In a cramped apartment in K-town, a 25-year-old scribbled his last words in an old notebook, addressed to anyone who might find them.
"Fuck… those bastards fired me at the worst time," he muttered, anger and frustration mixing in his voice.
His thoughts were dark. "The bank is processing my loan… How am I going to pay it now, without a job?" He sighed, his mind weighing like an anchor on the bottom of the sea. "My savings are gone…"
A silence filled the room.
"That's it… I'm done. I'm going to see my dead parents in heaven," he said, his voice full of despair, his eyes empty, as if the world had already given up on him.
Matthew stood up slowly and walked to the mirror. His haggard face reflected a man on the verge of collapse, the sunken eyes and pale skin of someone caught in a spiral of self-destruction. Yet, there was something mesmerizing about his features, a face that could have won many hearts, more beautiful than many of the actors he saw on TV. But now, it was the face of someone who had lost all hope.
It was then that something unusual happened. A subtle sound reverberated through the empty room, and suddenly, a translucent screen flashed in front of him.
[Hello, this is System #34529@[53] ]
Matthew took a step back, his eyes widening in surprise.
[User on the list meets the requirements to become the owner of the System]
The screen flashed again, and a strange feeling invaded his body.
[Checking conditions... Integrating with the user's soul, Mateus Oliveira...]
[Completed]
The voice on the screen, cold and mechanical, was the only thing that broke the deathly silence in the apartment.
[Owner: Mateus Oliveira
Age: 25
Health: 2 (Depressed)
Intelligence: 6
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Charm: 6 (reduced by low health status) ]
(Normal for an adult is 5, maximum is 10)
"What the hell is this?" Mateus shouted loudly, still stunned by what had just appeared in front of him.
"Fuck you, you bastard! I'm trying to sleep here!" someone from the apartment next door shouted, irritated.
Matthew froze for a second, feeling a strange mix of shock and discomfort. He decided not to answer and turned his attention to the mirror, where, after long minutes of disbelief, he began to accept the strange reality that had been imposed on him.
"Hello... System?" He spoke hesitantly, as if he expected the voice in his head to be just the result of mental exhaustion.
"Hello, owner." A robotic and emotionless voice echoed in his mind, almost like a whisper, making him shiver.
"So... what happens now? By your name, are you going to help me, give me missions to complete, or something?" Matthew asked, feeling strange talking to himself in his empty apartment.
[The System has 2 functions, Owner: Login and Shopping]
[LOGIN: The owner can perform a daily login every 24 hours.]
[SHOPPING: The shopping mall includes everything from basic necessities and technology to Premium cards...]
[Since it is the first day of purchasing the System, the System has issued a Premium Gift Package.]
The screen flashed before his eyes, with a simple question:
[ Open Premium Package?]
[ (YES) (NO) ]
Matthew hesitated for a second, his finger hovering over the "YES" button. However, with a deep sigh, he clicked on the option.
Suddenly, the translucent screen began to shine brightly, sending fireworks cascading through the air. A colossal golden dragon appeared, snaking through the space before him, exuding an imposing majesty. Its scales gleamed as if each one were made of pure gold. Beside it, a mighty Kirin, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the antlers of a deer, appeared, its presence conveying luck and blessings.
For long seconds, mythological beasts of all shapes and sizes paraded before him, in a display of power and splendor that defied logic. The scene was one of such grandeur that it would leave anyone speechless. Finally, a massive diamond card exploded in midair, shining with the symbol "Premium" in golden letters, outshining anything Mateus had ever seen. The screen pulsed once more as the system began listing the prizes.
[Congratulations on opening the Premium Package]
[You have won the following items:]
1. Vitality Tea: A heavenly drink that calms the mind and prolongs life.
2. Mansion worth 500 million Aurums: A luxurious home nestled in the hills of the golden city of K.
3. Customized sports car worth 60 million Aurums: A luxury vehicle, unique in design and speed, tailored to the owner.
4. 10 Billion Aurums: Enough money to live comfortably for several lifetimes, without worrying about any debt or financial responsibility. (Comes with a black SVIP card from the National Bank of Aurania)
5. Perfect Physique: Your body will be instantly tuned to the peak of human condition. All of your attributes will be increased to the maximum mortal limit.
[Stats upgraded to:
Health: 10
Intelligence: 6
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Charm: 10]
The screen disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving Matthew standing there, his heart racing and his mind in turmoil. He looked down at his hands and felt a surge of unusual energy coursing through his body. His muscles, which were once normal, were now defined and strong, and the tiredness on his face was no longer there. He was, without a doubt, the best version of himself.