Lucien Noctis had survived another day.
Barely
The night air in the slums bit through his thin hoodie as he stepped into his apartment—if it could even be called that. A single dim light. Cracked walls. Silence.
He dropped his bag.
No food.
No energy.
No reason to care.
He leaned against the wall, eyes half-lidded. His body ached—not from weakness, but from neglect. Even perfection decays when it's starved.
"…Still alive," he muttered quietly.
And then—
A voice.
[—System Initializing—]
Lucien didn't react.
He'd seen worse.
But then—
A translucent interface flickered into existence before his eyes.
SYSTEM INTERFACE — HOST: LUCIEN NOCTIS
Name: Lucien Noctis
Age: 17
Level: 1
Health: 40%
(Severely malnourished. Sleep deprivation detected.)
Strength: 72%
Agility: 85%
Endurance: 68%
Intelligence: 98%
Charm: 40%
Lucien stared at it.
Silence.
Then, flatly—
"…Charm?"
The system responded instantly.
[Yes. 40%.]
"…That's high."
A pause.
Then—
[That's because you insist on showing your lips.]
Lucien blinked once.
"…What?"
The system's tone shifted—light, amused. Almost mocking.
[Perfect shape. Natural symmetry. Subconscious attraction trigger. Quite unfair, honestly.]
A brief flicker.
[If you showed your full face, Charm would already be at 100%.]
Another pause.
[Such a shame you don't.]
Lucien exhaled slowly.
"…Annoying."
[Accurate.]
STATUS CONDITION
Chronic fatigue
Nutritional deficiency
Psychological detachment
Trauma accumulation: Critical
Lucien ignored that part.
"Why are you here?"
The system hummed.
[To break the cycle.]
For the first time—
Lucien's eyes sharpened slightly.
DAILY TASKS UNLOCKED
1. Physical Optimization
Weight Training (0/1)
Running (0/1)
Swimming (0/1)
Martial Arts Practice (0/1)
Yoga (0/1)
2. Mental Stability
Meditation (0/1)
3. Financial Growth
Trading Session (0/1)
4. Information Control
School Surveillance Expansion (0/1)
Evidence Collection (0/1)
Lucien read it all without expression.
"…Pointless."
[Incorrect.]
The interface flickered again.
◼ FINAL OBJECTIVE — BREAK THE LOOP
Completion Progress: 0%
Main Tasks:
Destroy Adrian Vale's social image
Expose his true nature
Gain influence within Blackthorne Academy
Surpass all students (Academics / Sports / Reputation)
Attract all five heroines
Destabilize their family alliances
Accumulate wealth and power
Become untouchable
Lucien's gaze didn't change.
"…Revenge."
[Yes.]
"…Tried that."
[And you failed. Repeatedly.]
Silence.
Then—
[Because you lacked structure.]
A new panel opened.
◼ PROGRESSION TRACKER
Reputation: 0%
Wealth: 0%
Influence: 0%
Control: 0%
[You will not rush this.]
[Growth will be… slow.]
Lucien smirked faintly.
"…Figures."
◼ TASK REWARD SYSTEM
Basic Tasks → Small Points
Difficult Tasks → High Points + Money
Extreme Tasks → Massive Rewards
◼ EXAMPLE TASKS
Flirt with a random girl → Reward: Medium Points
Publicly humiliate Marcus Hale → Reward: High Points
Gain attention of a heroine (without speaking) → Reward: High Points
Blackmail Adrian's group (untraceable) → Reward: Extreme Points
Build a gang (Leader status) → Reward: Massive Points
Undermine elite families (undetected) → Reward: Legendary
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
Now that…
That was useful.
◼ SHOP SYSTEM (LOCKED)
Unlock Requirement: Level 10
Lucien frowned.
"…What's in it?"
The system pulsed.
[Temptation.]
◼ SHOP PREVIEW
Skills (Max Level: 10)
— Dominance Aura —
Level 1: Subtle pressure
Level 5: Presence commands attention
Level 10:
Women feel safe, drawn, protected
Men feel inferior, intimidated, submissive
— Charm Aura —
Level 1: Noticeable attraction
Level 5: Constant attention from women
Level 10:
Women cannot look away
Emotional pull becomes irresistible
— Cuckold Aura —
Level 1: Slight disruption in relationships
Level 5: Women lose interest in partners
Level 10:
Women prioritize you over partners
Men feel inadequate, inferior, threatened
Lucien's expression didn't change.
"…Disgusting."
[Effective.]
SPECIAL ITEMS
Untraceable Phone
Undetectable Surveillance Network
Hyper-Advanced Laptop (Beyond modern tech)
Identity Masking Systems
Financial Manipulation Tools
[All purchasable with points.]
Lucien leaned back against the wall again.
Thinking.
For once—
Actually thinking about the future.
Not just survival.
"…And if I don't do this?"
The system didn't hesitate.
[You die again.]
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Familiar.
Then—
Lucien closed his eyes.
Exhaled.
"…Fine."
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…I'll play."
The system flickered brightly.
Almost… pleased.
NEW QUEST
[First Step]
Complete all Daily Tasks
Improve Health above 50%
Reward:
+5% towards level up
Small Point Bonus
Lucien opened his eyes again.
Cold.
Focused.
Different.
For the first time in countless lives—
He wasn't just reacting.
He was planning.
And somewhere far away—
Adrian Vale laughed with the girls, unaware.
Unaware that something had changed.
That the quiet boy in the corner…
Was no longer just surviving.
This time—
Lucien Noctis was going to win.
Lucien read it all without expression.
"…Pointless."
[Incorrect.]
The interface flickered again.
FINAL OBJECTIVE — BREAK THE LOOP
Completion Progress: 0%
Main Tasks:
(Destroy Adrian Vale's social image)
(Expose his true nature)
Gain influence within Blackthorne Academy
Surpass all students (Academics / Sports / Reputation)
(Attract all five heroines)
(Destabilize their family alliances)
(Accumulate wealth and power)
(Become untouchable)
Lucien's gaze didn't change.
"…Revenge.
[Yes.]
"…Tried that."
[And you failed. Repeatedly.]
Silence.
Then—
[Because you lacked structure.]
A new panel opened.
PROGRESSION TRACKER
Reputation: 0%
Wealth: 0%
Influence: 0%
Control: 0%
[You will not rush this.]
[Growth will be… slow.]
Lucien smirked faintly.
"…Figures."
TASK REWARD SYSTEM
Basic Tasks → Small Points
Difficult Tasks → High Points + Money
Extreme Tasks → Massive Rewards
EXAMPLE TASKS
Flirt with a random girl → Reward: Medium Points
Publicly humiliate Marcus Hale → Reward: High Points
Gain attention of a heroine (without speaking) → Reward: High Points
Blackmail Adrian's group (untraceable) → Reward: Extreme Points
Build a gang (Leader status) → Reward: Massive Points
Undermine elite families (undetected) → Reward: Legendary
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
Now that…
That was useful.
◼ SHOP SYSTEM (LOCKED)
Unlock Requirement: Level 5
Lucien frowned.
"…What's in it?"
The system pulsed.
[Temptation.]
◼ SHOP PREVIEW
Skills (Max Level: 10)
— Dominance Aura —
Level 1: Subtle pressure
Level 5: Presence commands attention
Level 10:
Women feel safe, drawn, protected
Men feel inferior, intimidated, submissive
— Charm Aura —
Level 1: Noticeable attraction
Level 5: Constant attention from women
Level 10:
Women cannot look away
Emotional pull becomes irresistible
— Cuckold Aura —
Level 1: Slight disruption in relationships
Level 5: Women lose interest in partners
Level 10:
Women prioritize you over partners
Men feel inadequate, inferior, threatened
Lucien's expression didn't change.
"…Disgusting."
[Effective.]
SPECIAL ITEMS
Untraceable Phone
Undetectable Surveillance Network
Hyper-Advanced Laptop (Beyond modern tech)
Identity Masking Systems
Identify mask
Financial Manipulation Tools
[All purchasable with points.]
Lucien leaned back against the wall again.
Thinking.
For once—
Actually thinking about the future.
Not just survival.
"…And if I don't do this?"
The system didn't hesitate.
[You die again.]
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Familiar.
Then—
Lucien closed his eyes.
Exhaled.
"…Fine."
A pause.
Then quietly—
"…I'll play."
The system flickered brightly.
Almost… pleased.
NEW QUEST
"First Step"
Complete all Daily Tasks
Improve Health above 50%
Reward:
+5% towards level up
Small Point Bonus
Lucien opened his eyes again.
Cold.
Focused.
Different.
For the first time in countless lives—
He wasn't just reacting.
He was planning.
And somewhere far away—
Adrian Vale laughed with the girls, unaware.
Unaware that something had changed.
That the quiet boy in the corner…
Was no longer just surviving.
This time—
Lucien Noctis was going to win.
Night pressed heavily against the cracked windows of Lucien Noctis's apartment.
The city outside was loud.
Inside—
Silence.
Except for the faint glow hovering in front of his eyes.
No one else could see it.
No one else could hear it.
No one else even knew what a system was.
And Lucien?
He didn't speak.
Not out loud.
…So only I can see you, he thought.
[Correct.]
And hear you.
[Obviously. I would be far less useful if others could listen in.]
Lucien didn't respond.
He pushed himself off the wall.
His body protested immediately—fatigue, hunger, exhaustion pulling at every movement.
Health: 40%
Pathetic.
Unacceptable.
◼ CURRENT STATUS
Level: 1
Points: 0
His eyes flickered slightly at that.
Points…
[Your currency for growth.]
◼ DAILY TASK — ACTIVE
Physical Optimization:
Weight Training (0/1)
Running (0/1)
Swimming (0/1)
Martial Arts (0/1)
Yoga (0/1)
Mental Stability:
Meditation (0/1)
Financial Growth:
Trading (0/1)
Information Control:
Surveillance (0/1)
Lucien rolled his shoulders slowly.
The room was small—but enough.
It always had been.
No equipment.
Didn't matter.
He didn't need it.
◼ TASK STARTED: WEIGHT TRAINING
Push-ups.
Slow.
Controlled.
Perfect form.
Even weakened, his body moved like it remembered everything it used to be.
10… 20… 50…
His breathing deepened.
Muscles tightened, flexed—defined even under exhaustion.
Sweat traced down his skin.
He stopped.
Not because he couldn't continue—
But because he understood pacing.
That was new.
[Weight Training Complete]
Reward: +5 Points
◼ POINT UPDATE
Points: 5
Lucien exhaled slowly.
That's it?
[You are level 1. Adjust your expectations.]
A pause.
Then—
[You're also half-dead.]
Lucien ignored that.
◼ TASK STARTED: RUNNING
He stepped outside.
The slums at night were dangerous.
For most.
Not for him.
He moved through alleyways, jumping fences, scaling walls—parkour flowing naturally through him.
Even weakened—
He was fast.
Not at his peak.
But still far beyond normal.
His hoodie stayed up.
Always.
Fifteen minutes later—
He stopped.
Breathing heavier now.
[Running Complete]
Reward: +5 Points
◼ POINT UPDATE
Points: 10
◼ STATUS UPDATE
Health: 42%
Lucien noticed that.
…It went up.
[Congratulations. Basic self-care works.]
Back inside—
He didn't waste time.
Shadowboxing.
Strikes clean. Precise. Efficient.
Years of training embedded into muscle memory.
[Martial Arts Complete]
Reward: +6 Points
Points: 16
Stretching followed.
Controlled breathing.
Yoga.
Stability.
Then—
Stillness.
◼ TASK STARTED: MEDITATION
Lucien sat on the floor.
Eyes closed.
Mind… quieter than it had been in years.
Not peaceful.
But controlled.
[Meditation Complete]
Reward: +4 Points
Points: 20
◼ STATUS UPDATE
Health: 45%
Slow.
But real.
Lucien opened his eyes.
Sweat clung lightly to his skin.
Body warm.
Alive.
More than before.
Swimming isn't possible here.
[Correct.]
Skip?
[You may substitute with endurance training tomorrow.]
Lucien stood.
Walked to the small, battered desk in the corner.
An old laptop sat there.
Slow.
Traceable.
Unsafe.
Pathetic.
He turned it on anyway.
◼ TASK STARTED: TRADING
Charts filled the screen.
Numbers.
Patterns.
Movement.
Lucien's eyes sharpened instantly.
This—
This was easy.
Predictable.
Unlike people.
Currency fluctuations… tech stocks… short-term volatility…
His fingers moved calmly across the keyboard.
Precise.
Calculated.
No hesitation.
Minutes passed.
Then—
[Trade Successful]
Profit: +£320
Bonus Reward: +10 Points
◼ POINT UPDATE
Points: 30
Lucien leaned back slightly.
That was simple.
[You are a genius. Try to act surprised.]
◼ STATUS UPDATE
Wealth: +£320
Lucien's gaze shifted faintly.
For the first time—
Something practical.
Money meant survival.
Survival meant time.
Time meant…
Opportunity.
The system flickered again.
◼ BONUS TASK UNLOCKED
"Risk Exposure"
Perform a high-risk trade
Reward: +20 Points
Lucien stared at it.
Then—
Closed the laptop.
Tomorrow.
[Wise. Unusual for you.]
Silence returned.
But it felt different now.
Not empty.
Structured.
Lucien walked back to the center of the room.
Body slightly stronger.
Mind slightly sharper.
Resources—
Slightly improved.
◼ END OF DAY SUMMARY
Level: 1
Points: 30
Health: 45%
Tasks Completed: 5/8
Lucien tilted his head slightly.
Slow.
[Yes.]
But better.
A pause.
Then—
[Yes.]
He lay down on the thin mattress.
Hood still on.
Always on.
And somewhere far away—
Adrian Vale slept peacefully.
Surrounded by admiration.
Untouchable.
Unchallenged.
For now.
Because in a dark room, in the worst part of the city—
Lucien Noctis closed his eyes.
Not as someone waiting to die again.
But as someone—
Finally—
Beginning to rise.