Fear breeds respect. Respect breeds control.
____ Adam Black’s POV ____
I stepped out of the Lone Star training facility with Rai’ki in hand. The afternoon sun was scorching. Who would’ve thought I’d waste all that ti here, and the only productive thing I did was pick out a weapon?
I glanced at Rai’ki one last ti before tearing a small hole in space and tossing it in there along with the glove.
Without hesitation, I strolled down to the parking lot and entered the academy shuttle waiting for .
"The library. Take there," I said, and the driver gave a silent nod.
The engine roared to life, and within seconds, we were on the road.
Sigh.
Exhaling, I leaned back into the comfy seat, eyes wandering to the ever-changing scenes outside. Instinctively, my attention drifted to the system ssages floating to the side of my vision.
> [New Achievent Unlocked: Taming the Tutor]
[ 100 EXP & 1 Question]
[200 EXP accumulated. Level up requirent reached]
[Proceed?]
A question?
I mumbled in thought, ignoring the level-up prompt for a mont.
I stared at the ssage, wondering what mattered more—my past, or my present?
After so thought, I shelved the question for later and focused on leveling up.
’Proceed.’
Ding!
> [Congratulations: Level 1 → 2]
[ 3 Stat Points Gained]
I glanced through my stats, thinking carefully. My strength and speed were low, sure—but I could work on those in the gym. What I needed now was the stamina to train like a beast this month.
The more I could endure, the faster I’d grow.
’Put all stat points into Vitality.’
Ding!
> [Na] Adam Black
[Level] 2
[Race] Human
[Talent] Gatekeeper
[Talent Tier] SSS-Tier
[Stats]
Strength: 1
Speed: 1
Vitality: 4
Intelligence: 3
[Health Points] 40/40
[Energy Points] 20/20
[Skill]
Na: Door
Tier: C
Cost: 1
Proficiency: 15%
Looking over my stats, two things stood out. Boosting Vitality had increased both my stamina and raised my HP by 10 and EP by 5 per point.
Interesting...
But even more surprising was what I noticed under Skills. My [Door] proficiency had jumped to 15%. I rembered only gaining 10% after buying so knowledge of it. The extra 5% ca after the fight with Pala.
Was it because of the creative way I used [Door] against her?
Would I have learned that thod if I’d purchased more knowledge instead?
Whatever the answer, it confird sothing huge—I could grow by effort, not just EXP. That ant I could save my stat points instead of wasting them on strength or speed, which I could build naturally.
"The system’s resources should go to more important things..." I whispered—and my eyes widened in realization.
Information is power.
My true talent was [Gatekeeper], but I couldn’t manifest it—probably because my proficiency was still at 0%.
What if gaining more knowledge could raise my proficiency and unlock its real power?
---
With the free question offered by the system, I had the chance to pull out information that may unlock my [Gatekeeper] talent.
The problem is, what question would give this desired result.
’Good things take ti.’ I reminded myself.
I don’t necessarily need to ask the question now so what’s the rush? I decided to put the thought aside until I find what I’m looking for.
Twenty minutes later, the library lood ahead like a relic from a forgotten era—massive, arched, and far older than the sleek academy buildings. I expected silence. Dust. Maybe a bored old man at the counter sipping tea.
What I got instead was... chaos.
Dozens of students packed the main hall, so hunched over books, others whispering in tight clusters. The place buzzed with low conversation and the occasional hiss of frustration. Tables were filled, terminals were occupied, and even the aisles between bookshelves had people cross-legged on the floor flipping through pages.
What the hell... since when did reading beco cool?
Pushing through the crowd, I made my way to the front desk. A woman stood behind it—mid-thirties, tall glasses, and a sharp presence. Her gaze flicked to the mont I stopped.
"Let guess. First expedition?" she asked before I even opened my mouth.
I blinked. "That obvious?"
She gave a faint smile. "You all get the sa look. Nervous curiosity with a hint of arrogance."
Not wrong.
"I need sothing on rifts," I said. "Sothing useful, not just theories and junk data."
"Hmm." She tapped her tablet and glanced at again. "You’re going into the unknown and asking for a map drawn in the dark. Brave."
Then, without another word, she pulled out two books from a cart behind her and slid them toward .
Rifts: The Territory Beyond
Limitless: Humanity’s Last Hope
"The first one will teach you what the terrain looks like. The second will remind you why you shouldn’t get cocky."
I took both. "Thanks."
"Try the north wing," she added, gesturing to a staircase nearby. "Quiet corner, good light. You’ll need it."
Following her direction, I weaved through the students, climbed the steps, and found the spot—an isolated nook tucked beside a wide window overlooking the academy’s east fields. Sunlight poured in, soft and warm, and for the first ti today, I felt... calm.
I dropped into the seat, set the books down, and cracked open the first one but I wasn’t in a hurry to read it.
"The people of this world are dedicated." I mumbled as I looked back on the scene in the library "Maybe I’m the only one who is underestimating the dangers of this world."
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