At 18 years old, Lucius Maxwell had to deal with the tough reality of failing his university exams.
Instead of pushing through with his studies, he decided to follow his uncle's path and become a woodcutter.
A few years ago, a tragic car accident took away the lives of his parents, leaving him under the care of his single uncle.
Working hard and putting in five days a week, he found comfort in the simplicity of his job, enjoying his weekends off.
The average income and deep satisfaction that came from working with his hands filled Lucius with a profound sense of fulfillment.
---
This was supposed to be just another ordinary day for him, but today he was in for a surprise. Waking up tired and yawning, he stretched before walking over to wash his face. He began to prepare himself by wearing his typical black work clothes, carefully layering them over a clean gray t-shirt.
Checking himself out in the mirror, he noticed the changes time had brought to his appearance.
He had lost a couple of kilos, probably from all the physical work that came with chopping wood.
Lucius had a youthful charm. His facial features were defined by a clean-shaven look and practicality.
His short black hair fell neatly around his face, giving off an air of tidiness and efficiency.
One thing you couldn't miss was his impressive height—standing at 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) tall. Being so tall made him stand out wherever he went.
Now possessing well-defined muscles and a lean build, which indicated his physical strength and agility.
As he gazed upon his reflection in the mirror, he saw a man who had weathered hardships and emerged stronger on the other side.
With his clothes in place, he decided to make himself a cup of coffee for the road.
Moving a bit sluggishly and rubbing the sleep from his eyes, it was clear that Lucius had just woken up and was still battling with tiredness. He went through the routine of fixing himself a much-needed caffeine boost.
After ensuring his house was locked up, he stepped into his white 4x4 truck. Turning on the radio, he tuned in to catch the latest news.
Before starting the engine, he quickly sent a short message to his girlfriend, Sophia. She was working in a city far away and wanted to check in on her to see if she was awake.
With his cup of coffee safely secured in the car's cup holder and his phone resting on the dashboard, Lucius set off on his journey to his workplace, which was located in a somewhat isolated area.
The ride was dull and boring, with only the radio station's news filling the car with sound. After driving this same route for so long, he swore he could do it with his eyes closed.
However, this changed abruptly as a sudden and powerful voice resonated throughout Earth: "System Initializing." This unexpected announcement sent a shiver down his spine.
Startled, Lucius slammed on the brakes, his heart racing with surprise and uncertainty.
The screeching tires left dark marks on the road as the truck came to a sudden stop.
Feeling alarmed and confused, he stepped out of the truck, scanning the surroundings and realizing he was all alone.
As he stood there, the initial tension slowly faded, replaced by a mix of confusion and a touch of anxiety.
Seconds turned into minutes, and just as he began to regain his composure, a faint and semi-transparent image started forming before him.
Gradually gaining clarity, it captured Lucius's attention.
However, the anticipation of what was to come soon turned into panic as the loading progress started, slowly climbing from 1% to 2%, 3%, and beyond.
With each percentage increase, the unease in Lucius's chest intensified.
Frantically, he tried to reach out, attempting to grasp the intangible air before him, hoping to somehow halt or understand the unfolding phenomenon.
But his efforts were in vain, as his hands passed through the empty space without any effect.
As the percentage increased to 99% a sharp pain coursed through his body, he stumbled and collapsed to the ground and his body spasmed uncontrollably.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, wetting his hair as he lay there.
The pain intensified with each passing moment, feeling it run through his muscles and nerves, rendering him temporarily helpless.
Gradually, the pain began to subside, though a dull ache lingered in its wake.
Confused, he looked at his hands, feeling somewhat weaker.
[Loading . . . .]
Then a semi-transparent screen appeared.
[Status Panel]
[Name: Lucius Maxwell]
[Age 18/200]
[Level] 1 Exp 0/100[LOCKED]]
[HP 100/100]
[MP 100/100]
[Free Attributes 10][LOCKED]]
[Strength 10[LOCKED]]
[Health 10[LOCKED]]
[Agility 10[LOCKED]]
[Intelligence 10[LOCKED]]
[Mana 10[LOCKED]]
[Skills[LOCKED]]
Overwhelmed by the surreal situation, Lucius stood there, feeling as though he had been thrown into a real-life dream.
Suddenly, a surge of realization washed over him. Instructions, as if imprinted in his mind, provided guidance on how to interact with the panel before him.
However, his initial attempts to access its functions proved futile, as the panel remained locked.
Lucius experienced a mix of excitement and disbelief as he repeatedly opened and closed the panel, making sure what he was going through wasn't just a dream.
Every time, the interface materialized and disappeared at his command, confirming the reality of his newfound abilities.
This confirmed that he held control over the mysterious system that had entered his life.
Without hesitation, he swiftly made a decision. He raced back home, driving through the roads and witnessing the growing confusion and panic among the people he passed.
With each passing moment, it became clear that he wasn't alone in facing this strange phenomenon.
Stepping on the gas pedal, his white 4x4 truck sped forward, carrying him rapidly toward his destination.
The world outside seemed to blur as he focused on reaching the safety of his house. He hoped to find solace and answers amid the chaos.
Hesitating for a moment, he dialed his uncle Reni's number, his anticipation mixed with a tinge of anxiety.
As the call connected, he held his breath, waiting for his uncle's response.
"Uncle, do you have this system thing too?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.
On the other end of the line, there was a momentary silence before his uncle Reni's voice crackled through the phone.
"Yes, Lucius. Everyone at the wood factory has it too," he replied, his tone laced with caution.
"But don't come here. There's a possibility of infection. Stay safe, my boy."
Before Lucius could further inquire or seek clarification, the call abruptly disconnected, leaving him bewildered and speechless.
The sudden end to the conversation only deepened his confusion and raised more questions than answers.
Seeking some form of explanation, he turned to the television, hoping that the news reporters would shed some light in the situation.
As he switched on the TV, his eyes fixed on the screen, and he listened intently to the reporters' voices.
To his surprise, the news channels were discussing the very system he had encountered.
They revealed that it had manifested globally, affecting countless individuals across the world.
The news reports spoke of its mysterious origins, potential implications, and the chaos it caused with its arrival.
Unable to reach Sophia through a phone call and growing increasingly frustrated, he decided to send her a text asking about the situation.
He got up from his seat, his steps heavy with worry, and headed to the fridge.
Retrieving a cold beer, he hoped the chilled drink would help alleviate some of his tension.
Returning to the couch, he settled in and took a long sip, the cool liquid offering a momentary distraction as he anxiously awaited a response from her, his thoughts racing with concern.
While sipping his beer, he found himself engrossed in watching videos of people falling to the floor, similar to how he had experienced it himself.
The sight of others going through the same phenomenon confirmed that it was not an isolated incident.
He continued to observe, searching for clues or explanations that could shed light on this shared experience.
As the days passed, the mounting uncertainty and confusion only deepened.
Scientists and researchers conducted thorough examinations of those affected by the system, hoping to uncover its origins and understand its implications.
However, to their bewilderment, the tests yielded no results. There were no physical abnormalities or concrete evidence to explain the existence of the system.
The absence of clear answers and the frustration of being unable to grasp the nature of the phenomenon took its toll on the people.
A sense of helplessness gradually permeated their hearts, eroding their sanity.
Faced with a mystery they couldn't comprehend, some individuals began to feel on the brink of madness.
As the people descended further into madness, the government diligently worked to maintain order.
Despite the absence of clear explanations from scientists, they exerted their utmost efforts to control the situation and prevent its escalation.
Swiftly responding, a series of measures were implemented to address the mounting unrest and chaos.
They deployed additional security forces to uphold public safety, established crisis response teams, and aided those grappling with their worsening mental state.
A few days later, when the situation had reached a critical point, and people were on the verge of exploding with frustration for answers, an emergency broadcast began on the TV.