Chapter 1: The Awakening

The fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting a sickly glow on the rows of battered desks and cracked tiles. A sharp thud echoed through the classroom as Jihan's body slammed against a wooden desk, his ribs screaming in pain from the impact.

Laughter erupted from the small crowd gathered around him. A tall, muscular senior stood over him, sneering. "Look at you, Jihan. Pathetic as ever. You never learn, do you?"

Jihan gritted his teeth, his fingers curling into fists. He wanted to fight back, to break free from the cycle of humiliation, but his body was weak. His mind, however, burned with a quiet rage that refused to die.

"Hey, hurry up and hand over the cash," another voice chimed in, a shorter but equally cruel student towering beside the leader. "Unless you want another lesson."

Jihan clenched his jaw. His fingers fumbled inside his tattered backpack, pulling out a crumpled bill. It was all he had left from skipping lunch the past few days. He tossed it on the ground, feeling the weight of shame crush him once more.

The senior smirked. "That's more like it. See? You know your place."

Jihan said nothing as he watched the money disappear into their pockets. His silence wasn't submission—it was survival. One day, he promised himself, things would change.

But today wasn't that day.

The leader suddenly grabbed Jihan by the collar, dragging him forward. "You looked at me just now. What? You think you're tough now?" Without waiting for an answer, he drove a fist into Jihan's gut. The air left his lungs in a sharp gasp as he collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.

"I think he needs a better lesson," another thug said, cracking his knuckles.

The next few minutes were a blur of pain. Kicks to his ribs, fists smashing against his face, his body being tossed around like a ragdoll. Jihan barely registered the sound of his own groans. Blood dripped from his split lip, his vision swimming with red and black spots.

Finally, the bullies grew bored. "Next time, bring more money," the leader said, delivering one last stomp to Jihan's ribs before they walked away, laughing.

Jihan lay motionless on the cold, filthy classroom floor, gasping for breath. His entire body ached, every nerve screaming in agony. His fingers twitched as he tried to push himself up, but his strength had long since abandoned him.

That night, Jihan sat in his dimly lit room, staring at his reflection in the cracked mirror. Bruises lined his jaw, a fresh cut above his brow still trickling blood. He exhaled sharply, suppressing the growing frustration in his chest.

His phone vibrated against the wooden desk. A notification popped up, an unfamiliar icon flashing on the screen.

[New Application Installed: Dominance Code]

Jihan frowned. He hadn't downloaded anything.

Curious, he tapped the icon. The screen flickered to life with a simple yet ominous message:

"Break free or be broken."

Beneath the text, a countdown began.

00:10

00:09

00:08

A chill ran down Jihan's spine as he realized—this wasn't just a game.

The moment the countdown hit zero, a sharp jolt coursed through Jihan's body, making him gasp. His phone screen turned pitch black, then burst back to life with a new prompt.

[Mission: Fight back or suffer the consequences.]

Reward: Strength Boost +1

Penalty: Severe Pain Infliction

Jihan's heart pounded. Was this some kind of sick joke? The pain he felt from the earlier beating was bad enough—what did "Severe Pain Infliction" mean?

Before he could dismiss it as nonsense, a searing agony shot through his arm, as if something was stabbing him from the inside. He clenched his teeth, his breath ragged. The pain was real.

"I have to fight back…"

The realization settled over him like a storm cloud. If he didn't act, he would be forced to endure worse. But how? He had never been strong, never been a fighter.

The next day at school, Jihan's mind swam with uncertainty. Was the app just a hallucination? A cruel prank? But as soon as he stepped through the gates, a new notification appeared.

[Mission Active: Fight Back or Suffer]

His stomach twisted. Did that mean… right now?

A hand grabbed his shoulder, yanking him back. Jihan turned to see the same senior from yesterday, the smug grin plastered across his face.

"Didn't I tell you to bring more money today?" he sneered.

Another sharp sting erupted through Jihan's arm. The app wasn't bluffing.

Jihan took a deep breath. The pain was unbearable, but something else coursed through him now—something raw, something new.

A surge of power.

Without thinking, his fist shot forward, crashing into the senior's jaw with a force Jihan didn't know he possessed. A sickening crack echoed through the hallway. Gasps rang out as the bully staggered backward, clutching his face in shock.

Jihan stared at his own hand, disbelief washing over him. Had he really done that?

His phone buzzed.

[Mission Complete: +1 Strength Boost Earned.]

For the first time in his life, Jihan didn't feel like a victim.

He felt like a predator.