1-STAR TRASH: Bad Review System

5. Reputation Prison

Reputation Prison Sector 1 had no iron bars. No need.

Dane sat on a hologram chair in the middle of a white room. Golden cuffs on his wrists. Ahead, a transparent screen displayed his face from 12 camera angles. In the corner, Adoration score: 3/100.

“Welcome to the end of your record, Dane Mercer,” an AI voice said from the speaker. “Your score is 3. You will be deleted in 48 hours.”

Dane didn’t answer. He was busy opening the Bad Review System panel.

[BAD REVIEW SYSTEM]

Level: 11 Hate EXP: 2,641 / 4,000 --> Level 15. Skill Locked: Mass Hate Conversion.

Status: Shield Down, Liora’s “Genuine Love” effect still active.

Damn. Liora’s effect was still draining 70% of his power. He was weak. Weaker than when he first got the system.

The room door opened. Two officers pushed Dane’s chair out. Destination: Block Z. Block for 1-Star inmates waiting for deletion.

Elevator dropped 20 floors. Smell of disinfectant, sweat, and despair.

Block Z door opened.

First sound Dane heard: laughter.

“Yo! New friend!”

Dozens of faces turned. All 1-Star. All scores on chest below 10. All waiting to be deleted.

But they weren’t crying. They were laughing.

“What’s your name, 1-Star?” shouted a bald guy in the corner. Score on his chest: 2.

“Dane,” Dane answered.

“Damn, it’s viral Dane!” the guy jumped. “I watched you destroy the bridge yesterday! Insane! I give you 1 star!”

[+3 EXP]

Dane blinked. He just realized. In Reputation Prison, there was no censorship. Everyone could curse him freely.

“You know what,” the bald guy said, walking up to Dane. “I’ve been here 6 months. Waiting to be deleted. But since you went viral, my score went up to 2. Because outsiders started hating the system, not me.”

He pointed at the crowd.

“We all watch you, Dane. You made us feel… not trash.”

One by one, they raised hands. Gave Dane 1 star.

[+3 EXP]

[+3 EXP]

[+10 EXP]

[Total EXP: 2,657 / 4,000]

Bad Review System panel flickered. Liora’s effect was still there, but EXP came in.

Dane stared at them. 1-Star inmates who had accepted death. Now they were alive again because they hated the system.

“What’s your name?” Dane asked the bald guy.

“I’m Jax. Used to be a failed streamer. My score was 1 because I said ‘this system is trash’ on livestream.”

“I’m Rina,” said a skinny girl. “I’m a doctor. Fired because I refused to treat a 5-Star influencer who wasn’t emergency.”

“I’m Kimo. I’m a janitor. My score is 0.3. They’re gonna delete me tomorrow.”

Dane exhaled. “How many of you here?”

“427 people,” Jax answered. “All 1-Star. All waiting to die.”

Dane smiled. A real smile.

“Good,” he said. “Then we have an army.”

That night, 02:00, Dane didn’t sleep. He sat cross-legged on the cell floor. Golden cuffs on his wrists. Around him, 427 1-Star inmates also didn’t sleep. They waited for Dane’s signal.

“You sure?” Rina whispered. “If we fail, they delete us right now.”

“I’m not sure,” Dane answered. “But if we stay silent, we die anyway.”

He closed his eyes. Focused.

[Mass Hate Conversion: Active]

Source: 427 1-Star Inmates

Hate for System: 100%

Red energy flowed from 427 people into Dane’s body. Thin shield appeared around him.

Golden cuffs on Dane’s wrists cracked.

KRAK.

Cuffs shattered.

Alarm screamed.

“BREAKOUT!” officers shouted.

But too late.

Dane stood. Red shield expanded, covering 427 inmates.

“RUN!” Dane shouted.

Riot broke out. 1-Star inmates ran in all directions. Officers fired lasers. But lasers bounced off Dane’s shield.

[+200 EXP: 427 Sources of Insult to System Detected]

[Level Up! --> Level 12]

Mass Hate Conversion skill rose to level 2. Radius 200m.

Dane ran in front, clearing path. Jax, Rina, Kimo behind.

They reached Block Z exit door.

Ahead, Liora waited.

Alone.

Score on chest: 4.8.

“Stop, Dane,” she said.

Dane stopped. 427 inmates behind.

“You gonna capture all of us?” Dane asked.

Liora stared at the crowd. Stared at 1-Star faces who had accepted death. Stared at limping Jax. Stared at Rina carrying stolen medicine. Stared at skinny Kimo like a skeleton.

Then she opened her own golden cuffs.

“I can’t capture you,” she said quietly. “Because if I capture you, my score will drop again.”

She cleared the path.

“Go. Before my superiors arrive.”

Dane stayed silent.

“Why?” he asked.

Liora didn’t answer. She only said: “Sector 9 bridge really is trash. And this system too.”

Then she turned around.

Dane didn’t waste time. “RUN!”

427 people ran out of Reputation Prison.

They hid in the abandoned underground station where Dane met Liora. 427 people. Stuffy. Smelly. But alive.

Dane stood in the center.

“My name is Dane Mercer,” he said. “I have a system that makes me strong when cursed. And I need you.”

“For what?” Jax asked.

“To destroy this system,” Dane answered. “Start with Neo-Care Hospital. Then Reputation Police. Then the 5-Star tower.”

Crowd went silent.

Then Rina raised her hand. “I’m in.”

“Me too,” Kimo said.

One by one, 427 hands raised.

[+427 EXP: Mass Oath of Loyalty Detected]

[But…]

[Warning: Genuine adoration mass detected]

[Effect: -90% Power]

Dane dropped to his knees. Blood sprayed from mouth.

“Damn it,” he growled.

427 people loved him. Genuinely. And that almost killed him.

“Don’t!” Jax shouted. “Don’t say thanks!”

But too late.

Dane vomited blood. Level dropped from 12 to 8. Shield vanished.

“I… I can’t accept your love,” Dane whispered. “If you care about me, I die.”

Crowd confused.

“So what should we do?” Rina asked.

Dane raised his head. Eyes red.

“Hate me,” he said. “Keep hating me. If you want to live, hate me.”

Silence.

Then Jax raised hand. “You idiot, Dane.”

“1-Star,” Rina added.

“Die,” Kimo said.

One by one, they started cursing Dane.

[+10 EXP]

[+10 EXP]

[+427 EXP: 427 Sources of Simultaneous Insult]

[Level Up! --> Level 13]

Strength returned. Blood stopped.

Dane laughed. Tears fell.

“Good,” he said. “This is how we live.”

Station door opened.

RaraStream entered.

Short hair. Black jacket. Reputation Police badge on chest.

427 people instantly alert.

“Who are you?” Jax asked.

Rara stared at Dane.

“My name is Rara,” she said. “I’m a Reputation Police agent. My mission: make people like you, so you’re weak.”

Dane stood. Red shield flared.

“So you’re the one who sent message to Mira?” Dane asked.

Rara nodded. “Yes. But I failed.”

“Why?”

Rara paused. Then said: “Because when I saw you block your own sister so she could live… I couldn’t hate you.”

[Warning: Genuiene adoration Detected]

[SOURCE: RaraStream]

[EFFECT: -20% POWER]

Dane staggered.

Rara raised hands. “I don’t want to capture you. I want to join.”

“Lies,” Dane hissed.

“I’m serious,” Rara said. “I already sent fake report to superiors. Said you’re dead. And I…”

She opened jacket. On chest, she carved her own Adoration score with knife. From 4.2 down to 3.9.

“I lowered my own score,” she said. “So I can follow you.”

427 people didn’t believe.

Dane stared at Rara long.

Then he said: “If you lie, I’ll be the first person to hate you.”

Rara smiled. “Deal.”

That night, 429 people escaped Reputation Prison.

Dane, Jax, Rina, Kimo, Rara, and 424 other 1-Star inmates.

They had one goal: destroy 5-Star tower in center of Neo-Jakarta.

Above, city screens displayed news: “427 1-Star Inmates Escape. Mastermind: Dane Mercer. Status: Highest Level Reputation Terrorist.”

Dane’s Adoration Score: 1/100.

Deletion Deadline: 24 hours.

Dane stared at hidden camera in corner of station.

“Hey, Neo-Jakarta,” he said. “Tomorrow morning, I’m coming to the 5-Star tower. And I’ll bring 428 people who hate this system most.”

He smiled.

“Hate me now. Because tomorrow, I’ll make you hate the system more than you hate me.”