Chapter Four

"System activation!"

Alex felt like he was floating in space inside his unconscious mind, disconnected from his broken body.

All he could feel was an overwhelming sensation of failure and loss, with no awareness of time passing.

His body's pain subsided into numbness, and he could feel himself falling farther into the void.

Suddenly, the void surrounding him was filled by an audible mechanical hum. A voice, clear and calm, echoed in his mind.

"System activation initiated."

"User identification: Alex Thompson."

"Initializing life-enhancement protocol."

Alex's confused and cracked thoughts tried to make sense of what was going on. "What... what is this?" he asked himself.

"User detected in critical condition," the voice continued.

"Emergency protocols activated."

"Stabilizing vital functions."

He felt a warm, tingling sensation spread throughout his body as if an invisible force was repairing his broken self.

The ache vanished, leaving behind a peaceful calm. He could almost feel his injuries mending, his strength slowly returning.

"Who are you?" Alex managed to think, his voice echoing weakly in the void.

"I am your Life System," the voice responded. "Programmed to assist and guide you to your fullest potential. Current priority: ensuring survival and initiating primary directives."

Images flashed before Alex's mind's eye—diagrams, symbols, and instructions, too fast to fully comprehend but somehow making sense on an instinctual level.

The voice continued to relay information, each word instilling a strange sense of purpose within him.

"Primary directive: Rebuild confidence."

"Secondary directive: Attain financial independence."

Tertiary directive: Seek retribution against identified oppressors."

As the words started to sink in, Alex felt a flicker of hope—something he hadn't felt in a long time. He now had a chance to get revenge on the massive flood of misfortune that had devoured his life thanks to the system.

"Listen carefully," the system instructed. "Your path begins now. Remember, passion is key. "Keep your cool and respond to insults with reasoned arguments. This is the beginning of the process of taking back control. System assistance. Go ahead with assurance."

With renewed determination, Alex felt a pull towards consciousness.

The darkness around him began to lighten, and he became aware of his body.

His eyelids fluttered open as the hospital's pristine white ceiling became visible. He was greeted with the sterile smell of antiseptic and the beeping of medical machines.

Alex squinted in the bright light, taking time to absorb his surroundings. He was lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to many IV drips and monitors.

Despite the dull ache in his body, he felt more awake and stronger than he should have following the beating. His eyes fell to the ring on his finger.

"Welcome back, Alex," the system's voice echoed softly in his mind. "Your journey begins here."

He sat up slowly. The reality of his situation was still intense, but the system's presence gave him a strange sense of calm and purpose.

"Thank you," Alex whispered, not entirely sure if he was speaking to the system or himself.

Alex sprang to his feet, determined, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He refused to remain confined in the hospital any longer.

"Leave now!" The system commanded.

He quickly changed into the clothes that were sitting on a chair by his bed.

A nurse entered the room, and she looked surprised as he made his way to the door.

"Mr. Thompson, you should not be awake yet. She attempted to block his path by saying, "You need rest."

Alex inhaled deeply, remembering the cool reasoning he ought to use. "Thank you for your kindness, but I am free to leave. Rebuilding my life is something I must do, and remaining here will not assist me in doing so."

After hesitating, the nurse reluctantly nodded. "If you're sure, please be careful. You're still recovering."

"I will," Alex assured her, moving past her and out into the corridor.

He stormed out of the hospital, each step filled with purpose. He wondered why he wasn't asked to pay for the hospital bills, but whatever happened with the bills was a win for him.

As he walked, he thought about the system's directive: to regain his physical strength.

He needed somewhere to stay and a fresh start. The memories of the beatings, insults, and betrayals were still fresh, but they no longer scared him. Instead, they fueled his determination.

Alex was deep in thought and didn't notice the group of young men sitting in a corner until one of them called out to him. "Hey, look who's back from the dead!" The voice was harsh and filled with hatred.

Alex turned to face them, his heart racing. He'd received enough insults; this was merely a test from the system.

The group's leader, a tall man with a shaved head with a mock, walked forward. "So, where did you crawl out from? Shouldn't you be in a hospital bed somewhere? He blasted, his pals laughing behind him.

Alex's fists clenched at his sides, but he remembered the system's instructions. He forced himself to relax, meeting the leader's gaze. "I'm out because I have things to do. Important things. Now, if you'll excuse me—"

"Oh, important things?" the leader interrupted, laughing. "Like what? Begging for change? You're nothing, man. Just a washed-up loser."

"I don't even know you. Everyone goes through tough times. What matters is how you come out of them. I'm working on rebuilding my life," Alex said, taking a big breath and allowing the insult to pass over him. "What about you? What are you doing that's so important?"

The leader's sneer, the laughter dying away. "None of your business," he muttered, stepping back.

With a calm voice, Alex responded, "That's what I thought. Now pardon me, I have somewhere to be." With a continuous step and a racing heart, he turned and walked away.

He had done it —countered insults with logic and maintained his calm just as the system had instructed.

Turning a corner, he almost bumped into a familiar face. It was Mark, a former co-worker from the delivery company.

Mark was a tall, broad-shouldered man who always seemed to enjoy making Alex's life difficult. His face lit up with a smug grin when he saw Alex.

"Well, if it isn't Alex Thompson," Mark mocked, looking him up and down. "I heard you got fired. Twice. And that your wife left you. Must be rough?"

Alex felt his heart beat erratically, but he caught himself in no time.

This merely presented an additional obstruction, an additional chance for him to restore his confidence.

His thoughts were filled with the voice of the system, telling him to remain composed and respond to insults with reasoned arguments.

With a wide smile, Alex said, "Hello, Mark. Yeah, this has been a difficult time, but I'm trying to get back up."

Shrugging his shoulders, Mark laughed. "Alex, are you working on it? You're a loser, man; that much is clear. That does not change by anything you do. It was seen by your bosses and wife, and now you're only confirming what they said."

Alex took a deep breath, the insult hitting home but not penetrating as deeply as it might have a few days ago. "People face challenges. It's part of life. What matters is how we handle them. I'm using this time to improve myself and plan for a better future."

"Improve yourself?" Mark teased. "By wandering the streets and feeling sorry for yourself? You've always been delusional."

"I'm not moping over my situation. I'm moving to improve what is happening to me. Although we all experience setbacks, we also have the ability to overcome them. I'm not defined by my failures but by my actions moving forward."

Mark murmured, "Keep telling yourself that. You'll never be more than a bottom-feeder, Alex."

Alex stood his ground. "I know I can rise above this. And I will."

Alex turned and walked away without pausing for a response.

His heart was still pounding, but there was a sense of victory in his step. He had faced another challenge, another round of insults, and had maintained his calm demeanor.

As he turned another corner, he noticed a figure standing under a flickering street lamp, watching him intently. The figure was tall and wore a long coat that seemed to blend with the shadows.

He rolled his eyes. "A lot of people to meet on this road."

"Alex Thompson," the figure called out, his voice a deep. "I've been looking for you."

Despite his instincts telling him to flee, Alex refused to back down. "Who are you?"

The man moved forward, letting his face reveal. He had a scar down his left face and piercing blue eyes. "My name doesn't matter. What counts is how much I know about you."

Alex's breath stopped."How do you know about me?"

A scary smirk formed around the man's lips. "Do you really believe you're alone? Not everyone is as privileged as you are; there are others in the world. Some of them will stop at nothing to have what you have."

Alex's thoughts began to race. "What do you want from me?"

"I have a better offer for you, than what you have now."

"Warning: External interference detected," the system's voice echoed in his mind.

"Initiating defensive protocols."

The man came closer, his grin getting bigger. "Come with me, Alex. We can discover the real power of life together, or you decline my offer and deal with the aftermath."

Alex lifted his eye, his mind filled with conflicting thoughts. He had a decision to make.

"The clock is ticking," the man stated, his voice a murmur. "What will you choose?"