Ethan Cole - The Unlimited System

Saturday morning arrived with the faint warmth of sunlight filtering through Ethan's bedroom window. The soft hum of Novan City waking up was a reminder of how quickly time was moving.

Ethan sat on the edge of his bed, his phone in hand, skimming through the latest updates Jessica had sent him the night before.

The message was concise but packed with good news. Jessica, David, and Jordan had finalized the hiring process, and 150 employees, including several senior-level staff, were onboarded.

Each department now had a head, and David had laid out an onboarding plan with the leadership team to ensure a smooth start on Monday.

Ethan couldn't help but smile. This was a significant step forward for Nova Tech. What had started as an idea only a week ago had grown into a fully-fledged company with a foundation solid enough to rival even the most established competitors.

Ethan stretched and exhaled deeply.

"We're really doing this," he muttered to himself, a mix of pride and nervousness settling in his chest.

He glanced at his phone, tempted to message Jessica or David, but decided against it. They deserved their Saturday mornings to rest.

He placed his phone down on the bed beside him, allowing himself to bask in the calm, his mind drifting. That was when the soft, familiar chime sounded—clear and distinct, echoing deep in his mind.

The system.

Ethan froze as a few notifications appeared before his eyes. He had been waiting for this.

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[Mission Complete: Hire a Team]

Objective: Hire at least 20 people for Nova Tech.

Reward:

1. 2,000 EXP

2. 10 Ascension Points

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Then, another one.

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[Mission Complete: Build a Grand Office]

Objective: Find and furnish an office space that reflects the grandeur of your new company.

Reward: Rewards will be unique and based on the grandeur achieved.

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Then, another notification appeared.

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Congratulations! You have exceeded expectations with the grandeur of your office!

Rewards:

10000 EXP

All attributes +20

50 Ascension Points

20 Free Attribute Points

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Ethan barely had time to register the notification before it hit him.

A sudden, sharp pain exploded through his body, so intense it felt as though his very bones were breaking apart.

"Argh—!"

The cry threatened to escape, but instinct took over. He grabbed the edge of the comforter and shoved it into his mouth, biting down hard to stifle the sound.

His entire body trembled violently, drenched in sweat as the pain intensified. It wasn't like before, this was something else.

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Every muscle felt like it was tearing and rebuilding, as though something inside him was shattering and splintering into countless pieces.

The agony was unbearable. Ethan's mind screamed, but he held on, clutching the fabric as though it anchored him to the world.

That was when, just as suddenly as the pain had begun, it changed.

A soothing warmth flowed through his body. It was like a healing balm spreading to every part of him.

'That was insane,' Ethan thought. 'But now, it feels so good.'

The warmth moved with the rhythm of his blood, calming, healing.

Ethan loosened his grip on the comforter, his teeth releasing it as his breathing slowed. The sweat still clung to his skin, his chest rising and falling heavily, but the pain was gone. It was replaced by an indescribable calm.

Minutes passed before he could move, his body still trembling faintly as he sat up. His breaths came slower now, steadier.

Everything felt different.

Ethan ran a hand through his damp hair. He could feel his heart pounded wildly.

He couldn't make sense of what had just happened. His body felt as if it had been torn apart. But suddenly, a warm sensation enveloped him, rebuilding him from within.

Now, the only thing he felt was... different. He was a different version of himself.

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a shaking hand and quietly said, "What was that?"

He looked back at the notification in front of him, and he suddenly realized something about what had actually happened to him.

"A sudden massive increase in attributes…" he grumbled, his voice hoarse, "that's got to be the reason for the pain. Thirty points across everything, and then the system is trying to kill me?"

He was relieved that he hadn't purchased a twenty-story tower for Nova Tech. If he had, the rewards might have been greater, and he couldn't fathom how difficult it would be to endure the burden of receiving them.

Still, he felt a twinge of regret for not having gone out more.

But it wasn't just those things that unsettled him. That shattering sensation.

It was like something inside his body had broken apart. It lingered in his thoughts, nagging at him.

What had really happened in those agonizing moments?

Still, now that the pain had faded, Ethan couldn't deny the odd sense of renewal. His body felt lighter, stronger… sharper. His breathing had steadied, and as he shifted on the bed, he noticed something else.

His clothes felt tighter, snug in places they hadn't been before.

He frowned, looking down at his sleeves, which hugged his arms more closely, and then tugged at his shirt, which now stretched just slightly across his shoulders and chest.

"Wait a minute…"

Ethan slowly stood up, feeling the energy in his limbs. He moved gracefully as he walked to the full-length mirror in the corner of his room.

He paused in front of the mirror and blinked, surprised. He turned his head left, then right, and squinted as he looked at himself.

He didn't feel vain; it was something else. He had changed a lot.

His reflection looked leaner, more defined. His jawline looked sharper, and his cheekbones stood out more. He had a fit physique; his shirt hugged his chest and shoulders as if it were specially made for him.

"Did I… get taller?" Ethan muttered incredulously, running a hand along his torso as though double-checking.

And, he tilted his head, studying his own face carefully. There was no mistaking it. He looked… well, a lot better.

"More lean… and… more handsome?" Ethan chuckled softly, surprised by his own words.

They seemed silly to him, but the proof was right there.

The system had made him not just stronger, but it had also improved his appearance in every way. The changes were subtle enough to feel normal, but he couldn't deny them.

"Well, I guess I'll take it," he said quietly as he turned away from the mirror. "But next time, system… a little warning would be nice."

Ethan stared at his Status Panel, his jaw tightening in disbelief.

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[Status Panel]

Name: Ethan Cole

Level: 6

EXP: 26,000 / 46,500

Ascension Points: 70

Wealth: Unlimited

Attributes:

Strength: 60

Speed: 60

Endurance: 60

Intelligence: 59

Charisma: 59

Free Attribute Points: 10

Skills:

Krav Maga [Basic]

Close Quarters Combat [Basic]

Tactical Firearms [Basic]

Heightened Senses [Passive]

Stealth [Basic]

Tracking [Basic]

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The numbers looked at him like a challenge to explore new boundaries. He took a slow breath and ran a hand through his wet hair.

"Level 6," he said quietly, filled with wonder. "Just a week ago, I was barely scratching the surface of this system, and now... this."

He felt a surge of satisfaction seeing his attributes nearing 70. But his eyes lingered on the Free Attribute Points. There were 20 points, a prize for leveling up and completing a mission in a single day.

"If I use these…" Ethan's thoughts raced as he considered the possibilities.

Each attribute was within striking distance of 100.

That threshold intrigued him, a milestone he couldn't ignore. What kind of strength, speed, or endurance would a three-digit number unlock?

He smirked faintly. "So close, yet so far."