Chapter 11: The System: August's Personal Panel
Year 0002, II Month: The Imperium
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A New Day, A New Dawn
August's body clock was as reliable as the rising sun, waking him at precisely the same time each morning without fail. As consciousness crept into his mind, he stretched his arms wide, shaking off the remnants of sleep that clung to him like morning dew. The familiar drive to start his day with a run surged through his veins, a habit that had become as essential to him as breathing.
Today, he decided to test the perimeter of his newly erected wall—a supposed protective fence designed to keep wild beasts at bay. The structure had been a labor of his determination and will, built from sturdy fallen logs and branches harvested from the nearby forest and bound together with vines and rope. Each new log post had been driven deep into the earth, the branches patched the previously destroyed parts of the previous wall a testament to his growing strength and resolve.
The cool morning air filled his, lungs as he began his first lap, his eyes scanning every inch of the barrier. He meticulously checked for signs of weakness or damage, his fingers occasionally brushing against the rough wood to test its stability. The routine inspection gave him a sense of security, knowing that their sanctuary remained protected from the dangers that lurked beyond.
After completing his tenth lap, sweat began to bead on his forehead, a sudden notification from the system startled him, flashing across his vision in glowing blue letters.
[SYSTEM: YOU HAVE GAINED AN INCREASE IN YOUR STAMINA +0.1]
August halted mid-stride, blinking in surprise. This was entirely new territory. His system had never provided such immediate feedback before.
"Huh?!? Well, that's new," he muttered to himself, his breath forming small clouds in the cool morning air.
Curiosity sparked within him like a flame. If the system responded to his running, what else might trigger it? Determined to explore this discovery further, he pushed himself to continue, adding additional laps around the perimeter. His muscles burned with exertion, but he persisted, driven by the anticipation of another notification.
It wasn't until he completed another ten laps, his lungs heaving and legs trembling with effort, that a second notification appeared.
[SYSTEM: YOU HAVE GAINED AN INCREASE IN YOUR STAMINA AND ENDURANCE +0.1]
His eyes widened as he processed this information. "Ohhhhhh, so now it also boosts endurance? That's neat!"
The revelation sent his mind racing with possibilities. If running could improve his stats, what about other exercises? The system seemed to be rewarding physical exertion. This opened up an entirely new avenue for growth—one that he could control directly through his actions rather than waiting for arbitrary increases.
A grin spread across his face as he caught his breath, leaning against the fence. It was time to experiment.
---
The Training Experiment
With newfound excitement coursing through his veins, August threw himself into his usual training regimen with the enthusiasm of a scientist testing a groundbreaking theory. The small clearing near the house became his laboratory, and his body the subject of his experiments.
He began with push-ups, lowering his small frame to the ground and pushing up with determination. After each set of ten, he waited expectantly, and was rewarded with another notification:
[SYSTEM: YOU HAVE GAINED AN INCREASE IN YOUR STRENGTH, STAMINA, AND VITALITY +0.1]
"Yes!" he exclaimed, rolling onto his back with a triumphant grin. The system was responding exactly as he had hoped.
Next came squats, his thighs burning as he lowered himself repeatedly, driven by curiosity as much as by determination. Ten squats, then twenty, then thirty—each set bringing another notification, another small increase to his agility, stamina, and mobility.
Sit-ups followed, then sprints across the clearing, each exercise carefully chosen to test different muscle groups and, he hoped, different attributes within the system. He kept meticulous mental notes of which exercises influenced which attributes, building a framework of understanding that would guide his future training.
As exhaustion crept in, threatening to halt his experiment, he discovered another fascinating aspect of his system. His Willpower, Stamina and Endurance stats seemed to provide an intangible reserve of energy, allowing him to push just a little further when his body screamed for rest. It wasn't much—perhaps just enough for one more set, one more sprint—but it was tangible evidence that his stats were more than just numbers. They had real, practical applications.
Another pattern emerged as he continued: the more he repeated an activity, the greater the rewards. The system seemed to encourage persistence and intensity, often granting stat increases across multiple areas rather than just one. This suggested a holistic approach to training might yield the best results over time.
Eventually, despite his determination, his body could take no more. He collapsed onto the dirt, chest heaving, limbs trembling with exertion. A fine sheen of sweat covered his skin, and his muscles ached with the satisfying pain of progress. Despite the discomfort, a sense of accomplishment filled his chest. He had unlocked a new way to grow stronger, to take control of his development in wake of his newfound power.
Gel, who had been watching from afar with a mixture of confusion and concern, saw him sprawled out on the ground and rushed over in a panic. Her footsteps pounded against the earth as she approached, her face contorted with worry.
"Gus! Are you alright?" she cried, kneeling beside him.
Despite his breathlessness, August managed to give her a reassuring thumbs-up, a weak smile playing on his lips. Relief washed over her features, quickly replaced by exasperation.
"What were you thinking, pushing yourself like that?" she scolded, though there was no real anger in her voice.
"Training," he panted, still too winded for full sentences.
She shook her head, helping him to his feet with gentle hands. "Come on, you need to clean up and eat something. Whatever you're doing can wait until you've regained your strength."
He nodded in agreement, allowing her to guide him toward the house. He needed a change of clothes, water to soothe his parched throat, and more importantly, food to replenish his depleted energy.
---
A Meal and A Revelation
Gel still didn't fully trust her cooking skills, though August had assured her repeatedly that she was improving. She could cook well enough to keep them fed, but after yesterday's discussion, they had decided that she would handle their dinners while August took care of their morning meals. It was a division of labor that played to their strengths and gave Gel time to practice without the pressure of being responsible for every meal.
After a quick rest and a change into fresh clothes, August set about preparing a simple breakfast of porridge sweetened with honey he found in the forest a few days ago and wild berries they had gathered the previous day. The familiar routine of stirring the thickening mixture over the fire gave his mind space to wander, to process the morning's discoveries.
When the meal was ready, they sat together at the small table, the wooden bowls steaming between them. August ate mechanically, his thoughts elsewhere as he mentally cataloged the various exercises and their corresponding stat increases.
After a while, he settled into his father's favorite chair, a worn but comfortable piece that still carried the faint scent of pipe tobacco. His gaze wandered aimlessly around the room as he reflected on the morning's discoveries, mentally calculating the potential growth if he maintained a consistent training regimen.
From Gel's perspective, he appeared lost in a daze, his eyes unfocused, his expression distant. She watched him with a mixture of concern and curiosity, wondering what thoughts occupied his mind so completely.
Then, as if jolted by an invisible force, August suddenly straightened in his chair, his eyes widening with realization. Something important had clicked into place—the reason for his loss of consciousness the day before.
The countless system notifications that had assaulted his mind yesterday—was it all because he had finally unlocked his [Personal Panel]?
His heartbeat quickened at the thought, excitement rushing through him like a current. Could it be that simple? Had the system been waiting for him to reach a certain threshold before revealing this new aspect?
There was only one way to find out. With a deep breath, he focused his mind and accessed the system once more.
---
Unlocking the System [Personal Panel]
A wave of information flooded his vision, filling the space before his eyes with glowing text and numbers:
[SYSTEM MENU]
[MISSION PANEL]
- DAILY MISSION
- WEEKLY MISSION (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
- MONTHLY MISSION (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 15)
- YEARLY MISSION (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 25)
- EMERGENCY MISSION (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
[[PERSONAL PANEL]]
[GENERAL INFORMATION]
[STAT]
[SUB-STAT]
[[BODY STAT]]
[AFFLICTION]
[EQUIPMENT]
[BLUE PRINT (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 15)]
[GUARDIAN BEAST (HIDDEN FEATURE)]
For the first time, he realized that the [Personal Panel] was an entirely separate menu from the [Mission Panel], a distinction he hadn't been able to make before. Each represented a different aspect of the system, with its own functions and purposes.
The moment he focused his attention on the [Personal Panel] option, the screen before his eyes seemed to pulse with energy. He mentally pressed the option, and the display transformed, expanding to fill his vision with rows of letters and numbers.
What would have been overwhelming or incomprehensible to anyone else felt oddly familiar to him, as if he had been reading such displays his entire life. Somehow, he understood exactly what each number represented, what each term meant in practical terms. The knowledge wasn't learned—it was inherent, as if the system had implanted the understanding directly into his mind.
*(A/N: If you're wondering why August can instinctively comprehend his stats and do calculations, the system automatically provides a basic understanding upon unlocking the [Personal Panel]. However, this doesn't mean he can read or write outside of this context—he still needs to learn that the hard way. :P)*
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The [Personal] Panel
[GENERAL INFORMATION]
NAME: AUGUST FINN
AGE: 10 YEARS, 7 MONTHS, AND 25 DAYS
GENDER: MALE
RACE: HUMAN
JOB: [FARM HAND] - (CLASS I - ADVANCED) (+5 STRENGTH)
CLASS: NONE
TITLES: SURVIVOR (+2 VITALITY, +3 WILLPOWER)
*-One who survives the trials of death.*
SKILLS: NONE
HP: (HIDDEN UNTIL LEVEL 10)
MP: (LOCKED UNTIL MANA STAT LEVEL 5, HIDDEN UNTIL LEVEL 10)
(ATTACK) DAMAGE:
(DEFENSE) DAMAGE NEGATION:
LEVEL: 3 (100/6,000 XP)
[EQUIPMENT:]
- [SIMPLE WOODEN QUIVER, BOW AND ARROW] - (CLASS I-NOVICE):
*-A simple long-range equipment used by hunters.*
[SUB-STAT]
+20 ATTACK(×2)
+10 ARROWS
[BLUEPRINT SCHEMATICS:]
+25 INTELLIGENCE PATCHED WALL LEVEL 1
[GUARDIAN BEAST:] (HIDDEN FEATURE)
[STATS]
- STRENGTH: 6+101(+5)
- AGILITY: 6+101 +
- STAMINA: 6+101+
- DEXTERITY: 6+101+
- MOBILITY: 6+101+
- ENDURANCE: 6+101+
- SPEED: 6+101+
- WILLPOWER: 6+101(+3)
- VITALITY: 6+101(+2)
- C⁹HARISMA: (LOCKED, LEVEL 20)
- MAGIC: (LOCKED, LEVEL 5)
- INTELLIGENCE: 6+101(+25)
OVERALL STAT: +92%
[SUB-STATS]
- ATTACK: 6+101(+40) (+92%) → 282
- DEFENSE: 6+101(+92%) → 205
- MAGIC DEFENSE: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 5)
- MAGIC ATTACK: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 5)
- [MANA REGEN]: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 5)
- [CRITICAL CHANCE]: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
- [CRITICAL DAMAGE]: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
- [STEALTH]: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
- [ACCURACY]: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
- [AMBUSH CHANCE]: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
- [AMBUSH DAMAGE]: (LOCKED UNTIL LEVEL 10)
August absorbed the numbers with fascination, his mind automatically calculating his progress since the system's activation. Before today, he had only been vaguely aware of his stats increasing, feeling the subtle changes in his strength and endurance without understanding the mechanics behind them.
Now, with the [Personal Panel] unlocked, he could see exactly how his training had affected him. Based on his morning exercises and his previous activities, his stats had been increasing in consistent increments of 0.1 per movement that utilized those particular attributes.
What truly astonished him was the comparison to his progress before this morning. Prior to unlocking the [Personal Panel], his gains had been a mere +0.6 per day since the system's activation six months ago. The difference was staggering—with targeted training, he could potentially increase his stats ten times faster than before.
The implications were both exciting and daunting. With this newfound understanding, he could accelerate his growth dramatically—but it would require discipline, planning, and consistent effort. He would need to develop a structured training regimen that exercised all his attributes evenly, preventing any one area from falling behind.
---
The [Body Stat] Panel
Curiosity drove him to scroll further through the interface, seeking more information about his capabilities. As he navigated the system, he noticed another tab labeled [BODY STAT]. Selecting it caused the display to shift again, this time revealing a holographic representation of his body, color-coded in various shades to indicate his overall health and the condition of individual body parts.
The system helpfully provided a legend to explain the color coding:
Green (Healthy)
Yellow (Stable)
Orange (Concerning)
Red (Life-Threatening)
Black (Irreversible Damage)
His current stats were displayed beside the hologram:
[BODY STAT]
- HEAD: 283/300 (Yellow-Green)
- TORSO: 285/300 (Yellow-Green)
- LEFT ARM: 295/300 (Green)
- RIGHT ARM: 293/300 (Green)
- LEFT LEG: 285/300 (Yellow-Green)
- RIGHT LEG: 283/300 (Yellow-Green)
OVERALL HEALTH: 1,724/1,800 (Vitality Multiplier +109%) (Affliction Debuff -20%) =(+89%) 3,258/3,402
The yellow-green coloration of several body parts concerned him slightly, though the system didn't seem to flag it as a serious issue. The numbers indicated he wasn't at full health, which made sense given his recent exertions and the lingering effects of past traumas.
Speaking of which, the panel also listed his current afflictions:
[AFFLICTIONS]
- Lingering Trauma: -10% Mental Stability
- Mild Exhaustion: -10% Overall Health
This new information painted a clearer picture of how the system evaluated his condition. It became evident that afflictions could weaken his stats temporarily or, in more severe cases, permanently. According to the explanatory text, the severity ranged from slight (-1-5%) to mortal (-100%), with various stages in between.
The idea of suffering irreversible damage, indicated by the black coloration in the legend, unsettled him deeply. It suggested that some injuries or conditions could permanently reduce his maximum potential, a thought that reinforced the importance of caution and proper preparation.
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Overwhelmed But Enlightened
As he absorbed all this information, processing its implications and the new possibilities it opened, a dull throbbing began at his temples. The sheer volume of data was overwhelming, even with the system's inherent assistance in understanding it. Closing the interface with a mental command, he exhaled deeply, leaning back in his father's chair.
"No wonder I was bombarded with notifications before," he murmured to himself, massaging his temples gently. "The system was holding back all of this until I was ready."
Despite the headache, excitement bubbled within him like a spring. Now that he understood the mechanics of his growth, he could plan his training more effectively, focusing on activities that would yield the greatest benefits. He could track his progress, set goals, and work methodically toward achieving them.
With a grin, he leaned back, staring at the ceiling's wooden beams. His mind was already racing with ideas for training routines, ways to balance different exercises to ensure well-rounded development. Perhaps he could dedicate mornings to strength and endurance training, afternoons to agility and speed, and evenings to skills like archery that would improve his dexterity.
"August? Are you alright?" Gel's voice broke through his thoughts. She stood in the doorway, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity.
He turned to her, his grin widening. "Never better," he replied with genuine enthusiasm. "I've just figured something out, something that's going to help us both."
She tilted her head, confusion evident in her eyes, but she didn't press for details. Instead, she nodded, trusting that he would explain when he was ready.
And he would explain—once he had fully processed everything himself and developed a concrete plan. For now, though, he was content to savor this new understanding, this glimpse into the mechanics of his own growth.
This was just the beginning. With the [Personal Panel] unlocked and the system's workings revealed, he had taken a significant step forward on his journey. The path ahead was clearer now, illuminated by knowledge that had previously been hidden from him.
As he sat there, contemplating the future with newfound clarity, one thought resonated above all others: with understanding came power, and with power came responsibility—the responsibility to use his growing abilities wisely, to protect those he cared about, and to navigate this dangerous world with both strength and caution.
The system had given him a tool. It was up to him to use it well.
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The [Information] Panel
Years, Months, Days and Hours
(*In Century, a year consists of 13 months, each with 28 days. Additionally, a single day lasts 36 hours, and a single hour consists of 120 minutes.*)
Level
(*At base level 0, August needed 2,000 XP to reach level 1. Each level required an additional 2,000 XP until level 5 (10,000 XP total).
After level 5, the XP requirement increased by 2,500 XP per level until level 15. (For example: Level 6 = 12,500 XP, at Level 15 = 35,000 XP).
After level 15 until level 25, the XP requirement increased by 3,500 per level. (For example: Level 16 = 38,500 XP, at Level 25 = 70,000 XP).
XP resets to 0 after each level gained. (For example: Level 1 = 2,000/2,000 → Level 2 = 0/4,000 XP.*)
Stats/Sub-Stats
(At level 0, August had 0 stats. Each level-up automatically grants a permanent +2 to all base stats and sub-stats; located on the left most side.
For example, AT LEVEL 3 HE WOULD HAVE A BASE STAT FOR STR: 6
a unique feature of his system is his constant growth with everything that he does—an increase in stat would be +0.1 per set or action.)
6 + earned permanent stat increase through various exercises + weapon, title, class and job stat/sub-stat increase.
6+(10)+50
Health
[Body Stat]
Every level upgrades, an additional +100 HP for each body part.
For example:
- Head: level 1 (100) → level 3 (300)
Each body part's color would shift, based on health values, decreasing by -10 for every shade change, which would reflect on his holographic body.
For example:
Head: 90/100 (yellow green)
[Afflictions]
An affliction applies a debuff, affecting overall health and body stats.
Debuff levels:
- Slight: -1% to -5%
- Mild: -6% to -15%
- Severe: -16% to -50%
- Life-threatening: -51% to -90%
- Mortal Wound: -100%
Some afflictions linger, and could stack.
[Exercise and Movements]
Different exercises and movements that would involve or affect his stats would provide boosts to different attributes.
For example:
In summary, each exercise increased three different stats:
- Push-ups → Strength, Stamina, Vitality
- Squats → Agility, Stamina, Mobility
- Sit-ups → Strength, Endurance, Vitality
- Running → Speed, Agility, Endurance
The increase was based on the number of sets or laps completed.
For example:
- Push-ups: 10 reps = +0.1. Doing 3 sets = +0.3.
- Running: 5 laps, with each lap covering at least half a kilometer = +0.1.
While different movements that would otherwise affect his stats but do not necessarily involve harsh exercise or combat would only increase +0.1 per 50 repetitive movements.
Before unlocking the [Personal Panel], August had averaged a stat increase of +0.6 per day over the past six months.
The Missions
[Daily Mission:]
Each day, the system resets a set of available missions that would reward the host upon completion. These missions provide 100–500 XP, along with novice-grade equipment and a random low-tier skill if the system deemed it to be particularly hard to do or based on the difficulty the host achieved to complete it. The daily missions are designed to encourage consistent engagement and gradual progression. (Unlocks at level 1)
[Weekly Mission:]
This mission is available on any day of the week, the host could choose to do it within the given week and weekly missions would reset on the first day of each week. It rewards 500–1,500 XP and offers only 25% chance to receive novice equipment along with a random skill that ranges from low to mid-tier. The skill and equipment reward is not guaranteed each time and has a low chance of being given, adding an element of unpredictability to weekly challenges. (Unlocks at level 10)
[Monthly Mission:]
Like the weekly mission it is available to do at any point during the current month, this monthly mission/s resets on the first day of every month. It rewards players with 2,000–3,000 XP and may offer advanced to expert equipment sets but with only a 10% chance of receiving one every month, as well as having a 70% chance of guaranteed mid-tier skill that suits the host upon successful completion. Monthly missions are structured to provide a significant boost to progress, rewarding dedication over a longer period. (Unlocks at level 15)
[Yearly Mission:]
Once per year, players must complete a special mission that carries both substantial rewards and penalties. This mission provides 5,000–10,000 XP, and may reward the host with a 5% chance of a set of master-grade equipment and a 10% chance of receiving a high-tier skill based on the host's affinity. Failure to complete the yearly mission within the designated time results in a penalty—a deduction of 50% of the XP earned—underscoring its importance as a capstone challenge. (Unloks at level 20)
[Emergency Mission:]
Triggered whenever the host finds themselves in a situation that the system deems it as both advantageous and perilous to its host, emergency missions offer rewards proportional to the severity of the danger encountered. These missions are unpredictable and designed to test the host's ability to capitalize on critical moments, providing proportionate but substantial and guaranteed rewards depending on the veracity and the difficulty of the mission, upon each successful completion. (Unlocking at level 10)
This structured system of missions is designed to foster continuous progression and adaptation, challenging players on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis while also rewarding quick thinking in emergency situations.
Rank and Class
[For equipment, job, class, and skill:]
[FOR STATS]:
- NOVICE (CLASS 1-5): +5 stat increase per class level
- ADVANCE (CLASS 1-5): +10 stat increase per class level
- EXPERT (CLASS 1-5): +15 stat increase per class level
- MASTER (CLASS 1-5): +20 stat increase per class level
- GRAND MASTER (CLASS 1-5): +25 stat increase per class level
*A/N: STACKS PER RANK AND CLASS INCREASE*
For example:
An equipment made by a grand master and has achieved to make it till class 5 would have a total stat increase
Grand Master Armor (Class 5): +375 on all
[FOR SUB-STATS (NON-PERCENTAGE)]:
- NOVICE (CLASS 1-5): +20 sub-stat increase per class level
- ADVANCE (CLASS 1-5): +25 sub-stat increase per class level
- EXPERT (CLASS 1-5): +30 sub-stat increase per class level
- MASTER (CLASS 1-5): +50 sub-stat increase per class level
- GRAND MASTER (CLASS 1-5): +100 sub-stat increase per class level
*A/N: STACKS PER RANK AND CLASS INCREASE*
For example:
An equipment made by a grand master and has achieved to make an equipment till class 5, would have a total sub-stat increase of.
Grand Master Sword (Class 5): +1,125 on all sub-stat involved.
[FOR SUB-STATS AND PERCENTAGE BASE INCREASE/DECREASE (PERCENTAGE)]:
- NOVICE (CLASS 1-5): ±2% sub-stat increase per class level
- ADVANCE (CLASS 1-5): ±3% sub-stat increase per class level
- EXPERT (CLASS 1-5): ±5% sub-stat increase per class level
- MASTER (CLASS 1-5): ±7% sub-stat increase per class level
- GRAND MASTER (CLASS 1-5): ±10% sub-stat increase per class level
A/N: STACKS PER RANK AND CLASS INCREASE*
For example:
An equipment made by a grand master and has achieved to make an equipment till class 5, would have a total sub-stat increase of.
Grand Master Sword (Class 5): +135% on all sub-stat.