Arjun sat on the floor of his cramped, dimly lit apartment. The stray kitten, now dry and fed, was purring near his feet. But Arjun couldn't relax. Every time he tried to even hum a tune, a sharp, electric sting flickered in his throat.
The blue holographic screen was still there, floating silently in the air.
[Current Silence Streak: 04:22:15]
[Status: Muteness level 1]
[Reward at 24:00:00: Starter Evolution Box]
"I really can't speak?" he thought. He picked up a glass of water. If he dropped it and yelled "Ouch," would he lose everything? The System had said it would drain his 'life force.' This wasn't a game; it was a survival contract.
The next morning, Arjun went to the scrap yard. The noise was deafening, but for him, it was a test.
"Hey, Arjun! Did you finish the inventory?" his co-worker, Rohan, asked while leaning against a rusted drone.
Arjun simply nodded.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Rohan laughed, shoving him slightly.
Arjun felt a surge of anger. Usually, he would apologize or make an excuse. This time, he just stared. His eyes felt different—sharper.
[Passive Skill Triggered: Eye of the Silent]
[Effect: Observing target... Rohan (Level 3 Human). Weakness: Left knee, Low intelligence.]
Arjun blinked. He could see Rohan's weaknesses glowing in faint red. He realized that by not speaking, his other senses were evolving. He spent the entire day in total silence, ignoring the insults and the heavy labor.
Finally, the timer on his vision hit the mark.
[Congratulations!]
[24-Hour Silence Streak Completed.]
[Reward: Starter Evolution Box is opening...]
[You have received: 'Phantom Whispers' (Rank F Skill)]
[Effect: You can move 50% faster for 10 seconds, leaving no sound behind.]
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the back of the yard. A massive industrial robot had malfunctioned, its red eyes glowing with a corrupted virus. It was charging straight toward Rohan, who was frozen in fear.
Arjun didn't shout a warning. He didn't have to. He activated his new skill.
[Phantom Whispers Activated]
In a blur of motion, Arjun moved. He was a shadow, a ghost in the rain. Before anyone could blink, he had pulled Rohan out of the way, moving so fast that not even a footstep could be heard.
The yard went silent. Everyone stared at Arjun.
[Silence Streak: 24:05:10... Multiplier increasing...]
Arjun didn't say a word. He just turned around and walked away, leaving them all in shock.