First Steps

Biodun sat on the edge of his hospital bed, staring at the faint notifications that still lingered in his vision. The system’s display floated eerily, impossible to ignore but equally impossible to comprehend. Was this real? Every fiber of his rational mind screamed that it couldn’t be. Yet, the memory of that first task—walking 100 steps—was all too vivid, too visceral to be a mere delusion.

He rubbed his hands over his face, trying to shake the feeling of surrealism. "Come on, man. Think." His voice sounded hollow in the quiet room. If this was real, what did it mean for him? What was the purpose of this "Evolution System"? And more importantly, what would happen if he ignored it?

The notifications hadn’t disappeared, and his vision remained clear—no sign of damage or fogginess that would indicate a lingering concussion. There was only one way to find out if this was all in his head or something far more dangerous: testing it.

"Alright," he muttered to himself, standing up from the bed once more. "Let’s see if you’re real."

He took a deep breath, then thought, "System, give me a task."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a soft chime, another notification appeared before him:

New Task: Pick up 10 small objects.

Biodun blinked, surprised by the simplicity of the task. His eyes scanned the room, landing on a small stack of magazines, an empty water cup, and a few medical supplies scattered on a nearby table. This is ridiculous, he thought, but his curiosity urged him forward.

He began picking up the objects one by one, placing them neatly on the table. The task wasn’t difficult, and within a minute, he had completed it. The system chimed again:

Gssmzzz! Ding!! Task Completed: Pick up 10 objects. Earned 10 XP.

Biodun stared at the notification, a mix of disbelief and growing excitement flooding through him. "Okay... so it’s real," he whispered, almost afraid to say it aloud. He checked his status display:

[Level 0] [XP: 60] [Skills: None] [Weapons: None]

Sixty XP now. Just from picking up a few objects. He felt a strange thrill run through him—something primal, like the rush of discovering a hidden treasure.

But with that excitement came a creeping sense of dread. What does this system want from me? The voice that had guided him earlier was silent now, leaving him alone with his thoughts.

Still, he couldn’t stop. There was a dangerous allure to the system—an addictive pull that made him want to test it further, to see how far it could go. He called for another task.

New Task: Open and close a door 5 times.

"Really?" Biodun chuckled dryly. But even as he laughed, he found himself walking over to the door of his room. Five times—easy. He opened the door, let it swing shut, and repeated the process. The familiar chime followed:

Gssmzzz! Ding!! Task Completed: Open and close a door 5 times. Earned 5 XP.

His XP climbed higher, and with each completed task, his belief in the system solidified. But along with that belief came a gnawing uncertainty. What was the endgame? And why him?

Biodun stepped out of the hospital into the crisp afternoon air, his heart heavy with uncertainty. The last few hours had felt like a fever dream, but the notifications and tasks had been all too real. The small rewards, the XP—they weren't just figments of his imagination.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and quickly dialed a familiar number. The line rang twice before Tunde picked up, his deep voice coming through with a hint of amusement.

"Biodun! Man, I was just thinking about you. How’re you holding up? Still stuck in that hospital bed?"

Biodun hesitated for a moment, wondering how to even begin explaining what had been happening. "Tunde, something weird is going on."

"Weird how?" Tunde's voice shifted, growing more serious. "You okay?"

Biodun took a deep breath. "I don’t know. Ever since the accident, things have been… off. I’ve been seeing things—notifications, tasks. Like some kind of system in my head."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Biodun could almost picture Tunde frowning, trying to make sense of his words. Finally, Tunde spoke again, his tone cautious. "You sure it's not just the meds? I mean, you've been through a lot. Your mind’s probably playing tricks on you."

Biodun clenched his jaw, frustration bubbling up. "I’m not imagining this, Tunde. I completed tasks—physical tasks—and the system rewarded me. Gave me XP, whatever that is. It’s like a game, but it’s real."

Tunde let out a low chuckle. "Come on, man. You’ve always had a vivid imagination. Maybe this is just your brain’s way of coping with everything. Try to relax, okay? Get some rest."

The dismissive tone hit harder than Biodun expected. "Yeah, maybe," he muttered, though he didn’t believe it for a second. "Talk to you later, Tunde."

He hung up before Tunde could respond, the weight of doubt settling over him like a thick fog. If Tunde didn’t believe him, who would? Was he really losing his mind?

Before he could spiral further, the familiar chime of the system echoed in his mind, and a new notification appeared:

New Task: Run 1 kilometer.

Biodun stared at the message, his pulse quickening. Running a kilometer? His body still ached from the accident, and the idea of pushing himself that far seemed impossible. But the system had been real so far. Could he afford to ignore it now?

He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his resolve. "Fine," he whispered, a determined edge in his voice. "Let’s do this."

Biodun set off from the hospital, his legs still protesting with each step. At first, he kept a slow pace, focusing on his breathing and trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his side. The streets around him were busy, filled with people going about their daily lives, blissfully unaware of the battle raging within him.

As he pushed himself to run, every step felt heavier than the last. His lungs burned, and sweat dripped down his face, but he couldn’t stop. Not now. The system’s message hung in his vision, reminding him of the task at hand.

Meters turned into hundreds of meters, and before long, he realized he was nearing the end of the kilometer. His legs felt like lead, his breath came in ragged gasps, but a strange exhilaration coursed through him. He was almost there.

With one final push, he reached the end of the distance, collapsing onto a nearby bench, panting heavily. The familiar chime of the system rang in his ears, and the notification flashed before his eyes:

Gssmzzz! Ding!! Task Completed: Run 1 kilometer. Earned 100 XP.

[Level 1] [XP: 150] [Skills: Basic Fitness] [Weapons: None]

A rush of energy surged through him, cutting through the exhaustion. He had done it. He had leveled up. The realization hit him like a tidal wave—this wasn’t a hallucination. This wasn’t a dream. The Evolution System was real, and it was changing him.

As he caught his breath, a new notification appeared:

New Ability Unlocked: Basic Fitness. Your stamina has improved. Running longer distances will be easier.

Biodun stared at the notification, the weight of his new reality settling over him like a heavy cloak. This was just the beginning. Whatever this system was, it was pushing him further, challenging him in ways he never imagined. And for better or worse, he couldn’t turn back now.