Erin awoke to a single word floating before his eyes:
[Initializing]
It was right there, in front of him—something that only appeared in the web novels he used to read—a system. The excitement that surged through him was unlike anything he had ever felt before.
'My God, I have a system!'
His mind raced with thoughts of what this could mean for him. Systems in those stories were the ultimate game-changer. They turned the weak into the strong, the powerless into the powerful. It was the kind of thing that made a nobody like him feared and respected across entire kingdoms.
With a system, I can grow stronger. I can achieve anything. I could be unstoppable.'
The possibilities were endless. Everyone knew that those who gained systems often started out weak, but with the right guidance, they grew stronger—sometimes even becoming the strongest in the world. The thought made Erin's heart pound with excitement. This was his chance, his opportunity to rise above the life of suffering and insignificance that he had known for so long.
And in those novels, system users always had a higher chance of survival. Their potential was basically unlimited—at least until they reached max level. But some didn't even have a max level. Could he be one of those?
He could see his dream coming true. As long as he grew stronger, no one would be able to stop him from achieving his goal: a normal, peaceful life, free from the chains of poverty and fear that had bound him for so long.
But the excitement was short-lived as the system's initialization process dragged on.
'Why the hell won't you finish loading?'
The system was taking forever. Minutes passed, and the screen still showed nothing but the word "Initializing." Erin's excitement slowly turned into frustration. He didn't have time to waste. He had to move. He couldn't afford to be late for the mission that day. If he didn't show up, he wouldn't get paid, and even worse, the gang might see it as an act of rebellion. He was in no position to take such risks. Rebellion from someone in his lowly position could easily mean death.
'It's pathetic, but this is how I have to live,' Erin thought bitterly as he stood up from the cold, hard ground where he had slept.
'Only the strong have the luxury of choice.
His life was a constant struggle for survival, with no room for weakness or mistakes. The weak had no say in how they lived, and Erin knew that all too well. But with a system, everything could change.
He rummaged through his sack, looking for something decent to wear. Today was supposed to be his last day with the gang, and he wanted to dress somewhat nicely, at least by his standards. But what he considered nice was still a far cry from what others would deem acceptable. Most of his clothes were dirty and worn out, riddled with holes from overuse. He sighed as he sifted through the sorry collection of rags.
At the bottom of the pile, he found a faded white shirt. It was brownish from age and neglect, but it was the best he had. He picked up a pair of black jeans—also full of holes, but not the fashionable kind. The shoes he chose used to be white, but they had long since lost their color.
He put on the shirt, which fit snugly over his thin frame, his ribs and underdeveloped muscles pressing against the fabric. The jeans clung awkwardly to his legs, and the shoes were a bit too big, but he had no other choice.
'No time to dwell on this kind of stuff,' he told himself, pushing aside the wave of self-pity that threatened to overtake him. He had a bad habit of focusing on the negative, but now was not the time for that.
Taking a deep breath, Erin considered his next move. The rundown building he lived in had no running water, so taking a bath wasn't an option. At least he had managed to brush his teeth. That would have to do for now. All he could do was hope no one would notice any odor coming off of him.
He hid his belongings as usual, making sure they were well-concealed before leaving the building. He didn't want to be seen by anyone, but he also couldn't afford to miss the job. As he walked, he kept glancing at the system's screen, still stuck on that single word.
'I hope nobody can see this,' Erin thought, fear gnawing at the back of his mind. If people could see this system, they might start asking questions… and then what?
He couldn't afford to let anyone know. What if someone tried to take it from him? What if it led to him being experimented on, like in those stories where the protagonist was captured by scientists or powerful organizations? No, he had to be careful.
But as he walked through the streets, keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact, he realized that no one was paying any special attention to him. The only looks he got were the usual ones of disgust, directed at his disheveled appearance. No one seemed to notice the floating interface in front of him.
'Thank God.'
It seemed that his system was visible only to him. If it had been public, he would have had to delay his plans, maybe even hide until he figured out how to turn it off. But now, he could move forward.
'Can you guys at least stop staring?' Erin thought bitterly as he caught another look of disdain from a passerby. 'I'm a human being just like you.'
But he kept these thoughts to himself, knowing that voicing them would only make things worse. He had grown used to the stares, the looks of contempt. They no longer affected him as they once did. Still, it was hard not to wish for a different life, a life where he was the one giving the orders, not taking them.
'Why do I always focus on the negative?' he wondered, frustrated with himself. But he knew the answer. His life had been nothing but a series of disappointments, one after another. It was only natural for him to expect the worst.
But this time, things could be different. The system was his chance, his ticket out of this miserable existence. With it, he could get stronger, finally free himself from the chains that bound him.
'I can get stronger.'
With this thought a new determination was filling his body.
'I will get stronger.'
The system was his only beacon of hope. If he could utilize it, he might be able to achieve what he had always wanted—power, respect, and above all, freedom.
His thoughts were interrupted as he arrived at one of the main hideouts of the Silver Beasts. The building loomed before him, a dark and foreboding structure that had always filled him with a sense of dread. But today, things felt different. Today, he had something the others didn't.
'This is it.' Erin thought, taking a deep breath as he walked through the doors. 'My life is about to change.'
He didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in his life, he felt a glimmer of hope. The system was still initializing, but soon, it would be ready. And when it was, nothing would ever be the same.