The blinding light from the System engulfed the entire room, leaving me squinting.
Almost instantly, a gust of wind that felt far too real rushed past me. It was strange, considering just moments ago, I’d been standing inside a hotel room, yet now a cool breeze swept across my skin, carrying the fresh scent of grass with it.
I squeezed my eyes shut for a long moment before finally opening them.
What greeted me was nothing like the room I’d just left. In fact, it looked nothing like anywhere I’d ever been before.
Ding!
[Welcome, Host, to the first stage of the simulation: Veldemor.]
Another gust of wind swept past, sending leaves fluttering through the air.
I sat on a small hill, the long box my mother had handed me resting at my side. I’d carried it all the way here, though I still hadn’t bothered to open it.
Around me stretched a lush grassy plain that continued as far as the eye could see, dotted here and there with beautiful trees and patches of vibrant greenery.
The world felt less like a simulation and more like a real fantasy realm, the kind of place someone could spend their entire life in and never want to leave.
It was so peaceful that I simply let myself fall backward, lying in the soft grass as I stared up at the sun.
It wasn’t too hot or too cold. Just perfect.
"That being said..."
I sprang to my feet in one fluid motion. "I can’t rest when time is ticking."
For now, understanding my abilities was my top priority, at least after sleep and a proper rest.
Since I didn’t have enough money to buy another skill, and honestly wasn’t planning on getting one until I fully understood the abilities I already had, I decided to focus on improving my attack speed and mastering Flash Step for now.
"System, pull up the AI simulation for Flash Step, and if possible, show me the optimal way to use my strength and speed. That’s possible without spending money, right?"
[Yes, Host. Although I am a Pay-To-Win System, I still have several freebies for you. For example, you don’t have to pay to talk to me. That’s worth praising me for.]
I stared at the System in stunned silence. Really, what was I even supposed to say to that? Thank you? The audacity?
Seeing no point in stressing over a reply to a mechanical voice, I simply waved my hand through the air, dismissing it. "Forget it. I can figure it out myself."
The System flashed back into existence just as quickly as it had vanished.
[Host, that was just a joke!] The System flashed an emoji of a pouting kitten before continuing. [You should take what I say most of the time with a pinch of salt, alright?]
I tilted my head to one side, my hand propped against my chin, then tilted it the other way, just in case I wasn’t seeing things right.
"Hey, System," I asked cautiously. "Are you human, or some kind of humanoid being? Because you’re starting to sound like a girl."
[...]
The System paused for a long moment before finally replying.
[No, Host. I am not human, nor do I have any gender. I am simply your System.]
My gaze lingered on it, clearly skeptical, then with reluctance I shook my head. "If you say so, then so be it."
[Since that little misunderstanding is out of the way, I’ll pull up the AI simulation now.]
The area around me went completely still for a moment. Then something crackled faintly in front of me, and a glitching blue image of myself materialized a short distance away.
"Damn, who’s that handsome motherfucker," I joked, laughing heartily at my own line.
[Host, I’m starting to wonder if overusing your F-rank abilities didn’t just make you weak, but also affected your brain as well.]
I swiped the System window aside so I could focus on the show about to start, but it flew right back into my face.
"For the record, my brain is totally normal."
[Anything you say, my dear host.]
My snarky comeback was still forming on my lips when the glitching image of myself turned away.
The playful expression fell from my face instantly as I focused fully on the figure now facing the base of the hill.
The image had no weapon, no fancy stance, and didn’t utter any special incantation. It simply shifted its weight forward, one leg stepping ahead as though it were about to fall, then Flash Step!
The instant its feet touched the ground again, it Flash Stepped once more.
Then again.
And again.
It repeated the process more than fifty times, each Flash Step carrying it farther down the slope until it reached the foot of the hill in a matter of seconds.
Through it all, its body stayed completely upright, balance never wavering. From a distance, it looked less like a man moving and more like a blur flickering across the landscape.
"Hmm..."
[Host, should I replay the AI’s use of Flash Step?]
I shook my head and moved forward, stretching my arms lazily at my sides. "No need. I think I’ve got a fair grasp of how it works."
[What?! Already?! For that distance?! How does that even make sense?!]
I stuck a finger in my ear and rubbed it softly. "You’re shouting a lot, you know. That could really hurt my concentration."
[Sorry, but seriously, you shouldn’t do something as risky as trying what he did over that distance. This is a hill, and you could easily get hurt even with your F-rank durability, so—]
The System suddenly went silent as I kept walking forward, ignoring its warnings.
[...]
[...You really aren’t going to listen to me, are you?]
"You’re absolutely correct."
[sigh I guess I should trust my Host, shouldn’t I?]
I smirked. "Good girl."
To be honest, I knew that right now I looked incredibly smug, overconfident even.
Then again, this was a hill over 700 meters long, and I was casually claiming I could Flash Step my way across it on my first try.
But right now, I didn’t want to live in fear of what might happen if I didn’t take the risk. I wanted to find my limits, then surpass them.
If staying in my safe zone would keep me from that, then I’d leave it again and again.
I slipped my hands into the pockets of my hoodie and stepped to the very edge of the hill, staring down at the ground below.
Even though I already knew the distance was long, seeing it from the perspective of someone about to run it was far more terrifying than I’d given it credit for.
"Okay, let’s do this."
[Host!]
"Don’t give me some good-luck crap."
[No, nothing like that.]
[Just... if you can actually pull this off, I’ll call you Daddy from now on.]
"I doubt that’s an actual reward, System."
The System seemed to smirk at me before murmuring in a small, breathless voice.
[Daddy~]
My eyes widened as something dark I’d been suppressing for a long time threatened to break loose. I quickly held it back and simply coughed.
"Still not going to buy me out with that."
Clearing my mind of every unnecessary thought, I let mana flow through my body. The outer layer of mana skin formed again, quickly shifting from teal to bright red.
Then... I leaned forward slightly, extended one leg, and vanished.