Karl continued to mutter quietly, hurling his phone aside after hastily rating the webnovel he had just read.
He gazed at the ceiling, feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of mishaps that had unfolded that day—ranging from the catastrophe at the gym to an unexpected message from a colleague, it felt as though everything was piling up relentlessly.
"Such bad luck," he mumbled. "Why must I endure all these irritating events?"
He sat back, running his fingers through his hair, attempting to dispel the discomfort lingering from earlier incidents. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, the image of the burly man haunted him persistently, his words "Ma Boy" echoing in Karl's mind.
"I swear, I'll never set foot in that gym again," Karl resolved.
He could still feel the phantom touch of the man's hand on his shoulder, sending chills down his spine. "Ugh, just thinking about it sends shivers through me."
However, deep within his heart, Karl understood that evading the gym was not the true solution.
He faced a far more significant challenge: the hijack system. The unpredictable nature of the system's effects was a double-edged sword, and if he wasn't careful, everything could spiral out of control, far worse than a mere embarrassing incident at the gym.
"Alright," Karl said, steeling himself. "No more foolish choices. I must learn to wield this system with greater wisdom."
He opened the system interface, staring intently at the blinking cursor on the hijack panel. The possibilities were endless, but so too was the potential for further mistakes. The thought made his stomach churn slightly, yet Karl pushed the feeling aside.
"If I'm going to utilize this, I need a plan. I cannot allow this to dominate me. I must take control of the system."
He studied the screen for a few more moments, then sighed and closed the panel. Tomorrow would be a new day, and perhaps—just perhaps—he could navigate it without encountering another "Ma Boy" moment. But for now, he needed rest to clear his mind. The following day, he would confront his hijack system with a well-crafted strategy.
Karl lay down on his bed, striving to relax his tense muscles. Yet, the haunting memories of today lingered in his thoughts. Each time he closed his eyes, the image of the burly man with that smug smile reappeared.
"Ma Boy..." The whisper resonated in his ears, eliciting a groan of frustration from Karl. He drew in a deep breath, trying to focus on something else.
"No, I cannot allow this to persist. I must regain control over this situation," he murmured, staring at the ceiling of his room.
He then powered his phone back on, attempting to browse some web novels in his library. "Shit... I must wait until tomorrow to read 'I Have A System From Great Demon Asmodeus,'" he lamented, knowing that that webnovel updated daily.
Setting his phone aside, he closed his eyes.
Suddenly, the notification sound of the system interrupted his thoughts.
[DING]
Karl jolted upright. "What now?" he muttered, slightly bewildered. "New Quest?"
----
[ New Quest Available! ]
> Shameless Routine!
- Objective: Use the system to alter general perceptions at the gym. Create one embarrassing routine to replace warm-ups.
- Reward: 300 Hijack Points, 150 XP
- Time Limit: 72 Hours
----
Karl let out a long sigh. "I just said I didn't want to go to the gym again, and now I've been assigned a quest related to it. Seriously, this system seems to revel in complicating my life."
However, the offered rewards were tempting—300 Hijack Points and 150 XP. Yet, the consequences could be even more dire if the hijack did not unfold as planned.
He weighed his options carefully. "Alright... This will require a carefully thought-out plan. I cannot just plunge into the gym tomorrow without preparation."
Karl rose from his bed and began pacing his room, his mind racing as he endeavored to devise the best strategy. After all, he could no longer evade this system. If he wished to succeed, he must harness control over the situation and utilize the system wisely.
"Tomorrow, the gym will become a new battleground," Karl whispered with determination. "And this time, I will not fail."
Checking the time on his phone, he noted there was still ample time to prepare a solid strategy. Yet, fatigue began to weigh on him, his body craving rest after a long day. Karl switched off the room lights, closed his eyes, and allowed his thoughts to settle.
"Tomorrow is a day fraught with danger," he thought, exhaling slowly.
"Wait..." Karl frowned and opened his eyes wide again.
"I can alter common sense through the system and merely type in the panel... which means..." The corners of Karl's mouth curved upward, and a joyful smile illuminated his face.
"I don't actually have to be there, hehehe..."
But that laughter vanished abruptly when the system delivered an unwelcome reply.
[DING]
[ Host must witness the change in common sense ]
[ If not, the quest will fail ]
"Fvck..." Karl cursed.
He exhaled heavily. It seemed the system truly enjoyed toying with him.
His hopes of avoiding the gym collapsed in an instant. "I must witness it, huh? Seriously? It's as if the system is deliberately forcing me to confront the very thing I loathe."
He reclined again on his bed, staring at the ceiling. "I genuinely don't understand what this system truly desires," he murmured in contemplation.
Karl knew he had little choice. Reluctantly, he must return to the gym.
"I need to think—what strategy can I employ to prevent another disaster?" he pondered, beginning to formulate a plan for the upcoming quest, ensuring he would not replicate the same mistakes as yesterday.
The following day, Karl awoke with a sense of apprehension. Time marched on, and he realized that the longer he procrastinated, the closer the deadline for the quest loomed.
With heavy steps, he headed to the gym, attempting to buoy his spirits.
"Come on, Karl, today you have to see this through! You'll be working a double shift later! There's no time to waste; you must level up faster...!"