"The Silent Ascension"

The golden crystal pulsed faintly in my hand, its light dim but steady, as though it were patiently waiting for me to act. The faint hum still lingered at the edges of my awareness, not as overwhelming as before but ever-present, like a distant melody that only I could hear.

I slumped back against the wall, the faint glow of the Dungeon crystals around me barely cutting through the dimness of the chamber. My thoughts raced, replaying the words I'd seen hovering in the air moments ago: Idle System Activated.

What did that mean? And why had it chosen me?

---

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. The text from earlier had vanished, but the memory of it remained sharp in my mind: Stat Allocation. Skill Development. Point Accumulation. Inventory Access. Each feature sounded like something out of the stories I'd heard about ancient games, things that no longer existed in the world as it was now.

The hum in my chest shifted slightly, and before I could think too hard about it, new text flickered into view before me, hovering faintly in the air.

---

[Idle System Interface]

Core Tabs:

[Status]

[Stats]

[Skills]

[Inventory]

[Idle Progression]

---

I blinked, unsure of how to interact with it. The floating words didn't have any physical presence, but I could feel a strange connection to them, like they were part of me. Hesitantly, I reached out and touched the faint glowing text for [Status].

The other options disappeared, replaced by a new set of information.

---

[Status]

Name: Kai

Level: 1

Health: 18/50

Stamina: 10/25

Mana: 0/10

Available Stat Points: 5

---

My eyes widened as I scanned the text. Health was obvious—I'd taken a beating in the fight with the Scavenger Beast, so it made sense that I wasn't at full strength. Stamina explained why I felt so drained, and Mana… well, that one puzzled me. I didn't have magic, so why was it even listed?

At the bottom of the display was the part that caught my attention the most: Available Stat Points: 5.

So the system gave me points to spend. But how?

The text shifted again, as if sensing my question, and a new tab appeared: [Stats].

---

[Stats]

Strength: 3

Dexterity: 4

Intelligence: 2

Constitution: 5

Luck: 1

Available Points: 5

---

The numbers weren't impressive, but they made sense. Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution seemed to align with how I'd been able to fight—or, more accurately, survive—the Scavenger Beast. Intelligence probably had to do with magic or problem-solving, and Luck… well, considering my life so far, I wasn't surprised it was the lowest.

"Okay," I muttered, staring at the screen. "If I can spend points, how do I…?"

Before I could finish the thought, the hum in my chest grew stronger, and a faint golden glow appeared next to each stat. It was subtle but clear, and I instinctively knew what it meant: I could allocate the points however I wanted.

---

I hesitated, weighing my options. Strength seemed like an obvious choice—it would help me hit harder and fend off anything else I might encounter. But my fight with the Scavenger Beast had been more about speed and survival than raw power. Dexterity might be a better option, giving me the edge I needed to dodge attacks or move faster.

And then there was Constitution. If I ran into something stronger, would I even survive long enough to fight back?

I sighed, rubbing my temples as I tried to think it through. Five points wasn't a lot, but it was enough to make a difference. Finally, I decided:

Strength: +2

Dexterity: +2

Constitution: +1

The moment I made my choice, the golden glow faded, and a new notification appeared:

[Stat Allocation Complete.]

I felt a subtle shift in my body—not dramatic, but noticeable. My limbs felt just a little lighter, my breathing a little steadier. It wasn't enough to heal my wounds or restore my stamina, but it was a start.

---

Next, I turned my attention to the [Skills] tab. When I selected it, a new screen appeared, listing several options:

---

[Skills]

Novice Combat Proficiency (Passive): Basic understanding of melee combat. Slightly increases effectiveness with small weapons.

Basic Survival Instinct (Passive): Heightened awareness of danger in hostile environments.

Skill Slots Available: 1

---

"Skill slots?" I muttered, frowning. The system seemed to limit how many active abilities I could have, but it also suggested I could unlock more later.

As I focused on the available skills, new options began to appear, faint and grayed-out:

---

Potential Skills:

Quick Step (Active): Temporarily increase movement speed for 10 seconds. Costs 5 Stamina.

First Aid (Active): Basic ability to treat minor wounds and injuries. Costs 5 Stamina.

Focus Strike (Active): Deliver a powerful, precise blow. Costs 5 Stamina.

---

I selected First Aid without hesitation. The system confirmed my choice, and I felt a faint pulse of energy in my chest. Somehow, I knew I could use the ability if I focused hard enough.

---

The final tab was [Idle Progression], and this one puzzled me the most. When I selected it, the text that appeared was vague but intriguing:

---

[Idle Progression]

Passive Stat Growth: Points accumulate slowly over time.

Rest Mode Bonuses: Increased growth rate when not actively moving or engaging.

Dungeon Synergy: Increased point generation while within a Dungeon.

---

I frowned, reading the words again. Passive stat growth? That explained the "idle" part of the system's name. Even if I wasn't actively fighting or exploring, the system would continue to grow stronger on its own. The idea seemed too good to be true—something that could help even someone like me, who lacked natural talent or power, to keep improving.

But the "Dungeon Synergy" part worried me. Did that mean the system was tied to this place? If I left the Dungeon, would it stop working?

---

I let out a slow breath, leaning back against the wall as I closed the interface. The golden crystal pulsed softly at my side, its warmth steady and reassuring. The system was incredible, but it also raised more questions than answers.

Why had it appeared now? Why me? And what did it mean for the future?

For now, I had no choice but to trust it.