LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 2: Saving my Mom and Sister
[Would you like to open the welcome gift package? (Yes/No)]
I was stunned when I saw the floating light blue window in front of me.
Then a moment later, I felt relief wash over me. After I lost my mom and sister in the accident, though I had become depressed and didn't like to do anything, I couldn't just stare at the ceiling of my rented one-room apartment all the time when I wasn't doing my part-time job.
Therefore, to pass time, I had started playing games and reading web novels. In many of those novels, the main character would get a system, and whatever problem he was facing would be resolved. So, I knew I would be able to save my mom and sister now.
As for how it was going to help me… It probably had something to do with the welcome gift package.
So, I hurriedly opened my mouth to say yes, but… I couldn't open my mouth. Only then did I notice that except for my brain and eyes, I had lost all senses and the control over my body, probably because of the time stop.
[Host, please use the mental command to select. No need to speak out loud.] A line of text flashed at the bottom of the floating window.
'Yes! Open the gift package.' I said in my mind.
[Ding!]
[You have opened the welcome gift package!]
[Congratulations! You have received skill,
[Congratulations! You have received 100 DFS Points.]
[Congratulations! You have received Fire Avoidance Pearl x3]
I hurriedly read the messages flashing on the window. After seeing I had gotten Fire Avoidance Pearls, something that would be effective against the fire, I sighed in relief. With them, I wouldn't have to worry about the fire any longer, but…
'The roof will fall within a few seconds after time returns to normal. How am I…? I was just thinking about this when more messages flashed on the system window.
[Congratulations! You have received a bonus gift. Skill: Flash Steps (Temporary)]
[Flash Steps (Temporary): Increases the user's base speed by ten times.]
Immediately after I read this, the floating screen disappeared, and I slowly started regaining my senses and control over my body. At the same time, I noticed everything that seemed to have been frozen was also returning to normal.
Realizing everything would become normal within the next few seconds, I hurriedly asked the system, 'How do I use the Flash Steps?'
[Just think of using it, host.] The message flashed in the corner of my eyes.
Creak! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
The moment everything became normal and I heard the sound of the roof creaking and fire burning with ferocity, I used the skill and dashed toward the room.
Shuu!
Immediately, I became a lot faster, and within a second, I arrived beside the bed. Lifting my mom and throwing her over my shoulder, I grabbed my sister's hand and rushed out of the room, dragging her along.
Though the additional weight slowed me down…
Rumble!
Bang!
Shuu!
I managed to leave the room right before the roof collapsed. Though the portion of the roof over the living room was holding firm and seemed like it wouldn't collapse for a while, I didn't stop and continued running. Only after we were out of the house did I stop.
Ha! Ha! Ha!
My sister was huffing as though she had run a marathon while staring at me wide-eyed.
"Let's…" I began speaking, but when…
"Argh!" An overwhelming pain shot through my shot, my muscles cramping and my heart beating erratically.
[The duration of the skill, Flash Steps (Temporary), has ended.]
Seeing the message, I realized this pain and abnormality I was suddenly suffering from was the side effect of using this skill, something that had exceeded the limits of my body.
'System, help me.' I called out to the system, feeling the pain increasing and my vision becoming blurry. I couldn't afford to pass out now as I had to take my mom and sister to safety.
[Host should use the DFS Points to buy a recovery potion from the system shop.]
'Buy it for me.' I ordered.
[Ding!]
[The Recovery Potion (Basic) x1 has successfully been bought and stored in the system inventory.]
Since I could command the system through my mind, coupled with the knowledge of the fantasy novels, I hurriedly willed the potion to appear in my hand. As soon as I willed it, it appeared.
Shua!
It was a small, glass bottle. I hurriedly pulled the cork open and drained its contents, a green, thick liquid, into my mouth without any hesitation.
As I gulped the liquid down my throat, a cooling sensation spread throughout my body, and the pain I was feeling started to fade away, my muscles loosening up. A minute later, I felt refreshed and energized.
'How amazing!' I exclaimed in my heart. Reading about supernatural stuff was one thing, and experiencing it was another.
Just when I was starting to feel excited, I heard my younger sister, Cataline, or Cat as we called her, ask in worry, "Um, brother. Are you alright?"
"Yes. I am." I nodded and reassuringly patted her head. "Let's go. We need to leave this place."
"Mm. But how are we going to leave? We don't have a car?" My sister worriedly asked, looking around and seeing fire engulf everything.
Feeling the intense heat and seeing Cataline's tender white skin becoming red, I quickly took out one of the Fire Avoidance Pearls. It was indeed a pearl, the size of my thumb and red in color.
I figured it would activate if I willed it, but before activating, I asked.
'System, it won't have a side effect on me like the Flash Steps, right?'
[No, host. It won't.] The system responded through a flash message.
Feeling relieved, I activated it with a thought.
Weng!
The pearl released a pulse of invisible energy that created a spherical barrier around me. Immediately, I felt all the heat assaulting me vanish.
Then I glanced at Cataline and extended my hand before saying, "Come here."
The barrier only covered half a meter of space around me. So, she had to be extremely close to me to be within the barrier.
Cataline didn't hesitate and stepped closer, and I put my arm around her petite frame, pulling her even closer.
"Huh? What is this?! I no longer feel the heat." Cataline muttered, astonished.
I didn't respond because I had noticed something.