The sun streamed lazily through the cracked blinds of a modest apartment in the heart of Rivertown. Nathan Cross groaned as his alarm blared, its shrill tone forcing him to confront the day. He slapped the snooze button, muttering curses under his breath.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled, burying his face into the pillow.

Nathan was the epitome of average. A senior in Rivertown High, he had no remarkable grades, no extraordinary athletic prowess, and no ambitious plans for the future. He lived alone in a tiny two-room apartment after his parents moved overseas for work. His laid-back nature suited him perfectly, but it often drew criticism from his teachers and peers alike.

After dragging himself out of bed, he stumbled into the small kitchenette and poured a bowl of cereal. The milk was dangerously close to expiration, but Nathan didn't care. Life was simple, and he liked it that way.

As he munched absentmindedly, his phone buzzed.

[Unknown Number: 6:45 AM]

"Your mission has begun, User. Prepare for activation."

Nathan frowned, his spoon hovering mid-air. Another spam text, he thought. With a dismissive shrug, he deleted the message and finished his breakfast.

---

The school day passed uneventfully. Nathan spent most of his time doodling in his notebook while the teacher droned on about calculus. His childhood friend, Emily Carter, sat beside him, her brow furrowed in concentration as she scribbled notes. Emily was the polar opposite of Nathan—driven, diligent, and endlessly patient with his carefree attitude.

"Are you even paying attention?" she whispered, nudging him with her elbow.

"Of course," Nathan lied, flashing her a lopsided grin.

She rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."

After school, Nathan decided to stop by the convenience store near his apartment. He pocketed the last of his change and headed out, hoping to grab some instant noodles for dinner.

The sky had darkened by the time he reached the store. Nathan was browsing the aisles when a loud crash startled him. Turning, he saw a man in a ski mask waving a gun at the cashier.

"Empty the register! Now!" the man barked.

Nathan froze, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't a hero. He wasn't even remotely brave. All he wanted was to grab his noodles and go home.

As he crouched behind a shelf, trying to stay out of sight, a strange sensation washed over him. A faint hum filled his ears, and a translucent blue screen materialized before his eyes.

[System Notification]

"Welcome, User. Mission: Form bonds with heroines to unlock new abilities and gain influence."

Nathan blinked, convinced he was hallucinating.

"What the...?" he whispered.

The screen flickered.

[Emergency Task: Save the cashier.]

"Reward: Activation of beginner abilities."

Nathan's palms were clammy, and his knees threatened to give out. "This isn't real," he muttered. "I'm dreaming. I'm definitely dreaming."

But the screen remained, its glowing text taunting him.

The masked man grew more agitated, shouting threats and waving his gun wildly. Nathan knew he had to act, though every fiber of his being screamed at him to stay put.

"Fine," he hissed under his breath. "If this is a dream, I'll wake up after this stupid mission."

Summoning every ounce of courage, Nathan grabbed a can of soup from the shelf and crept toward the robber. His heart thundered in his ears as he calculated the angle. With a sharp inhale, he hurled the can at the man's head.

It struck with a loud thunk, and the robber staggered, dropping the gun. The cashier, a middle-aged woman, took the opportunity to grab the weapon and scream for help.

Nathan stood frozen as the scene unfolded. Within minutes, police sirens wailed in the distance, and the robber was apprehended.

The cashier approached Nathan, her eyes wide with gratitude. "Thank you! I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't stepped in."

Before Nathan could respond, the blue screen reappeared.

[System Notification]

"Emergency Task Complete: Beginner abilities unlocked. Congratulations, User!"

A warm sensation coursed through Nathan's body, and he staggered slightly, gripping the counter for support. When the feeling subsided, he opened his eyes to find the screen still hovering in front of him.

[New Ability Unlocked: Luck Boost - Level 1]

Nathan walked home in a daze, the events of the evening replaying in his mind. He couldn't shake the strange blue screen or the surge of energy he'd felt. As he collapsed onto his bed, staring at the cracked ceiling, he couldn't help but mutter, "What the hell just happened to my life?"

The screen flickered into existence once more.

[System Notification]

"Welcome to Supreme Conquest. Your journey to ultimate power and wealth begins now."

Nathan groaned, pulling a pillow over his face. "This has to be a joke."

But deep down, he knew his life would never be the same.