Lenny stirred awake to the sound of birds chirping faintly outside his bedroom window. For once, there was no rush. No class, no bus to catch, no bullies to avoid or group projects to prepare for. A calm, quiet Thursday morning in Silversun City.
He blinked lazily and turned over in bed, then summoned the interface out of habit.
System Notification:Welcome back, Lenny.Daily Tasks Available.
Level: 5EXP: 55/120Health: 200/200Strength: 35Speed: 20Agility: 15Intelligence: 40Endurance: 25Charm: 18Skill: Focus ITitle: Hidden Talent
Daily Tasks:• Walk 2 km – [Not started] – 40 XP• 60 Push-ups – [Not started] – 40 XPBonus Task – Locked.
Lenny stretched his arms and sat up. He didn't plan to skip his tasks—especially not after the rush of energy and clarity he'd gotten from leveling up. But for now, he took his time.
In the kitchen, his mom was already stirring a pot of porridge on the stove. The smell of ginger and milk filled the air. Lizzy, his 10-year-old sister, sat at the dining table in her pink pajama set, hunched over her tablet as usual.
"Morning," Lenny mumbled as he walked in.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Lizzy chirped, not looking up from her screen.
"Good morning, Len," his mom said, her voice warm. "I let you sleep in a little. No classes today, right?"
He nodded, grabbing a plate and dishing out two slices of the sweet potato she'd roasted earlier. "Yeah. Departmental meetings or something. No lectures."
As he settled at the table, the TV played softly in the background. A morning news show was running—cheerful anchors, a bit of politics, weather, then a segment on local market prices. Lenny barely paid attention until the tone shifted.
"This just in," the anchor said, her voice unusually crisp. "A government press release was issued this morning regarding a national preparedness initiative, citing the need for increased youth participation in national resilience programs."
Lenny's mom turned up the volume slightly. "What's this now?"
The broadcast switched to a suited government official speaking from a podium.
"In light of recent astronomical data collected from deep space monitoring stations, our scientists have flagged unusual activity occurring outside the solar system. While there is no immediate threat to Earth, we are initiating a long-term precautionary program to ensure preparedness in the event of a future emergency."
Lenny froze mid-bite.
"Beginning next week," the official added, "physical, technical, and intellectual testing will be conducted across universities and institutions nationwide." Those who demonstrate aptitude will be eligible to participate in advanced training programs. These programs will focus on strategic defense, piloting, engineering, communications, and combat roles."
Lizzy finally looked up from her tablet. "Are they making everyone join the army or something?"
Their mom frowned. "They're calling it preparedness... sounds like training camps."
Lenny leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "Did they say what kind of anomaly they detected?"
The anchor's voice returned. "While the exact nature of the anomaly has not been disclosed, officials assure the public there is no cause for panic. Rather, this effort is a show of national unity and foresight."
Something in Lenny's gut twisted.
He stood, walked back into his room, and sat on the edge of his bed. With a deep breath, he summoned the system interface again.
Before he could focus, something new flickered at the top of the screen.
System Alert:Unidentified cosmic anomaly detected.Tracking source...Origin: Deep spaceEstimated distance: 5 light-yearsThreat level: UnknownAnalysis: Data insufficient. Cross-referencing astronomical databases...
"What…?" Lenny whispered.
It wasn't just the government. The System had picked it up too.
Additional Note:Anomaly exhibits patterns inconsistent with natural cosmic bodies. Energy readings suggest artificial propulsion.
His heart skipped a beat.
Artificial propulsion?
A cold thought slithered through his mind. This wasn't just a comet or a drifting asteroid.
He stared at the interface as it continued to analyze in silence. The words were right there: Threat level: Unknown.
If the System didn't know what it was... it couldn't be good.
He switched back to the news broadcast on his phone. The anchors had moved on to discussing which institutions would be part of the early rounds of testing.
He thought about the EXP system, the sudden burst of strength after each level-up, the feeling of power growing inside him—and now this?
Was the System training him for something all along?Or was it reacting to this threat just as blindly?
His thoughts were disrupted by a knock on the door. Lizzy peeked in.
"Mom says breakfast is getting cold. You okay?"
Lenny gave a half-smile. "Yeah. Just thinking."
She trotted in and sat beside him, kicking her feet.
"Are you gonna do the tests?" she asked.
He shrugged. "Guess I don't have much of a choice if it's happening in school. Besides…" He hesitated. "Might be good to see what they're really testing for."
Lizzy scrunched her nose. "I hope I don't have to do push-ups when I'm older."
He chuckled. "Me too."
Downstairs, their mom was clearing plates. She looked over at Lenny as he walked in again.
"Whatever this is," she said quietly, "I don't like it."
He sat back down. "Me neither."
"But if it gives you a shot at something better—training, maybe even a scholarship—maybe it's worth seeing through."
Lenny didn't answer right away.
He thought of the Skill Tree, the push-ups, the strange missions. The system was already preparing him for something—and now the rest of the world seemed to be catching up.
He opened the system interface again.
New Objective Unlocked:Participate in National Aptitude Testing.Progress will be tracked.Rewards based on performance.Optional: Excel in physical, technical, and intellectual categories.Top performance may influence Class Assignment (Warrior, Pilot, Engineer, Strategist, etc.)
"Class assignment…" Lenny muttered. The words were straight out of a game.
He glanced at his Strength stat—35. Endurance—25. Intelligence—40.
It hit him then. He wasn't just training for strength or charm or smarts.
He was being prepared for a some task.
Later that afternoon, the silence in the city felt heavier. People were talking on the streets, debating in shops and online. Conspiracy theories were already flying—aliens, doomsday, new tech development cover-ups.
But Lenny just went for his walk.
The air was sharp with post-rain freshness. His sneakers padded softly against the concrete as he moved past neighborhoods, parks, and the usual street corners.
System Notification:Task Complete: Walk 2 km+40 XP[EXP: 95/120]
He pushed through the last hundred meters and found himself near the small community gym he'd once visited for a week before dropping out.
He shook his head with a half-smile and dropped into a quiet corner by the trees to begin his push-ups.
The burn was still there, but his form had improved. The last ten push-ups were still a fight, but not a struggle.
System Notification:Task Complete: 60 Push-ups+40 XP[EXP: 135/120]You have leveled up!
Level Up!Level: 6+5 Strength+5 Endurance+1 Skill PointTotal Health IncreasedPhysical capabilities upgraded
Lenny stood slowly, catching his breath. A breeze passed over the trees. He felt... grounded. Ready.
His phone buzzed.
It was a message from the university group chat:
URGENT: Testing begins next Monday. All students are expected to participate. More info will be posted on the student portal.
Another message came in, this time from an unknown number:
Hey. It's Emma. Just wanted to wish you luck with all of this testing and stuff. Strange times, huh?
He smiled and replied.
Yeah...
Emma sent another message
Also... have you checked the school portal?, looks like we're in the same evaluation group. Guess we'll be seeing more of each other.
He blinked.
Of all the groups, she was going to be tested with him?
The System chimed softly in the background.
New Social Link: EmmaBond Level: 1Potential Synergy Detected.
Lenny stared at the screen for a moment, then looked up at the glowing, restless city around him.