Chapter 1: The System

Humans are born equal, and everyone should be treated as such. Everyone has probably heard that at least once, but what load of bullshit. Not once have I gained any kind of recognition, nor have I ever received even a minuscule amount of kindness.

In a dark alleyway behind a supermarket, a young teenager looked through the trash in hopes of finding something edible. He looked like a ghost among the living, and it was clear that he was malnourished. 

It had been 15 years ago when the skies had cracked open and demons poured down like a plague. Humanity, unprepared and fractured, couldn't put up a fight. Cities crumbled, nations fell, and humanity was pushed into danger of extinction. Suddenly, among the humans, people with magical abilities rose up and fought a bloody war against the demons and managed to stop their advancement. As a result of this, humans lost half of the earth to the demons, but this stalemate was fragile, and a small tip of the balance could lead to another all-out war.

Luciel's parents had died that day when the demons had invaded. He was just newborn at the time and had lived in an orphanage since then, or at least until recently, when he was thrown out of there.

For his whole life, Luciel hasn't known about anything else other than survival. Keeping his head down, avoiding gangs and other trouble on the streets, he barely managed to survive. Hope was a luxury that he couldn't afford.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans for him.

It was a cold, gray morning when it happened. Luciel had been picking through the remains of an old grocery store, his stomach growling with hunger, when he felt it—a strange, electric sensation in the air. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and a low hum filled his ears. Before he could react, a blinding light erupted around him, and he was thrown to the ground.

When the light faded, Luciel found himself in a void—a vast, endless space filled with swirling stars and shifting colors. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of what was happening. Was this death? Had he finally succumbed to the harshness of his world?

"Luciel," a voice echoed, deep and resonant, filling the void. It was neither male nor female, but something beyond comprehension. "You have been chosen."

"Chosen?" Luciel whispered, his voice trembling. "Chosen for what?"

But there was no answer. Then the void shifted violently, and blinding light bombarded Luciel. he felt like every cell on his body was being stabbed by needles, and even though he tried to scream, no sound came out. 

When the light subsided, Luciel found himself in an unfamiliar room. Looking around he noticed that he seemed to be in a hospital room. Then a glowing screen appeared in the air before him.

[System Initializing...]

[Welcome, User: Luciel.]

User: Luciel

Strength:4

Agility:5

Vitality: 3

Mana:8

Divinity:0

Skills: none

Awakening completion rate: 5%

Luciel stared at the screen, his mind reeling. Was this some kind of trick? A hallucination brought on by hunger? But the screen remained, its glowing text unwavering. He reached out to touch it, but his hand passed through as if it were made of air. 

"What... what is this?" he muttered.

[The system is a path to transcendence. Complete objectives, defeat enemies, and ascend the steps to unlock new abilities and grow stronger. The system will guide you, but the journey is yours to make.]

Luciel's heart pounded. Power. The word echoed in his mind like a forbidden promise. In a world where the strong devoured the weak, power was everything. But could this system truly give him that? Or was it just another cruel joke? 

While in thought, a doctor walked inside the room.

The doctor, a middle-aged man with a tired but kind expression, entered the room holding a clipboard. He glanced at Luciel, who was still staring at the glowing screen in disbelief, and frowned slightly. To the doctor, Luciel appeared to be staring blankly into thin air.

"Ah, you're awake," the doctor said, his voice calm and professional. "How are you feeling?"

Luciel blinked, tearing his gaze away from the screen. It was still there, hovering in the corner of his vision, but he forced himself to focus on the doctor. "Where... where am I?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"You're in St. Marian's Hospital," the doctor replied, jotting something down on his clipboard. "You were found unconscious in an alleyway near the old supermarket. Do you remember what happened?"

Luciel hesitated. The memory of the void, the voice, and the blinding light flashed through his mind. But how could he explain that to someone else? They'd think he was crazy. "I... I don't remember much," he lied. "I think I passed out from hunger."

The doctor nodded sympathetically. "That's not surprising. You were severely malnourished when they brought you in. We've been giving you fluids and nutrients intravenously. You're lucky to be alive."

Luciel looked down at his arms, noticing the IV lines for the first time. His mind raced. A hospital? How had he ended up here? The last thing he remembered was the void and the system. Was this part of it? Or had it all been a dream?

The doctor continued, "You'll need to stay here for a few more days so we can monitor your condition. After that, we'll see about finding you a place to stay. You can't go back to living on the streets."

Luciel's eyes widened. "A place to stay? But... I don't have any money. I can't pay for this."

The doctor smiled gently. "Don't worry about that. There are programs for people in your situation. We'll make sure you're taken care of."

Luciel didn't know how to respond. Kindness was something he hadn't experienced in a long time. He opened his mouth to thank the doctor, but before he could speak, the man turned and left the room, leaving Luciel alone with his thoughts.

As soon as the door closed, Luciel's attention returned to the glowing screen. It was still there, waiting for him.

[User Status Updated.]

[Vitality: 4 (Increased due to medical treatment.)]

[New Objective: Regain full health and leave the hospital.]

[Reward: Step 1 Unlocked.]

Luciel stared at the screen, his mind racing. This wasn't a dream. The system was real. And if it was real, then so was the promise of power. For the first time in his life, he felt a flicker of something he hadn't dared to feel in years—hope.

But with that hope came questions. Why him? Why now? And what did it mean to "ascend the steps to divinity"? The system had said the journey was his to make, but Luciel had no idea where to start.

Over the next few days, Luciel focused on recovering. The hospital staff were kind, and for the first time in years, he ate regular meals and slept in a warm bed. But his mind was never at rest. He studied the system, trying to understand how it worked. The screen displayed his stats, but there were no instructions on how to improve them. The "Awakening completion rate" puzzled him the most. What did it mean? Was it related to the magical abilities that some humans had awakened after the demon invasion?

One evening, as Luciel lay in bed, he decided to experiment. He focused on the screen, trying to will it to show him more information. To his surprise, it responded.

[Awakening Completion Rate: 5%]

[Awakening refers to the process of unlocking latent magical potential within the user. As the rate increases, the user will gain access to unique abilities and powers. Completion rate can be increased through training, combat, and system rewards.]

Luciel's heart raced. Magical potential? Was it possible that he could become one of the Awakened? The thought was both thrilling and terrifying. The Awakened were revered as heroes, but their lives were fraught with danger. They were the ones who fought on the front lines against the demons, and many of them didn't live long.

But if he could become strong enough, maybe he could change his fate. Maybe he could finally stop being a victim.

[New Objective: Increase Awakening Completion Rate to 10%.]

[Reward: Basic Mana Manipulation Skill Unlocked.]

Luciel clenched his fists. This was his chance. He didn't know how he would do it, but he was determined to seize this opportunity. For the first time in his life, he had a goal beyond mere survival. With the help of the system, he might be able to achieve a decent life.