The smile on Kane's face stretched wider than it had in days. Ever since the system had told him to lay siege to his power, it had been eerily silent. But now, out of nowhere, it was pinging him with notifications. He froze for a second, heart skipping a beat in excitement.
Quest Completed: Enroll in the Military Academy
Reward: Interactive System Functions Unlocked
Progress Boost: Significant Increase in Growth
For a moment, Kane felt a sense of accomplishment. He hadn't expected the system to follow through, but here it was, acknowledging his effort. However, that brief spark of happiness was quickly snuffed out as something darker twisted in his chest.
He wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. In fact, he felt like screaming. But doing that would just wake the others, and he didn't want to disturb their sleep.
As he sat there, brooding, another notification flashed in front of him.
Interactive Functions Activated
The voice that came through the screen was sweet and melodic, catching him off guard. He blinked, trying to process what was happening.
A bright light poured out from the screen, almost blinding him. It shifted from a cold blue-black hue to a strange pale red. Kane rubbed his eyes, half wondering if he had fallen asleep at some point. Was this real?
Hi there, Kane. How may I be of service?
Kane paused, mouth agape. What was going on? The voice didn't sound like the usual cold, robotic AI. This one had an edge to it, like a teenager—young, fresh, and oddly... human.
"What the hell is happening?" Kane muttered under his breath, still unsure whether he was awake or dreaming.
Okay then, dumbass. I'm here to help you, alright?
Kane blinked again. That voice... was it mocking him? It was certainly a far cry from the emotionless, robotic tone it had used in the past.
"Did you just call me an idiot?" Kane couldn't help but feel the heat of irritation rising in his chest.
Yep, that's what you get for messing with me. Deal with it.
Kane furrowed his brow. Okay, this was getting out of hand. He had been hoping for an upgrade, sure, but not this. Still, he couldn't deny that he was curious.
"Alright, fine. So, what new functions can you do now?"
Should I be honest or not?
Kane groaned. "Just be honest, idiot."
I'm here to make your life harder. That's the new quest.
Kane froze, his eyes narrowing at the screen. "Wait, what?"
Before he could respond, his eyes grew heavier. His head felt like it was filled with lead, and despite his best efforts to stay awake, he drifted off to sleep.
---
"Wake up, Kane! We're late for breakfast!" Liam's voice cut through his dream, loud and insistent.
Kane's eyes snapped open, and in a blur of panic, he jumped out of bed, his heart racing. "Shit! Shit! Shit!"
He scrambled to the bathroom, his mind still fuzzy from sleep. Meanwhile, Alex and Leo remained fast asleep in their beds. Liam, looking a bit frustrated, was standing by their beds, trying in vain to get them to wake up.
"I have a better idea," Kane said, poking his head out of the bathroom door. He gave Liam a quick grin and rushed over to Leo and Alex's beds.
Without any hesitation, Kane slapped them both across the face.
Slap.
The sound echoed in the room. Leo and Alex both shot up, wide-eyed, as though they had just been jolted from a nightmare.
"What? When did pigs learn how to fly?" Leo mumbled, still half-asleep, rubbing his cheek.
"Stop whining, idiot! We're late for breakfast!" Liam scolded as he rushed to pull on his military uniform.
Leo and Alex quickly shuffled out of bed, heading for the bathroom, but Kane was already well ahead of them.
Minutes later, they were all dressed and ready, though there was still a bit of chaos in the air.
"Leo, are you sure you bathed properly?" Liam asked, eyeing Leo skeptically.
"Shut up, Liam! What do you care?" Leo retorted, a bit defensive.
Kane chuckled to himself, watching the back-and-forth. He found some comfort in their banter. Even if they weren't the strongest, they were real, and that was better than staying with people who saw him as nothing more than a stepping stone.
Liam reached for the door to head out, but Kane spoke up before he could.
"You guys go ahead. I've got something to sort out."
Liam paused, glancing back at Kane. "What's wrong? You okay?"
Kane waved him off, forcing a smile. "It's nothing. You guys go ahead. I'll catch up."
Once the others were gone, Kane flopped back onto his bed, staring at the screen before him. His stomach twisted as he read the new quest that had appeared.
---
New Quest: Daily Morning Routine
20 Push-ups: +2 Stat points
20 Sit-ups: +2 Stat points
Penalty: ???
System Note: Must be completed within 7 hours after midnight.
---
Kane's face fell. "You've got to be kidding me. The system wants me to work out now?" The frustration began to bubble up inside him, but there was no escaping it.
Don't forget the push-ups, dumbass. You don't want to see the penalty.
Kane clenched his fists, feeling the anger boil over. He was furious with the system, but it was clear that he didn't have a choice. With a resigned sigh, he stood up and began his workout.
---
Meanwhile, Liam, Leo, and Alex were still sprinting through the hallways of the school, hopelessly lost despite the map. Every corner they turned seemed to lead them deeper into the labyrinth. After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the cafeteria.
Bang!
Leo swung the door open dramatically. Liam facepalmed.
"Leo, why do you have to be so dramatic?" Liam groaned.
The moment they stepped inside, the room fell silent. Every eye was on them. The tension in the air was thick.
"Uh, why is everyone staring at us?" Alex muttered, clearly uncomfortable.
"I don't know, just act normal," Leo whispered, trying to keep his cool.
But just as he spoke, something cold and sticky hit him square in the face. He wiped it off, blinking in confusion. "What the...?"
"Hey there, weakling." The voice came from behind them, sharp and mocking.
They turned around to find the source of the voice: a guy who could only be described as "ugly." His face twisted into a grin that made Kane's nightmares look tame.
"What was that for?" Leo shot back, stepping forward, though he clearly wasn't ready for a fight.
Liam shot him a warning glance. He had seen this guy around. And even though Leo liked to act tough, there was no way he could take on someone like this.
---
"What's your problem?" Leo spat, hands clenched into fists. The guy's grin widened, his stance widening as if preparing for a fight, he had seen Leo's comment and noticed his grade so for him, there was nothing to worry about.
"You think you can talk back to me, weakling?" the guy sneered, his eyes narrowing. "I don't take kindly to people like you." His voice was low, dangerous and most of all, full of mockery "I'll make sure you regret that."
Leo didn't back down, his chest puffing out in defiance. He was ready to go head-to-head with this guy, no matter how outmatched he might be. But before he could take another step forward, Liam's hand shot out, grabbing his arm and yanking him back with surprising strength.
"Leo, stop!" Liam hissed, his grip tightening on Leo's wrist. "This isn't a fight you want to pick. Trust me." His voice was firm but edged with a warning.
Leo struggled for a moment, but the sheer force of Liam's grip made him pause 'when did Leo become so strong' and besides, the guy in front of them didn't look like someone to mess with—he had the build of someone who trained every day, someone who probably lived for moments like this, to bully the likes of him.
The guy just chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Smart move," he said with a mocking tone, his eyes briefly flicking between Liam and Leo. "You know your place. But don't think I won't remember this."
Liam kept his eyes locked on the guy, making sure he didn't move closer. "Get lost," he muttered, his voice cold. He was trying to hold onto his composure, but it was obvious he was ready to snap at any moment.
The boy couldn't see the number on Liam's com so he was a bit afraid of doing anything stupid and considering the confidence in Liam's voice, he became a bit scared.
The guy's grin faded into a scowl. He glared at them for a long moment, then turned and walked off, his boots thudding against the floor as he made his way across the cafeteria.
Liam let out a long breath, releasing Leo's arm. "That was too close," he said, his tone still tense. "You seriously think you can take that guy on?"
Leo, still fuming, wiped his face again and gave Liam a frustrated look. "I could've handled him. You didn't have to drag me back."
Liam shot him a look. "You're not the only one who knows when to back off, Leo. That guy would've crushed you."
Before Leo could retort, a sudden movement caught his eye. A figure standing at the far end of the cafeteria had been watching them intently.
A girl. She was leaning against a pillar, her gaze fixed on them. Her features were hard to read—her hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and she wore a simple yet sharp military uniform. There was something about the way she stood, detached, as if she was observing them as a casual interest. But her eyes—those eyes were sharp, calculating. Almost like she was sizing them up.
Leo blinked, momentarily stunned by the intensity of her gaze. He didn't know who she was, but there was something about her that felt... different.
She didn't say a word. She didn't even move. She just kept staring, her eyes flicking between the trio before slowly turning to leave.
"Who was that?" Alex muttered, his voice barely audible.
Liam narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, but I don't like the feeling I got from her. She was watching us too closely."
Kane, who had just walked in after finally finishing his training, caught the last glimpse of the girl before she disappeared through the cafeteria doors. He didn't know why, but something about her presence felt... unsettling.
"Let's just eat," Liam said, forcing the others to move forward. He didn't want to make a scene, but the tension in the air was thick.
As they walked toward the serving area, the girl's figure lingered in Kane's mind, her eyes etched into his thoughts like a warning.
[A/N: From now on, update Will be three chapters per day until further notice, and thanks for the support]