Arnold picked up the ability book and sure enough, another message popped up in front of him.

___

​​

YOU'VE PICKED UP A LEVEL 'A' ABILITY BOOK.

Scanning for abilities...

Scanning for abilities...

Scanning for abilities...

THREE COMPATIBLE ABILITIES FOUND.

DO YOU WANT TO LEARN THE ABOVE MENTIONED ABILITIES?

•YES or •NO

___

"Stop asking these questions and do it already!" Arnold couldn't contain his excitement anymore. For the first time in his life, he was feeling accomplished and powerful, as if he was addicted to this feeling. Every time he learned an ability his body felt refreshed, like a weird but soothing aura had covered him. He continued learning new abilities for the night.

*****

THE NEXT MORNING

"It'll be suspicious if I suddenly have various brand new affinities. If anyone discovered the truth who knows what the council would do to me. They'll definitely take the ability books for a start. I should sell what I can, but I shouldn't go to the official guild approved merchants that might cause some trouble for me, thankfully I know a couple of traders from the black market who'll be willing to help me out." Arnold thought.

He then got up from the bed, grabbed 4 ability books including the one which had ice abilities and got ready to head outside. When he was about to open the door another message popped up.

___

DAILY QUESTS :

• GETTING STRONGER (1):

[ INTRODUCTION ]: You are undernourished you need to consume more calories.

[ TASK ]: Consume food items to gain: 3000 calories.

[ PROGRESS ] : 0/3000 calories consumed.

• GETTING STRONGER (2):

[ INTRODUCTION ]: Your body has low resistance towards abnormalities. Increase your physical and mental resistance.

[ TASK ]: Exercise for 2 hours, run 3 km and stay in plank position for 5 minutes.

[ PROGRESS ] :

Exercise duration (in hours): 0/2

Running (in KM): 0/3

Plank duration (in minutes) : 0/5

[ REWARDS FOR COMPLETION ] :

• 50 EXP

• 3 Attribute points

• 2 Potential points

[ PENALTY FOR NOT COMPLETING THE QUESTS ] :

• -25 EXP

• -20% debuff on all stats (debuff would be active till tomorrow).

___

"This keeps getting weirder... whatever I'll check it out later. First off I need to sell these books and then head to the hospital. Good thing I got suspended from the guild. Now I have lots of free time!"

Arnold headed towards the black market, the place where the traders operated. Not a single 'respected' person from the society ever entered the alley known as Everbury Avenue, which made it a perfect place to do illegal deals. Everything was available in this place. From weapons and armours to bio enhancement and slaves. One could buy anything they like as long as they have sufficient money and resources. It was the perfect place to secretly sell ability books.

"Hey, Jacob. How's business?" Arnold asked the shopkeeper of the shop.

"Hey yourself midget. What do you have for me today?" Jacob replied.

Jacob looked like a pirate out of The Pirates of the Caribbean. He only had one brown eye the other was covered by an eye patch, He had a tanned complexion, he wore his curly light brown hair loosely about the shoulders. He always wore a pair of long trousers, a tunic with short sleeves, and a pair of sandals. He had quite a number of scars on his face and was especially known for his unusual beard.

"A warm welcome, as usual, I see... here take a look at these." Arnold dumped everything on the counter.

"A couple of beast crystals and... ho ho ho, Christmas came early this year." Jacob's eyes were shining with greed when he saw the ability books. "What type of abilities do they have?"

"Earth, wind, water, and Ice."

"Okay. I'll pay, 30 dollars each for the crystals, 800 for the Earth, Wind, and Water ability books and 3000 for the ice one." Jacob said stroking his beard.

"50 for the crystals, 1100 each for the basic ability books and 4500 for the ice ability book. You can easily sell the ice ability book for 6000 or more."

Given Jacob's appearance, many people would think that it'll be difficult to deal with someone like him. But in reality, all one had to do was to act tough and sooner or later, he'll give up and agree to buy or sell it at your price, And Arnold knew all about it.

"What do you think it is, a daylight robbery?"

"That's the price. Take it or leave it." Arnold said and started gathering the books one by one.

"Damn it, alright I'll take it, but for 4100 for the ability book. Even I have to earn some profit here!"

"Deal!"

With it 7500 modern dollars in his pocket, Arnold headed towards the hospital. He could finally buy another dose of medicines and drugs for Nicole.

He reached the hospital, paid 5000 for a small dose of Andrea drugs and headed towards his sister's room. Seeing that Nicole was fast asleep, he caressed her head for a while. Soon the doctor and couple of nurses came to inject the medicine in her body. After it was done, Arnold headed back to his flat. He usually took the bus to get to the bus stop near his home but this time he decides to run instead. The distance from the hospital to his flat was more than three kilometres, this he could easily complete one of the tasks but he wanted to get some food first, after all, he needed to have some calories to burn them, right?

He went to a cheap roadside restaurant and ordered two double large patty hamburgers with extra cheese and fries which cost him around 13 dollars. This was the reason why he picked a roadside restaurant, they were cheap and the food was full of calories. After he finished eating the hamburgers, a notification popped up.

___

• GETTING STRONGER (1):

[ INTRODUCTION ]: You are undernourished you need to consume more calories.

[ TASK ]: Consume food items to gain: 3000 calories.

[ PROGRESS ] : 1050/3000 calories consumed

___

"It actually works!"

After seeing the notification, he wanted to eat more but he was doubtful if he'd be able to run 3 kilometres after that. In the end, he decided to pay for the food and leave.

****

"I... never... thought running three... kilometres would be so... tiring." Arnold was standing having his hands on his knees and was breathing heavily.

___

• GETTING STRONGER (2):

[ INTRODUCTION ]: Your body has low resistance towards abnormalities. Increase your physical and mental resistance.

[ TASK ]: Exercise for 2 hours, run 3 km and stay in plank position for 5 minutes.

[ PROGRESS ] :

Exercise duration (in hours ): 0/2

Running (in KM): 3.57/3

Plank duration (in minutes) : 0/5

___

"I should... check the stats... while in resting." He just thought and the main interface opened up in front of him.

___

NAME: Arnold Ling

TITLE: None

LEVEL : 3

RANK: E

SPECIAL SKILL: ???????

AFFINITY: Ice (Wind and Water), Earth

HP: 130/130

MANA: 120/120

EXP: 0/100

STRENGTH (STR) : 10

STAMINA (STA) : 11

INTELLIGENCE (INT) : 10

AGILITY (AGI) : 11

ACCURACY (ACC) : 9

EVADE (EVD) : 8

CHARISMA (CHA): 5

ABILITIES :

• [ESSENCE OF LIFE] (lvl: 1)

• [POSEIDON'S BLESSING] (lvl : 1)

• [STATIC RAGE] (lvl : 1)

• [RAPID FLASH] (lvl : 1)

• [ELEMENTAL CONTROL : ICE] (lvl : 1)

• [ICY VEIL] (lvl: 1)

• [ELEMENTAL SUMMONING : FROST GOLEM] (lvl : 1)

• [FROZEN LANCE] (lvl: 1)

• [ELEMENTAL CONTROL : EARTH] (lvl : 1)

• [WILL OF EARTH] (lvl: 1)

• [??????] (lvl : MAX) Status : locked

___

"Just 5 charisma? Ouch. Looks like I went overboard on learning abilities as well. I better be careful from now or else someone might get suspicious about it all." Arnold said studying the interface. "There are some hidden skills as well... I wonder what it's about?"

___

YOU CAN UNLOCK THOSE SKILLS BY LEVELING UP OR BY ACHIEVING A SPECIFIC CONDITION/REQUIREMENT

___

"That solves one problem. I assume you're not going to tell me what the conditions are, right?" Arnold asked the 'system' and waited for a reply but nothing happened, so he carried on with completing the daily quests.