Chapter 3: Social Hierarchy and Bullies
Adam walked into the crowded hallways of his school, the familiar buzz of chatter and slamming lockers a stark contrast to the otherworldly chaos he'd just experienced. Despite his best efforts to appear normal, his mind kept replaying the events of the previous night: the portal, the creature, and the system's cryptic messages.
"Adam!" a voice called.
He turned to see his classmate Marcus jogging up to him, grinning from ear to ear. Marcus was one of the few people Adam tolerated—a self-proclaimed gaming enthusiast who shared Adam's disdain for their school's unspoken hierarchy.
"You look like you didn't sleep at all. Late-night grind session?" Marcus joked, nudging him.
"You have no idea," Adam replied dryly, glancing down the hallway.
The sight of Victor and his entourage made Adam's stomach twist. Victor was everything Adam despised—rich, arrogant, and an expert at making other people's lives miserable. Today, he seemed to have found a new target, a timid freshman clutching a stack of books.
Victor leaned against a locker, smirking as he blocked the kid's path. "What's the hurry, junior? Got somewhere important to be?"
Adam's jaw tightened. He hated bullies, and Victor was the worst kind.
"Don't even think about it," Marcus warned, noticing the look in Adam's eyes. "You know how this ends."
Adam ignored him, stepping forward just as Victor knocked the freshman's books to the floor.
"Hey, Victor," Adam called, his voice loud enough to draw the attention of nearby students. "Is being a jerk your only skill, or are you just leveling it up today?"
A ripple of laughter spread through the crowd. Victor's smirk faded as he turned toward Adam.
"What did you just say?" Victor's tone was icy, his posture stiffening.
"You heard me." Adam crossed his arms, standing his ground.
For a moment, Victor looked like he might lash out, but the crowd's amused murmurs seemed to hold him back. Instead, he sneered.
"You're not worth my time," Victor said, brushing past Adam.
The crowd dispersed, and Marcus sighed, shaking his head. "You're gonna regret that."
Adam smirked. "Maybe. But it was worth it."
As they walked to class, a familiar chime echoed in Adam's mind.
Adam blinked, his smirk widening. Maybe standing up to Victor wasn't just satisfying—it had benefits, too.
This system might be more useful than he'd thought.