today''s news reports describe several large cities constructing wire walls to keep monsters away. At the same time, the military is battling monsters that are trying to breach the barriers or cause chaos within the cities.


    Meanwhile, some disgusting, power-hungry humans have taken advantage of the situation to declare their control over certain areas. These people mostly claim empty land to establish their so-called "benevolent kingdoms," but anyone watching the news knows they¡¯re just thugs who have found a new place to serve their own selfish interests.


    Back to me again.


    Today, I spent the entire afternoon and evening training.


    I worked on combining the punching and kicking techniques I developed to create a more complete martial art.


    The real trouble began when I was about to have dinner with my father.


    Some of our neighbors started shouting for us from outside as if a natural disaster was happening right below our house. Both of us rushed out to calm them down, but the moment we saw what they were talking about, my father immediately ran back inside to protect my mother.


    I, on the other hand, could only laugh in excitement.


    Our house was currently being invaded by demonic fireballs¡ªfloating flames with twisted, grinning faces that could shoot fire. The people of old called them Banaspati, demonic fire spirits.


    What made me laugh was the fact that these monsters had no idea who they were attacking.


    About ten Banaspati were hovering above my house, and as I laughed like a maniac, they began gathering magical energy inside their bodies, preparing to unleash their fire attacks.


    I spread my Fire Manipulation skill outward, covering all the Banaspati. The moment they shot their fire, I took control of it, gathering it into a single point.


    Now, the question was¡ªwhere should I store all this fire?


    Then, I remembered the red stone I had obtained from the Lava Snail dungeon. Quickly, I ran to my room while maintaining my control over the flames. Once I returned, I gathered all the fire and funneled it into the red stone.


    As the flames entered the stone, my Fire Manipulation skill reacted, and I could feel the fire now stored inside. There were now two distinct types of fire within the stone¡ªthe demonic fire from the Banaspati and the monster fire from the Lava Snail.


    The Banaspati growled in excitement the moment they saw the red stone in my hand. Their faces no longer looked ghostly; instead, they resembled ravenous beasts. Was this stone the reason they had come here in the first place?


    With eerie howls, the Banaspati charged at me, desperate to snatch the red stone away.


    Unfortunately for them, I still had my Fire Manipulation skill active. Without hesitation, I took control of their demonic fire, pulling it straight out of their bodies.


    As expected, the demonic fire instantly left their forms, leaving behind nothing but empty skeletal husks that quickly turned to dust. I gathered the flames into the red stone and placed my hand over it, trying to feel the energy within.


    Now, two nearly equal amounts of fire resided inside the red stone¡ªdemonic fire and monster fire. The two flames didn¡¯t mix, nor did they oppose each other. They simply coexisted, side by side.


    Out of curiosity, I summoned my own fire and placed it inside the red stone to see what would happen.


    To my surprise, my fire entered smoothly and settled between the monster fire and demonic fire, as if it had its own designated space. The three flames refused to merge, behaving more like oil and water inside a glass rather than fire.


    I spent the rest of the night playing with the red stone¡ªpulling the flames in and out as if it were some kind of puzzle box. No matter how many times I tried, the three types of fire refused to blend, each remaining distinct.


    As exhaustion overtook me, I set the red stone aside, my mind drifting with one final thought¡ªwhat should I do with this fire?


    Could I eat it?


    Would that even be safe?


    <h2>Day 23, Wednesday</h2>


    Today¡¯s big news is about someone named Claire Winmaker, who has created an organization called Item Master. This group focuses on discovering, analyzing, and sharing information about magical items found when people kill monsters.


    In the news, she revealed several items she has already uncovered. One of them is called Basic Sword, a simple blade infused with a small amount of magical energy. Another is the Ring of Power, which grants its wearer an increase in Strength.


    Claire Winmaker is inviting others with similar skills to join her organization, promising a good working environment and competitive salaries. It seems like the job market is finally starting to change, adapting to the new system that has taken over the world.


    Today, my mother finally woke up, and she looked like a mess. The last thing she remembered was me getting hit from behind with a pole, and she immediately assumed the attackers were still around.


    It took my father an hour to calm her down before she could finally sort out her thoughts. Afterward, he helped her take a bath and freshen up. When she finally appeared in the kitchen, she looked much better¡ªclean, refreshed, and beautiful as always.


    Speaking of my parents, they both chose support-type skills when the system arrived. My mother took Healing, but she hasn¡¯t explored her abilities much.


    My father, on the other hand, chose a skill called Soothing Voice. This ability allows him to calm people just by speaking, easing their minds and even lulling them into a near-sleep state. He said he liked the skill because it made his already "magnificent" voice even more impactful.


    I know he used to be a singer in his youth, but with a skill like that, I can¡¯t help but think he¡¯d make a great evil hypnotist.


    I encouraged my parents to explore their skills further¡ªto be creative and find ways to strengthen them. But when they asked me how to do that, I simply shut my mouth and walked back to my room, ignoring their angry stares.


    Today, I decided to spend some time outside. It had been a while since I left home, and with the world changing so rapidly, I wanted to see what had¡ªand hadn¡¯t¡ªchanged.


    The first place I visited was my old school, where I cleared my first dungeon. The school was now completely abandoned, but when I peeked through the gate, I saw a lot of people inside. Some looked like students, but many were random individuals carrying weapons. A few of them even wore pieces of armor, similar to those seen in fantasy games and movies.


    It seemed like the school had transformed into a battle training ground.


    Leaving the school behind, I headed to the clearing where I first tested my skills. When I arrived, I saw that people had already repurposed the area into some kind of fortress. Tall walls now surrounded the clearing, with several dozen houses built inside. Guards stood on the walls, aiming their hands outward as if preparing to fire energy blasts.


    I guess some of them do have skills like Energy Blast.


    After that, I made my way to another location¡ªa train station about two hours away.


    This train station used to be the busiest place in the city since trains were the primary mode of public transportation, especially for those working in nearby cities.


    Now, it was abandoned.


    Trains sat lifeless on the tracks, most of them severely damaged¡ªlikely from monster attacks. I hadn¡¯t heard anything about this in the news, but judging by the claw marks and dents on the train bodies, the destruction had clearly been caused by monsters.


    I entered the station and wandered around, reminiscing about the times I used to commute to work. It had always been hectic and uncomfortable, but somehow, I found myself missing it.


    Eventually, I went to the platform and examined one of the wrecked trains up close. Inside, there were traces of blood and gore, but no bodies remained. This meant that whatever happened inside had been cleaned up before the train was abandoned.


    I sat on one of the dusty old seats, letting the memories wash over me.


    For about an hour, I just stared at the empty seat across from me, lost in thought.


    Then, I got up and left the station.


    As I walked away, I heard the distant roars of monsters echoing from the far end of the station. It was likely a group of creatures that had claimed the area as their nest.


    Not wanting to start an unnecessary battle, I picked up my pace and left as quickly as possible.


    Two hours later, I returned home, a little tired but mostly satisfied.


    The world has changed drastically, and I can only hope that most people have managed to survive.


    Otherwise, things will become far too quiet.

 Chapter 7 (Day 24 - Day 25)

    <h2>Day 24, Thursday</h2>


    Today, I decided to finish my training and finally acquire the Martial Arts Mastery skill.


    I began by performing every single move I had prepared, trying to execute them as fluidly as possible while focusing on how each motion could help me channel my fire.


    By midday, I could feel it¡ªevery move I made carried the same essence as my fire. It was fierce and hot, terrifying yet beautiful.


    But just as I was about to finalize my martial arts technique, a thought crossed my mind.


    I wield fire, bending it to my will. I could even say that I am the master of fire itself. But that only applies to my fire-based skills.


    What I truly want is a second, lethal weapon¡ªsomething that can protect me without relying on fire. Creating a martial art infused with fire would contradict its very purpose.


    Or perhaps, I could adjust my martial arts so that fire is optional¡ªsomething I can incorporate when needed but not something it depends on.


    In simple terms, I need a branch of power separate from fire. A new skill that stands on its own while still allowing me to wield fire when necessary.


    Without hesitation, I restarted my training¡ªthis time focusing purely on raw combat skills, not integrating them with my fire abilities. My goal was to develop Martial Arts Mastery as a standalone skill and, possibly, create an entirely new skill branch in the future.


    I trained for the entire day, pushing my body to the limit, until finally, the results of my efforts appeared before me in the form of system notifications.


    <hr>


    New Skill Learned!


    Martial Arts Mastery Lv. 1!


    Mission Complete!


    You can claim your reward!


    Manual Skill Creation:


    The user must be able to use the learned skill effectively and fully understand its purpose before it can be registered in the system.


    <hr>


    I couldn¡¯t contain my excitement. I had finally completed the skill! But what made me even happier was the next notification that appeared in front of me.


    <hr>


    A new basic skill has been detected!


    Adjusting user status¡­


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33 Years


    Level: 3


    Health: 120


    Magic: 120


    Strength: 8


    Dexterity: 7


    Endurance: 6


    Intelligence: 7


    Wisdom: 9


    Mentality: 7


    Skills:


    Fire Manipulation I Lv. 6 ¨C Allows the user to manipulate fire to a limited extent.


    Fire Magic Lv. 5 ¨C Enables the user to summon and use fire magic.


    Mana Gathering Lv. 5 ¨C Allows the user to absorb magical energy from their surroundings.


    Magic Sense Lv. 5 ¨C Grants the ability to sense Mana within and around the user.


    Mana Mastery Lv. 5 ¨C Provides control over the user¡¯s internal Mana.


    Magic Pathway Lv. 3 ¨C Grants knowledge of magical pathways within the body.


    Martial Arts Mastery Lv. 1 ¨C Enables the user to perform basic martial arts techniques.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    <hr>


    Looking at my status page, I noticed an unexpected trade-off. My Intelligence had dropped by two points, while my Strength and Dexterity had each increased by one.


    In other words, I had gotten slightly stronger and more agile... but also slightly dumber.


    Curious, I tried to sense the changes in my body. The physical improvements were subtle but noticeable. However, I had no idea how to measure how much "dumber" I had become.


    Should I try solving some math problems?


    <h2>Day 25, Friday</h2>


    Today''s news is terrifying to watch.


    Reports say that the government is gathering young and able-bodied individuals to help defend the outer perimeter of major cities across the nation. They are also recruiting people with useful skills to assist in evacuating villagers and residents from smaller towns, trying to save as many lives as possible.


    To make things even more serious, a group of military personnel showed up at our house and knocked on our door. They took one look at me and my parents before informing me that I was being recruited into their program.


    Of course, my parents refused immediately¡ªso much so that my mother almost got detained. Fortunately (or unfortunately), my father''s Soothing Voice skills managed to defuse the tension before things escalated. In the end, we sat down and resumed the conversation like civilized people.


    See? Evil hypnotist! Scary!


    The soldier didn¡¯t like how my father had calmed both him and my mother down with just a few words. But since he had orders to follow and needed as many recruits as possible, he decided to overlook it and focus on getting me into the military.


    By midday, it was decided¡ªwe, as a family, had to go with them.


    First, because I was needed. After speaking with the neighborhood, the military realized I was far more capable than they had assumed, so I was officially "requested" to join.


    Second, because of my father¡¯s skill. His Soothing Voice was deemed a valuable asset for dealing with difficult situations¡ªespecially when handling "troublesome individuals."


    Third, because we were the family of newly recognized heroes¡ªmy brother and sister. That made us "valuable personnel," meaning the military wanted to take us in for protection.


    As we were being escorted out of our home, a system notification suddenly appeared before us.


    <hr>


    Congratulations on surviving this long!


    The system has fully integrated into your world, and drastic changes will follow.


    Prepare yourself for the adventures and challenges ahead.


    <hr>


    As if to drive the message home, a dungeon gate suddenly materialized in front of our housing complex, stunning everyone. The soldiers immediately snapped into action, going into full battle mode.


    They quickly gathered every civilian in the area and started evacuating us.


    Meanwhile, I stared at the dungeon gate with reluctance. If my guess was right, it was probably filled with fire monsters¡ªthe perfect place for me to train.


    And as if answering my silent wish, another notification appeared before me.


    <hr>


    You have a new mission!


    Mission: Clear the Dungeon!


    <ul>


    <li>Clear it in one try.</li>


    <li>Clear it in three tries.</li>


    <li>Clear it in five or more tries.</li>


    </ul>


    Rewards:


    <ul>


    <li>Two Level-Ups or Double Status Points</li>


    <li>Half Status Points</li>


    <li>Bonus Item</li>


    </ul>


    Punishment:


    No more missions forever!


    <hr>


    This was the first time I¡¯d received a mission with multiple choices. Based on the options, I figured that the more attempts I took, the easier the dungeon would become. And to balance that out, the rewards got worse with each additional attempt.


    The real problem now was how to get into the dungeon in the first place. The military had already formed a perimeter around the gate.


    I tried reasoning with the soldier escorting us, claiming I needed to grab something from my house. But he wasn¡¯t having it.


    ¡°Whatever it is you need, let it go. It''s too dangerous now,¡± he said firmly.


    That gave me an idea.


    I decided to make a scene.


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who protected this neighborhood! I have the right to get my things!¡± I argued, raising my voice.


    The soldier ignored me, but I kept pushing the issue, getting louder and louder until someone of a higher rank came to see what was going on.


    Luckily, this officer didn¡¯t seem to care much about my brother¡¯s status and simply shrugged.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t care about your life, then why should we?¡± he said, waving me off.


    My parents tried to stop me, but for once, I ignored them. I turned and ran straight back to the house.


    The only reason I hadn¡¯t left with my brother and sister was because I was worried about my parents. But now that they were under military protection, I had a bit of freedom to take risks.


    I rushed to my room, grabbed the red stone, shoved it into my pocket, and collapsed onto my bed.


    Then I waited.


    For the next hour, I killed time on my phone, letting things settle down outside.


    When I peeked out the window, I saw that the gate was still heavily guarded by armed soldiers, while the rest of the neighborhood was eerily empty.


    Seeing no way to sneak in just yet, I decided to rest.


    I slept from midday until the afternoon, got up to scavenge some leftover food, then waited until midnight before putting on dark clothing and preparing to sneak into the dungeon gate.

 Chapter 8 (Day 26)

    At midnight, I managed to reach the edge of the military perimeter with ease, but as soon as I got there, I was immediately shooed away by a soldier.


    ¡°This area is off-limits to civilians,¡± he said firmly.


    I puffed out my chest and declared myself the protector of this neighborhood, even name-dropping my brother and sister to make myself sound important. Unfortunately, the soldier couldn¡¯t care less. He simply pushed me back and, to drive the point home, aimed his gun at me.


    ¡°If you keep insisting, I¡¯ll make you leave by force,¡± he warned.


    Realizing I wouldn¡¯t win this argument, I backed away and slipped into a nearby house, hiding from the soldier¡¯s view.


    I pulled out my Red Stone and started formulating a plan.


    It was simple, really¡ªcreate chaos.


    I¡¯d launch a fireball toward the perimeter, forcing the military into action. They¡¯d scramble to deal with the fire, and in the confusion, I¡¯d make a run for the dungeon gate. They would definitely come after me, but I had enough firepower to keep them at bay just long enough.


    From the Red Stone, I drew out all the demonic fire stored within and shaped it into five massive fireballs, each the size of a motorcycle. These would undoubtedly cause some serious destruction.


    With a motion like throwing a rock, I hurled the first demonic fireball toward a different section of the perimeter.


    I heard shouting as the soldiers spotted it flying toward them. Several of them scrambled to erect a Protection Barrier, but they weren¡¯t fast enough.


    The barrier was only half-formed when the first fireball struck.


    It exploded in a brilliant crimson blaze, and an ear-piercing screech echoed through the air¡ªthe unmistakable howl of a Banaspati demon. The demonic fire began eating away at the barrier, weakening its defenses. Before they could recover, the second fireball crashed into their tents and equipment, spreading more hellfire into their camp.


    The remaining fireballs followed, but by that time, the entire area was already in chaos. Soldiers ran in all directions, desperately trying to put out the flames that seemed to resist every effort to extinguish them.


    But I wasn¡¯t done yet.


    Unsatisfied with the destruction so far, I reached into the Red Stone again and pulled out the monster fire, shaping it into another five enormous fireballs.


    This time, I threw them all at once¡ªthen immediately sprinted toward the dungeon gate, taking advantage of the absolute bedlam behind me.


    The second volley landed without resistance. The moment they struck, they erupted in a fiery orange explosion, spewing lava and molten rock in every direction.


    Somehow, the monster fire transformed the impact zone into the ideal habitat for a Lava Snail¡ªa landscape of bubbling magma and scorching flames.


    The military had no choice but to retreat, pulling back to a safer distance as they searched for the only person who could be responsible¡ªme.


    By the time they spotted me, I was already halfway to the dungeon gate.


    ¡°Stop right there!¡± one of them shouted.


    More voices followed, their shouts filled with panic and anger.


    ¡°Come back and surrender yourself now!¡±


    Guns were raised. Skills were activated.


    But of course, I wasn¡¯t about to comply.


    Who in their right mind would, in a moment like this?


    Here¡¯s your revised version with improved grammar, clarity, and natural flow while keeping the original intensity and tone intact:


    Instead of stopping, I turned around and unleashed the biggest fire I had ever created.


    To do that, I drew out every last bit of fire stored in my Red Stone, including my own flames, and summoned two shots of Fire Torrent. I fired everything at once, controlling the flames to spread into a massive wave of heat, scorching everything in front of me. The inferno reached nearly six hundred meters, turning the night into a blinding blaze.


    I didn¡¯t waste a single second to check the aftermath. The moment I released the fire, I spun around and sprinted toward the dungeon gate.


    A few seconds later, I reached it and leaped inside, ignoring the furious shouts and the pained screams of the soldiers behind me.


    *****


    I opened my eyes to a world of red.


    Three active volcanoes loomed in the distance, positioned in a rough triangle with me at its center. The ground beneath me was a scorching red desert, with streams of lava snaking just beneath the surface. Every few moments, poisonous gas blasted out from random holes scattered across the landscape, filling the air with a toxic haze.


    Turning around, I spotted the gate standing silently behind me.


    Its once-bright colors had faded, but I could see it slowly, painfully, regaining its hue. That meant I just needed to wait for some time before I could leave.


    But how long?


    As if answering my question, a pair of monsters suddenly appeared in the distance, sprinting straight toward me.


    They ran on two legs and had a humanoid form, but their grotesque features set them apart from any human. Their skin was deep red, their faces long and ugly, with pointed ears sticking out from the sides of their heads. Instead of hair, their skulls burned with living fire. Each of them wielded a crude staff, its tip dripping with molten lava.


    For now, I decided to call them Fire Goblins.


    The Fire Goblins wasted no time, charging straight at me with terrifying speed.


    When they were about a hundred meters away, I activated Fire Manipulation I and quickly seized control of their fire.


    The moment I did, their flaming hair was extinguished, and the lava coating their weapons cooled instantly, hardening into nothing more than smoky rock.


    Easy monsters¡ªjust as I thought.


    Or so I assumed.


    I had made my conclusion too fast.


    Losing their fire didn¡¯t slow them down. If anything, it enraged them.


    With furious screeches, the two Fire Goblins lunged at me the moment they reached my position. One struck my head, the other slammed its weapon into my stomach at the same time. The impact knocked the air from my lungs, and for a whole second, my brain completely shut down. I was sent flying, crashing tens of meters away.


    I scrambled to my feet in a panic, frantically scanning for them¡ªonly to hear a guttural croak behind me.


    Before I could react, one of the Fire Goblins swung its club straight at my head, aiming to crack it open.


    I barely managed to dodge, throwing myself to the side in desperation.


    Without hesitation, I retaliated, unleashing a torrent of fire straight at them.


    Their screams filled the air as they were engulfed in flames, their bodies writhing in agony.


    But when the fire died down, I felt a chill run down my spine.


    They were still standing.


    Their skin bore only a few scorched marks, and their bodies remained completely intact. The only thing I had done was make them angrier¡ªangry enough for their heads to reignite with blazing fire once more.


    With my fire skills rendered useless, panic started to set in.


    I tried to run toward the dungeon gate, desperate to escape. I leaped forward, aiming to jump through¡ªbut when I touched it, my body passed right through as if the gate were nothing more than a mirage.


    Fear clouded my judgment, making me act irrationally. Instead of staying near the gate, I made the mistake of running even farther away.


    As if to prove just how terrible my luck was in this dungeon, the Fire Goblins caught up to me with ease. In an instant, they surrounded me, blocking every escape route.


    Both Fire Goblins closed in from different directions, trapping me in the center. My body froze, paralyzed by fear.


    As their crude weapons came swinging toward my face, time seemed to slow.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    My life flashed before my eyes¡ªthe dull, monotonous existence of a man working an ordinary office job, undervalued and barely scraping by. Living paycheck to paycheck, unable to afford my own place, I had resigned myself to staying with my parents just to save money.


    Then, the system arrived, and the world changed.


    My life became something more¡ªsomething exciting.


    I remembered the thrill of fighting alongside my siblings to take down the Lava Snail. The satisfaction of stealing fire from the Banaspati Demon. The pride I felt protecting my housing complex from those who sought to harm it.


    And now, it had all come to this moment¡ªinside the dungeon I had fought so hard to enter, only to be struck down by two monsters with fire in their veins.


    No.


    This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen.


    I was stronger than this.


    If fire wouldn¡¯t work, then I would fight back with something else.


    Martial Arts!


    As if guided by instinct, my body moved on its own. My hand shot up in a sweeping motion, deflecting the incoming staff. The weapon veered off course, slamming into the ground beside me. At the same time, I stepped forward, dodging the second Fire Goblin¡¯s attack from behind.


    That¡¯s when it hit me¡ªI had another skill. A skill I had trained specifically to complement my fire.


    The two Fire Goblins hesitated, confusion flickering in their glowing eyes. A moment ago, I had been nothing more than easy prey. Now, I was something else¡ªa fighter who refused to go down without a fight.


    They roared in anger and charged at me together, each aiming to kill me in a single strike.


    But this time, I was ready.


    The first Fire Goblin swung its staff toward my head. I intercepted the attack, slapping the weapon to the side with an open palm. The force of the deflection threw the monster off balance. Seizing the opportunity, I drove my fist upward in a brutal uppercut, stunning it for a few seconds.


    The second attack came immediately after, targeting my abdomen. I countered by kicking the staff away, then spun into a roundhouse kick, slamming my foot into the second Fire Goblin¡¯s head.


    The first Fire Goblin snapped out of its daze, its eyes blazing with fury. Its fire hair reignited in a flash of heat.


    The moment the flames reappeared, I stole them with my Fire Manipulation I and compressed them into a burning sphere in my palm.


    Before the monster could react, I lunged forward, driving my fist into its chest while simultaneously unleashing the condensed fire at point-blank range. The fireball, infused with a touch of my Mana, burned straight through its torso.


    The Fire Goblin screeched in agony as its flesh charred, its internal organs reduced to ash.


    A second later, it collapsed, a burnt hole punched clean through its heart.


    The remaining Fire Goblin went berserk.


    Its fire flared violently, not only reigniting its hair but forming flaming claws and a burning tail as well. The flames flickered and twisted, appearing to manifest from nothing.


    But it didn¡¯t matter.


    I stole the fire once again.


    Then, with a swift, precise motion, I delivered a chopping strike to its shoulder while unleashing the stolen flames at close range.


    The impact shattered its bones, and the fire consumed the rest of its body. Its flesh burned, its form split apart diagonally, and within moments, the second Fire Goblin was dead.


    With both enemies defeated, exhaustion crashed over me like a tidal wave.


    A few seconds later, my vision blurred, my body gave out, and I collapsed into unconsciousness.


    *****


    I woke up after some time, my head dizzy and my body covered in sweat and sand.


    I tried searching for water, but, of course, there was none in sight, nor would there be anytime soon.


    I glanced at the dungeon gate, but it hadn¡¯t changed in any significant way. It still emitted a faint, weak glow.


    Just as I was starting to lose hope of finding any relief, I noticed a group of monsters approaching. This time, there were three Fire Goblins, and each one looked furious.


    All of them had fire for hair, tails, and claws, and they each wielded a glowing lava stick. One of them was wearing armor made from what looked like crudely sewn animal hides, offering some form of protection.


    As they slowly advanced toward me, I had enough time to assess myself.


    First, I felt surprisingly refreshed¡ªmy body no longer ached. I remembered taking several hits from the Fire Goblins earlier, but now I felt no pain.


    My Mana was also restored. I had no idea how, but I was grateful for it.


    My clothes, however, were a different story. They were badly damaged. I wasn¡¯t sure how it happened, but I could already imagine my mom¡¯s reaction later when she saw them.


    The three Fire Goblins finally reached my position and began to encircle me, cutting off any possible escape route. The two standard Fire Goblins lunged at me together, aiming to smash my head open with their lava sticks.


    Quickly, I used my Fire Manipulation I to take away the fire from their sticks and their bodies, turning them back into regular red-skinned, angry goblins. I immediately engaged them in melee combat.


    With the fire I had stolen, I inflicted severe burns on the goblins, but it came at the cost of my Mana. Unfortunately, these Fire Goblins had higher resistance to fire, making them nearly impervious to the flames.


    Fighting two enemies at once was difficult, but not impossible. I had to stay mindful of my positioning and fight smart, as relying solely on brute strength wouldn¡¯t be enough to defeat these goblins.


    The two Fire Goblins tried to enhance their powers by reigniting their flames, but I quickly stole the fire once more and used it against them.


    In the end, I managed to kill both Fire Goblins by delivering a crushing blow to their necks. The impact dislocated their neck bones and crushed their windpipes, putting them down for good.


    Panting heavily, I readied myself to face the last Fire Goblin¡ªthe one wearing armor.


    This Fire Goblin didn¡¯t reignite its fire; instead, it charged at me with bloodlust and a burning desire to kill. It swung its stone-cold lava stick with all its might, aiming directly for my face.


    As the cold lava stick sped toward me, I could feel death closing in. I quickly bent my back, then jumped backward as far as I could, creating as much distance in a single leap.


    The Fire Goblin glared at me with condescending eyes, as if to tell me I was too weak to even think of fighting it. The armored Fire Goblin taunted me, mocking me with its expression, clearly trying to provoke me.


    Of course, all I saw was an ugly face making an even uglier expression.


    Seeing that I wasn¡¯t tempted to attack, the Fire Goblin grew angrier, its bloodlust intensifying. It swung its lava stick with renewed fury, each blow twice as powerful as before, leaving deep craters in the ground with every strike. I had to dodge with everything I had, knowing that if one of those swings connected, I¡¯d be finished.


    Unable to find a gap in its relentless attacks, a plan started to form in my mind. I shot a torrent of fire from my hand, aiming it directly at the Fire Goblin''s face. As expected, it didn¡¯t cause any real damage, but that wasn¡¯t the point.


    I was using the fire as a distraction. The moment its eyes were covered in flames, I dashed to the side and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks. Though my strikes landed hard, they seemed to not affect the Fire Goblin.


    What should I do now?


    The Fire Goblin charged again, stomping its feet angrily while swinging its cold lava stick with all its might. I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the monster''s attack.


    As I moved, my eyes met the Fire Goblin''s gaze. I could see the hatred in its eyes as if it blamed me for the death of its companion and sought revenge.


    Then, a realization hit me. The only way to hurt and possibly kill this Fire Goblin was to target its soft spot¡ªits eyes. That was my only chance to win.


    I took a few steps back, then summoned my fire once more, enveloping the Fire Goblin in a blazing torrent. This time, I used every bit of Mana I had left, summoning the largest fire I had ever created.


    The fire engulfed the Fire Goblin, attempting to cook it alive where it stood. But to my surprise, the Fire Goblin only laughed at my attempt, welcoming the flames as if they were warm spring waters.


    Using this moment of distraction, I slipped behind the Fire Goblin, then jumped up and locked its head between my legs. The Fire Goblin was caught off guard, still displaying a carefree attitude, clearly thinking I was no threat.


    With all my physical strength, I slammed my fist into both of the Fire Goblin''s eyes. The Fire Goblin closed its eyelids, allowing me to strike its eyes. I could see that it felt the impact, but it chose to play it cool.


    Then, I shaped my hand like a chopping motion and slid it between its eyelids. As I had anticipated, the eyelids couldn¡¯t fully protect the eyes. No matter how tightly it pressed them together, they could only close so much.


    My hand slipped deeper between the eyelids until it reached the soft eyeball inside. I pushed as hard as I could and pierced the eyeball. The Fire Goblin roared in pain. It tried to grab me and throw me away, but I was quicker.


    I kicked the flailing hand that tried to catch me and pierced the other eye, effectively blinding the Fire Goblin.


    Now blind and roaring in agony, the Fire Goblin flailed around, swinging its hands wildly to try and catch me. I decided to take my time, creating distance between us.


    Frustrated that it couldn¡¯t find me, the Fire Goblin finally summoned its own fire. Flames shot out, transforming into hair, turning into gloves around its hands, and covering its body like armor. It even created more fire, which formed floating Fire Gloves around it, serving as secondary weapons.


    I was delighted to see this, and of course, I immediately tried to steal the fire.


    I could feel strong resistance as I tried to take control of the fire, but it was only a matter of time. Within five minutes, I had successfully stolen all of it and made it my own.


    Once I had possession of the fire, I wasted no time using it against the Fire Goblin. I gathered all the fire, directing some of it toward its wounded eyes. The flames singed the eyes, and the Fire Goblin roared in pain.


    As it opened its mouth to roar, I used the fire I had stolen, enhanced by the tiny bit of Mana I had left, and shot it into the Fire Goblin''s mouth.


    The Fire Goblin tried to close its mouth, but I held it open by sacrificing my left hand while using my right hand to keep the fire burning the Fire Goblin from the inside.


    After five long seconds of pain and fire, the Fire Goblin screeched one last time before it fell onto its back. Smoke began to pour out of its mouth, a sign that its insides had been burned to a crisp.


    I also collapsed onto my back, exhausted and wounded. But at least I had won, and for that, I was satisfied.


    Not long after, I saw the dungeon gate glowing brightly, like a beacon of hope. I tried to stand, but my body was already too weak. I decided to rest for a while and closed my eyes, quickly drifting into a deep sleep.


    *****


    I wake up several hours later, feeling quite refreshed but still somewhat tired. The gate is still glowing brightly not too far from me, and I quickly head toward it.


    As soon as I reach the dungeon gate, I jump in and quickly exit the dungeon, returning to my ruined neighborhood under the scorching daylight, where several hundred armed men are waiting for me.


    I raise my hand to show them I don¡¯t want any more conflict.


    They still warn me, though, saying that if I resist, they will not hesitate to rain bullets down on me.


    As my hands are cuffed and I¡¯m dragged to the nearest car, I open my notification scroll and smile happily. I quickly make my choice and notice a wonderful change in my status page.


    Today is a good day, despite the pain it came with.


    <hr>


    Mission Complete!


    Please choose your reward!


    Two Level Ups / Double Status Points


    <hr><hr>


    Level Up! You are now Level 4!


    Level Up! You are now Level 5!


    You have reached the first threshold. Choose your new skills!


    <hr><hr>


    Skill Level Up! Fire Manipulation I Lv. 9!


    Skill Level Up! Fire Magic Lv. 7!


    Skill Level Up! Mana Mastery Lv. 6!


    Skill Level Up! Magic Pathway Lv. 4!


    Skill Level Up! Martial Arts Mastery Lv. 5!


    <hr><hr>


    Name: Prabu Sanjaya


    Age: 33 Years


    Level: 5 (capped)


    Health: 140


    Magic: 140


    Str: 10


    Dex: 9


    End: 8


    Int: 11


    Wis: 11


    Men: 9


    Skill:


    Fire Manipulation I Lv. 9: Allows the user to manipulate fire to a limited extent.


    Fire Magic Lv. 7: Allows the user to summon and use fire magic.


    Mana Gathering Lv. 5: Allows the user to gather and absorb Mana from their surroundings.


    Magic Sense Lv. 5: Allows the user to sense Mana inside or around them.


    Mana Mastery Lv. 6: Allows the user to control and manipulate Mana inside them.


    Magic Pathway Lv. 4: Gives the user the knowledge of magical pathways inside their body.


    Martial Arts Mastery (basic) Lv. 5: Allows the user to perform basic martial arts.


    <hr>