[Would you like to open the welcome gift package?]
(Yes/No)
I was stunned when I saw the floating, light-blue holographic window in front of me.
Then a moment later, I felt relief wash over me.
After I lost my mom and sister in the accident, though I had become depressed and didn't like to do anything, having lost the will to live, I couldn't just stare at the ceiling of my rented one-room apartment all the time when I wasn't doing my part-time job.
Therefore, to pass the time, I had started playing games and reading web novels. In many of those novels, the main character would get a system, and whatever problem he was facing would be resolved.
So, the moment I realized I had received a system, I knew I would be able to save my mom and sister now.
As for how it was going to help me… It probably had something to do with the welcome gift package.
So, I hurriedly opened my mouth to say yes, but… I could not. Only then did I notice that, except for my thinking ability and vision, I had lost control of all of my senses, and could not do anything.
Not only that, everything around me seemed to have been frozen.
[Host, please use the mental command to select. No need to speak out loud.] A line of text flashed at the bottom of the floating window.
'Yes! Open the gift package.' I said in my mind.
[Ding!]
[You have opened the welcome gift package!]
[Congratulations! You have received skill,
[Congratulations! You have received 100 Conqueror Points.]
[Congratulations! You have received Fire Avoidance Pearl x3]
I hurriedly read the messages flashing on the window.
When I saw I had received Fire Avoidance Pearls, something that would be effective against the fire, I sighed in relief. With them, I wouldn't have to worry about the fire any longer, but…
'The roof will collapse within a few seconds after time returns to normal. How am I…?'
I was just thinking about this when more messages flashed on the system window.
[Congratulations! You have received a bonus gift. Skill: Flash Steps (Lv. 3 Temporary)]
[Flash Steps (Lv. 3 Temporary): Increases the user's base speed by ten times.]
Immediately after I read this, the floating screen disappeared, and I slowly started regaining my senses and control over my body.
At the same time, I noticed everything around me was also returning to normal.
Knowing I wouldn't have much time after time resumed, I hurriedly asked the system, 'How do I use the Flash Steps?'
[Just think of using it, host.] The message flashed in the corner of my right eye.
Creak! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
As soon as I saw the message, I heard the sound of the roof creaking and fire blazing with ferocity.
Instantly, I activated the skill with a thought and dashed toward the room.
I was too focused on getting inside and saving my family to notice just how fast I was running.
Shuu!
Within a second, I rushed into the room, and arrived beside the bed. Lifting my mom and throwing her over my shoulder, I grabbed my sister—who hadn't even noticed me yet—by her waist and rushed out of the room.
Although the additional weight slowed me down a little…
Rumble!
Bang!
Shuu!
I managed to leave the room right before the roof collapsed, and even though the portion of the roof over the living room was still holding firm, I only stopped when we were out of the house.
I put my sister down, who looked back at the house in a daze and then at Mom on my shoulder. Finally, her gaze settled on me.
"You… How…" She was too overwhelmed to form a proper sentence.
I smiled at her, "Let's…"
I had just begun speaking, when…
"Argh!"
A sharp pain shot through my body, my muscles cramped and my heart beat erratically, causing me to cry out.
[The duration of the skill, Flash Steps (Temporary), has ended.]
Seeing the message, I realized this pain and the abnormality I was suddenly suffering from was the side effect of using this skill—something that had exceeded the limits of my body.
'System, help me.' I called out to the system, feeling the pain becoming overwhelming and my vision turning blurry.
I couldn't afford to pass out now. I had to take my mom and sister to safety.
[Host should use the CPs to buy a recovery potion from the system shop.]
'Buy it for me.' I ordered.
[Ding!]
[The Recovery Potion (Basic) x1 has successfully been bought and stored in the system inventory.]
Thanks to the knowledge I gained from reading all those fantasy novels, I didn't need to ask the system how I should take it out. I simply willed it to appear in my hand and it did.
Pop!
It was a small, glass bottle. I hurriedly popped the cork open and drained its contents, a thick green liquid, into my mouth without any hesitation.
Gulp!
As the liquid slid down my throat, a cooling sensation spread throughout my body. The pain I was feeling started to fade away, and my muscles started to loosen up.
A minute later, I felt refreshed and energized.
"What was that?!"