The satisfaction of my physical transformation was a warm hum in my veins, but Sunday's earlier words about mutation and radiation had planted a seed of low-grade, persistent anxiety. In a world scraped raw by nuclear fire, the threat felt less like an abstract concept and more like a constant, invisible smog you just learned to ignore—until someone reminded you it was slowly killing you.
I paced the length of my room, the new muscle in my legs moving with an easy, powerful grace that was still novel enough to be distracting.
"This radiation thing, Sunday," I said, coming to a stop by the window. The sprawling, neon-drenched dystopia of New San Antonio seemed suddenly more sinister.
"It's everywhere, right? In the air, the water, the damn food. You said my body's stable now, but is it… protected? Or am I just a slightly buff guy slowly cooking from the inside out?"
Sunday's sphere glided through the air to hover beside me. "[Your current physiological enhancements have significantly bolstered your body's natural resilience and regenerative capabilities, providing a passive, increased resistance to environmental contaminants, including low-level background radiation... However, it is not a specialized defense. A concentrated exposure event would still be detrimental.]"
"So, a good start, but not exactly immunity," I muttered, chewing on my thumbnail. The thought of my pristine, new DNA getting frazzled was intolerable.
"There's gotta be something more…. You're a system from a hyper-advanced Earth, right? You must have something…. A skill, a perk, something."
"[The system maintains an extensive repository of augmentations beyond statistical modification,]" Sunday confirmed. "[It is colloquially known as the Skill Mall. Would you like to browse the available inventory?]".
A Skill Mall. The term was so absurdly mundane for something so utterly world-breaking.
"Yeah. Yeah, pull it up. Let's see what's on sale.".
My main monitor flickered, and the familiar desktop vanished. In its place was an interface that looked like a bizarre fusion of a high-end web store and an RPG skill tree. It was clean, intuitive, and overwhelming. Categories scrolled down the side: 'Physical Enhancements, Mental Acuities, Social Manipulations, Creative Arts, Defensive Protocols, Novelty & Entertainment.'
My cursor hovered over 'Novelty & Entertainment'. A mischievous grin spread across my face.
"Okay, I have to know." I clicked it.
A list populated. And I burst out laughing. It was a catalogue of the most gloriously useless abilities imaginable.
Professional Snorer: Achieve perfect, rhythmic snoring at will.
Flatulence Maestro: Control the pitch and volume of passed gas.
Cloud Shaper: Slightly increase the probability of clouds resembling familiar shapes.
And then I saw it.
Banana Feet: Increases the chance of slipping on a banana peel or similar object by 40%.Cost: $500.
"Who? Who in the ever-loving fuck would ever buy this?". I wheezed, tears forming in my eyes.
"What kind of suicidal clown looks at this and thinks, 'Yes, my life is missing this specific kind of chaos'?".
"[Historical purchase records indicate thirteen individuals have acquired this skill since its addition to the catalogue,]" Sunday stated with perfect seriousness. "[Their motivations remain… unclear.]"
I was crying with laughter now, the tension from moments before completely shattered. This wasn't some grim, clinical system of pure power, it was weird and random. It had a sense of humor. And that, more than anything, made it feel real.
Wiping my eyes, I navigated back to the main menu, my curiosity now a burning fire. "Alright, alright, …Show me the good stuff, the serious stuff… please, filter out the clown shoes.".
The screen shifted, now showing skills with costs that had serious numbers attached to them. Radiation Resistance, Toxin Immunity, Thermal Regulation. This was more like it.
"[Before you proceed with a purchase,]". Sunday interjected, "[a notification requires your attention. You have unclaimed skill rewards available.]"
"Rewards? Like… achievements?". I blinked.
"[In a manner of speaking. The system occasionally awards complimentary skills based on significant user actions and lifestyle integration. You have unlocked two.]".
A new window popped up, sleek and congratulatory.
SKILL UNLOCKED: Mother Lover
Effect:Significantly increases affinity, affection, and receptiveness from older female figures.
Unlock Condition:Forge a deep, genuine, and physically intimate bond with a maternal figure.
SKILL UNLOCKED: Young Stud
Effect:Increases libido, sexual stamina, and recovery. Enhances perception of virility +1 Inches to Genitalia size.
Unlock Condition:Demonstrate a consistent, high-volume, and enthusiastic engagement in sexual activity.
"You have got to be kidding me.". I stared at the screen, my mouth slightly agape. Then a slow, incredulous chuckle escaped me.
It made a lot amount of sense. My relationship with Grandma Nadia wasn't just repaired; it was a paradigm shift, a fundamental rewriting of our dynamic. And my sex drive… well, that had gone from a private obsession to a defining characteristic of my new life. The system hadn't just noticed; it had given me a gold star and a participation trophy for it.
"[The acquisition of complementary skills is an exceedingly rare event, with a probability of approximately 0.001% per qualifying action,]" Sunday informed me. "[It represents the system's acknowledgment of your… commitment to a particular path.]".
"Commitment… Right~.". I was still laughing softly. It felt like winning the lottery for being a horndog.
"So, buying them is the normal way…. And I've got the money, so let's go shopping for real!".
The initial overwhelm was gone, replaced by the focused thrill of a connoisseur with a blank check. This was it. This was how I would sculpt myself into the man I needed to be—the artist, the protector, the lover.
"Okay, first things first. The whole reason we're here." I navigated to a subsection of Physical Enhancements labeled Reproductive & Vitality. I found it. 'Fertility Increased.' The description was blunt: '+5% impregnation chance, +1-liter sperm volume per emission.' The cost was a cool million. I didn't even flinch. Added to cart.
"Gotta keep the government happy," I muttered, a wry smile on my face. Actually, there is many other skills that granted higher impregnation chance. But I chose this own because of that +1Liter-Sperm volume, for my own preference.
Next, vanity. Pure, unadulterated vanity. 'Aesthetically Pleasing.' Another million. The description promised a subtle, holistic enhancement of my physical appearance—symmetry, skin quality, the inherent "rightness" of my features. It wasn't about being someone else; it was about being the best possible version of me.
"Click… Bought,". If I can be more handsome than now, I would definitely be that.
Now, for my dreams. I switched to Creative Arts. Superstar Singer.Become a Master Level vocal technique, musicality, and stage presence. One million. 'Charming Voice.' : Your voice gains a captivating, persuasive, and memorable quality. Another million. I could already feel the music in my soul. These weren't just skills; they were the keys to a kingdom I'd always wanted to enter, the great singer realm.
Back to Physical Enhancements. I'd hit my stat cap, but this was different. 'Peak Human Physique.' :Optimizes your body to the absolute pinnacle of natural human potential, enhancing the efficiency and appearance of your current form. Five million. It was the polish on the statue. Click and bought.
Finally, the grand finale. The reason for everything. I navigated to a category simply called Mastery.
'Master Gamer.' : Instantaneous comprehension of game mechanics, unparalleled hand-eye coordination, and strategic insight for any interactive media. One million. For that sort of skill, completely a bargain.
I took a breath. This was the big one.
'Master Game Developer.' : A comprehensive, intuitive mastery of all aspects of game creation: coding, engine architecture, narrative design, art direction, sound design, and project management. Ten million dollars. The number was astronomical. It was life-changing money to everyone, still I bought it, and it was worth every single penny. This was the culmination of two lifetimes of passion and failure. This would let me build the worlds I'd always dreamed of, a game that I wanted.
I highlighted it. "This is the one, Sunday. This is everything."
"Click."
"[All items have been added to your cart. Total expenditure: twenty million, forty-four thousand dollars. Confirm purchase?]".
I didn't hesitate. "Confirm.".