Ethan sat motionless on the edge of his mattress, staring at the glowing screen hovering before him. His mind raced, but his body felt unnaturally still, like a predator waiting to pounce.
Everything had changed overnight.
For years, he had been nothing—a nobody that people like Logan could step on without consequence. Weak, useless, invisible.
But now?
Now, there was something inside him. Something different.
His eyes scanned the screen in front of him.
[User: Ethan Walker]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 8]
[Agility: 10]
[Endurance: 9]
[Intelligence: 12]
[Skills: None (To Be Unlocked)]
[System Store: Locked (Requires Level 5)]
Ethan swallowed hard. The numbers weren't insanely high, but the fact that he had numbers at all meant something fundamental about him had changed.
He clenched his fist.
He didn't feel the same weakness in his limbs. He didn't feel the aching exhaustion that had always dragged him down. If anything… he felt stronger. Lighter. Faster.
His eyes flickered toward the final line on the system panel- system store
That meant the system had more to offer than just stats. Items? Skills? Power?
The thought sent a shiver down his spine. If he could unlock the store later, then this was just the beginning. He wasn't even at full strength yet.
But first, there was something more immediate to focus on.
A new notification appeared before his eyes.
[New Mission Generated]
[First Mission: Establish Dominance]
[Objective: Assert power over someone who has humiliated you]
[Reward: +1 Strength, +1 Agility, Unlock First Skill]
[Failure: None. But do you really want to fail?]
Ethan's pulse quickened as he read the objective again.
Establish dominance.
He knew exactly what that meant.
His mind immediately went to Logan. The smug bastard had made his life hell for years, treating him like garbage, like he was nothing.
Ethan exhaled slowly. He had always dreamed of fighting back, but dreams meant nothing in reality. Logan was bigger, stronger, and had his entire group of lackeys at his side.
Or at least… that had been true yesterday.
Ethan stood up, testing his body. His movements felt effortless, like the stiffness he had grown used to over the years had completely vanished. He clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling an unfamiliar strength in his grip.
He could do this.
No—he would do this.
For the first time in his life, Ethan had an advantage. He wasn't about to waste it.
The halls of Lincoln High buzzed with the usual morning energy—students chatting near lockers, groups of athletes laughing loudly, teachers hurrying toward classrooms with tired expressions.
Ethan walked through the crowd, unnoticed at first. That was normal. He had spent years fading into the background, ignored until it was time to be humiliated.
Not today.
His eyes scanned the hallway, searching. Logan was always here before the first bell, usually surrounded by his usual group of followers.
And there he was.
Leaning against the lockers, grinning as he talked to some girl, his two closest lackeys, Tyler and Chase, standing nearby like they were bodyguards.
Ethan's jaw tightened as he approached.
The old him would have hesitated.
The old him would have turned around.
But the old him was dead.
"Logan."
The name left his mouth before he could second-guess himself.
The chatter in the hallway softened. A few people turned to look.
Logan's laughter died mid-sentence as he turned toward the voice. His brows furrowed for a moment, as if he couldn't believe Ethan had actually spoken to him.
Then he smirked. "Walker? What, you come to beg for mercy before first period?"
Tyler chuckled. Chase smirked.
Ethan didn't react.
Instead, he stepped closer.
The moment felt surreal. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to back off, to leave before things got worse. But another part of him—the part that had awakened this morning—refused to move.
"You think you're untouchable, don't you?" Ethan said, his voice calm.
Logan's smirk faltered for just a second. "What?"
"You like stepping on people because you think no one will ever push back," Ethan continued. "Because you're the big dog in a small yard. But let me ask you something, Logan. What happens when the dog meets something bigger?"
Logan's amusement faded. He pushed off the lockers, stepping closer until he towered over Ethan. "Are you seriously talking shit right now?"
The hallway went dead silent.
People had stopped walking. Conversations had stopped mid-sentence.
No one had ever spoken to Logan like that before.
Ethan's heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't fear. It was something else. Something new.
Excitement.
Logan scoffed. "Alright, Walker. Since you've clearly lost your mind, how about I knock some sense back into you?"
He cracked his knuckles.
Ethan didn't flinch. He just smiled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Then, Logan swung.
It was fast. Strong. The old Ethan wouldn't have even seen it coming.
But the new Ethan did.
The moment Logan's fist moved, Ethan's body reacted on instinct. He sidestepped, the punch barely missing his face. His movements were smooth, too fast for Logan to track properly.
A flicker of surprise crossed Logan's face—he wasn't expecting Ethan to dodge.
Ethan didn't give him time to recover.
His own fist moved before he even thought about it.
Logan didn't even see it coming.
Ethan's punch slammed into Logan's stomach, forcing the air from his lungs. The bigger teen staggered backward, doubling over slightly, coughing as he clutched his gut.
A gasp rippled through the hallway.
"Did he just—"
"No way—"
Logan's lackeys looked just as shocked as everyone else.
Ethan rolled his shoulders, tilting his head slightly. His body felt good. Powerful. It was like the punch had awakened something inside him, something that had always been buried under years of weakness.
Logan took a shaky breath, his face red with a mix of pain and rage. "You little—"
He lunged.
Ethan moved again. Easier. Faster. This time, he ducked under Logan's swing and retaliated with a sharp jab to the ribs. Not enough to break anything, but enough to send a clear message.
Logan staggered.
For the first time in his life, Logan Carter was losing a fight.
Ethan stepped forward, his voice low enough that only Logan could hear.
"Not so fun when you're the one on the ground, huh?"
Logan swung again—this time sloppier, angrier.
Ethan caught his wrist mid-swing.
And squeezed.
Logan's eyes widened.
Ethan met his gaze, his grip tightening just enough to let Logan feel it. Just enough to let him know.
Everything was different now.
Ethan was no longer the victim in this story.
He was the one in control.
A soft chime echoed in his head.
[Mission Complete: Establish Dominance]
[Reward Earned: +1 Strength, +1 Agility, First Skill Unlocked]