Zac opened the variant website through his VSB using his license and skimmed through the homepage.

The screen buzzed with activities: news, forms, articles, discussions, and ads. Conversations spilled everywhere, from useful information to complete nonsense.

He selected the news section and skimmed through the headlines.

New B-rank portal captured in Lakte City.

Students are preparing for the upcoming university entrance examination in the Eastern Union.

A ’B-level’ variant was caught red-handed having an affair with a C-level healer from his party.

Terrorist attack on S-level variant Salma Sahib ends with the attackers getting wiped out.

A recent increase of terrorists is sighted in the Eastern Alliance country.

The news never seemed to end.

His eyes lingered for a moment on the increase of terrorist news before switching tabs to portals.

A map unfolded across the screen with portal locations lighting up one by one. He found seven E-level portals around Mellow City.

After a moment of thought he applied for all of them for the next 30 days.

He then opened the shop section. It split into two tabs. Weapons and Weapon Smiths.

"They offer smithing services too..."

[A weapon is a warrior’s closest companion. High-level variants rarely change theirs once they find the right match.]

[Even low-level variants prefer custom-made weapons, crafted to fit them perfectly and grow alongside them.]

"Then... should I go for a custom-made one too?"

[Yes. But first you have to learn about weapons and the materials used to craft them.]

"Fine. I’ll wait until I get into an academy, they should have classes for that."

A few taps, and the listings rearranged themselves. He picked out a lightweight black leather armor set, layered with a long trench coat and hood. He added matching boots, a belt, and simple clothes to go with it.

Then he moved to swords.

Rows upon rows filled the screen. Single-handed, double-handed, longswords, and heavy blades. Each with its own stats, traits, and price.

He scrolled and kept scrolling, but even after thirty minutes nothing felt right.

He then chose a simple D-grade, single-handed longsword with the ability to absorb and release elemental energy.

He also added a few healing potions to the cart for emergencies. After he was done with the shopping, he picked up the skill book.

Overdrive

The name was printed on the cover, without any embellishment.

Name: Overdrive

Type: Offensive

Rank: E

Effect: Increases physical and magical output to 2x.

Weakness: Add strain to the body on every usage.

His brows drew together.

"It’s marked E-rank...? Is there any specific reason you asked me to pick this one?"

[Because its a growth-type skill.]

"You mean the one that grows stronger with the user?"

[Skill books usually came from clearing portals, and growth-type skills were rare beyond reason. They were unpredictable and capable of evolving alongside their user, climbing far beyond their initial rank.]

[The problem was finding them.]

[The system buried them deep, masking them among countless ordinary skills. You could spend years searching through thousands of books and still walk away with nothing.]

"So what is the system? Of course I’m not talking about you, I already know you wouldn’t talk about your origin. I’m asking about the mechanical system every variant has."

[You don’t have sufficient point to know that info.]

Zac exhaled slowly, staring at the book.

"Should have known! ...So what now?"

[Learn it.]

The moment he accepted it, the book dissolved into golden particles, drifting upward before streaming straight into his temple.

For the next ten minutes, he sat with closed eyes, absorbing all the information from the book.

"That... was something else."

Zac pulled up his status window.

⟦ STATUS ⟧

Name: Zac Godson

Level: 20 (E)(+12)

Age: 19

Race: Human

Title: -

Bloodline: Fallen (Unknown)

Traits: Divine Aura, Unmatched Charisma.

Awakened Abilities: System (Unknown), Swordsmanship (SS), Lightning (S)

Technique: Heart Sword (SS)

Skills: Overdrive (E)(Growth type)

Info point: 0 (-20)

Attributes

Strength: 48 (+18)

Agility: 44 (+18)

Physique: 54 (+18)

Wisdom: 44 (+18)

Un-allotted points: 0 (-72)

He distributed the unallotted points evenly across all stats once again, feeling the blissful sensation.

A surge of strength spread through his body. His muscles tightened and senses became sharper than ever.

"...Feels good."

Name: Overdrive

Type: Offensive

Rank: E (growth)

Effect: Increases physical and magical output to 2x. Each rank unlocks a higher multiplier.

Side Effect: Places strain on the user’s body.

Note: A multiplier one rank above the current level can be used temporarily at an increased cost.

[It’s a good skill.]

Zac flexed his fingers, feeling the faint hum of power beneath his skin. "Yeah... but if I use it carelessly, I’ll wreck my own body."

"Wait, where are my 20 info points?"

[Did you seriously expect me to work free.]

"Don’t you need to ask me before deducting the points?"

[I forgot!]

"Seriously..."

***

That night, he joined his family for dinner.

The three of them sat at the table, plates half-empty, while Carrie kept up her usual antics, teasing and making faces. Laughter slipped out between bites.

Zac set his spoon down, looking at his mother. "Mom... from tomorrow, I’m going to start entering portals."

The clink of metal cut through the moment.

Martha’s spoon slipped from her fingers, clinking against the plate. Her gaze rose to him with worry settling deep in her eyes.

"What happened, Mom?" Carrie asked, glancing between them.

Martha shook her head. "Nothing... I just..." Her voice faltered. "I just remembered your father."

A quiet pause followed.

"Mom, I’m only going into E-rank portals."

"I know... I know, Zac." She forced a small smile, though her eyes still glistened.

"It’s just... your father..." She stopped herself and exhaled. "Never mind. Do what you think is right. I’ll always support you."

Zac nodded. "Thanks, Mom."

After dinner, he turned in early.

By morning, a parcel was waiting at his door. He tore it open and changed into the black leather armor, the trench coat, and the boots.

He picked up the sword and gave it a few swings.

Unnamed Sword

D Rank

Crafted with meteorite iron.

Designed for swordsmen who favor power over speed.

Zac rolled his wrist, testing the balance again.

"Better than the standard-issue weapon from the license test."

He adjusted his coat, then stepped out.

"Brother, are you going to the portal?"

"Yes, Carrie. I’ll be back before dinner."

"Can you catch me a monster when you get back?"

"Huh?"

[What does she think this is, Pokémon hunting?]

"My friend said variants have monsters as pets. Can we also have one?"

Zac reached out and patted her head. "Not now, Carrie. But I’ll get you one when you awaken."

"Okay."

"Be safe, Zac," his mother said, worry still lingering on her face.

"Sure, Mom."

He gave them a small wave and stepped out of the house.

***

The first place he headed to is the market plaza. According to the association’s site, a portal had opened there a week ago.

When he reached the perimeter, he saw the distortion in space and securities guarding the entrance.

Zac walked up to the guards and presented his credentials. After a brief check he is allowed inside.

For a split second, everything blurred and then snapped back into place. He stood in the middle of a dense rainforest.

The air clung to his skin, thick with moisture. The scent of damp earth and wild growth filled his lungs.

Without wasting time, he bent his knees and leaped into the top of a huge tree, landing on a high branch with ease.

Endless green stretched in every direction. There are no clear paths or visible end, only forest, closing in from all sides.

He dropped from the tree and moved through the forest.

Suddenly

A mud serpent burst from beneath the wet leaves, its body blending perfectly with the ground as it shot toward his leg.

Zac caught the snake by its head.

The snake twisted, with bared fangs struggling to break free from his grip. "Good thing I allocated all my points before coming here. Otherwise, it would’ve sunk its fangs into me by now."

He tore it apart in one motion and tossed the remains aside without breaking stride.

After a while, the forest changed.

Rows of massive banana trees rose ahead, lined up before him. Their trunks were thick, towering nearly three times the size of the ones from Earth.

Clusters of golden bananas hung heavily from the branches, glowing faintly in the dim light.

Zac raised a brow. "Now that’s... new."

He climbed up and plucked one.

Golden Banana

Three times more delicious than normal bananas.

Enhances digestion. Heals kidney, blood, and heart-related issues.

"This seems useful."

He brought it closer to his mouth; just then he heard a rustle from behind. Zac turned to the source of the sound but found nothing.

A slight frown formed as he looked back at his hand.

Empty.

"...Hah?"

"Where did the banana go?"

[You should be more attentive inside portals.]

"Yeah, no kidding."

He grabbed another banana.

The moment it came free,

Whoosh.

Gone again.

Zac froze with a bewildered expression on his face. Slowly, he reached for his sword and pulled it free.

"...Alright. Whoever you are..."

A faint chittering sound echoed around him.

Dozens of crimson eyes were glaring at him from behind the trees.

"Monkeys?"

Golden monkeys clung to the trunks, tails swaying, tiny hands gripping bananas like priceless treasure. Their glowing eyes locked onto him with pure, unfiltered hostility.

The system panel blinked.

Golden Monkeys

E-rank

Native to the Banana Realm.

Extremely possessive of their bananas.

Will attack anyone who attempts to take them.

Zac slowly glanced at his empty hand. Then at the monkeys. "So let me get this straight."

A monkey peeled a banana right in front of him, maintained eye contact, and took a slow bite. Another one tossed the peel down near Zac’s boot.

Zac exhaled. "...I just got robbed."

A banana flew past his head. Another one smacked against his shoulder.

"Kee-kee-kee-ahhh!"

The monkeys started screeching while pounding their chests.

"Ack-ack-ack-ack-ack!"

[Monkey...loves...bananas. Our bananas...no take...human.]

"Is that what they are saying?"

[Yes]

"Then there is nothing else to talk about."

Zac tightened his grip on the sword, staring up at the army of furious banana keepers.