Ryan kadeem was calm to a fault, almost unnervingly so. In his early twenties, he carried a quiet confidence that came not from bravado but from a steady, collected mind. The chaos and anger that swirled around others didn't faze him; in fact, he barely understood why anyone would let themselves get riled up, especially when it was so obvious that the other person was just trying to provoke them. For Rayan, emotions were distractions, distractions he didn't have time for. His focus was razor sharp, fixed on one thing: the billion-dollar prize waiting inside the game. Nothing else mattered,not friendship, not loyalty, not anger or fear. Just the game, the points, and the money.
Ryan's excitement buzzed as he stepped into the center where the game was held. Though everyone had their own private room, the atmosphere was thick with tension and anticipation. He was guided to his room, told to relax and wait. Then, without warning, he was pulled into the game. When he opened his eyes, he was no longer himself. Instead, he found he'd become a middle-aged man,with a wife who was beautiful, a daughter, and a stepson. The surprise flashed through him, but he pushed it aside quickly. There was no time for shock. He needed to stay calm, keep his real identity hidden, and start thinking,how would he earn points in this strange new life?
The game's voice echoed in his mind with cold clarity: the easiest way to rack up points was to piss off kids and old people. It was blunt, almost cruel, but straightforward. Manipulating the vulnerable was a quick path to rewards. Martin, as the game now called him, filed that away. He didn't feel any guilt or hesitation. It was just another rule to play by, another tactic to exploit on his way to that billion-dollar goal.
Memories flooded in,memories not his own but carefully planted by the system. The game gave him the full history of this middle-aged man's life, from childhood to now. It was startling how real it all felt. Martin had been a doctor at a hospital, and suddenly, medical knowledge filled his mind. Martin thought, maybe if he made it out of the game alive, he could actually step into that life,a doctor in the real world, with skills ready to go. It was another layer of the game's twisted realism, blurring the lines between player and persona.
Martin moved quietly through the unfamiliar house. His daughter was locked away in her room, silent and distant. In the kitchen, his wife was busy preparing dinner, the soft sounds of chopping and simmering filling the space. Meanwhile, the stepson,her child from a previous marriage,raced around the house with restless energy, a boy still in primary school. The contrast was clear: a calm evening disrupted by the chaotic noise of youth. Martin watched, taking it all in, already thinking about what this new life meant,and how he could use it to his advantage.
Martin's eyes landed on the stepson, and a plan clicked into place. He decided to start with the kid,push his buttons, get some easy points. Watching the boy run recklessly, Martin suddenly slammed his hand down on the table, shattering a few glasses in front of him. The mother rushed in, panic in her voice. "What happened? What happened?" she asked. Martin snapped back, irritation sharp in his tone, "He was running around and broke the glasses. How many times have I told him not to run inside the house?" The boy froze, eyes wide, and Martin felt the first small spark of points flicker in his mind.
The boy's face twisted with confusion and anger. "Mom, it was him! He broke it," he shouted. Martin didn't back down. "And now you're accusing me? You were the one running around the house. Why would I do that?" The mother's patience snapped as she stepped in, her voice sharp. "Honey, it's okay. It's just some glasses. But you can't accuse your father." That only made the boy angrier. "What? Mom, what?" he protested. The mother raised a hand, cutting him off. "Okay, young man, go to your room." The boy stomped away, muttering under his breath, and Martin felt the tension shift,exactly what he wanted. A calm voice echoed in Martin's mind: he had just gained one point.