John was an ordinary, shy, and unremarkable teenager. He was often picked on by the school bullies—Jason, Tyler, and their gang—who made his life a living hell. Every day was a new struggle as they stole his lunch money, shoved him in lockers, and humiliated him in front of his classmates. He didn't have the strength or courage to fight back. John just wanted to survive high school, but survival had become more of a daily challenge than he ever imagined.
It was an average, miserable afternoon. John sat alone in the back of the classroom, his books spread out on his desk. He was focused on trying to finish the homework that he never seemed to have time for. As usual, the bully trio was at the front, whispering and laughing behind his back, planning their next prank on him.
John sighed, wishing for anything that could give him the power to stand up for himself, to change his miserable fate. But he never thought it would actually happen.
A sudden, sharp sound pierced his thoughts. Ding!
John froze. It was a notification. A blue screen appeared before his eyes.
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[System Activated]
Welcome, John!
You have been chosen as the recipient of the "Heroic Path" System.
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John blinked in confusion, rubbing his eyes. Was he hallucinating? The screen didn't disappear. It was still there, glowing faintly in the air.
"W-What is this?" John muttered under his breath, looking around to see if anyone else could see it. No one seemed to notice.
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[System Guide]
This system grants you the ability to grow stronger, fight against your enemies, and protect yourself from harm. You will gain strength through combat, training, and completing quests.
Current Quest: Defeat your bullies (Jason, Tyler, and their gang) to earn the first reward.
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John's heart raced. Defeat his bullies? Was this some kind of joke? The bullies were bigger, stronger, and way more popular than him. He was just a nerd, a nobody. How was he supposed to fight them? How could he even hope to defeat them?
But then, the screen changed again, and this time, a new message appeared:
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[Training Module Activated]
You have received 1,000 Training Points. You can use them to improve your stats. Choose wisely.
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John's eyes widened. Training Points? Stats? What kind of system was this? His hands trembled as he clicked on the stats panel, revealing a series of attributes.
[Stats]
Strength: 1
Agility: 1
Endurance: 1
Intelligence: 10
Charisma: 3
He frowned. His intelligence was decent, but his physical stats were abysmally low. He couldn't even imagine how he'd face Jason, who was built like a brick wall.
"Can I really do this?" John whispered, feeling a mix of fear and excitement. He was scared, but at the same time, the idea of standing up for himself… it felt like a dream.
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[System Advice]
Start by increasing Strength and Endurance. These attributes will allow you to physically confront your enemies. Training is available in your room, or you can start with basic exercises in the school gym.
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John's head spun. He glanced around the classroom. Jason was now walking toward him, a smug grin on his face. Tyler was behind him, pushing other students aside as they made their way over. The bully duo was never far away.
"Hey, loser," Jason sneered, tossing John's books to the floor with a flick of his hand. "Still hiding behind your books, huh? Thought you'd be a little smarter by now."
John felt the familiar pit of dread form in his stomach. They were going to humiliate him again. This was the part where he would shrink, apologize, and beg for mercy. It always happened this way.
But today… something felt different. The system was still active, buzzing in his mind. John didn't know if it was the system's influence or his own desire to change, but something was pushing him to stand his ground.
He took a deep breath and looked at the blue screen again.
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[System Suggestion]
Activate Quick Training: 100 Training Points to instantly increase Strength and Endurance.
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John didn't think twice. He selected the option, feeling a strange warmth course through his body. His muscles seemed to swell slightly, and a surge of energy filled his veins. He wasn't sure if it was real or just his imagination, but the feeling was undeniable.
Jason reached down to shove John, but this time, John didn't flinch. Instead, he grabbed Jason's arm mid-swing, surprising himself and his bully.
"What… what are you doing, nerd?" Jason stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
With a sudden twist, John shoved Jason back, hard enough to make him stumble. Tyler's eyes widened too, and the room fell silent.
John stood there, breathing heavily, the adrenaline pumping through him. The system had really worked. For the first time, he felt like he had control.
"I don't want to be your punching bag anymore," John said, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and newfound courage. "I'm not your loser anymore."
Jason stared at him for a moment before a grin slowly spread across his face.
"Interesting," he sneered. "Looks like we've got a little fight on our hands after all."
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and John hurried out of the room, his heart pounding. But as he left, a sense of uncertainty mixed with excitement swirled within him. This was just the beginning.
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[System Notification]
Quest Progress: Defeat your bullies (0/3)
You have gained the "Courage" perk. All stats increased by 5%.
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John's journey had only just begun.