He staggered back, eyes wild with rage. His gang looked at each other, unsure if they should step in. I met their gazes with an unsettling calm. My heart was still racing, but my body felt... right.
Jihoon gritted his teeth. "You think you're tough now, huh?" His hands clenched into fists. "You're still the same loser—"
I tilted my head, cutting him off. "Then why are you the one on the ground?"
The murmurs around us grew louder. Jihoon's face twisted with humiliation. I could see it—the moment he realized he had lost control of the situation. Just like Jihee, he had expected me to crumble, to be the weakling I used to be.
*Not this time.*
Jihee, still frozen in shock, suddenly forced a nervous smile. "I-It was just a misunderstanding, right, Juhyun?" She tried to sound casual, like she could still turn things around. "You know how people love to twist words."
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. "Not this time, Jihee." I watched her mask crack, her fingers tightening around her bag. "Try something again, and I'll make sure everyone knows *exactly* who you are."
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She knew. I wasn't bluffing.
The school bell rang, breaking the tension. The crowd started to disperse, students whispering and sneaking glances at me as they walked away. I exhaled slowly.
I had changed something today.
I turned and walked off without another word.
For the first time in my life, I felt *different*.
++++++++++++++++++++
When I got home, I locked my door and sat on my bed, my heart still pounding. The events of the day replayed in my head.
The system. The stats. The skills.
I exhaled sharply. *If this is real, then…*
A familiar notification popped up in front of me.
**[Status]**
I hesitated before reaching out. As soon as I did, the glowing blue screen expanded.
**Kang Juhyun - Level 1**
**Strength: 5**
**Agility: 6**
**Endurance: 4**
**Skills: [Combat Instinct (Passive)]**
I stared at the words, my fingers slightly trembling. This wasn't a dream. This wasn't some hallucination.
*It's real.*
The more I stared, the more questions filled my head. *How do I train? How do I get stronger?*
As if responding to my thoughts, another notification popped up.
**[Daily Quest: Beginner's Training]**
- 50 Push-Ups
- 50 Sit-Ups
- 50 Squats
- 3KM Run
**Reward: +1 Stat Point**
I blinked at the screen.
Then I laughed.
A bitter, dry laugh.
"Are you serious?" I muttered, staring down at my stomach. The extra weight I had gained from months of doing nothing, of eating and gaming nonstop, was still there.
There was no way I could do all that.
I laid back on my bed, arms spread out, sighing.
"Guess I'm failing my first quest."
**[Warning: Failing to complete daily quests will result in a penalty.]**
My eyes widened. "What penalty?"
No answer.
I swallowed hard. "No way… You're not gonna, like, kill me again, right?"
Silence.
I sat up immediately, panic rising. "Wait. WAIT. Be specific! What penalty?!"
Still nothing.
"Stupid system," I groaned.
I looked at the list again, rubbing my face. Fifty push-ups? I could barely do five. Three kilometers? I'd probably die halfway.
But… I clenched my fists. I had been given a second chance. I wasn't going to waste it.
I exhaled sharply and rolled off my bed. "Fine. Let's do this."
++++++++++++++++++++
The first push-up nearly killed me.
I barely made it past ten before my arms gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor, wheezing.
"Okay," I panted. "Maybe… Maybe we start slower…"
It took me nearly an hour to get through everything. I had to take long breaks, my muscles screaming in protest. By the time I attempted the run, my legs felt like jelly.
I made it one kilometer before I had to stop, bending over and gasping for air.
*How the hell am I supposed to do this every day?*
But then I remembered.
My parents.
The fire.
The monster.
I gritted my teeth.
I couldn't stop.
I forced my legs to keep moving.
By the time I made it back home, I collapsed on the floor, drenched in sweat, my lungs burning.
**[Daily Quest Complete! +1 Stat Point Earned.]**
A rush of warmth spread through my body.
I checked my status.
**Strength: 6**
**Agility: 7**
**Endurance: 5**
I blinked.
I felt… lighter. My body wasn't as sore as it should have been. The exhaustion was still there, but it wasn't unbearable.
I clenched my fist, a slow grin forming.
This system…
It really worked.
I stared at my reflection in the window, wiping sweat from my forehead.
If I kept this up…
I wouldn't just be a loser with a second chance.
I'd be unstoppable.
++++++++++++++++++++
The next morning, The whispers had already begun before I even reached the gates.
"Did you see what happened yesterday?"
"Jihoon got *wrecked*."
"I heard Juhyun dodged his punch like a pro."
I ignored them, pushing my way through the crowd.
Then I spotted Jihoon.
He was leaning against a locker, his jaw tight, his friends hovering around him like they were trying to figure out their next move.
I walked past Jihoon, feeling his furious gaze drilling into my back. His fists clenched so tightly I could hear his knuckles crack. His friends whispered, unsure whether to step in or back off.
I ignored them. I had already won.
The classroom was still buzzing with whispers when I sat down. Jihee kept glancing at me from her seat, biting her lip. She wanted to say something but didn't dare.
*Good.*
Just as I was about to relax, the world suddenly **froze**.
No sounds. No movement. The air itself felt thick, pressing down on me like a heavy weight.
**[Warning: Presence Detected]**
A chill ran down my spine.
Then, a voice. Low. Cold. **Not human.**
*"Found you."*
A shadow flickered in the corner of my vision. I whipped my head around—
Something loomed outside the window.
**A monstrous grin. Glowing eyes. Sharp, jagged teeth.**
It was watching me.
I shot up from my seat, my chair scraping against the floor. My breath came in short, shallow gasps.
No one else reacted.
No one else saw it.
The monster's grin stretched wider.
Then—
The window **shattered.**