NOVEL NEXT 2: The Skill Tree
Titus stared at his phone, the glow of the screen illuminating his face in the dim light of his cramped apartment. The quest notification from last night still burned in his mind:
New Quest: Upgrade Your Living Situation
Objective: Improve your apartment or find a new place to live.
Reward: 200 XP, Skill Unlock
He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Upgrade my living situation? With what money?" he muttered, glancing around at the peeling wallpaper and the stack of unpaid bills on his rickety coffee table.
Curious about what else this bizarre Lifeline System had to offer, Titus began tapping through the interface. There had to be more to it than just throwing out random quests, right?
As he navigated through the app, a new icon caught his eye. It pulsed gently, as if beckoning him to tap it. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, he pressed his finger to the screen.
Congratulations! You've unlocked the Skill Tree.
The phone's display shimmered and expanded, revealing an intricate web of interconnected nodes and branches. Titus's eyes widened as he took in the complexity of the diagram before him.
"What the hell?" he breathed, sitting up straighter on his worn-out couch.
The tree was divided into four main branches: Physical, Mental, Social, and Professional. Each branch split into numerous sub-skills, creating a dizzying array of possibilities.
A notification popped up:
You have 1 skill point to allocate. Choose wisely.
Titus's mind reeled. This was insane. A skill tree? For his life? He pinched himself, half-expecting to wake up from this bizarre dream. But the pain was real, and the skill tree remained on his screen, pulsing gently as if urging him to make a choice.
He tapped on the Physical
branch first. Sub-skills like Stamina, Strength, and Agility appeared. Under Stamina, he saw even more specific skills: Endurance and Energy Management.Moving to the Mental branch, he found Focus, Memory, and Problem Solving. The Social branch revealed Communication, Empathy, and Networking. Finally, the Professional branch showed Time Management, Technical Skills, and Leadership.
Titus's mind raced with possibilities. He thought about his new job at the café and the daunting quest to upgrade his living situation. What skill would help him the most? His eyes kept returning to the Focus section under the Mental branch.
"If I could just concentrate better, maybe I could figure out how to fix this mess," he mused, glancing around his rundown apartment.
With a deep breath, he tapped on Focus. A confirmation message appeared:
Titus quickly found what he was looking for, under focus were 2 options. Concentration and precision, seeing as precision only increased his fine motor skills, concentration was the obvious choice. “Improves ability to maintain attention on tasks.”
Are you sure you want to allocate 1 skill point to Concentration?
Titus hesitated for a moment, then pressed "Yes."
A warm sensation washed over him, starting from his head and flowing through his body. It was subtle but unmistakable. He blinked, and suddenly the world seemed a bit sharper, more defined.
Curious to test his newfound focus, Titus grabbed a book from his cluttered coffee table—one he'd been struggling to read for weeks. To his amazement, the words didn't swim on the page as they usually did. He found himself absorbing the information with ease, his mind clear and attentive.
"Holy shit," he breathed. "This is real."
The implications hit him like a truck. If he could improve himself like this, what else could he achieve? For the first time in years, a spark of hope ignited in his chest.
Titus jumped up, energized despite the early hour. He had a shift at the café soon, and for once, he was actually looking forward to it. As he got ready, his mind buzzed with possibilities. What other skills could he unlock? How would they help him tackle the quest to upgrade his living situation?
At the café, the effects of his improved focus were immediately apparent. He remembered orders without having to double-check, noticed details about the café he'd overlooked before, and found himself fully engaged in conversations with customers.
"You're really getting the hang of this," his manager commented, impressed by his improved performance.
Titus just smiled, the weight of his secret both thrilling and terrifying.
As he wiped down tables during a lull, his phone buzzed. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he slipped it out of his pocket. His eyes widened at the notification:
Mystery Quest Completed: Excel at Your Daily Tasks
Reward: 25 XP, 25 coins
New Feature Unlocked: Daily Quests
"What the..." Titus muttered, nearly dropping his phone in surprise. He hadn't even known there was a quest to complete. His mind raced with questions. How had the system known he was excelling? What counted as 'daily tasks'? And what were these new 'Daily Quests'?
Intrigued and a little unnerved, he tapped on the notification. A new screen appeared, explaining the Daily Quest system:
Daily Quests are randomly generated tasks that reflect common activities in your life. Complete them for small rewards that add up over time. Some quests will be visible, while others remain a mystery until completed. Stay alert and always strive to do your best!
Titus let out a low whistle. This system was more complex than he'd initially thought. It wasn't just about big, life-changing quests like upgrading his living situation. It was monitoring his everyday actions, encouraging constant improvement.
He scrolled down to see his first visible Daily Quest:
Daily Quest: Engage in Meaningful Conversation
Reward: 10 XP, 10 coins
"Huh," Titus mused, pocketing his phone as a customer approached. "I guess every little thing counts now."
As he took the customer's order, he found himself paying more attention to their words, asking thoughtful questions about their day. The conversation flowed naturally, and by the end, both Titus and the customer were smiling.
His phone buzzed again, but this time he resisted the urge to check it immediately. He had a feeling he knew what it would say.
The rest of his shift flew by in a blur of coffee orders, conversations, and an underlying excitement about what other quests and rewards might be waiting for him.
As he hung up his apron at the end of the day, Titus finally allowed himself to check his phone. Sure enough, he'd completed the daily quest.
His excitement was tempered by a sobering realization. This wasn't just a game. Every choice he made, every skill he improved, every small task he completed, would have real consequences in his life. The pressure to make the right decisions was immense.
But for the first time in years, Titus felt like he had control over his destiny. He had been given a tool, a strange, incredible tool, to shape his life. And he was determined to make the most of it.
As he walked home, a new sense of purpose filled him. The skill tree and these daily quests weren't just features in some cosmic game; they were a roadmap to becoming the person he'd always wanted to be. And maybe, just maybe, they were the key to upgrading his living situation and his life.
Titus took a deep breath, ready to face whatever challenges this new reality would bring. The game of life had changed, and he was finally learning how to play, one quest at a time.