Isa leaned back in his chair, a smirk plastered across his face as his classmates chatted around him. Life in Form 1 was predictable—classes, recess, and finding ways to entertain himself in between. Unfortunately, his idea of "fun" often involved teasing others. Today, his target had been Stacy. Quiet, shy, and always sitting in the back, she had seemed like an easy mark. All he did was joke about her voice, mimicking her soft tone during class. He didn’t think it was that big of a deal. But when she teared up during recess, the guilt never even crossed his mind. Joseph, his best friend, nudged him. "You know, you might’ve gone too far this time, bro." "Relax. It’s not like I hurt her. People need to toughen up," Isa replied, brushing it off. Joseph sighed, shaking his head. "If you say so." The carefree moment didn’t last. As they were walking back to class after lunch, Zul, a towering Form 3 student, blocked their path. Two other boys stood on either side of him, arms cro

Isa sat slumped in his chair in the counseling office, his head pounding and his body aching from the beating Zul had given him. Mrs. Lina was still on the phone with his mother, her voice sharp and clipped as she explained the situation. Joseph stood by the window, arms crossed, fuming in silence. Zul, on the other hand, looked bored, drumming his fingers on the table as if he hadn’t just beaten someone half to death.Isa's thoughts swirled in a mix of anger, pain, and humiliation. His so-called "brother," Harry, had watched the entire thing unfold and done nothing. Nothing.He was supposed to be the leader, the planner. Where was he when I needed him?The edges of Isa’s vision darkened, his anger boiling over. Suddenly, a strange voice echoed in his head, cutting through the chaos of his thoughts.[System Activated]Isa jolted upright, his heart racing. What was that?[Welcome, Host. Initiating System Sync...]"Did you hear that?" Isa mumbled aloud, his voice shaky.Joseph turned to

Isa stared at the glowing options in his mind, each one tempting in its own way. But his decision was clear.“System,” he muttered, gripping his fists tightly. “I choose The Path of Strength.”The System responded immediately, its voice calm yet filled with purpose:[Path Confirmed: The Path of Strength.][Objective: Train Relentlessly to Overpower Your Enemies.][Reward: +10 Strength, Advanced Combat Skill.]A surge of energy coursed through Isa’s body. His muscles tingled, and his heartbeat quickened as if his body was preparing itself for the journey ahead.[New Missions Unlocked.] Perform 200 push-ups and 200 sit-ups in a single day. Spar with at least one opponent daily for three days. Complete a 10-kilometer run without stopping.Isa groaned. “200 push-ups? Are you trying to kill me?”[Progress requires sacrifice, Host.]He sighed, already regretting his choice. But the image of Zul smirking, his fist smashing into Isa’s face, burned in his memory. No matter how hard it got,

The room was electric, filled with the roaring cheers of students as Isa stood over Zul, who lay on the mat, battered and gasping for air.Azlan raised Isa’s hand, signaling his victory. “The winner, Isa!”The crowd erupted, chanting Isa’s name. For the first time, the boy who was once mocked and underestimated had proven himself. Even Zul’s closest friends looked shocked, whispering among themselves.Stacy, sitting at the front, looked at Isa with a mix of disbelief and newfound admiration. She hadn’t expected him to come out on top, but now she couldn’t deny his determination or the fire in his eyes.Zul groaned, attempting to sit up, but Azlan was quick to kneel beside him. “Stay down, bro. You lost. Don’t make this worse.”Zul glared at Isa but didn’t argue. He slumped back, defeated.Isa wiped the sweat off his forehead and glanced at the crowd. For once, he saw something he never expected—respect.As Isa walked out of the sports hall, students clapped him on the back, some even

Isa squared up, his fists raised and ready. Hamid and his crew circled him like predators, their smirks brimming with confidence. The onlookers who had gathered whispered nervously, wondering if Isa would survive this time.Hamid stepped forward, his voice mocking. “You’ve been riding high since you beat Zul. Time for someone to put you back in your place.”Isa smirked, his adrenaline pumping. “Talk all you want, Hamid. I’ve taken down bigger threats than you.”Hamid cracked his knuckles and lunged. Isa barely dodged, retaliating with a quick jab that connected with Hamid’s jaw. But before Isa could savor the hit, one of Hamid’s lackeys swung a punch from the side.It connected.Isa stumbled, his cheek stinging, but he regained his footing quickly. “Alright,” Isa muttered, wiping his mouth. “You wanna play dirty? Fine by me.”The fight erupted into chaos. Isa ducked and weaved, landing blows where he could, but it was clear he was outnumbered. Hamid’s crew pressed in, their punches an