MTLNOVEL Chapter 4: Using the System
281 BCE — The Dawn of the Prodigy
At ten years old, Lucius Aelius Varro was no longer just a bright child—he was a phenomenon.
His mind had already planted the seeds for Rome's future greatness, but his body was still that of a child. No amount of intelligence would save him in a world where warriors decided the fate of empires. He needed to become strong.
And the Solo Leveling System had finally activated.
One morning, Lucius awoke to something strange—a floating blue window hovering before his eyes.
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[Daily Quests: The Path to Power]
100 Push-ups (0/100)100 Squats (0/100)10km Run (0/10km)100 Sword Swings (0/100)
Failure to complete these tasks will result in a Penalty Quest.
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His heart pounded in excitement. This was it. The power that had been promised to him.
"The system works…"
Though Lucius was still young, the daily training would eventually push him beyond human limitations.
First Day of Training
Lucius immediately began his training. He had always exercised with his father, but now there was a clear structure guiding him toward true power.
He started with push-ups.
"One… two… three…"
His arms burned by fifty, but he refused to stop. By the time he reached one hundred, his small body trembled.
The squats were easier, but the 10km run was pure agony.
His father, Gaius, watched with raised eyebrows. "Pushing yourself so hard at such a young age?"
Lucius wiped the sweat from his brow, forcing a grin. "If I do not, I will never be strong."
His father laughed in approval. "Then push forward, my son! The battlefield does not wait for the weak."
By the time he collapsed onto the ground, his muscles aching, the blue screen appeared again.
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[Daily Quest Completed!]
Strength +1Agility +1Stamina +1
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It was working.
"If I do this every day, I will surpass even the strongest warriors of Rome."
After recovering from his grueling training, Lucius began working on another project—one that would change how Rome measured the world.
The Roman system of measurements was confusing and inconsistent. If he was going to revolutionize technology, he needed precise measurements.
During a lesson, he innocently asked his tutor:
"Why do we measure distances differently in each city?"
The tutor frowned. "Because that is how the world works."
Lucius shook his head. "What if we made a system where everything is measured the same? What if we based it on something universal—like the length of a man's stride?"
This idea led to heated discussions in the family. Eventually, Lucius managed to convince them to start using a new system:
A unit for length (what would eventually become the meter).A unit for weight (based on water displacement).A unit for volume (width × length × height).
Though it was primitive, this was the first step toward creating a universal system of measurement—something Rome could use for engineering, construction, and trade.
His father scoffed at first but later admitted:
"If this works, Rome's engineers will build with greater precision than ever before."
Lucius had to be careful. If he introduced modern chemistry too quickly, he might be labeled as a sorcerer. Instead, he disguised it as natural philosophy.
One evening, during dinner, he asked a simple question:
"Father, why does wine taste different when left open for too long?"
His father, confused, simply replied, "Because it sours."
Lucius pressed further. "But why does it sour? What if there are tiny, invisible things in the air that change it?"
This led to early discussions of fermentation and chemical reactions. Though the concept of atoms was far beyond this era, Lucius began drawing diagrams of how substances might change when exposed to different conditions.
To fully introduce chemistry, Lucius needed a way to classify different materials.
Using his knowledge of metalworking, he began conducting simple experiments:
Heating different metals to observe melting points.Mixing liquids to see how they reacted.Noting the difference between substances that burned easily and those that did not.
By categorizing these materials, he laid the foundation for early chemistry.
One day, his father found him drawing strange symbols in the dirt.
Gaius frowned. "What is this?"
Lucius quickly explained, "I am trying to understand why metals behave differently. Some are soft, some are strong, and some can even be mixed together to make better weapons."
His father stroked his beard, intrigued. "Hmph. If this helps our blacksmiths make stronger swords, then continue."
Lucius grinned. Step by step, Rome was advancing.
Lucius had planted the seeds for multiple advancements:
A structured training system (Solo Leveling System) that would push him beyond human limits.A universal measuring system that would reshape engineering.The foundation of chemistry, disguised as simple observations.
But there was still so much more to do.
As he lay in bed that night, his muscles aching from training, he smirked to himself.
"If this continues, Rome will surpass the future itself."
Little did he know, his actions had already begun to alter the course of history.
To be continued…