My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

"You've passed," Helena's voice came through the intercom, clear and calm but laced with something Ethan couldn't quite pin down. Admiration, maybe. Or interest. "For now."

She didn't let the pause hang for long. "But there's still tests, Ethan."

Ethan rolled his shoulders, the ghost of a grin tugging at his lips. "Yeah, I know."

He glanced at the observation glass, his tone turning casual, almost playful. "Let's get it done. I've got questions to ask... and a list of reward requests waiting."

From behind the glass, Luciano let out a soft chuckle. "He's funny and promising. Let's just skip to recruiting him already."

Helena smiled faintly at that, but her eyes remained on the chamber.

"I'd like that too," she said, then turned toward Luciano and Maya. "But you know how they are. Everything has to be logged, analyzed, and sent up the chain."

Luciano gave an exaggerated nod, lips pursed in mild frustration. "Right, right. The higher-ups and their glorious paperwork."

"Exactly," Helena muttered with a sigh. "Let's get what we need."

Inside the chamber, Ethan tilted his head slightly as he waited. He had already suspected that his performance had made an impact, but the sudden chime in his mind confirmed it.

He blinked, brows lifting in surprise.

'Huh. So they're really impressed.'

While the others spoke among themselves, Ethan took the moment to quietly open his Status Panel. His gaze ran across the numbers, and without hesitation, he tapped into his available Free Attribute Points.

A few silent adjustments later, the numbers on the screen looked sharper. Smoother. More balanced.

'Much better,' he thought, nodding to himself in satisfaction. 'If I'm going to keep surprising them, I might as well look the part.'

=====

[Status Panel]

Name: Ethan Cole

Level: 7 Lower One-Star Golden Ascendant

EXP: 101,000 / 186,000

Ascension Points: 304

Wealth: Unlimited

Attributes:

Strength: 705 Speed: 705 Endurance: 705 Intelligence: 1205 Charisma: 850

Ascendant Energy: 12010

Free Attribute Points: 0

=====

Looking at the Status Panel, Ethan felt that everything was encouraging, as he needed to consistently improve his attributes. Remaining in a lower rank for too long was not an option for him.

'Still, I wonder when I'm going to get to the next stage or rank,' he thought.

"Ethan, let's move on to the next test," Helena said.

Ethan nodded and raised his thumb, signaling that he was ready.

He moved to the next section of the massive testing chamber.

Helena's voice came through the intercom again, her tone sharp and precise.

"Ethan, now we'll measure your speed. The machine is already set up, and I'll guide you through the test."

Ethan nodded, stepping into the designated area. This section of the chamber had a circular platform embedded in the floor. The platform contained 100 small buttons scattered across its surface, each capable of lighting up in random sequences. The walls around him were lined with sensors, monitoring his every move.

Helena explained, "This test checks how fast you are, how quickly you react, and how well you see and understand things around you when you are under pressure. When a button lights up, press it as quickly as you can. The sequence will grow more challenging as the test progresses."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "How long do I need to do it?"

Helena's faint smirk was audible in her voice. "Until the system decides you've reached your limit, or until you do."

"Got it."

Ethan rolled his shoulders, stepping onto the platform.

The moment his feet touched the surface, the first button lit up.

'It starts already?' Ethan didn't really surprised by that.

Without hesitation, he moved, his reflexes kicking in as he pressed the button.

Another light blinked on across the platform, and Ethan darted toward it, his movements fluid and precise. More lights followed in rapid succession, each one appearing faster than the last.

From behind the glass, Luciano watched with interest.

"He's keeping up easily," he remarked, his arms crossed. "I thought the speed test would throw him off a little, but it looks like he's just getting started."

Maya tilted her head. "His reflexes are sharp, and his movements are efficient. No wasted energy."

Helena monitored the readings on her tablet, and her expression was serious. "He's not just fast... he's consistent. Let's see how far we can push him."

Inside the chamber, the platform's sequence began to accelerate. Lights blinked on and off in rapid succession, forcing Ethan to move at an almost impossible pace. His golden aura flickered faintly as he pushed himself harder, his body responding instinctively to the challenge.

The sequence reached its peak, the lights flashing so quickly that even seasoned Ascendants would struggle to keep up. Ethan's feet were a blur as he moved, his reflexes honed to near perfection.

Finally, the platform's lights stopped, and a digital display lit up with his score: 705.

Ethan stood straight, catching his breath as he looked at the number. The result matched his Speed attribute in the Status Panel, further confirming his suspicions about the connection between the system and Nemesis's tests.

Behind the glass, Helena's voice broke the silence. "705 points… That's remarkable. It's almost consistent with his strength, and it is at the speed of a Higher Four-Star Ascendant."

Luciano let out a low whistle. "Impressive. His reflexes didn't falter once."

Maya nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's not just about speed. His spatial awareness is incredible. I wonder if he was not just reacting. He seemed like he was predicting."

"We'll see how amazing he is." Helena said as he tapped her tablet, recording the results. "Let's move on to endurance."

"Ethan, follow the opened door to the next testing area," Helena ordered.

Ethan nodded and walked toward the said door.

It was in another massive room and contained a big obstacle course track.

Ethan stood at the starting line of a tough five-kilometer obstacle course. The course included steep hills, narrow paths, and mechanical challenges. It was designed to test his stamina and ability to adapt.

Helena's voice guided him once again. "This course measures your physical endurance, energy management, and adaptability under prolonged stress. The goal is to complete it as quickly as possible while navigating the obstacles."

Ethan took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders. "Got it. Let's do this."

The starting buzzer went off, and Ethan ran. He took long, strong strides, his powerful body pushing him forward easily. The first part of the course was a steep hill, but Ethan handled it well, his legs absorbing the effort without losing speed.

As he entered the second section, mechanical arms extended from the walls, swinging at random intervals to knock him off balance. Ethan's reflexes kicked in, and he weaved through the obstacles with precision, his movements fluid and calculated.

Behind the glass, Luciano couldn't hide his admiration. "Look at him go. He's not just fast. He's efficient. Every movement is calculated."

Helena nodded, her eyes glued to the data streaming across her tablet. "His energy output is stable. He's not overexerting himself, even under stress."

Maya added, "This is... another level."

The final section of the course was a grueling endurance run designed to push Ascendants to their limits. The path was littered with shifting platforms, sudden drops, and bursts of simulated elemental attacks.

Ethan's golden aura flickered faintly as he powered through, his focus unshaken. His breathing remained steady, and his body responded to the demands of the course with almost mechanical efficiency.

Finally, he crossed the finish line, the digital display lighting up with his score of 705.

Ethan stood still for a moment, catching his breath as the glow of his aura faded. The number didn't surprise him—his Endurance attribute had been maxed out in the same way as his Strength and Speed.

Behind the glass, Helena, Luciano, and Maya exchanged glances.

"705 again," Luciano muttered. "This guy is way too consistent. I start to wonder if he could control his output to make it consistent just to play with us."

Helena's expression was unreadable as she studied the data. "It's not just the numbers. The way he moves, the way he adapts, it's almost like he's… engineered."

Maya frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Helena hesitated, then shook her head. "It's just a theory. For now, let's focus on the results."

Inside the chamber, Ethan turned toward the glass, a faint smirk on his lips. "So? Did I pass this one, too?"

Helena's voice came through the intercom, calm but with a hint of admiration. "You didn't just pass, Ethan. You've set a new benchmark for a Lower One-Star."

Ethan nodded, rolling his shoulders as he prepared for the next challenge, the one related to ascendant power.