Just like any other day, Ethan approached his door, typed in his passcode, and entered his shabby apartment. At the tender age of 21, Ethan was already working full-time at a fuel station. He had no motivation in life-nor did he want any. He chucked off his shoes and entered the living room, where he plummeted onto his black leather couch. One of his feet sank into a hole, his socks brushing against the yellow foam within.
Ethan took a moment to gather his thoughts. Then he stood up, walked over, and entered the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, took a shower, and went into his bedroom. He leapt into his bed or more accurately, his worn-out mattress and pulled out his phone. A quick glance at the screen showed 9 pm. He unlocked it and was instantly pulled into the world of web novels.
Ethan had just finished another chapter of his favorite story when a painfully familiar wave of sadness hit. He cursed silently, as memories came flooding back, past regrets, insults from classmates, the supposed "banter" from people who called themselves his friends. Usually, he ignored these painful thoughts, but tonight he decided to get up and grab a glass of water.
While drinking fresh tap water, Ethan checked his phone. As he typed in his passcode, he noticed the time. It was 2 am
"Damn, I guess I'll have to go another day sleep-deprived."
He began scrolling through social media. That's when it erupted with loud beeps.
BEEEEEP! BEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEP!
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EMERGENCY ALERT!
An alarming number of people have been reporting hallucinations—allegedly seeing strange, game-like panels appearing before them. Please do not call 911 if you or someone near you begins to experience these visions. So far, the hallucinations appear harmless. We urge you to remain calm if you or anyone nearby experiences these symptoms.
It is recommended that you keep those affected isolated, or at least maintain distance, until more information is discovered about these strange occurrences.
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Ethan's eyes widened. He had dreamt of this moment. Overjoyed, he quickly began planning countless things he wanted to do once he gained this so-called "system." Fantasies swirled in his mind, and for the first time in years, a faint smirk appeared on his dull features.
But his fantasies would have to remain just that.
Even after a week had passed, he hadn't seen a single hint of the "hallucination" that people now called the 'System'.
As the world changed around him, Ethan seemed to be the only one stuck in his boring, grey, and worst of all normal-life.
Eventually, Ethan gave up hope of ever living a protagonist-like life, sinking into despair. He still had his job, at least, but he doubted even that would last in this new "System" world.
1 month later
People began referring to those with systems as "System Users." Even among them, however, there were levels, tiers of power that separated the strong from the weak. Ethan only knew the basics, but without a system himself, the details were blurry and out of reach.
Nowadays, as he walked home from his job, he constantly saw the same strange sight. People tapped at empty space with focused expressions. He knew they weren't crazy, they were interacting with their Systems. He could only watch with jealous eyes, a tinge of sorrow, anger, and self-loathing twisting inside him.
'Why can't I unlock the System?' he thought bitterly.
Suddenly, it began to rain, only it wasn't ordinary rain. Droplets fell like bullets. All around him, people pulled out special looking objects from thin air, that resembelled umbreallas. Others didn't even need them at all. invisible barriers shimmered faintly as the rain slid harmlessly down. The scene was strangely beautiful.
Ethan also did not pull out an umbrella, but he also did not have a barrier. He simply let the harsh weather soak his clothes.
Then he noticed something different. Each raindrop bruised his skin.
He grimaced from the pain, remembering the recent changes to the weather. Ever since the System appeared, the environment had grown hostile. Normal rain hit like hail, hailstorms became disasters, and actual disasters… Ethan didn't even want to imagine them.
Still, he forced himself forward, splashing through the waterlogged streets. He only stopped when he saw a girl, maybe fifteen years old, happily walking beneath her mystical barrier.
Ethan was usually quiet, logical, reserved. But something inside him snapped. Surrounded by countless people blessed with Systems, watching that carefree girl protected by power while he had nothing, his rage boiled over.
'Why does she get to be so happy… while I'm so damn miserable?!'
Tears spilled down his cheeks, hidden mercifully by the relentless rain.
AUTHORS NOTE: Please feel free to give feed back and tell me if you want me to continue this novel. I did this for fun but if you want, I will continue it.