Ouch, that hurts.

  With a slight rumble, Johannes fell on his underdeveloped back, almost like he had been standing before. The vinyl floor had to cushion a fraction of Master Atem's impressive might, leaving Johannes in pain again. His back had been aching in sharp, unbearable pain, impairing his vision for a small moment.

  Johannes carefully placed his feet to support his stance, bracing for the moment he would stand up. With a last ounce of strength left, he climbed up his bed. His blue slippers felt glued on the ground with unseen weight. He had done it.

  In the past week, Johannes had worked out quite a lot and it had paid off. He was able to recognize his own efforts for the first time in his life. This sense of accomplishment, even if it was meant to be only a temporary one, was something nobody could take from him, not even the system.

  Now that he stood, something that was even more familiar than the dark room had folded out in front of him - the hospital room he called his own for quite some time now. There it was, the bed he slept in, the overbed table he called his own - even though it was not and last but not least the view out of his room. The starry night shined upon his face, luminescent as always.

  How long has it been that I was gone?

  Johannes threw a quick glance at the clock. It read 12:01 AM. Barely a minute had passed over the course of time he was away.

  Is that even remotely possible? I feel like I was gone for an eternity.

  The frail man had no way of knowing whether the system would remain or not. However, its powers had not been revoked yet, which had to be a good sign.

  Alright. How should I do this...

  "System come forth?"

  Nothing happened. Not that Johannes expected something to happen anyways.

  That didn't feel natural at all...

  "I am the sole leveler of this solo leveling necromancer world?"

  ... Okay. Tough crowd

  His frantic eyes searched for a clue. Johannes felt as if something clouded his mind as he browsed through the deepest ends of its memory. What could I do? No. What would my father do?

  Johannes knew the answer - it dawned on him. How could he have forgotten? He ignored basic rules that had been as clear as the sky on his birthdays during the summer.

  "I know I am a fighter and will keep using you, Mr. or Mrs. System. You are the one thing my father gave me - there has to be a reason why he didn't use you. And I will not stop until I find out what it was." Johannes felt as if he just spoke from the bottom of his heart, every word brimming with confidence.

  A long, heartfelt sigh out his mouth implied a temporary pause.

  "It hurts. Not having a father hurts more than I ever thought it would. But today is not the end of this. I won't have failed."

  Remembering that the system had always been tied to his emotions, he hoped his speech had made a difference. After a long pause, the sound he had missed so dearly echoed through his head as if he stood under a large church bell.

  [Update Notice: System Will Be Gone For Today. It Humbly Apologizes]

  Wait... What? Is it seriously telling me that it had been gone for yesterday?

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Johannes could barely trust his eyes as they kept watching the mysterious blue screen. Long winded complaints were not the best way to greet the system back, as far as he was concerned. Thus, he kept his thoughts to himself.

  [Update Notice: System Is Back]

  ... Oh my, who would have guessed that one?

  A stacking, almost overflowing repetition of a tone rumoured yet again through his hearing. It was as if the system had continuously sent out messages but all at once.

  Now you're spamming. I'd call that some kind of overcompensation.

  [Congratulations. You Managed To Clear The Quest During My Absence. Quest Reward Is Being Calculated]

  ...

  [Quest Reward: 2 POINT(S)]

  ...

  [Breathing lvl 9 reached]

  ..

  [Standing lvl 10 reached]

  ...

  [Congratulations. You Have Stood Your Ground. Additional Reward For Reaching Level 10 On A Skill For The First Time Is Being Calculated]

  ...

  [Reward: Synthesizer Unlocked. You Can Now Combine Skills That Have Reached Level 10 And Create Stronger Skills]

  "Synthesizer?" a dumbstruck scream escaped his mouth. A small pearl of sweat silently manoeuvred down the wrinkles that had just formed on his forehead. His face was coloured crimson red as his gaze darkened. He had a hard time believing what he had just read.

  The mere implication of that was too much for Johannes to take in. A vast starlit night of stars that each amounted to a dream extended in front of his vision - dreams he had long forgotten.

  This can't be. Am I actually going to be strong enough to become a Diver one day?

  Knowing this was just a mere dream, he snapped out of it - for now. As a last afterthought, he remembered the last time he had told his father about his dream of being a Diver. A hidden strive of hope had been climbing out from the bottom of his heart.

  I'd like to know what this synthesising thing will look like. Can I just combine two level 10 skills into one broader one? How will that make me stronger?

  Johannes' right eyebrow slightly raised as he attempted to figure out the new function that the system had mentioned.

  I'll have no way of knowing anyway - at least for as long as I don't have two level 10 skills. Though, [Breathing lvl 9] comes close. He chuckled as a rush of endorphins heightened his suspense.

  After he cooled off for a bit, his stare was glued onto the mysterious blue screen. A swift motion carefully placed his agile index finger onto the button that led him to the shopping menu. He eagerly awaited the chance to buy [Walking lvl 1] or even [Meditation lvl 1].

  There it was, the loud sound only he could hear.

  [Breathing lvl 10 Has Unlocked New Skills]

  When he considered it, the notification made a lot of sense. He had only been able to buy a very limited number of skills so far.

  [New Skills Have Been Added To The Shop]

  A quick glance at the screen was enough to understand what was new. It was not that the system didn't work, but rather that the number of purchasable skills had increased tremendously.

  All of those felt as if they had been catered to his very needs, that were as basic as they could be.

  [Breathing Technique lvl 1], [Basic Upper Body Strength lvl 1], [Basic Lower Body Strength lvl 1] have all been added to the shop.

  Now that's something. This kills my plan to buy [Meditation lvl 1] early on. My best bet would be [Walking lvl 1] and [Basic Lower Body Strength lvl 1]. Though, what happens if I skip [Walking lvl 1]? Could it lock me out of further skills?

  Knowing this could reel in more problems he could potentially manage, he had no intention of finding out today. It had to wait.

  He confirmed the purchase of [Walking lvl 1] and [Basic Lower Body Strength lvl 1], which would prepare Johannes for further workouts.

  This was the first time in many years - or even in his life- that he could walk properly. His fingers started to tremble as if they had been caught inside a significant tremor as a tear rolled down his face, with a lot more to follow. His touch went onto his face, wiping away the wet stream of teardrops.

  Am I crying? Why?

  Johannes felt as if he had not been in control of his body, looking at himself from a third person's view. Time was ticking slower than usual, and the lights were dimmed. Not even the radiant moonlight could emit its dominance.

  This is one of many moments that my father will never witness. I just wish he would be there in my place, growing with the system.

  A sense of disgust entered his body. Disgust that he even attempted to move on from his father's death - disgust that his pain had lessened. Yet, a small voice inside him tore through this mantle of dark clouds that tried to infiltrate his brain.

  I want to be happy. I have to be happy. I need to be happy.

  The frail man knew the truth. If Johannes did not move on, his father could never forgive himself for leaving so early. Johannes would not taint his father's wish for him to be a fighter.

  Adrenaline rushed through his veins at an unsurpassable speed, one that could have knocked him out if it wished to.

  Starting with a singular step, he moved the heavy weight of his withered right leg into the air. It was shaking both with anxiety and agony, as it had not felt this sensation in ages.

  And just like that, he let his right foot fall onto the ground, leaving a quiet shockwave that could only seen and heard by Johannes - and nobody else.

  Are you fine with 4x a week and higher wordcount per chapter?