The faint glow of the system's interface flickered in the dim shop.
Ethan had just slumped back into his chair, ready to finally take a well-earned nap, when a familiar chime echoed through his head.
[Mission Updated.]
His eyelid twitched. "Oh, come on… I just sat down."
He rubbed his face tiredly, glaring at the translucent screen floating above him, his face about to burst. "Do you ever, you know, rest?"
[Rest function unnecessary. System efficiency at 100%.]
"Good for you," Ethan muttered. "Meanwhile, my efficiency's at negative twenty."
He breath in and then out and looked up at the glowing text.
[Mission: Acquire ownership of the physical shop property.]
[Details: Current location is rented. Ownership required for system-shop synchronization.]
[Reward: +50 Creation Points, Unlock System Shop (allows purchase of any item using points).]
[Failure: Decrease in synchronization efficiency and shop stasis.]
Ethan blinked slowly. "You want me to buy the shop?"
[Affirmative.]
He laughed hollowly. "Do I look like someone who has money? I don't even have a wallet, let alone rent I'm so broke !!!"
[Suggestion: Acquire funds.]
"Oh wow, thanks for the professional advice," Ethan said, dragging a hand down his face. "And how exactly am I supposed to do that, Mr. Cosmic Genius?"
The cube stayed silent for a few seconds, then displayed:
[Recommended method: Join a Guild. Complete bounties for monetary compensation.]
Ethan tilted his head. "Oh right… the Adventurer Guild. They pay for exterminating beasts, gathering herbs, solving weird magical problems… stuff like that."
He crossed his arms. "Except for one small issue."
[Issue: ?]
"I'm weak! I can barely lift a mop, let alone fight a monster! Unless you want me to annoy them to death, I'm pretty much useless right now."
Silence. Then, a new chime.
[Mission Generated.]
[Objective: Physical Conditioning — Phase One.]
[Details: Strengthen host's body through basic training.]
[Tasks: 1,000 push-ups, 1,000 sit-ups, 10 km run.]
[Reward: "Creation Manual – Tier 1 (Rank: ???)" + 30 Creation Points.]
[Failure: Host remains weak and unproductive.]
Ethan just stared. "…You've gotta be kidding me."
[Mission mandatory.]
"Yeah, you said that last time too. You've got some obsession with chores, huh?"
[Correction: Optimization.]
He exhaled deeply. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."
He got on the floor, groaning as he positioned himself for push-ups. "One… two… argh… you've got to be joking…"
By the time he reached fifty, his arms were trembling.
At one hundred, he collapsed flat on his face.
"I'm… dying…"
[Progress: 10%.]
"Don't remind me," he groaned.
He managed to roll onto his back, gasping for air. "I can't believe the universe's most advanced system turned me into a gym rat."
[Correction: A future creator must have a body capable of containing his own energy.]
Ethan looked up at the ceiling. "That actually sounds… cool. Still hate it, though."
He sat up, wiping sweat from his forehead, and switched to sit-ups.
Minutes turned into hours. His body screamed in protest, every muscle burning.
"Six hundred… seven hundred… eight hundred…"
By nine hundred, he could barely breathe.
Just as he thought about giving up, the system pinged again.
[Encouragement Protocol Activated: Progress increases Creation Potential.]
"Yeah, yeah…" he grunted, pushing through the last few. "Nine hundred ninety-eight… nine hundred ninety-nine… one thousand!"
He dropped back with a groan of triumph.
"Ha… I did it… finally…
now give me your grandpa the rewards " Ethan smirks
[Phase One — Push-ups Complete.]
[Progress: 33%. Continue sit-ups.]
Ethan's soul nearly left his body. "WHAT?! That was just the push-ups?!"
[Affirmative.]
"I hate you."
[Emotional feedback irrelevant.]
He growled under his breath and started the sit-ups. Every breath burned, every motion sent pain through his spine, but he kept going.
By the time he reached the 1000th sit-up, his vision was blurry, and he was half-certain he'd ascended into another realm of suffering.
"Done… so… done…"
[Remaining Task: 10 km run.]
He stared blankly at the glowing text. "I'm suing you."
[Request denied. Begin task.]
Ethan dragged himself out of the shop, barely managing to stand. The sun was already dipping low, painting the streets in gold.
He jogged. Then ran. Then stumbled. Then ran again.
1 km. 2 km. 5 km…
By the 8th kilometer, his legs felt like molten iron.
He fell once. Twice. Got back up.
And when he finally crossed the imaginary finish line in his head, he shouted to the sky, "ONE THOUSAND!"
People nearby stared at him like he was insane.
He didn't care.
[Mission Complete.]
[Reward: "Creation Manual – Tier 1 (Rank: ???)" + 30 Creation Points received.]
[Synchronization improved by 8%.]
A scroll of light formed before him, softly glowing. It floated into his hands, warm and humming with strange energy.
Ethan blinked. "This… is the manual?"
[Affirmative. Item: Creation Manual — Tier 1 (Rank Unknown). Description: A foundational technique for refining the body and channeling Creation Energy.]
He raised an eyebrow. "Rank unknown? So even you don't know what level this is?"
[Insufficient data.]
He sighed. "You're telling me you're giving me a mystery manual that might blow me up."
[Probability of explosion: 12%.]
"…You could've just said yes."
He sat cross-legged, focusing as the manual unfolded in golden letters before him. The symbols twisted and melted into his consciousness, searing into his mind like fire.
His whole body shuddered. His veins glowed faintly, light traveling through them like rivers of liquid sun.
Pain tore through him, so sharp that he bit down a scream.
At that exact moment, the door creaked open.
"Brother?" Mira's sleepy voice echoed.
Ethan's eyes snapped open, golden light flaring briefly before fading.
She stood in the doorway, looking in confusion. "…What are you doing?"
"I ummm training????"
"Training?" She raised an eyebrow. "You look like you're giving birth to a dragon."
"It's called progress!" he hissed through clenched teeth.
She covered her mouth, giggling. "You're hopeless. You know, exercises like that don't do much unless you have a proper manual."
He froze. "…Manual? Ooh yeah I forgot."
"Yeah," Mira said, tilting her head. "Everyone who awakens can cultivate using manuals. They're grouped into tiers: Tier 1, Tier 2, and so on — and each tier has lower, middle, and upper levels."
She sighed wistfully. "The academy gives manuals for free to talented students. I heard the exam's next week…"
Her voice trailed off. She looked down. "But… we don't have money for the entrance fee."
Ethan stared at her for a moment. For once, she wasn't teasing her tone was quiet, almost fragile.
He forced a grin. "Don't worry about it, Mira. We'll figure something out."
She smiled faintly, trying to hide her worry. "You always say that."
Then she turned and left, closing the door softly behind her.
Ethan leaned back, letting out a long breath. The shop felt a little emptier after that.
He looked at his hands. Golden light flickered briefly in his palm faint, unstable, but real.
[Host has successfully begun cultivating the Creation Manual.]
[Creation Energy flow stable.]
[Potential increase: 0.7%.]
Ethan grinned faintly. "You know what, System? I think I can make this work."
[Affirmative. Host demonstrates surprising adaptability.]
He chuckled. "Surprising? You doubted me?"
[Statistically, yes.]
He glared. "You really need to work on your people skills."
[Negative. Communication optimized.]
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Now… how do I make money again?"
[Host possesses ability to create. Logical solution: Create items of value.]
Ethan blinked, then facepalmed. "You mean I could've made money this entire time?!"
[Affirmative.]
"And you didn't tell me?!"
[Host did not ask.]
Ethan slumped onto the counter, groaning. "Unbelievable. I've been breaking my back doing push-ups when I could've just made money!"
[Correction: The training was necessary for body stabilization.]
He pointed at the cube. "You're lucky you're shiny, or I'd throw you out the window."
[Impossible. I am bound to your soul.]
"…Of course you are."
He sighed deeply, rubbing his aching shoulders. Despite the exhaustion, a small smile tugged at his lips.
For the first time since awakening, he felt like maybe just maybe things were starting to move.
He stood, stretched, and cracked his neck. "Alright then. Time to see how good I am at creating things worth selling."
The cube pulsed faintly.
[New Feature Unlocked: System Shop Inaccessible until property ownership obtained.]
Ethan froze mid-step.
"…You're mocking me, aren't you?"
[Interpretation: Mildly accurate.]
He exhaled sharply and laughed, half-crazed, half-determined. "Fine. If you want me to buy this shop, I'll buy it. I'll earn money, unlock that stupid shop, and then then I'll create something this world's never seen."
He looked out the window at the glowing city.
Somewhere out there, opportunity waited.
And Ethan Raphael, the reluctant Shopkeeper of Creations, was finally ready to take the first step.