It had been a painful, starvation-filled day, and even though he finally got to eat something, it wasn't nearly enough to make up for a full day of suffering.
Collapsing onto his bed, he sighed dramatically.
"I'm tired."
Damien's eyes flicked to the countdown timer above the cocooned objects.
Remaining Time: 53:43
"Well… I have plenty of tasks to pass the time."
He got up, begrudgingly finishing the daily cherishing tasks for the remaining knives.
A few minutes later…
"Aah, all done." He stretched his arms and checked the countdown.
Remaining Time: 28:45
"...What?"
His eye twitched.
"All that… took only 25 minutes?!"
He slumped into his chair, staring at the clock.
"I should've slowed down…" he muttered, disappointment sinking in.
---
"Alright, whatever. I'll just study." He grabbed a textbook and flipped it open.
Deep breath in. Deep breath out. Focus.
Ten seconds later…
Remaining Time: 28:14
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"
He groaned, slamming his head onto the desk.
"This is worse than my hellish office job!"
Growl…
His stomach made an unsettling noise.
"And this hunger is making it even worse…!"
---
Pacing around his room, he glared at the cocooned objects.
"What kind of abilities will they awaken?" He crouched down, poking at one of them. "Something legendary, I hope."
He picked up the underwear cocoon and examined it like a sacred artifact.
"What if this awakens into something godly? A Superman-like boost? Unlimited endurance?"
He suddenly froze.
"No, no. Don't expect too much." He chuckled nervously and gently put it back down.
"Last thing I need is a talking underwear…"
---
He collapsed onto his bed.
"Alright… I just need to wait 28 more minutes and—"
He glanced at the countdown.
Remaining Time: 27:58
"...Oh, COME ON!"
His scream of frustration echoed through the room.
And so, he suffered for the next 28 minutes… waiting, waiting, waiting.
Until finally—
The Awakening Begins
Finally, after what felt like an eternity—
> 00:00
The cocoons started to unravel.
Threads of faint blue mana detached and dissipated into the air, revealing the objects inside.
Something was different.
Each awakened item had a slight glow, a barely visible aura of mana running through the material.
His heart pounded. It worked.
He activated Eyes of the Observer.
---
Hoodie jacket
(Awakening Successful)
Passive abilities
INT stats +1
Physical damage resistance increased by 10%.
Active ability
Stealth :- hide user presence for 10min.
(Activating skill cost 4 durability points.)
Durability :- 80
Taking damage and activating skill reduce durability.
Cooldown:- 12 hours.
Note:- upon durability points hitting 0.
Object will become normal.
The hoodie's fabric felt slightly smoother, like it was laced with fine threads of mana.
When he picked it up, the faint shimmer of blue light ran along its edges.
"Stealth is nice..." He rubbed his chin.
"But… WHAT THE HELL IS THIS 80 DURABILITY?! At least give me upto 100 uses!"
He collapsed onto his chair in utter disappointment.
"A hundred days of labor for 20 measly uses..." he whispered.
But there was no time to grieve. Next item.
---
Shoes
(Awakening Successful!)
Passive Abilities:
+2 Agility
10% Speed Buff
Active Abilities:
Leap – Jump up to 3 meters (Costs 1 Durability Point).
Sprint – Increase speed upto 5x for 2 minutes (Costs 1/2/3/4 Durability per use).
Cooldown:- 10 min
Durability: 30 (Breaks if it hits 0).
A faint wind-like ripple ran along the surface of the shoes when he touched them.
The soles seemed to resonate slightly, as if mana was circulating inside them.
"Damn this durability system..." he sighed.
---
Wristwatch
(Awakening Successful!)
Passive Abilities:
+2 Luck
+1 Intelligence
Active Abilities:
1. Area Scan – Scans a 10m radius (Costs 1 Durability Point).
2. Location Tracker – Locates tagged persons within 100m (Tagging Costs 1 Durability).
Durability: 300
The digital interface now had extra holographic layers displaying faint mana flow.
When he touched it, the screen flickered for a second, as if adjusting to its new state.
"Oh? 300 durability?!" His eyes lit up.
"Hmm, I think maybe durability depends on the material of the object."he whispered.
"Its skill also doesn't have cooldown period."
He shrugged and said "who cares as long as it good for me."
---
Winter Gloves
(Awakening Successful!)
Passive Abilities:
+1 to All Stats
Active Abilities:
Fire Spark – Creates fire through snapping or clapping.
Snap: Small flame (Costs 1 Durability Point).
Clap: Larger fireball (Costs 5 Durability Points).
Durability: 160
The gloves had faint, ember-like veins running along the surface.
When he put them on, his fingers tingled with a warm sensation.
"Oh, an offensive ability!" He clenched his fists excitedly.
"Though I have no idea how big this fire will be..."
And then… the final item.
---
Underwear
(Awakening Failed!)
"....What."
His eyes widened in shock.
Awakening Failed.
His 100 days of effort… wasted.
"No way…"
His hands trembled as he picked it up.
"I wasn't expecting Superman powers not even Captain Underpants power, but at least give me something useful!"
A deep silence filled the room.
Then—
He threw the underwear to the ground and stomped on it with righteous fury.
"Useless! Useless! Useless!"
After 100 days of care… this is how you repay me?!
He kicked it into the corner.
Then, realizing how ridiculous he looked, he slowly picked it up and put it back in the drawer.
"...Just in case."
Ding!
A familiar glowing window popped up before him.
He froze.
Then, slowly, his eye twitched.
"Now… what is this?" he muttered, his tone laced with irritation.
His gaze sharpened.
"How many days… has it been… since I last saw this damn window?"
His glare intensified.
"Since Day 1."
---
> [Congratulations! Your first object awakening is complete!]
[User has now unlocked 'Command Access' for the system.]
[System functions can now be accessed by voice or mental commands.]
[System feature 'Inventory' has been unlocked.]
He inhaled deeply.
Then exhaled.
"...So, now you decide to show up?"
Regaining his composure, he muttered,
"Alright… at least now I can call you anytime, huh? And an inventory too?"
His mood shifted instantly.
"Wait—an inventory? Like a dimensional pocket?"
His eyes sparkled.
"I got something this expensive… for FREE?"
A huge grin spread across his face.
He jumped in excitement.
"Jackpot!"
Taking a deep breath in satisfaction he said "Now, I only need a good weapon."
His eyes landed on the knives.
"Guess I'll have to wait a few more days..."
*Growl...
"Ah I forget I need to eat." He grabbed his wristwatch and ran to cafeteria.
At cafeteria he devoured his food at the corner most table lucky for him no one was there to make him centre of any attention.
"*Brup.... now I am full" patting and rubbing his stomach.
As he left for the cafeteria, his mind spun with possibilities.
"How do I get into Sub-Space?" Counting possibilities "... 1. Changing to Combat Branch, 2. Tagging along with the Professor, 3. Joining a Monthly Expedition? Not enough time.
"No, no, no! 3rd one is impossible, Everything is going to change within a month!"
Then—an idea struck him.
His lips curled into a sly grin.
"Or... I could just sneak in."
shaking his head in agreement. "Yeah, Stealth ability can help me."
"And… If I time it right, no one will even notice I'm missing."
His smile widened.
"I just need an offensive tool."
His eyes flicked back to the knives.
"Tomorrow, all the knives will be cocooned. I wonder what kind of weapons they'll become..."
*Brup...*