Chapter 1: The Ordinary Life

Chapter 1: The Ordinary Life

Caden Ashford stared out the window of his classroom, his mind a thousand miles away. The sound of the teacher's voice droned in the background, barely registering in his head. He didn't need to listen to know what she was talking about—another lecture about the history of the dungeon raids and how the world had changed when those strange, glowing portals began appearing across the globe. About how brave men and women became raiders, diving into these dungeons to fight monsters, collect treasure, and come out stronger than before.

Caden's father hated the Raiders.

"They're just thrill-seekers, looking for easy fame and fortune," his father would say at the dinner table, his voice heavy with disdain. "They think they're heroes, but all they're doing is bringing danger closer to home."

His father had never forgiven the raiders for what happened years ago, when a dungeon break had caused havoc in their city. Lives were lost, homes destroyed, and the city had barely recovered. Since then, Caden's father had made it clear—no one in their family was to have anything to do with raiders or the dungeon industry.

But for Caden, the raiders were the only thing that made sense in this world. He wasn't interested in following in his father's footsteps, working a regular 9-to-5 job with no excitement, no adventure. Caden wanted to explore those mysterious dungeons, to become stronger, to feel the rush of power that came from facing down monsters and emerging victorious.

He had to keep those feelings to himself, though. His father would never understand. Neither would his sister, Alyssa, who seemed content to follow the rules and do everything by the book. Alyssa was always watching Caden, always questioning him about where he went after school, and what he was doing. She was smart, way too smart for her own good, and Caden knew it wouldn't be long before she figured out he was hiding something.

His best friend, Derek Holloway, sat two rows in front of him, scribbling notes on raider lore while the teacher spoke. Derek was obsessed with raider culture, devouring every piece of media about dungeon raids. Caden often found himself confiding in Derek, sharing his secret passion for dungeons, knowing Derek would understand and encourage him rather than scold him.

Kira Thompson, a classmate known for her fierce determination and athleticism, sat next to Derek. She was a star athlete, often juggling track and field events alongside her studies. Kira had a natural charisma that drew people to her, and she was one of the few who could match Derek's energy when discussing raids. Caden had always admired her strength and confidence, but he never imagined how her path might intersect with his own.

The bell rang, pulling Caden out of his thoughts. School was over for the day, and the halls quickly filled with students hurrying to get home or meet up with friends. Caden packed up his bag and headed for the door, keeping his head down as he navigated through the crowd. He needed some fresh air, a chance to clear his mind.

He took his usual route home, walking through the quiet streets of their neighborhood. The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the city. Everything felt normal. Peaceful. But as Caden turned the corner near an old, abandoned building, something shifted.

The air grew heavy, and a strange hum filled the air. Caden stopped in his tracks, his heart racing. He knew this feeling. He'd seen it before, in the countless videos of dungeon raids he watched online. A rift was opening.

In front of him, the space shimmered and twisted, forming a glowing portal. A dungeon rift.

Before Caden could react, small creatures began crawling out of the portal. They were rat-like monsters, with glowing red eyes and sharp claws. Lesser Beasts, Caden realized. He'd seen these types of monsters in low-tier dungeons before, but he'd never been this close to one.

Instinctively, Caden took a step back. He should run. He wasn't a raider. He didn't have any weapons, any training. But something inside him stirred. A strange warmth spread through his body, and without thinking, he clenched his fists. His heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't fear driving him now. It was something else. Something powerful.

The first beast lunged at him, and Caden's body moved on its own. His fist shot out, landing squarely on the monster's head with a sickening crunch. The creature dropped to the ground, lifeless.

Caden stared at his hand, stunned. He had never thrown a punch like that before. Where had that strength come from?

Another beast charged at him, and Caden moved again. This time, his body felt lighter, faster. He dodged the creature's claws and countered with a quick strike to its side. The monster crumpled to the ground, defeated.

The fight was over in seconds, but Caden stood there, breathing heavily, his mind racing. What just happened?

Suddenly, a bright light filled his vision, and a strange interface appeared in front of him. It looked like something out of a video game. Stats, health bars, and a quest log floated in the air before him, as if projected by some unseen force.

"Congratulations," a voice echoed in his head. "You have unlocked the System."

Caden blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The System? He had heard rumors about some raiders being chosen by the System, a mysterious force that granted them incredible power. But those were just stories, right?

The interface displayed his name at the top, followed by a list of stats:

Name: Caden Ashford

Level: 1

Health: 90/100

Mana: 50/50

Strength: 15

Agility: 12

Endurance: 10

And below that, a quest:

Quest: Defeat 5 Lesser Beasts in a Nearby Dungeon

Reward: 100 XP, Basic Skill Unlock

Caden stared at the screen in disbelief. This couldn't be real. He had just fought off those monsters, but he wasn't a raider. He wasn't trained for this. And yet, the System had chosen him. It had given him the strength, the speed, the power to fight.

The portal in front of him flickered, then disappeared, leaving the street as quiet as it had been before. The monsters were gone, and so was the rift.

Caden stood there for a moment, processing everything that had just happened. He looked down at his hands, still shaking from the adrenaline. What had he gotten himself into?

The System's interface still floated in front of him, waiting. The quest was clear—defeat more monsters, gain experience, unlock more power.

Caden swallowed hard. He had always dreamed of becoming a raider, but this was different. This was real. And now, he had a choice to make.

He could try to ignore it, pretend this never happened, and go back to his normal life. But something told him that wasn't an option anymore. The System had chosen him for a reason, and if he didn't accept it, who knew what kind of danger might come next?

Caden clenched his fists, the faint glow of the System's interface reflecting in his eyes.

He wasn't going to run from this.