From Nothing To The Name They Fear

Chp 4: Shocking!

It was already morning.

The morning sunlight struggled to reach a narrow alleyway, blocked by tall buildings on both sides. Beside a trash bin, a lone figure lay slumped on the cold, dirty ground.

"Bro, look over there. There's someone on the floor... what a fool."

"Yeah. Just some drunk idiot who passed out after wasting himself all night."

"What a shame. So young, yet already destroying his own life," one old man scoffed, pinching his nose in disgust.

"Heh, leave him. Let the wannabe drunk-star enjoy his great time."

People passing by shook their heads at the scene, making jokes and throwing insults at the person.

This figure was none other than the unconscious Drakon.

To everyone who saw him, they assumed he had passed out from being too drunk.

"Ouch!"

A pained groan escaped his lips as he slowly regained consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, blurry and confused.

"My head hurts..." he wailed, clutching his skull.

He looked around. "What?! What am I doing on the floor?"

Immediately, his eyes fully opened in shock as he saw the unfamiliar surroundings and also felt the rough, cold ground he was on.

"How did I get here?" He was dumbfounded, trying to remember what happened, but a strong headache struck him, making him almost scream in agony.

He struggled to stand, bearing the pain circulating through his body, before resting against a nearby wall to keep him from falling.

The smell of blood hit his nostrils.

It was then that he noticed the spot he had been lying on was covered in dried blood, which made him even more terrified.

'What the hell happened to me?'

'...Is this my blood?'

His thoughts were deeply troubled when he also saw that his clothes too, were covered in so much blood.

Just then, as if his brain had been restored, everything that happened last night began to rush back.

"No, no, no!!!" Unable to hold it in, he yelled out in pain, his heart beginning to ache as an indescribable feeling arose.

Everything was so fresh in his mind, like it had happened few minutes ago.

His love for her was beyond measure.

The happy moments they shared came rushing through his memories.

Even in the year when he suffered the greatest fall, she still stood by him, encouraging and showering him with love without showing a single bit of displeasure.

He felt loved, trusting her to the fullest, but in the end, what happened?

It showed he was the greatest fool to ever live, to have trusted her.

She didn't cheat on him with just anybody but with someone he hated so much..

Tears flowed down his face as he cried out in a low but in a deep sorrowful voice as every silly word she said yesterday played out in his head.

"Why is my life like this?"

"Or is it true my existence is a curse in this world? Those who truly love and care for me seem to die... first my parents in an accident, then followed by my lovely grandpa out of a strange illness..."

Drakon stared at nothing but thin air with reddened eyes as emotions stirred in his heart.

He clenched his fists tightly, producing crackling sounds.

Who was he?

The twenty-seven-year-old Drakon Thorne was the heir to the mighty Thorne family. He was an orphan who lost his parents in a plane crash on their way to a meeting when he was only six.

As the first son, his father was in charge of the Thorne chain of companies, but after his death, the family decided to temporarily transfer all management to his father's junior brother, Johnson.

The agreement was that when Drakon reached twenty-five, he would take his rightful position as the true heir.

However, three years ago after his grandfather's death, Drakon was suddenly accused of stealing an important document. His position was stripped from him and given to Jason, Johnson's son.

He was driven out and even called the bad luck that caused the death of his parents.

He suffered all sorts of humiliation on the street after his own family announced what he had supposedly done.

His properties were taken, his accounts were frozen and people started to stay away from him.

Even those he considered friends didn't want to be associated with him anymore.

No companies that his parents had helped in the past would employ him, afraid that the Thornes would deal with them harshly.

Even his wife's family, who had been so nice to him, changed their attitude towards him. Only one person remained and that was Morgana.

Despite the insults and mistreatment, he made sure to look for minor jobs to support himself and satisfy his wife.

But he never expected he was only a chess piece in her wild scheme.

He also knew that Jason must be the one who sent those boys to attack him.

Unknowingly, his face was filled with tears that were freely dropping to the ground.

[System back online...]

[...Activating system properly.]

[0:10]

[0:09]

[0:08]

Weird bluish words in a computer-like form appeared in thin air before his eyes.

Drakon was shocked as he wiped the tears from his eyes, thinking he must be imagining things.

[0:05]

His pulse skipped. The numbers shine so brightly in the air.

[0:04]

[0:03]

"What the hell is happening to me?"

Behold, the countdown was still there, which caused a worried look to appear on his face.

"Am I going mad?" He lifted his hand to touch the screen.

Unfortunately, his hand went through them.

"This confirms that I'm beginning..."

[Ding! Thorne Legacy System activated.]

He halted his statement when he saw the new bluish words.

"I remember seeing something like this before I passed out yesterday," it dawned on him. "Thorne Legacy System? Why does it have my family name?"

He was totally baffled. As if it could read his mind, another text formed midair.

[You have successfully awakened a long-lost legacy of your family, one forgotten through the ages, tainted by generations of impure blood.]

"Impure blood? I don't understand. This is becoming scary. What does it have to do with me?" he said in a low tone.

As expected, another response was displayed.

[System triggered in a state of desperation. You have been identified as the most worthy individual due to the presence of the potential bloodline in you.]

Drakon suddenly felt a cold sensation surge through his body.

The cold quickly intensified and within moments, it was spreading from his chest, creeping outward through his arms and legs before circulating throughout his whole body.

A panicked look was already plastered on Drakon's face. "What is this?" he inquired.

[Do not panic. The sensation is the result of bloodline correction. Your body is now receiving a perfect, pure bloodline.]

With that reply, Drakon calmed down but stayed on alert in case something went wrong.

Slowly, that sensation inside him stopped.

His body right now felt cool from inside, which gave him another shocking surprise.

"What is the function of the system?" he couldn't help but ask, now becoming interested in it.

[The system's purpose is to help the host's financial growth and strength through assigned tasks and business ventures, to ensure you grow above others. Note that some functions are to be discovered by the host, while others will be unlocked as you progress.]

Drakon was surprised by the explanation.

How was this thing going to help him grow? He was doubtful, seeing it as a joke.

[To clear your doubts, a test trial will be available for you in 3... 2... 1...]

[Quick task available: Three questions will be provided for you to answer correctly.]

[Reward: $100,000 and Self-healing potion.]

[Penalty: Permanent baldness. Warning: this is not reversible.]

Drakon froze. "What kind of messed-up system is this…?" He didn't know whether to laugh at the penalty or be shocked at the reward.

[Question 1: What is your name?]

[Question 2: What is your father's name?]

[Question 3: What is your mother's name?]

"Damn, is this the so-called question? This is definitely fake," Drakon was stunned, already convinced that it wasn't real.

"Let me just answer since there's no harm in whether it's true or not," he decided.

"My name is Drakon Thorne, my father's name is William Thorne and lastly my mom's name is Catherine Thorne," he answered.

Ding!

And then it happened.

[Quick task completed! The reward is ready. (Note: this is only a test trial to clear your doubt, so do not let this lift your hope that tasks and mission are easy to fulfill.)]

[Ding! $100,000 sent to your account.]

[Self-healing potion also given to you. Do you want to use it now? YES/NO]

Drakon unconsciously muttered, "Of course, yes, why not."

Immediately, a warm current burst through his body, spreading fast.