James stood in the alley, hands still trembling—not from fear, but from adrenaline slowly fading. His hoodie clung to his back with sweat. Blood dripped from his knuckles, his lip was swollen, and his ribs ached with every breath.
But none of that mattered.
He had stood up to Clint.
No… more than that—he beat him.
He won.
And for the first time in years, he didn't feel powerless.
As James limped away into the night, the blue interface of the system popped up again.
[Special Trait Acquired: Unshaken Will]
Description: You are no longer affected by fear, intimidation, or mind-altering effects below your Wisdom level.
Bonus: Charisma checks involving confrontation receive a +25% success rate.
He didn't fully understand what "checks" meant, but the system always delivered.
[Updated Stats]
Strength: 3.0
Agility: 1.5
Charisma: 3.0
Wisdom: 2
Luck:
He smiled despite the pain.
From the fat kid at the back of the class to this… in less than a week.
And he was only just getting started.
The next morning, the soreness kicked in like a sledgehammer.
His body ached in places he didn't know could ache. Just turning over in his mattress on the floor made him wince.
But James didn't complain.
He dragged himself up, stretched out, and began his workout.
Slowly.
Painfully.
Deliberately.
Each push-up burned, but he pushed through.
Each sit-up made his ribs cry, but he didn't stop.
Three minutes of jumping jacks turned into a trial of willpower.
By the end, he was drenched in sweat again, panting like a beast, grinning like a madman.
[Daily Quest Completed]
Strength +0.3
Agility +0.2
Charisma +0.3
[New Passive Unlocked: Resilience I]
Description: After repeated physical strain, your body has adapted. Minor wounds heal 15% faster. Pain tolerance slightly increased.
James chuckled. "You're turning me into a monster, system."
Later that day, something strange happened.
He walked into a local convenience store to buy water. The clerk—a girl about his age who used to ignore him like everyone else—looked up and smiled.
"Hey," she said, casual, warm.
James blinked.
"Hey."
She held the stare for a moment too long before ringing up the bottle.
"That'll be fifteen."
He paid, nodded, and left without saying more. But as soon as he stepped outside, the system chimed in.
[Charisma Check Success – Passive Interaction]
Small impact made. Impression stored.
James rubbed his chin. "So this… is how it works?"
He wasn't just getting stronger.
He was becoming… noticeable.
By late afternoon, word had spread.
Clint didn't go to school. Rumors flew fast—broken nose, black eyes, teeth knocked out.
Some said he got jumped by a gang. Others said he slipped in the shower.
But a few knew the truth. And James could feel the eyes on him.
That day, no one pushed past him in the halls. No one laughed at him from the lockers. Chris, Clint's buddy, narrowed his eyes at James once but didn't say a word.
Even Hadis—the loudest of them all—stayed quiet.
The silence was almost louder than their taunts had ever been.
That night, James sat alone in his cramped room. His body ached, but he didn't care. He was reviewing the system again, analyzing every detail.
[Growth System – Interface v1.0]
Core Features Unlocked:
• Status
• Daily Quest
• Optional Quests
• Traits
• Passives
• Rewards
• Progression Path – Locked
• Dungeon Mode – Locked
• Inventory – Locked
He hovered over "Progression Path." A message appeared.
Locked until User reaches Level 5 or completes Major Quest.
Current Level: 2
"How do I level up?" he muttered.
As if hearing him, the system opened a new window.
[Leveling]
Levels are gained by accumulating personal growth points. These can be earned by:
• Completing quests
• Defeating stronger opponents
• Improving mental, emotional, and physical resilience
• Creating impactful change in your environment
James narrowed his eyes. "So this isn't just a training simulator. You want me to grow in every direction."
The system didn't respond—but the silence was answer enough.
[System Alert – Incoming Message]
James flinched. This was new.
Message from System AI: You've taken your first step, James. But revenge is only the beginning. Your path is bigger than you realize. Grow stronger. Change the world. Or be crushed by it.
The screen faded.
James sat still, letting those words settle in.
"Change the world…?"
It felt ridiculous.
He was just a teenager living in the back of a mechanic shop.
But then again—he could already feel it. The shift. The tension.
And something deep in his gut told him: this system wasn't just some freak chance.
This was fate.
The following day, he was back to training. Even with bruises on his ribs and cuts on his knuckles, he pushed harder.
He added more reps.
He sprinted farther.
He even started doing pull-ups on a rusty pipe outside the garage.
[Hidden Trait Progress – Iron Focus: 64%]
Maintain consistent discipline for 7 consecutive days to unlock.
[Progression Update: Growth Acceleration Threshold Detected. Adjusting XP scaling…]
He didn't know exactly what it meant yet—but it sounded good.
James checked his reflection in a cracked mirror. His jawline was sharper. His eyes clearer. His posture stronger.
He looked less like a background character… and more like a main protagonist.
That evening, someone knocked on the shop door.
James opened it slowly—and froze.
Standing there was Chris.
Clint's right hand.
He wore a serious look. No jokes. No laughter.
"We need to talk."
James didn't reply, but his eyes narrowed.
Chris continued. "I don't know what's going on with you. But you humiliated Clint. That's not something people forget."
James didn't flinch.
"I'm not the same guy you used to push around."
Chris leaned in slightly. "We'll see."
He walked off, hands in his pockets.
[New Optional Quest Unlocked: Shadows Stir]
Reward:
• +1 Agility
• New Passive: Combat Instincts
• Unlock Progression Path
James shut the door and leaned against it, breathing deep.
This wasn't over.
No.
It was just beginning.