The blue screen didn't disappear.
It hovered calmly in front of Ethan Cole, rain sliding through it as if it wasn't even there.
He stood in the middle of the empty street, heart pounding.
"Okay," Ethan said slowly. "Either I'm dreaming… or my life just changed."
[Mission 001: Survive]
Status: In Progress
He looked down at his body. The pain from the impact was gone. Not reduced—gone. Even the dizziness had vanished.
Ethan clenched his fist.
It felt… solid. Stronger than before.
He took a step. Then another.
No limp. No weakness.
A laugh escaped his lips before he could stop it. "You're real," he whispered to the screen.
[The system does not lie.]
Ethan exhaled deeply. "Then let's finish the mission."
Ten minutes later, he reached his tiny rented room.
The door creaked as he opened it. One bed. One table. A small fan that barely worked. This was his world.
Ethan locked the door behind him and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Mission says survive," he muttered. "I'm alive. That should count, right?"
The screen flickered.
[Host condition stabilized.]
[Mission 001: Completed.]
Ethan's breath caught.
[Distributing rewards…]
The room filled with blue light.
[Reward 1: $50,000 transferred.]
[Reward 2: Basic Body Enhancement applied.]
Suddenly, heat surged through Ethan's body.
It wasn't painful—just intense. Like every muscle was waking up at once. His bones tingled. His heartbeat slowed, steady and powerful.
Ethan gripped the bedsheet as the sensation passed.
Then silence.
He sat there, stunned, sweat on his forehead.
"…System?" he asked. "Did it work?"
[Check your balance.]
Ethan grabbed his phone with shaking hands and opened his banking app.
The screen refreshed.
Balance: $50,000.21
For a second, his mind went blank.
Then—
"What the—"
He stood up so fast the chair fell over.
"Fifty thousand dollars?" His voice cracked. "Just like that?"
His chest tightened. His eyes burned.
All those nights counting coins. Skipping meals. Lying to his mother.
And now—
He laughed. Loud. Uncontrolled.
"I'm not broke anymore," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I'm actually… not broke."
The system didn't respond.
It didn't need to.
Ethan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
"Okay," he said, pacing the room. "Think. Don't waste this."
He stopped in front of the mirror.
The reflection staring back at him looked… different.
His posture was straighter. His eyes sharper. Even his face seemed more defined.
"This is the body enhancement," Ethan murmured.
[Basic Body Enhancement improves physical attributes to above-average human standards.]
"So this is just basic?" Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Then what does advanced look like?"
No answer.
He smiled anyway.
The next morning, the city felt different.
Not because it had changed—but because Ethan had.
People brushed past him on the sidewalk. Cars honked. Vendors shouted.
The same city that had ignored him yesterday.
Ethan walked into a clothing store and bought a clean set of clothes without checking the price.
The cashier smiled at him.
That alone felt unreal.
By afternoon, Ethan stood outside the college administration office again.
Same building. Same glass doors.
But not the same person.
He walked in, shoulders relaxed, eyes calm.
When his turn came, the clerk looked up—and froze for half a second.
"Name?" the clerk asked.
"Ethan Cole."
The clerk typed, frowned, then paused. "You're… on final notice."
Ethan placed his card on the counter. "I'm here to pay."
The clerk blinked. "The full amount?"
"Yes."
The card machine beeped.
Payment Successful.
The clerk stared at the screen, then slowly slid the receipt toward him. "Your enrollment is confirmed."
Ethan took the paper.
No relief this time.
Just quiet satisfaction.
"Thank you," he said—and meant it.
As he turned to leave, a familiar voice stopped him.
"Well, I'll be damned."
Ethan turned.
Ryan Hale leaned against the wall, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
"You actually paid," Ryan said. "Didn't think you had it in you."
Ethan met his gaze calmly. "People surprise you sometimes."
Ryan scoffed. "Don't get cocky. One payment doesn't change who you are."
Ethan smiled—soft, unreadable.
"You're right," he said. "It doesn't."
He walked past Ryan without another word.
Ryan stared after him, frowning.
Something felt… off.
Outside, the system screen reappeared.
[New Mission Available.]
Ethan stopped walking.
"Show me."
[Mission 002: Prove Yourself.]
Objective: Defeat a Level 1 opponent in a direct confrontation.
Reward:
• Skill Unlock
• $10,000
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"Level 1 opponent?" he asked. "Like who?"
The screen flashed.
[Target identified.]
A name appeared.
Ryan Hale.
Ethan laughed quietly.
"So the city really does run on levels," he said.
He looked back at the college gate.
"This time," he murmured, "I won't be invisible."
The system pulsed once.
[Prepare yourself.]