Rising Towards Supremacy

Episode 3 : Heading towards supremacy

Sheila's car skidded to a stop before the hospital and Rex alighted very swiftly.

He ran into the lighted medical center and pushed past everybody. Luckily for Rex who is already antsy, he met the doctor who happens to be exiting a ward.

" Doctor! " He called in a panic. " Doctor... please, I am so sorry I missed your...calls..."

His voice trailed off when he saw the man staring at him in pity. Of course, the Young handsome man from Rainbow Core College's heart skipped a beat.

" Come with me Rex Louie " The doctor beckons after some seconds.

He leads Rex into a ward that contains just two beds. On the first bed lays old Louie.

Upon seeing his white face Rex stopped abruptly in the doorway. He could see his world crumbling before his eyes.

Tears immediately brimmed up in his eyes and he shook his head.

" No, no, no father. He isn't dead, right? Please doctor...tell me this is just a joke and..."

" I'm sorry Rex. He lost his life one hour and thirty minutes ago "

Rex stiffened in astonishment. One hour and thirty minutes ago.

He had failed to be by his father's bedside Thanks to Khalil who had him beaten up and Pearl who betrayed him.

Rex staggered backward as grief dominate his heart. He flopped on the bed just beside his father and began to shed bitter tears.

At that moment his roommates alongside Sheila burst into the room.

Without being told they immediately know what has happened. Gael and Emilio know better than to console Rex.

They both know he would never be the same again. The story of how Old Louie had nurtured him from birth is well known.

The old lonely man had found life again after seeing Rex being abandoned on his doorstep.

It took almost half an hour before Rex's tears could subside. Now every part of his body aches.

He becomes emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted and he couldn't speak at all.

" We never... agreed on this Father. You never tell me you will leave so... soon " He lamented shakily.

Gael and Emilio finally walk up to him and patted his back but Rex rejected their consolation or sympathy.

" No! " He disagreed angrily. Frustration was written boldly on his face. " Dad and I never agreed to part ways just so soon "

" Come on Rex. Don't act crazy " Gael scolded. " It's okay, you will be fine "

At last, the doctor comes forward. He reached out to his breast pocket and pulled out an old watch with two pairs of earrings.

" Before your father died Rex, he told me to give you this. He claimed there are yours "

Another emotion brew up in Rex as his gaze fell on this old jewelry. However, he accepted them and walk out.

" Rex come on. Where are you off to? "

" You should come back here. Let's work this out tonight "

Rex turns deaf ears to his friends. Instead, he walk blindly out of the hospital and headed out to nowhere.

" Let him be " Sheila advised Rex's roommate. " I think he needs some time alone "

Rex walks on, alone on that lighted Street. His heart took another sad turn.

He has failed to save his father and he had lost his girl. All these thanks to Khalil.

He finally get to a space bench and sat on it dejectedly. His thoughts were miles away. He wonders how he will cope alone without any guardian.

Being an orphan makes him feel strange. His ribs are broken, his heart shattered and his eyes swollen.

He began to feel lost and short of breath. At last, Rex doubles up and wheezes out shakily.

He is dying, no Doubt, but as always he tried to muster up the courage. He tried not to permit reality from slipping away.

But he failed this time. He had lost. He is a loser. A young man is usually humiliated and taunted by his peers.

He is an errand boy and nothing more. Just when Rex's heart made to stop beating, he began to hear some sound.

It seems like a lup-dup sound. The usual sounds that was derived due to the closing of the valves of the heart.

This unusual sound stopped abruptly just like it has begun and another overtook it.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Sys .. system Activated. System... activated.

A new host was found. Sys... system Activated.

A Millionaire? No.

A Billionaire? No.

A Trillionaire? No.

A Quadrillionaire? No.

A Quintillionaire! No.

A Sextillionaire? No.

A Septillionaire? No.

An Octillionaire? Yes!

Beep. Beep. Beep.

New host was found. Rex Louie, Twenty-one years of age. Hopeless and helpless.

The first ever Octillionaire found. The new host. System Activated.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

All these words Rex could only hear but he never understand them. His eyes finally rolled back just as he was making too much effort and he collapsed on the floor.

***

For the second time since he won a scholarship to Rainbow Core College Rex sprang up from the bed.

He looks around frantically to see he is back in the medical center. His friends Emilio and Gael are nowhere to be found.

He is alone in that lighted room. Rex remembered his loss. His good father and a sigh escape his lips.

He turns his head gently to see its morning already. He had passed out when...

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

Rex was interrupted by this ominous robotic voice which seems akin to any type of audio signal that is produced to sound like human speech but is generated by a computer system.

He gritted his teeth and gasp in shock when he saw an image displayed before his eye, floating in the air.

Rex reached out to touch it but his hands only hit the empty air.

" Who ...who are you? What is going on with me? " He managed to ask in fear and he received the response.

" Welcome, Rex Louie. Your system had been activated. You will be our new host. From today onward you will be the sky, the peak, the lifeline of masses, and the master of the universe... An Octillionaire "

" What! An Octillionaire? Isn't that Crazy? "

" Lang...age " the voice replied shakily. " Tick. Tick. Tick. The daily challenges are already in motion. Tick. Tick. Tick. "

Rex was amazed when he peered at the system displayed before him.

There he saw the seconds passing by. The clock ticking. He has a daily challenge and he must have to do it.

" Daily challenge. The sum of twenty million dollars should be spent before the day ends. You got only nineteen hours, twenty minutes, and two seconds left to complete your daily task. Tick. Tick. Tick. "

Adrenaline pumped life into Rex's legs. He just couldn't believe it. Swiftly he picked up his bag and wears his boots.

When he emerges outside, he collided with his two roommates who were busy scolding him.

Telling him to stay in bed but Rex never listens or replies. He pulled out his credit card and walk off to a coffee shop.

" Three cups of coffee. Latte " He said to the coffee cashier who regarded him with surprise.

Even Emilio and Gael were stunned. In Rainbow Core College only the wealthiest could afford a latte coffee.

It was just too expensive.

" Rex must have gone crazy Gael. I think he needs medical help " Emilio mutters.

" More than just medical help " Gael agreed.

On the other hand, Rex was battling with his heart and thoughts. What if the system is all a fluke?

" Thanks for patronizing us. You should visit next time. We'd give you a discount " The coffee cashier interrupted his thoughts and he nearly passed out again.

When he received the coffee cups his fingers were shooking and when he collected his credit card his skin was covered in goosebumps.

Now he believes in the system. It's a new era for him, eventually. A leap to the top.

The throne is his. He is now the peak and sky. Rex Louie has risen from grass to grace.

He has risen and now he is heading toward supremacy.