The Real Life System

The world was unfair. That was the first truth he had learned.

Seated in the farthest corner of the university cafeteria, Adrian Hayes stared blankly at the half-eaten sandwich in his hands. He wasn't really hungry, he never was. His thin frame and pale skin made him stand out, but not in the way people wanted.

At 18 years old, Adrian was a first-year university student, though he didn't feel like one. He was more like a dwarf, drifting through the halls, unseen, unheard, and unneeded. 166 cm tall, 42 kg barely more than a skeleton covered in skin.

He was used to the whispers, the occasional sneers from passing students.

"Is he sick?"

"Bro looks like a stiff wind would break him."

"Maybe he's one of those hikikomori guys who never go outside."

He tried to ignore it, but today was worse than usual.

Adrian got back home early. He was used to skipping classes most of the time, but he still managed to pass his exams in his own way. It wasn't diligence or hard work that got him through, just raw talent and a bit of genius. But he had no real motivation to be at the top. He just wanted to graduate, get a stable job, and support his father, who worked as a cleaner in office buildings. His mother had died when he was very young.

As he entered the small apartment, he opened the nearly empty fridge. There wasn't much inside, just a nearly finished jar of jam. He grabbed a piece of bread, spread the remaining jam over it, and ate in silence before heading to his room. His room was sparse, just a worn-out bed and a small study table with an old computer, one that his father had bought for him with great difficulty.

Even if he lacked ambition for himself, he still cared for his father. The man had struggled his whole life just to give him a future, and Adrian knew he couldn't waste that.

He collapsed onto his bed, sinking into the world of sleep and dreams. It was the only place where he felt truly alive. As an otaku to the core, he had watched every anime available and read countless novels. He spent hours browsing his favorite website : Webnovel, losing himself in stories where weak protagonists gained supernatural powers : trainers, treasures, systems… He liked the ones with systems the most. He would often imagine his own, crafting intricate features in his mind, watching as it evolved with every scenario he thought of.

Then, ringing , ringing …

His eyes fluttered open. His phone screen glowed in the dimly lit room: 7:00 PM.

"Ugh, not again… Why do the good times always pass so quickly?"

Normally, he would get up and prepare dinner for his father, but he remembered that tonight, his father wouldn't be coming home. So instead, he leaned back against his pillow, pulled open his desk drawer, and retrieved a worn brown notebook.

Some pages were filled with motivational quotes and determined resolutions. Others were scribbled with angry rants curses against the world, against the system that left millions in poverty and suffering.

More than anything, he wanted to change. Not just himself, but the world. He wanted to be someone who could stand up for the weak, for those left behind. He had once read a quote by Mahatma Gandhi:

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

And yet, the road ahead felt impossible.

He was smart, he knew that. But he had missed out on so much knowledge, having spent years feeling like the world was against him. He wanted to master everything he studied, but he was always held back by the gaps in his foundation. Learning was frustrating.

He wanted to train his body, gain muscle, fix his frail frame. But protein was expensive, and every article about height growth after 18 only made him more anxious.

He wanted to work on his appearance, to boost his confidence and finally form real connections with people. But the loneliness he had carried since childhood made socializing feel unnatural, like walking through a forest of predators.

So, in the end, he let go of his impossible dreams. He would graduate, find a job, help his father, and avoid unnecessary trouble. He would stay in his shell, keep to himself, and live in the safety of his own little world.

A world where he could be whoever he wanted to be.

The days passed in a blur, one after another, indistinguishable from the last.

University was a place of endless noise, people laughing, talking, living. Adrian, as always, walked through it like a ghost, unnoticed and unbothered. It suited him.

That was, until today.

One day, when his father hadn't come home either, Ethan made himself a simple meal, fried eggs. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

Or so he thought.

Just as he sat down, he instinctively reached for a piece of bread. His hand met an empty plate.

He froze.

His stomach twisted as realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

"There's no bread."

He ran to the kitchen and flung open the cabinets, searching. Maybe there was a forgotten piece somewhere? Maybe …

Nothing.

He clenched his fists, gritting his teeth in frustration.

"No. Don't tell me I have to go out…"

His gaze darted to the small clock hanging on the wall. 8:07 PM.

Not too late. The bakery was only a short walk away.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.

"It's fine. I'll just go, buy the bread, and come right back."

But another voice, deep in the back of his mind, whispered.

What's the worst thing that could happen?

Adrian chuckled bitterly. Death? So what?

"So be it. I'm already living a miserable life."

He left his phone behind, just in case. If someone tried to rob him, they'd find nothing but bread money in his pocket.

With that, he stepped out.

Adrian never liked walking the streets at night. The roads were too quiet, too empty, and every shadow felt like it was hiding something.

But he had no choice.

His neighborhood wasn't exactly dangerous, but it wasn't safe either. The kind of place where people minded their own business, even when they shouldn't. Where a crime could happen in plain sight, and no one would lift a finger.

Halfway to the bakery, he turned down a narrow alley, a shortcut he had used countless times before. That's when he heard them.

Footsteps. Three, maybe four people. Following him.

His heartbeat quickened. Stay calm. Just walk faster.

Too late.

A hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back. He stumbled, barely catching himself before he fell.

"Hey, kid," a rough voice sneered.

"You got some nerve walkin' through here alone."

Adrian turned, heart pounding. Four men. Older than him, probably in their twenties. Dirty clothes, cigarette smoke clinging to their breath.

Thugs.

He had nothing valuable on him. Just bread money. But that didn't matter. He had seen this kind of thing before. Some people didn't steal because they needed to. Some just wanted to hurt others.

"Look, I don't want any trouble," Adrian said, keeping his voice steady.

"I don't have anything worth taking."

One of them chuckled. "Oh, we ain't just after your money, skinny boy."

The others grinned.

Shit.

They weren't just robbers. They were the kind of people who enjoyed making others suffer.

Adrian took a step back. His breath came faster. His body was already weak, if they decided to beat him, he wouldn't stand a chance.

One of them pulled a knife.

Fear turned to pure terror.

He wanted to run. But he was frozen. Every instinct screamed that this was it, this was how he would die.

And then ...

[ WARNING! ]

A sudden, mechanical voice echoed inside his head.

His vision blurred. The world seemed to freeze. And right in front of him, glowing in the air, a black and red screen appeared.

[ WARNING! ]

[ THOSE MEN WILL KILL YOU !!]

[ DO YOU REQUIRE A SERVICE !? ]

[ YES / NO ]

Adrian's breath caught in his throat.

His mind was racing, trying to understand. What the hell is this? A hallucination? A dream?

The man with the knife took a step forward.

Adrian didn't care anymore.

He focused on the screen and screamed in his mind:

"YES!"

And then …

Everything changed.

To be continued …..