Liam walked the familiar, broken path home, his mind heavy with frustration and despair. His fists clenched in his jacket pockets as he replayed the events of the day. The humiliation at school, the failed test, and the aching hunger gnawing at his stomach—everything felt like a crushing weight pressing down on him.
He stopped under the flickering streetlamp, exhaling sharply.
Why? Why is life so unfair?
A sudden gust of wind whipped through the empty street, sending a chill down his spine. The air around him thickened, as if the world itself had paused. He frowned, looking around. The usual distant hum of traffic and life had vanished—it was too quiet.
Then, he saw it.
A faint, pulsing glow emanated from a dark alley to his right. The light shimmered like a mirage, shifting in color—gold, silver, blue—beckoning him forward.
Liam's rational mind screamed at him to walk away. This was the kind of thing that got people killed in movies.
But something deeper—something primal—urged him to move.
His feet carried him forward before he could think twice.
---
The System Awakens
As Liam stepped into the alley, the glow intensified, revealing a floating panel of light hovering in the air. His breath caught in his throat.
"What… the hell is this?"
The panel's surface was smooth, almost like liquid light, shifting and pulsing as if it were alive.
Then, the words appeared.
> Welcome, Chosen User.
The Ultimate Life Upgrade System has recognized your determination.
Do you wish to activate?
[YES] / [NO]
Liam staggered back, heart pounding. His mind raced with disbelief.
"This… this isn't real. I'm hallucinating," he muttered, shaking his head.
Yet, the glowing interface remained, pulsing in anticipation.
He hesitated. This had to be some kind of trick… right?
But then he thought about it—his broken life, his struggles, the constant failures. He had wished for something, anything, to change his fate.
And here it was.
Liam took a deep breath, his fingers trembling as he reached out—
And tapped [YES].
The First Upgrade
The moment his finger touched the glowing panel, a shockwave of energy surged through his body.
Liam gasped, stumbling backward as golden light engulfed him, coursing through his veins like fire. His muscles tensed, his skin tingled, and his vision blurred.
> System Activation: Complete.
Analyzing User…
Determining Upgrades…
Primary Enhancements Initiated.
Liam's body convulsed as an intense heat spread through his core. His bones felt like they were rearranging, his muscles tightening, his senses expanding.
Then, as suddenly as it had started, the pain vanished.
Liam fell to his knees, panting. The world around him looked… different. Sharper. Brighter. More vivid. He could hear the distant hum of electricity in the streetlights, the faint rustling of leaves a block away. His body felt lighter, stronger—as if he had shed years of exhaustion in seconds.
> Upgrade 1: Physical Enhancement Activated.
Strength, Endurance, Agility, and Reflexes boosted by 50%.
Fatigue Resistance activated.
Liam's eyes widened as he read the words floating before him.
His heart pounded with an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time.
Hope.