The sun rose lazily over Sue City, spilling golden light across the campus. Students streamed through the gates of Riverside Institute of Technology, chatting, laughing, adjusting backpacks and earphones. The familiar bustle of academic life filled the air.
Jackim walked through the crowd with quiet confidence. He wore the same plain jeans and shirt he'd always worn, but something about his presence had changed. His posture was straighter, his steps more deliberate, his eyes sharper. The fight from the previous night replayed in his mind, not as a memory of danger but as proof—proof of what he was becoming.
[System Notification: Daily Task Activated.]
[Task: Attend your first lecture with absolute confidence. Brag internally: "No one here is on my level."]
[Reward: Academic Boost (Photographic Memory for 24hrs).]
Jackim smirked. Photographic memory? Useful.
He pushed through the gates, the chatter of students washing over him. Snippets of conversation reached his ears.
"Did you see that new Mercedes parked outside?"
"Marvin's crew threw a party last night—crazy stuff."
"I heard someone took down a whole gang near the east lot…"
That last one made Jackim pause. So the rumors spread already.
Kelvin appeared from behind, clapping him on the shoulder. "There you are! Bro, you missed orientation yesterday. People already asking about you."
Jackim chuckled. "Missed me or talked behind my back?"
"Both," Kelvin grinned. "But don't worry. You'll get all the attention you can handle soon enough."
They moved toward the lecture hall together. Inside, rows of wooden desks stretched wide, sunlight streaming through tall windows. Students shuffled in groups, some scrolling on their phones, others whispering gossip.
And then she walked in.
Lina.
The campus goddess.
Her beauty was effortless, a harmony of poise and grace. Long black hair framed a face that could silence a room; her eyes, bright and calculating, carried the kind of confidence that turned heads without trying. She wore a simple white blouse and dark jeans, but the elegance in her movements made even ordinary clothes look like high fashion.
The room hushed as she entered.
Kelvin leaned closer to Jackim, whispering, "That's her. Lina Adebayo. Top student, model, campus idol—you name it. Every guy here's tried and failed to get her attention."
Jackim's eyes followed her calmly. She was beautiful, yes—but what struck him wasn't her appearance. It was the way people reacted to her, the weight of her presence. Power, in its own form.
She scanned the room, and for the briefest moment, her gaze met his. Jackim didn't look away. He held her eyes with quiet defiance, as though silently saying: You're not the only one people notice.
Lina tilted her head slightly, intrigued, before turning to sit near the front.
The professor entered then, an older man with glasses sliding down his nose, arms full of books. "Settle down, everyone. Today we begin Fundamentals of Structural Design."
The class groaned collectively. But Jackim leaned forward, the System's task echoing in his head.
"No one here is on my level."
As the professor began scrawling equations on the board, Jackim's mind lit up. Numbers, symbols, and diagrams clicked together like puzzle pieces. Concepts that should have taken weeks of study unfolded in his head within minutes. His hand scribbled notes effortlessly, every detail locking into memory.
Kelvin glanced at his page and whispered, "Bro, how are you writing so fast? I don't even get the first line yet."
Jackim smiled faintly. "Guess I'm built different."
[System Notification: Task Complete.]
[Reward Unlocked: Academic Boost – Photographic Memory Activated.]
Knowledge flowed even deeper now. Every diagram, every formula burned into his mind as if carved in stone. He felt unstoppable.
---
After the lecture, students poured into the courtyard, discussing assignments and schedules. Lina stood near the fountain with two friends, their laughter carrying across the air.
Marvin was there too. Lean, well-dressed, his watch glittering under the sunlight. He walked straight toward her, confidence dripping from every step.
"Lina," he said smoothly, "you've probably heard of me. Marvin Otieno. Finance major, student council member, event organizer. We're throwing a welcome party tonight—you should come."
Her smile was polite but distant. "I'll think about it."
Jackim, standing nearby with Kelvin, chuckled under his breath. Marvin's smile twitched, irritation flashing across his face. He turned, spotting Jackim.
"Well, if it isn't the reunion clown," Marvin said loudly, drawing attention. "Surprised you even made it to campus. I thought you'd be too busy fixing motorbikes to enroll."
Snickers rippled through the crowd. Kelvin bristled, ready to snap back, but Jackim raised a hand calmly.
He met Marvin's gaze, his voice steady. "Funny. Last I checked, I don't need to buy attention with parties. People notice me just fine."
The courtyard went silent. Lina's eyes flicked between them, curious. Marvin's jaw tightened, but he forced a laugh.
"Let's see how long that lasts, poor boy." He turned sharply and walked off, his crew trailing behind.
Kelvin let out a low whistle. "Bro, you just slapped him without lifting a finger."
Jackim smirked, though inside, the System stirred again.
[Hidden Task Complete: Face an Opponent Without Fear.]
[Reward: Charisma +100.]
He felt it instantly—the subtle shift. His words carried more weight, his presence more magnetic. Conversations around him quieted when he spoke, eyes lingered longer when he moved.
Even Lina, still by the fountain, seemed to study him with faint interest before turning away.
---
That night, Jackim sat alone in his room. The sounds of campus life drifted faintly from outside—laughter, music, the thrum of Marvin's party echoing in the distance.
The System's voice returned.
[Host, your reputation has begun to grow. Influence attracts both allies and enemies.]
[New Quest: Gain the attention of Lina Adebayo.]
[Reward: Social Skill – Persuasion Lv.1.]
Jackim leaned back, hands behind his head. So, the System wanted him to draw Lina's attention?
He wasn't in a rush. Attention wasn't something he begged for. It came naturally—just as it had with Sandra once, and just as it would now.
Still, the challenge intrigued him.
The Phantom waited quietly outside, its polished body gleaming under the streetlights. His fists carried power, his mind carried clarity, and now his words carried weight.
The poor boy of yesterday was gone.
Jackim's eyes narrowed as he whispered to himself, "This is just the beginning."