《The Day The System Spoke: The Nurture Whisperer》 Chapter 1: The Day the World Rewrote Itself Chapter 1: The Day the World Rewrote Itself "C-A-T. Cat." The word floated through the air, soft and deliberate. Teacher Kylie held up the flashcard, her pale fingers contrasting against the vibrant colors of the illustrated feline. The classroom buzzed with the hum of air conditioning, a necessity in Singapore¡¯s relentless humidity. Around her, the walls were a cheerful chaos of zoo-themed decorations¡ªtigers and toucans, monkeys and meerkats¡ªall paired with sight words and numbers in English, Mandarin, and Malay. "C-A-T. Cat," she repeated, her brown eyes scanning the circle of preschoolers seated on the alphabet rug. "Can you say it with me?" "C-A-T. Cat!" the children chorused, their voices a mix of enthusiasm and uncertainty. Kylie smiled. This was her world¡ªbright, predictable, safe. Then the lights flickered. Bzzt. Bzzt. The fluorescent bulbs above sputtered, and the smartboards mounted on the walls glitched, their displays warping into static. A collective gasp rose from the children as they huddled closer together, their wide eyes darting around the room. "Don¡¯t worry, everyone," Kylie said, kneeling to their level. Her black braid slipped over her shoulder as she gestured reassuringly. "It¡¯s probably just maintenance. I¡¯m right here." The lie tasted bitter. Maintenance didn¡¯t make the air crackle with ozone, nor did it twist shadows into claw-like shapes on the floor. "Teacher Kylie¡­" A small hand gripped her skirt. Mei-Li, the pigtailed girl who cried during fire drills, pressed her face into Kylie¡¯s side. "I¡¯m scared," she whispered. Stolen novel; please report. "Me too!" "Me too!" Kylie opened her mouth¡ª ¡ªand froze. Eli floated three inches above his carpet square, glowing like a human firefly. His eyes had gone milky white, head tilted at an unnatural angle as if watching invisible credits roll across the ceiling. "Eli?" Kylie''s voice barely a whisper. "Eli?! Are you alright?!" Kylie lunged forward, her teacher¡¯s instinct overriding the primal scream building in her throat. His skin was cold, pulse thready. Not a seizure, not anaphylaxis¡ª "Gasp! Teacher Ky¡ª" Saaral¡¯s voice cut off mid-shriek. The girl hung suspended now too, a second tiny star in their macabre constellation. "Saaral!" Kylie''s voice cracked, panic clawing at the edges of her composure. The room erupted into chaos as one by one, the children began to glow, their bodies suspended in the air like stars caught in a frozen sky. Kylie spun around, her gaze darting to the glass wall that separated the classroom from the hallway. Boom. The building shuddered. Lights died. In the sudden dark, Kylie staggered back, heel catching on a block tower as she turned toward the glass wall. Her breath hitched. Through the pane, she could see the same phenomenon in every other classroom she saw Ms. Gupta¡¯s class across the hall¡ªalso glowing. Kindergarteners glowing in every room hovered like fireflies in jars, teachers frozen mid-panic, the world unravelling at the seams. Then it seized her. An invisible force clamped her limbs, her voice strangled as though a hand had plunged down her throat. Her muscles burned, tendons screaming against the puppet strings holding her upright. Her mind raced, her thoughts a frantic jumble. What''s happening? Is this real? Am I dreaming? What¡ª? A holographic screen exploded across her vision, it''s neon glow cutting through the darkness, accompanied by retro carnival melody that felt grotesquely out of place. The screen displayed a slot machine, its reels spinning with symbols she couldn''t quite make out. Kylie''s mind screamed in protest. What is this? Some kind of sick joke? Text scrolled across the bottom of the screen: [Do you bend to fate¡­ or forge destiny from chaos?] Hallucination. Shock. This isn¡¯t¡ª [Pull the lever, Kylie.] Her arm jerked upward without permission, fingers curling around the phantom lever. The slot machine spun with a ka-chunk and the reels began to spin. The music crescendoed, a cacophony of trumpets, violins and drums that made her head throbbed. The symbols on the reels blurred together, then slowed, one by one, until they aligned: [CLASS AWARDED: NURTURE WHISPERER] Kylie blinked, her mind struggling to process the words. Excuse me¡ª? Nurture Whisperer? What does that even mean? Before she could form coherent thoughts, a blinding light detonated behind her eyes and engulfed her vision, washing out the world in a sea of white. As consciousness frayed, a mechanized voice hissed in her ear like steam from a rusted pipe: "May your class let you survive¡­ and succeed." The last thing she heard was the sound of her own heartbeat, loud and frantic. Then the world dissolved into static. Chapter 2: The Walls That Hold Us Chapter 2: The Walls That Hold Us Kylie blinked, her vision swimming as the blinding white light faded. The classroom came into focus¡ªslowly, like a photograph developing in reverse. The air smelled of burnt plastic and ozone, a sharp contrast to the usual scent of crayons and disinfectant. The children were sprawled on the floor, stirring groggily. The lights were dead, the smartboards dark, and the hum of the air conditioner was conspicuously absent. Only the faint glow of battery-powered devices¡ªa tablet here, a toy there¡ªlit the room. "Kids? Are you okay?" Kylie¡¯s voice was steady, but her hands trembled as she moved from child to child, checking for injuries. "Teacher Kylie¡­ what happened?" Mei-Li asked, her pigtails askew as she rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, why¡¯s it so dark?" Eli added, his voice tinged with both curiosity and fear. Kylie forced a smile. "I¡¯m not sure, but we¡¯ll figure it out together, okay? Everyone, stay close to me." The children huddled around her, their small faces pale and wide-eyed. Before she could say more, a sound cut through the silence¡ªa shriek, high-pitched and guttural, like nothing she¡¯d ever heard. Heads whipped toward the window. Outside, the sky was a canvas of chaos. Massive, pterodactyl-like creatures soared above, their leathery wings blotting out the sun. Their cries echoed through the air, sending shivers down Kylie¡¯s spine. "Dinosaurs!" Zayne exclaimed, pointing with a mix of awe and terror. Kylie¡¯s stomach churned. She stepped closer to the window, her breath fogging the glass. The streets below were a nightmare¡ªcars overturned, roads cracked, and buildings leaning precariously. Smoke rose in the distance, and the once-bustling city of Singapore was eerily silent, save for the occasional distant roar. Is this just here? Or is it everywhere? The thought was interrupted by a knock at the door. Kylie turned to see Vice Principal Lim stepping inside, his face pale and frazzled but his voice steady. "Teacher Kylie," he said, his tone urgent. "We¡¯re gathering all the students and staff in the preschool unit. It¡¯s been designated as a safe zone. Please bring your class there immediately." Kylie nodded, relief and anxiety warring within her. At least there was a plan. "Understood. We¡¯ll head there now." The vice principal gave her a reassuring nod. "Stay calm, and keep the children close. We¡¯ll explain everything once everyone is assembled." As he left to inform the other classrooms, Kylie turned to her students. "Alright, everyone. We¡¯re going to the preschool unit. But first, let¡¯s grab your belongings. Quickly and quietly, okay?" The children nodded, their trust in her unwavering despite the fear in their eyes. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "Serena," Kylie called out, her voice firm. "Can you help the kids pack their things? We need to move fast." Serena, who had been quietly comforting a group of students, nodded and sprang into action. "Kids, follow me. Grab your bags, but only take what you need. No toys, no extra stuff. We have to move quickly." As the children hurried to their cubbies, Kylie quickly grabbed her own bag from the teacher¡¯s desk. Inside were her phone, a first-aid kit, and a few snacks she kept for emergencies. She also unplugged the classroom tablet, tucking it into her bag. This might come in handy, she thought. Serena approached Kylie, her expression serious. "Kylie, we should grab anything that could be useful¡ªscissors, rulers, anything that could work as a weapon or tool. Just in case." Kylie hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "You¡¯re right. Better to be prepared." She quickly rummaged through the classroom supplies, grabbing a pair of heavy-duty scissors, a first-aid kit, some sanitising supplies and a few sturdy rulers. Serena did the same, stuffing a small toolkit and a roll of duct tape into her bag. "Alright, everyone," Kylie said, her voice calm but firm. "Stay close, and hold onto each other. We¡¯re going to the preschool unit now." The group moved into the hallway, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The preschool unit was eerily intact¡ªno overturned furniture, no bloodstains¡ªbut the air was thick with tension. As they reached the preschool unit, Kylie¡¯s heart sank. The room was already filled with the preschool¡¯s staff: the cook, Mrs. Tan, the cleaner, Mr. Lee, and the administrative support staff, Ms. Lim. The children and teachers huddled together, their faces pale and wide-eyed. Vice Principal Lim stood on the stage, his voice steady as he addressed the crowd. "Everyone, please remain calm. We¡¯re working on a plan to ensure your safety. Teachers, please take a headcount of your students and report any missing or injured." Kylie quickly did as instructed, relieved to find all ten of her children accounted for and unharmed. As the vice principal spoke, Mr. Tan, the head of security for the building, stepped forward with a few brave individuals. "We¡¯re going to check the hallways and secure the building. Stay here and stay safe." The group nodded, their faces grim but determined. They moved toward the doors, their footsteps echoing in the silence. Minutes passed, and the tension in the room grew. Then, the doors burst open, and Mr. Tan stumbled in, his face pale and his breathing ragged. "Goblins!" he shouted, his voice filled with fear and horror. "They¡¯re everywhere! Tiny, vicious creatures¡ªthey¡¯re attacking people! Some are already injured!" The room erupted into chaos. Teachers and staff shouted questions, while the children clung to each other, their faces filled with terror. Kylie¡¯s heart raced as she processed the information. *Goblins? Attacking people?* Before she could say more, a holographic screen flickered to life above the stage, accompanied by a clicking timer sound. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the glowing text: [Group Quest: Survive the Goblin Raid] Objective: Defend the building from the goblin invasion. Time Limit: 2 hours Reward: +500 EXP, Unlock Building Safezone (Temporary). Failure: Building overrun, penalties applied. Kylie¡¯s heart raced as another notification appeared in her vision: [Individual Quest: Protect the Innocents] Objective: Safeguard your students and return them to their parents. Minimum Success: 5/10 children returned safely. - Success Reward: ??? - Failure (Below 5/10): Penalty: -50 EXP, Skill Lock for 24 hours. Before Kylie could process the quests, a shrill shriek echoed through the building. The sound was followed by screams¡ªhuman screams¡ªcoming from the hallway. "Stay here!" Vice Principal Lim barked, rushing toward the door with a few brave staff members. Kylie¡¯s stomach churned as she heard the unmistakable sound of scuffling and growling. Goblins. They were inside the building. But as the goblins reached the preschool unit doors, they were stopped by an invisible barrier. The creatures slammed into it, their tiny bodies bouncing back as if hitting a solid wall. They chattered and hissed, their beady eyes gleaming with frustration. The room fell silent as everyone stared at the goblins, their fear momentarily replaced by awe. "What¡­ what is that?" Serena whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. Kylie¡¯s mind raced as she processed the situation. The preschool unit is a safe zone. The goblins can¡¯t get in. But before she could say more, another shriek echoed through the preschool unit¡ªthis time from Mei-Li herself. The girl¡¯s eyes glowed faintly as a burst of energy shot from her hands, shattering a nearby chair. The room fell silent. Kylie stared at Mei-Li, her mind racing. A notification popped up in her vision: [Status Insight Available] Would you like to assess Mei-Li¡¯s status? [Yes/No] Kylie hesitated, then mentally selected Yes. [Mei-Li Tan] Age: 4 Class: Awakened (Potential: Elemental Affinity) Status: Terrified, Unstable Recommendation: Calm and guide to prevent accidental harm. Oh no. Kylie reached out, her voice soft but firm. "Mei-Li, it¡¯s okay. Take a deep breath. I¡¯m here." But inside, she was torn. Her family was out there, possibly in danger. Yet her students were here, relying on her. What do I do? Chapter 3: The First Kill Chapter 3: The First Kill The auditorium was eerily quiet, save for the occasional whimper of a child or the distant snarls of the goblins clawing at the invisible barrier. The adults huddled together, their faces pale and drawn, while the children clung to their teachers, their wide eyes darting between the adults and the creatures outside. Vice Principal Lim stood at the center of the room, his voice calm but firm as he addressed the group. "Everyone, please remain calm. We¡¯ve secured the preschool unit as a safe zone, and the goblins cannot enter. For now, we stay put and wait for help. The authorities¡ªpolice, army, someone¡ªwill come. They have to." His words were meant to reassure, but Kylie noticed the faint tremor in his hands and the way his eyes flicked toward the doors every few seconds. He was just as scared as the rest of them. Serena leaned closer to Kylie, her voice low so only she could hear. "Kylie, I don¡¯t like this. What if help doesn¡¯t come? Or what if the safe zone doesn¡¯t last? We can¡¯t just sit here and wait to be overrun." Kylie glanced at her, her arms still wrapped around Mei-Li, who had buried her face in Kylie¡¯s side. The little girl¡¯s breathing was uneven, her small body trembling with fear. Kylie gently stroked her hair, trying to soothe her, but her mind was racing. "What are you suggesting?" Kylie asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Serena¡¯s eyes hardened. "We need to be ready to fight. If the safe zone fails, or if those things find a way in, we can¡¯t just stand here defenseless. We need weapons¡ªanything we can use to protect the kids." Kylie¡¯s stomach churned at the thought. Weapons? Fighting? She was a preschool teacher, not a soldier. But Serena was right. They couldn¡¯t rely on the safe zone forever. Her gaze drifted back to the goblins. They were still there, pacing just beyond the barrier, their glowing eyes fixed on the humans inside. One of them lunged at the barrier again, its claws scraping uselessly against the air. Kylie¡¯s heart pounded as she studied the creature. Can I¡­ see its status, too? she wondered. Hesitantly, she focused on the goblin, trying to summon the same system notification she¡¯d seen for Mei-Li. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, faintly, a line of text appeared in her vision: [Goblin Scout] Species: Goblinoid Level: 2 Status: Aggressive That was it. No detailed stats, no recommendations¡ªjust the basics. Kylie frowned. It made sense, she supposed. These weren¡¯t humans or allies; they were monsters. There was no trust, no rapport, no loyalty to build on. Still, it was something. She glanced at Serena. "They¡¯re level 2. At least, that one is. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s high or low, but¡­ it¡¯s something." Serena raised an eyebrow. "Level 2? Like in a game?" Kylie nodded slowly. "Yeah. Like in a game. And if this is like a game¡­" She trailed off, her mind racing. "What if we can fight back? What if we can¡­ gain experience? Get stronger?" The auditorium buzzed with chaos¡ªchildren crying, teachers arguing, goblins screeching¡ªbut Serena¡¯s voice cut through the noise like a blade, eyes as hard as steel. ¡°Kylie. How did you know?¡± Kylie turned, her hands still stroking Mei-Li''s head in comfort. ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°That the goblin was level 2,¡± Serena said, her eyes narrowing. ¡°You said it like it was obvious. But I don¡¯t see anything." "Y-you... Can''t see it..?" Kylie stammered and blinked her eyes furiously, her breath caught in her throat. "No," Serena said flatly. ¡°I tried. I stared at those things for minutes. Nothing. No text, no levels, no glowing screens. Just¡­ monsters." "You said it was level 2. How did you see that? I can¡¯t see anything. None of us can." She crossed her arms. ¡°So why can you see it?¡± Kylie hesitated, her mind racing. She glanced at Mei-Li, who was still huddled with the other children, her small face streaked with tears. ¡°When Mei-Li¡­ when her powers activated, I got a notification. A status screen. It said she was ¡®Awakened.¡¯ Maybe¡­ maybe that triggered something for me too?¡± Serena¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Awakened? What does that even mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Kylie said, her voice rising with frustration. ¡°But when I looked at Mei-Li, the system showed me details about her. Then, when I focused on the goblin, it gave me the basics. Level, species. That¡¯s all.¡± Serena stared at her, then shook her head. ¡°That doesn¡¯t make sense. Why you and not the rest of us?¡± ¡°Maybe because I was the first to interact with Mei-Li?¡± Kylie suggested weakly. ¡°Or¡­ or maybe it¡¯s random. Like some people get abilities, and others don¡¯t.¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Abilities?¡± Serena echoed, her tone sharpening. ¡°You think this is some kind of¡­ class system? Like Mei-Li¡¯s a mage, and you¡¯re a¡­ what? A scout? A monster analyst?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t *know*!¡± Kylie snapped, running a hand through her hair. ¡°All I know is that when I focus on someone¡ªor something¡ªthe system gives me information. Not much, but enough.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Kylie snapped, running a hand through her hair. ¡°All I know is that when I focus on someone¡ªor something¡ªthe system gives me information. Not much, but enough.¡± ¡°But¡­ wait. Serena, do you remember the slot machine?¡± Kylie paused and and mechanically turned her head to look at Serena with a jerk. Serena froze, her eyes widening. ¡°The¡­ what?¡± ¡°The slot machine,¡± Kylie repeated, her voice dropping to a whisper. ¡°When the light hit us. I saw it. It was like¡­ a hologram. It spun and gave me a class. I think it gave everyone a class. Do you remember?¡± Serena¡¯s face went pale. She stared at Kylie for a long moment, then shook her head slowly. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Maybe? It¡¯s all a blur. But if it did, I don¡¯t remember what it gave me.¡± Kylie¡¯s chest tightened. ¡°Neither do I. But I think that¡¯s why I can see these things. The system gave me a role. A class. And it gave you one too. You¡¯re Awakened, Serena. You just don¡¯t know how to use it yet.¡± Serena paced a few steps, her boots clicking against the floor. ¡°So you can see Mei-Li¡¯s status and the goblins¡¯ levels. Can you see mine?¡± Kylie focused on Serena. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, faintly: [Serena Koh] Species: Human Status: Awakened (Inactive) Trust Level: Neutral ¡°It says you¡¯re human, Awakened, but¡­ inactive,¡± Kylie said slowly. ¡°Our trust level is ¡®Neutral.¡¯¡± Serena raised an eyebrow. ¡°Awakened but inactive? What does that mean?¡± ¡°I think it means you have a power, but you haven¡¯t unlocked it yet,¡± Kylie said. ¡°Mei-Li¡¯s status said ¡®Awakened¡¯ too, but hers is active. She¡¯s already using her abilities.¡± Serena scoffed. ¡°Awakened but Inactive. Great. So I¡¯m a locked character in your little RPG.¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a game, Serena,¡± Kylie said, her voice trembling. ¡°But if the system is giving me this advantage, we need to use it. If I can scout their levels, we¡¯ll know which ones to target. Which fights to pick.¡± Serena¡¯s eyes lit up with a fierce determination. "Then we don¡¯t wait for help. We make our own." ¡°But here¡¯s the problem: if you¡¯re the only one with this ability, you¡¯re also a target. Those things¡ª¡± Serena jerked her chin at the goblins. ¡°¡ªif they see you kill their friend, they¡¯ll remember that. And if the system gave you powers, it might¡¯ve given others too. Maybe even the goblins.¡± Kylie¡¯s stomach dropped. She hadn¡¯t considered that. Serena leaned in, her voice low. ¡°You need to be careful. And you need to teach me¡ªteach us¡ªhow to see what you see. If this is a game, we can¡¯t let you play solo.¡± Kylie nodded, though doubt gnawed at her. How could she teach something she didn¡¯t understand? Kylie hesitated, her arms tightening around Mei-Li. The idea of fighting those things was terrifying, but what choice did they have? If the safe zone failed, they¡¯d be sitting ducks. And if this was some kind of game¡ªsome kind of system¡ªthen maybe they could use it to their advantage. She gently released Mei-Li, crouching down to meet the girl¡¯s tear-filled eyes. "Mei-Li, I need you to stay with Serena for a moment, okay? I¡¯ll be right back." Mei-Li nodded shakily, clutching her stuffed bunny tightly. Serena took her hand, giving Kylie a nod of encouragement. Kylie stood, her heart pounding as she scanned the room. Her eyes landed on a chair¡ªa sturdy, metal-legged chair that looked heavy enough to do some damage. She walked over to it, her hands trembling as she picked it up. It was heavier than she expected, but she gripped it tightly, her knuckles turning white. The goblins outside noticed her movement, their glowing eyes locking onto her. One of them let out a high-pitched shriek, baring its jagged teeth as it lunged at the barrier again. "Teacher Kylie, what are you doing?" The sharp voice came from Mrs. Wong, one of the older teachers, her face pale as she stepped forward. "Put that down! You¡¯ll provoke them!" Kylie froze, the chair still raised. Other teachers turned to stare, their expressions a mix of fear and disbelief. "Are you mad?" Mr. Lee, the cleaner, hissed. "You¡¯ll get us all killed!" "Stay back!" another teacher shouted, her voice shrill. "What if the barrier breaks because of you?" The children began to whimper, their earlier curiosity dissolving into fresh terror. A few pointed at Kylie, their small voices trembling. "Teacher Kylie¡¯s gonna fight the monsters¡­" "She¡¯s scary!" Can I really do this? Kylie¡¯s mind raced, her grip tightening on the cold metal legs of the chair. I¡¯ve never killed anything before¡ªnot really. A mosquito, maybe, or a cockroach. But this¡­ this is different. This is a living thing. But Kylie¡¯s eyes stayed locked on the goblin. The system had called it Level 2. If this was a game, then maybe¡­ maybe they weren¡¯t powerless. The goblin on the other side of the barrier snarled, its jagged teeth glinting in the dim light. Its claws scraped at the air, inches from her face, as if it could already taste her fear. Her chest tightened, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. It¡¯s not just a living thing, she reminded herself. It¡¯s a monster. It would kill us all if it could. But the thought didn¡¯t make it any easier. She forced herself to take another step forward, her legs trembling beneath her. The goblin¡¯s beady eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, she saw something almost¡­ human in its gaze. A flicker of intelligence, of malice. No. It¡¯s not human. It¡¯s not even close. Her hands tightened around the chair until her knuckles turned white. I have to do this. For the kids. For all of us. But as she raised the chair, her heart pounded so loudly she was sure the entire room could hear it. What if I can¡¯t? What if I freeze? The goblin lunged at the barrier again, its claws raking the air with a sound like nails on glass. "Kylie, stop!" Vice Principal Lim barked, his composure cracking. "This is reckless! We wait for help!" Kylie¡¯s breath hitched. No more what-ifs. She tightened her grip on the chair and swung the chair down with all her strength. "Don¡¯t¡ª!" Before anyone could react, Kylie swung the chair down with all her strength. The barrier didn¡¯t stop her. The metal legs smashed into the goblin¡¯s skull with a sickening crack. The creature collapsed, its body twitching violently before falling still. A dark, oily substance pooled beneath it, and the other goblins screeched in rage, hurling themselves at the barrier with renewed fury. The room erupted. Children screamed, their cries piercing the air as they scrambled backward, tripping over each other in their panic. "Teacher Kylie killed the monster!" Zayne shrieked, his voice equal parts awe and horror. "She¡¯s a monster too!" a girl wailed, burying her face in Mrs. Tan¡¯s apron. Kylie stood frozen, the chair still clutched in her trembling hands, her ears ringing from the sickening crack of metal meeting bone. Adrenaline surged through her veins, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears as a notification blinked into her vision: [Goblin Scout defeated!] +10 EXP +5 Points Loot: Goblin Tooth x1 But the triumph was drowned out by the chaos around her. Teachers shouted, some rushing to comfort the sobbing children, others rounding on Kylie with furious accusations. "What have you done?" Mrs. Wong screamed, her face red. "You¡¯ve traumatized them! You¡¯ve made it worse!" Serena stepped forward, placing herself between Kylie and the angry crowd. "She just saved us! That thing was going to kill us ¡ª if we can fight them, we can survive!" "Survive? By turning this into a warzone?" Mr. Lee shot back, jabbing a finger at the dead goblin. "Look at it! Do you want the children to see more of this?" Kylie¡¯s hands shook as she dropped the chair as her eyes sweeping across through the room of horrified faces. Her heart sank. Mei-Li stared at her from across the room, her eyes wide and unreadable. Did I just make a terrible mistake? But then another notification flickered: [Skill Unlocked: Basic Combat Proficiency (Lv. 1)] Effect: Slightly increases damage dealt with improvised weapons. A cold resolve settled over her. The goblins were still out there. The system was real. And if this was their new reality, she couldn¡¯t afford to hesitate¡ªnot if it meant protecting the children. Serena met Kylie''s gaze and mouthed "Tick-tock, Kylie. Time to level up.¡± This was only the beginning.