[System Notification: Reward Granted – 10 Stat Points]
Ethan blinked at the glowing screen that hovered right in front of him. The sterile blue light pulsed faintly in the dark of his room, casting shadows across the walls.
Current Stats:
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Endurance: 2
Perception: 1
Charisma: 1
Intelligence: 3
Willpower: 1
He let out a scoff, dry and a bit amused. "Wow. I'm just basically an average across the board... if not even worse."
The numbers stared right back at him like an insult. In a world full of monsters in uniforms and predators behind pretty smiles, these stats felt like a true death sentence. It was like starting at the bottom of a ladder greased with oil.
He leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees. "Is this a joke? You want me to be able to win fights, seduce girls, and take on gangs with this?"
The system didn't respond. Of course it didn't. It just hovered there, indifferent, patient and mute.
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Unless… you're trying to turn me into something."
That thought hit a little deeper than he expected. The system wasn't just rewarding him. It was shaping him. For what, though? Seducing girls and gaining influence was one thing.
But the deeper he got, the more it felt like he was being prepared—for war. For domination. For something far beyond petty high school politics.
He inhaled slowly and cracked his knuckles. "Whatever. I'll play along. It's helping me, so I'm not complaining."
[Allocate Stat Points?]
A new screen flickered to life before him, its dark background illuminated by a faint glow. The words were clear, almost too crisp, as if the system was holding its breath alongside him. No sound, no countdown—just a quiet prompt hanging in the air, waiting. It didn't rush him. It didn't guide him. It simply waited, patient and still, for his decision.
He glanced over the stats again. His fingers hovered, but he already knew where they'd go. Not because it was strategic—but because it would make him look untouchable. That mattered here.
+4 to Charisma.
He pictured walking into school and making heads turn. Presence was power. Even silence became loud when people expected greatness from you.
+3 to Strength.
There were fists behind every corner and challenges waiting to be issued. He needed to not just win—he had to dominate when it mattered.
+3 to Perception.
To stay two steps ahead. To read a glance, feel tension in the air, notice details others missed.
Stats Updated.
The rush was subtle—like his nerves were suddenly tuned better. The air felt lighter, his skin more responsive. His heartbeat leveled into a calm rhythm, but beneath it, a quiet thunder brewed.
He stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. Same face. Same eyes. But something about him already looked more alive—more focused. Dangerous, even.
"Let's see who tries me now," he muttered with a smirk, grabbing his jacket.
As he turned off the system screen, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
And the system—whatever it really was—had just loaded the first bullet in his chamber.
The next day at school, Ethan walked into class like he owned the floor beneath his feet. His steps were calm, steady—commanding attention without asking for it.
His eyes briefly locked with Selene's.
Her breath caught in her throat. She quickly looked away, face flushing with color. Her fingers fidgeted beneath the desk as if she were trying to act normal.
But Ethan didn't stop. He walked past her like she was just any other student in the room. No emotion. No acknowledgment. Just cool detachment.
He took his seat and leaned back as the teacher walked in. Class began.
Despite everything, Ethan's mind was sharp. He absorbed every word the teacher said—formulae, historical references, logical structures—he took them all in with clinical focus.
His pen moved efficiently across his notebook, jotting things down not because he had to, but because it was second nature now. His mind was evolving, sharpening. The points he'd allocated to intelligence and perception were paying off in quiet, subtle ways.
When the lesson ended and the teacher left, a wave of noise erupted through the class. Chairs shuffled, conversations resumed.
Ethan stood up, slinging his bag over one shoulder. He left the room without a word and made his way down the hallway for his usual mid-morning walk.
The corridor buzzed with student chatter, the occasional laughter bouncing off the walls. But as Ethan turned the corner near the end of the hall that led to the cafeteria, he heard something that made him pause.
Murmurs.
Voices—muffled but tense.
A girl's voice. Nervous. Caught in a swirl of male jeering and smug confidence.
He narrowed his eyes and moved closer to the commotion, quiet as a shadow. At the final bend, he leaned slightly, just enough to peer around without being seen.
Three guys had a girl backed against the wall. She wore the standard school uniform, her skirt slightly wrinkled, and her body tense. Her fiery red hair was tied into a rough ponytail, strands falling over her cheek as she tried to keep herself calm. Her eyes were ready at alert, but guarded. Defensive.
"You should come with us, girl" one of the guys said, smirking. "Boss wants a word."
"Tell your boss that she said she's not interested," the girl replied coolly, but there was tightness in her jaw. One of them had their hand on the wall beside her, leaning in too close.
Another laughed, "You think you have a choice? Just be smart and walk."
Ethan's fingers curled slightly. His mind processed the power dynamic instantly.
This wasn't flirting. This was pressure. A setup. And from the look of their jackets—dark, sharp—these guys weren't just random punks. Iron Fang.
And the girl… something about the way she held herself told him she wasn't the type to be afraid. Which made the fact that she was cornered even more telling.
===========
Please donate powerstones and add the novel to your collections, it will be really helpful. For every 10 powerstones 1 bonus chapter will be released
Please leave your honest comments and reviews and feel free to ask any questions, it'll help me improve the novel's quality. Thank you, enjoy your read :)