I tried thinking really hard, using my intention, to make the [General Window] appear. But nothing happened. So I tried saying out loud:
"Open General Window!"…
Nothing, once again. That's where my references stopped. In all the manhwas, anime, novels, and games, this was exactly how the system opened.
Well, actually, most of them did. However, there was one among many that didn't follow this pattern, and I decided to test it. I held up just my index finger and, curiously, when I tried to press something, I felt the touch on the tip of my finger.
'So, it's like in Sword Art Online...'
Sliding my index finger up, I opened a window with a list of options.
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[General Window]
- Pyer
- Profile
- Attributes
- Window
- Skills Chest
- Inventory
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When I clicked on [Pyer Profile], I was surprised by the limited amount of detail about me.
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[Pyer Profile]
Name: Brandon S. OnealAge: 18 years and 0 days.Level: 1.Titles: Pyer Number 2 (Open to see effect)Css: Summoner (Legendary)Stigma: ???
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Next to all this information was a mini-hologram of myself, a young man of about six feet - maybe a centimeter or two shorter, in fact - with brown hair and a body that was slim for its size. However, I didn't pay much attention to the silly hologram. Only to everything that was below my informed level.
I clicked on the only title, and I had to see what bonus it gave me.
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[Title: Pyer Number 2]
Description: Being a pyer means having the ability to evolve, which is impossible for 99.99% of hunters. There is only one other pyer besides you.
Effects:
Leveling System.Total immunity to poisons, stun and paralyzing effects.
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"Total immunity? That's what we're talking about! Now, let's look at the rest of the things... Legendary Css. Reading this makes me feel relieved I didn't choose another css. And if I remember correctly, Summoners are very rare in Solo Leveling. Now, that st line here is bothering me... Stigma? What's that?"
I tried clicking on the word, but nothing happened. There was no tutorial to expin what each element in these windows meant.
"Looks like it's something I'm going to have to find out for myself."
Without further ado, I went to the next window.
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[Attributes Window]Attribute | ValueHP: 100/100MP: 10/10Control: 1Strength: 5Intelligence: 5Speed: 4Charisma: 4Constitution: 5Wisdom: 5Dexterity: 5Perception: 2
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The numbers were really cruel to me. I didn't have a high number in any of my attributes, which perhaps validated the speech of that damned lion who called me someone completely normal. At least I wasn't a complete troglodyte with only muscles and no brains, or a nerd chair with a lot of intelligence and no strength. These two attributes of mine were equal, with not a single point of difference between them.
The sum total of the attribute points I had was 35 - excluding 'Control,' which I didn't know, and my MP and HP. It wasn't impressive, but I'd seen worse beginnings, like a guy in a novel who started with 0 points in all attributes.
"With the leveling system, I'll be able to change this reality for my points quickly. Now it's time to see what weapons I'll use to do it..." I smiled malevolently, rubbed my hands together, and clicked on [Skill Chest].
To my surprise, this skill chest was divided into two sections - Normal Skills and Mystical Skills.+
[Skills Chest]
Normal Skills:
Mystical Skills:
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It was easy to deduce that the skills cited as normal were abilities that any human being could have, and the level next to them represented your proficiency in that area.
Apparently, in my two lives so far, I've only been able to obtain three normal skills that were worth highlighting.
'Okay, okay... But only one Mystical Skill? I expected more from a legendary css.'
I clicked on the skill in question, and a new window opened, overying the previous one.
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[Skill Details!]
Skill Name: Summon.
Description: Allows the user to summon one or more supernatural helpers. Your mana and the amount of mana you have will limit the number. Each
Strength: 5
Speed: 5
Physical: 2
Rank: Iron
(Iron < Bronze < Silver < Gold < Ptinum < ...)
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My smile got wider, and I went to check again how much Mana and Control I had.
I discovered I had exactly 10 Mana and 1 Control. That was enough to summon just one, but I couldn't be disappointed because I knew that every start was difficult like this.
"I'd like to summon it right now, but I don't know how big it will be or what it will look like. Judging from the low physique, I'm guessing something that looks like a dragon, but it's a mix I wouldn't risk."
All over New York City, even in the suburbs where I was, there were alleys and alleys on every block. This kind of pce was the best for me to test my css skills, so I was determined to get somewhere like this quickly.
However, the moment I went to close the general window, I remembered that I had checked everything except my inventory.The logical thing to think was that it was empty, because I hadn't even entered a dungeon yet. However, there was something.
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[Inventory]
Beginner's Lootbox.
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One of my eyebrows rose as I read the name of the item. When I touched it, the holographic screen gave a 3D shape to the LootBox icon, which was literally a small gift box.
The process was slower than it should have been, so I put my hand on the LootBox and pulled it myself, making it emerge quickly.
What I was supposed to do was obvious, so I pulled the loop of gift paper from the LootBox, and it opened with a golden glow.
Looking at this LootBox opening was like trying to look directly into the headlights of a car. So I put my arm a little in front of my eyes and turned away from the powerful gre.
Low chimes echoed, and when I looked again, I saw golden particles floating in the air. Amid these particles, there was a key floating a few centimeters away from my hand.
My eyebrows arched instinctively again. While I was still looking at it, a window opened.
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[Item obtained!]
[Public Library Portal Key]
Description: A key that opens a portal in a forbidden section of the New York Public Library. It leads to an alternative, decayed version of the same building, where there is a legend that the original version of the Necromonicon was hidden. Nevertheless, it's a great library to search for a book.
Effect: Opens a portal to a Rank-E dungeon.
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Once again, that mine wide and grin smile appeared, and I started ughing with myself.
I had intended to try to enter some hidden portal. After all, there were more portals in the city than the heroes could handle.
However, a low-level dungeon just for me was perfect!
"Just fill out this little form, and you'll be good to go."
As she asked, I filled in the form, thanked her with a nod, and headed down the white corridors. The elevator took forever to reach my floor. When the doors opened, I pressed the right floor.
Ward 400-B was silent. Unlike the rest of the hospital, there wasn't much chatter or noise from patients here. It was a pce for the most serious cases. Cases like Emily's.
When I reached room 482-B, I stopped for a moment. Then, I turned the knob and entered.
The first thing I saw was a machine. It was a metal-and-gss monster, covering almost all of my sister's body, leaving only her head exposed. The only human presence in that room was her face.
Her short bck hair was clean but lifeless. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were closed. I knew she wasn't asleep — just resting.
The sound of the machine humming was constant. A low beep echoed from time to time, accompanied by the rhythmic movement of the metal structure.
Emily was still alive. But not for long.
That night, when the news about the portals shocked the entire world, humanity was already seven days behind. The portal breaches that occurred plunged everything into chaos, as we already knew. My family suffered the side effects.
Except for the house we'd lived in since I was born, the only person at home that early evening was my sister. Debris from a nearby battle hit our house.
Fortunately, even that wasn't enough to kill my sister.
The doctors said that the machine was sustaining her vital functions, but her body was slowly wasting away. The cost of keeping her alive was absurd — both financially and physically.
My family had already sold everything they could, including the house that had been destroyed. I worked whenever I could, but the money was never enough.
I pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.
"Hey, Em."
Her eyes opened slowly, as if it took immense effort. When she saw me, a small smile appeared on her cracked lips.
"Bran..." she said in a weak voice.
"How are you feeling today?"
The machine wheezed as she drew a little air to speak.
"The same as always... But I'm not in pain."
That was a lie. But I never contradicted her.
"And you...? How are... things?"
"Fine. I'm working at the port, studying... College is starting soon."
"You're not giving up on college, are you...? Finish it for me."
"I haven't even thought about quitting."
She ughed briefly. "Liar... I know you don't want to worry me."
I looked away. "I just... I'll get money, Emily. I promise."
She looked at me with those weak bck eyes.
"I don't want you to destroy yourself because of me."
"Shut up."
She ughed again but then coughed.
The only way to save my sister was to become strong enough to get real money. And I would do that. At any cost.
I spent a few more minutes talking to Emily, trying to look optimistic, even though inside, I was falling apart.
Before I left, I held her hand and said:
"I'll be back soon, okay?"
She smiled slightly. "Don't do anything stupid, Bran."
I gave her a forced smile. "I never do."
She ughed softly, and I stood up, leaving the room before she saw my expression.
I needed power, and I knew where to get it.