(Location: Johannesburg, South Africa | Time: 1998)
The year Tom Richard turned six was the year impatience truly set in. His seventh birthday, the promised gateway to karting, loomed large on the horizon, simultaneously agonizingly distant and thrillingly close. Every day felt like a crucial preparation lap, an opportunity to hone his skills, strengthen his body, sharpen his mind, and, critically, accumulate the substantial System Points needed for his next major upgrade: Reflexes Level 4. The target was 10.0 SP; he started the year with 3.2 SP banked. The grind was on.
His physical 'training' became more structured, albeit still framed as play. Running in the expansive garden wasn't just running anymore; it became interval training. He'd sprint flat-out between the jacaranda tree and the back fence (System logging [Peak Speed (Running): 15 km/h]), jog slowly back to recover (Stamina 5 ensuring rapid recovery), then repeat, pushing his cardiovascular limits. Climbing the sturdy old avocado tree or the metal structures at the park transformed into agility and strength exercises, his movements quick and precise thanks to Reflexes 3 and Enhanced Spatial Awareness preventing missteps. He consciously pushed himself on long bicycle rides with James, aiming to increase distance and maintain a higher average speed, turning weekend park outings into endurance sessions. The System tracked his efforts under a [Physical Conditioning Index], awarding fractional SP for consistent high-intensity activity appropriate for his age.
His bicycle became less a mode of transport, more a dynamic simulator. With Durability 5 making falls trivial and Stamina 5 providing ample practice time, he pushed his handling skills to their absolute limit. Threshold braking became an obsession. He'd accelerate down the driveway then apply the coaster and delicate handbrake simultaneously, feeling for that tiny edge just before the rear wheel locked and skidded, aiming for the shortest possible stopping distance within chalk marks James sometimes drew. [Braking Test: Threshold Modulation Achieved. Stopping Distance: Optimal for Surface/Speed. Reflexes 3 Utilized.]
He practiced ultra-smooth steering inputs, imagining laser beams extending from his eyes to the exact point on the path he wanted to reach, minimizing handlebar movement. He worked on weight transfer, deliberately shifting his small body weight forward under braking, backward under 'acceleration' (pedaling hard), and leaning aggressively into turns, sometimes even lifting the inside pedal like he'd seen kart racers do in pictures, feeling how it affected the bike's balance and turn-in. His Balance Boost skill worked constantly, managing the instability his manoeuvres introduced.
James, recognizing Tom's insatiable need for racing knowledge, became his primary resource. He subscribed to a local motorsport magazine, which Tom would pore over, mostly looking at the pictures of touring cars at Kyalami or rally cars in the dust, but attempting to decipher captions with System assistance. They watched recorded Formula 1 races together, James pausing the video to explain pit stop strategies, tyre choices, or why one car was faster through a particular corner. Tom absorbed it all like a sponge, his System logging information under [Racing Theory Comprehension]. He learned about concepts like slipstreaming (drafting), apexes (late vs early), understeer and oversteer, relating them back to his experiences on the bike or his Lego track simulations.
Perhaps the most crucial part of his preparation occurred internally. Tom discovered he could engage in remarkably detailed 'Mental Simulation'. Encouraged by the System objective [Mental Simulation Accuracy], he would sit quietly, eyes closed, and vividly visualize himself driving. He started with his bicycle on familiar routes, replaying near-misses or practicing smoother lines. Then, he graduated to karts. Using the track map James had printed of Zwartkops and his memories from their visit, he would mentally 'drive' lap after lap.
His Enhanced Spatial Awareness helped build the track in his mind, while his understanding of physics, rudimentary as it was, governed the simulation. The System actively participated, overlaying feedback on his mental visualization:
[Mental Simulation: Zwartkops Lap - Turn 4 Entry.]
[User Input (Simulated): Late Braking, Aggressive Turn-in.]
[Physics Engine Prediction: Oversteer on Apex. Correction Required.]
Tom would adjust his 'inputs' in the simulation – easing the turn-in, applying imaginary counter-steer.
[Correction Applied. Slide Caught. Exit Speed Compromised -0.5s Delta.]
[Recommendation: Smoother Initial Turn-in, Focus on Maximizing Exit Traction.]
These mental laps became increasingly complex, incorporating imagined rivals, overtaking scenarios, even simulated weather changes based on descriptions he'd read. It was mentally taxing but incredibly productive, allowing him to practice racing concepts and decision-making long before he could sit in a real kart, earning significant SP for accuracy and complexity.
School continued, now in Grade 1. Academically, Tom remained leagues ahead, reading chapter books fluently, tackling multiplication tables, and even showing an aptitude for the basic Afrikaans lessons mandatory in their school. He learned to manage his boredom during simpler tasks by running mental simulations in the background, a skill requiring intense concentration but keeping his racing mind engaged. The structured environment, however, taught him discipline and routine, valuable traits for any aspiring driver.
Through the relentless combination of physical conditioning, advanced bike handling practice, theoretical study, and intense mental simulation, punctuated by excelling at his schoolwork, the System Points accumulated steadily. Objectives for reading comprehension, arithmetic, complex bike control, and crucially, mental simulation accuracy, all contributed.
One crisp Highveld autumn afternoon, while mentally simulating a perfect qualifying lap of his imaginary Zwartkops layout, the notification he'd been working towards for nearly a year finally flashed.
[SP Accumulated: 10.0]
[Stat Upgrade Unlocked: Reflexes Lvl 4]
He paused his simulation, a wave of profound satisfaction washing over him. He had done it. He mentally navigated to the familiar Stats menu, the Reflexes upgrade glowing, awaiting confirmation.
[Stat: Reflexes Lvl 4]
[Effect: Dramatically improves reaction time, sensory processing speed, and predictive capabilities. Enables perception of events at finer temporal resolutions.]
[Cost: 10.0 SP]
[Requirements: Reflexes Lvl 3 (Met), Cognitive Processing Speed Lvl ??? (Met)]
[Allocate 10.0 SP to Reflexes? Confirm Y/N]
YES. The mental command was instant, emphatic.
[Allocation Confirmed. Reflexes Increased: 3 -> 4]
[SYSTEM OVERLOAD WARNING: Rapid Neural Pathway Optimization In Progress... Standby...]
[...Optimization Complete. Sensory Input Calibration Running...]
[...Calibration Complete. Reflexes Lvl 4 Active. Predictive Path Analysis Enhanced. Micro-Correction Speed Increased by ~25%.]
[Current SP: 0.0]
The world snapped. It wasn't just sharper focus this time; it felt like reality itself was running at a higher frame rate. Sounds were crisper, colours more vivid, movements perceived with an almost preternatural clarity. He could see the individual blades of grass swaying outside the window, track the flight path of a tiny gnat buzzing near the ceiling, hear the subtle click of the house settling – all simultaneously, without conscious effort. His Enhanced Spatial Awareness seemed turbocharged by the new processing speed.
He stood up, feeling an incredible lightness, a heightened state of readiness. He felt fast, even just standing still. He walked across the room, his movements feeling unnervingly precise, his balance absolute.
He was six years old, nearing seven. He had zero SP, but his core stats were formidable (D5, S5, R4), augmented by crucial skills. He had spent the year preparing body and mind with relentless dedication. The final lap before the real race began was complete. He was ready. Now, all that remained was to convince his parents it was time to trade the bicycle for something with an engine.