The Real Life System

[ The service is : Pain Resistance (Feel no pain for 5 minutes) ]

 The moment the message appeared, a strange cool wave washed over his body. The burning in his lungs vanished. The heaviness in his legs disappeared. The soreness in his muscles was just gone.

It felt… unnatural.

But there was no time to question it.

The harasser turned to Adrian with an annoyed glare, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"What do you want, kid? Walk away before you get hurt."

Adrian didn't respond. He stepped forward.

The young man scoffed. "You deaf? I said..."

Adrian punched him.

It wasn't a strong hit, just an instinctive swing, but it caught the man right in the jaw.

The cigarette flew from his mouth.

The harasser staggered back, stunned. Then, his face twisted in rage.

"YOU LITTLE…!"

He lunged forward, throwing a punch straight at Adrian's face.

Adrian saw it coming. But he didn't move.

THWACK!

The fist slammed into his cheek.

But… he felt nothing.

His head snapped to the side, but there was no pain. No dizziness. Nothing.

The harasser hesitated, eyes widening. "What the…?"

Adrian looked back at him, unshaken.

For the first time in his life… he felt invincible.

 Adrian stared down at the harasser, his sharp eyes filled with a cold intensity. His voice was low but dangerous as he spoke:

"Leave her alone, or I'll make you."

The harasser hesitated for a moment, stepping back. But then he looked again, a short, skinny boy stood in front of him.

"Is this kid serious?" he thought.

His confidence returned.

With a snarl, he clenched his fist and threw another punch.

THUD!

The hit landed straight on Adrian's jaw, then another slammed into his stomach.

Another.

And another.

Yet Adrian did not fall.

He stood firm. His body barely reacted to the hits.

The harasser's expression twisted in confusion.

"What the hell…?" He threw a final, desperate punch with all his strength.

But Adrian moved first.

A powerful knee, straight to the harasser's groin.

"AGGHHH!"

The harasser's eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain.

Adrian didn't stop.

He grabbed the man's hair, pushed his face into the pavement, and held him down.

The harasser struggled, cursing between gasps, but Adrian pressed harder.

Within seconds…

The harasser stopped moving.

Unconscious.

Adrian finally sighed, his breath heavy.

A message flashed in his vision:

[ The service activated: 1 minute left ]

His service had lasted 4 minutes, yet now, standing still, Adrian finally noticed his own condition.

His face was swollen, his lips were split, blood trickled down his chin, and bruises covered his arms and chest.

Even though he didn't feel pain, he looked terrible.

The girl rushed forward, her face filled with fear.

"Are you okay? I'll call an ambulance!" she said, reaching for her phone.

Adrian grabbed her wrist gently but firmly.

His voice was serious, unwavering.

"No. Call the police first."

His eyes narrowed as he glanced at the unconscious man.

"Before he wakes up… and runs away."

The girl did exactly as Adrian said, she called the police.

Within a few minutes, sirens echoed in the distance.

Two police cars arrived, and officers quickly secured the scene. They handcuffed the unconscious harasser and loaded him into their vehicle.

But Adrian was in no condition to leave immediately.

The paramedics examined him, their faces filled with confusion and concern.

One doctor shook his head. "How is this kid even conscious…?"

His colleague checked the medical report. "His nose is broken, and he has three fractured ribs… but he's still moving like it's nothing?"

Another paramedic glanced at Adrian's bruised face and asked,

"Did you take painkillers or something?"

Adrian just smiled weakly.

"Something like that."

After receiving first aid to stabilize his condition, the police took his statement. He lay in a hospital bed while answering their questions.

After a while, the door opened again.

The girl entered the room, but this time, she wasn't alone.

An older man walked beside her, tall, well-dressed, and with a strong presence.

The moment Adrian saw him, his eyes widened in shock.

"What is the director doing here…?" he thought.

Before Adrian could ask, Nika spoke first.

"My name is Nika. I'm a final-year student at Musuku High School."

She smiled gently, her eyes filled with gratitude.

"I want to thank you for saving me this morning."

Then she turned to the man beside her.

"And this is my father Nicola. He came with me to see you."

Adrian's expression remained stiff.

The man standing before him wasn't just anyone.

He was the director of Tesla University.

Even the director looked surprised as he observed Adrian.

"Are you a student at Tesla University?" he asked.

Adrian nodded slightly.

"Yes. I'm in my first year there."

Then he turned to Nika.

"And for you, Nika… I just did what anyone should do."

Nika's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Really? You're in Tesla University? I will join it next year too!" she said cheerfully.

Adrian nodded, still a little surprised by her energy.

But then she turned to her father, tilting her head in curiosity.

"But, Papa, how did you know he was from your university?"

For a brief moment, the director hesitated. His expression remained composed, but Adrian could see a slight confusion in his eyes.

"Haah… I think he was one of our best students," the man finally said, forcing a small smile.

But Adrian knew better.

The real reason was different.

At the start of the school year, when the director had been reviewing student files, Adrian's profile had stood out to him.

It wasn't because of his grades or achievements.

It was because of his appearance.

A short, thin boy, his body looking more like someone starving than a student in the prime of his life.

It was as if Adrian was barely surviving, not living.

That day, the director had thought:

"How did someone like him get into Tesla University…?"

But now, after seeing Adrian in front of him, his face bruised, his ribs fractured, but still standing tall, the director felt something different.

Adrian noticed his expression but chose not to comment. Instead, he smiled slightly and said,

"Thank you, sir. I try to do my best."

But deep down, he already understood what the director was thinking.

 Nicola, the director, sighed and turned to his daughter.

"Let's go, Nika. Let Adrian rest."

Before leaving, he gave Adrian a serious look and added,

"Thank you again. If you need anything, just tell me. You owe me a favor, and for your studies, take as much rest as you need. I'll inform your professors."

With that, Nicola and Nika stepped out, leaving Adrian alone in the hospital room.

The moment the door closed, Adrian's eyes immediately shifted to the glowing system interface floating before him.

[ STATUS: CRITICAL ]

[ Original Appearance ranking: 6,183,836,635 → Updated Appearance ranking: 6,183,836,971 ]

[ Original Intelligence ranking: 1,236,376,278 → Updated Intelligence ranking: 1,236,376,253 ]

 [ Original Knowledge ranking: 3,076,665,378 → Updated Knowledge ranking: 3,076,665,389 ]

 [ Original Power ranking: 5,066,654,324 → Updated Power ranking: 5,066,654,670 ]

[ Original Richness ranking: 5,165,352,987 → Updated Richness ranking: 5,165,352,971 ]

[ Original Fitness ranking: 6,364,734,843 → Updated Fitness ranking: 6,364,735,963 ]

[ Original General ranking: 5,346,745,839 → Updated General ranking: 5,346,745,843 ]

Adrian gritted his teeth as he stared at the rankings.

His fitness ranking had dropped by more than a thousand places.

His general ranking had fallen by over ten places.

His fingers dug into the hospital bedsheet. A wave of frustration and anger surged inside him.

" Even with this system …How am I still a loser?! "

To be continued ...