2025-10-26 23:27:57The lunch bell rang, and the cafeteria erupted in its usual chaos. Students poured in, laughing, shouting, carrying trays of food that reeked of grease and salt.
Adrian sat in the far corner, clutching his tray. His ribs still ached, his knuckles were raw, but beneath the pain was something new, a spark he hadn’t felt before. Victory.
For once, he wasn’t invisible. Whispers rippled across the cafeteria as eyes turned toward him.
He heard fragments of their murmurs. “Did you see him? He actually made Jason bleed.”
“No way. Adrian? The worm?”
“Lucky punch, maybe.”
“Still… Jason’s nose was busted.”
Adrian kept his eyes on his food, pretending not to hear, but inside his chest swelled. The humiliation of yesterday was still fresh, yet now people talked about him.
Not as trash. Not as nothing. But as someone who fought back. The system hummed in his mind.
[Update: Reputation increased to 50. New threshold unlocked: You are no longer entirely ignored. Peers will begin noticing you]
Adrian smirked to himself. It was a start. On the other side of the cafeteria, Jason sat with a wad of tissue stuffed in his nose, his expression thunderous.
His lackeys whispered nervously, but Jason’s glare silenced them all. He slammed his tray down. “Shut up. All of you.”
Silence.
Jason leaned forward, his voice low and venomous. “He thinks one lucky hit makes him somebody? I’ll ruin him. Slowly.”
A girl sitting nearby flinched at the venom in his tone. Jason ignored her. His eyes burned holes into Adrian’s back. “Tomorrow,” Jason muttered. “Tomorrow, the worm crawls back into the dirt.”
Adrian stabbed at his food, though he wasn’t really hungry. His ribs throbbed with every breath, but pain was a reminder, proof that he had survived.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over his table. Adrian looked up. Emma. She set her tray down, sliding into the seat across from him.
The cafeteria buzzed instantly. Gasps. Whispers. “Emma is sitting with him?”
Adrian stiffened. “Uh… hey.”
Emma tilted her head, studying him. “You don’t look like someone who just punched Jason Reed in the face.”
He winced. “That obvious?”
Her eyes softened with a hint of amusement. “You’re still clutching your ribs like they’re about to fall apart.”
Adrian gave a half-smile. “They might be.”
Emma leaned closer, her voice dropping. “You should be careful. Jason won’t let this go.”
Adrian’s gaze hardened. “Good. Neither will I.”
Emma blinked at the steel in his tone. For a moment, silence stretched between them, filled only by the noise of the cafeteria, then Emma smirked, just slightly. “Maybe you’re not a worm after all.”
The cafeteria gasped again. People stared openly now, shocked at Emma’s words.
Jason slammed his fist into his table from across the room, making his tray jump. He rose, his glare locked on Adrian.
The crowd hushed. Tension snapped like a wire pulled too tight. Jason stormed toward Adrian’s table. His lackeys followed like dogs.
Adrian’s pulse quickened, but the system’s voice cut through the tension.
[New Task: Face-slap Jason verbally in public. Condition: Must disgrace him with words, not fists. Reward: +3 Charisma, +5 Reputation]
Jason stopped at the table, looming over Adrian. “Enjoying yourself, Worm? Sitting with Emma like you belong here?”
Whispers erupted across the cafeteria. Adrian straightened slowly, ignoring the pain in his ribs. His voice was calm, steady. “Yeah, Jason. Funny thing, you weren’t invited.”
Gasps. Laughter burst from a few corners. Jason’s face twisted. “What did you just say?”
Adrian smirked, louder this time. “I said… shouldn’t you be at the nurse’s office? Your nose still looks crooked.”
The cafeteria erupted. Laughter, whistles, shouts filled the air. Jason’s face turned scarlet, veins bulging in his neck. Emma covered her mouth, hiding her smile.
Jason leaned closer, his breath hot with fury. “You think this is funny? You’re dead.”
Adrian leaned in too, lowering his voice so only Jason could hear. “Dead men don’t make their bullies bleed.”
Jason’s jaw clenched. His fist trembled at his side, aching to strike, but Mr. Harris’s shadow suddenly loomed in the doorway. Jason froze.
Adrian leaned back casually, voice loud enough for everyone to hear. “Careful, Jason. Wouldn’t want the teacher catching you crying again.”
The cafeteria howled. Jason’s face contorted with rage, but he spun on his heel and stormed out, his lackeys scrambling after him.
The system’s chime rang sweetly in Adrian’s head.
[Task Complete: Jason verbally disgraced in public. Reward: +3 Charisma, +5 Reputation]
[Reputation: 58. Charm upgraded: You appear more confident, slightly more appealing]Adrian sat back, his smirk widening as the whispers grew louder. Emma’s eyes sparkled with something between amusement and respect. “You really don’t know when to quit, do you?”
Adrian met her gaze, his tone steady. “I’ve been quitting my whole life. That ends now.”
The cafeteria buzzed with energy. The worm wasn’t invisible anymore.
Later that day, in the boys’ locker room, Jason punched the metal locker so hard his knuckles split.
Blood smeared across the dented surface. His lackeys hovered nervously. “Jason, man, just.”
“Shut up!” Jason roared. His chest heaved as he glared at his reflection in the dented metal. His nose was still swollen, his pride in tatters.
He whispered to himself, voice dripping with venom. “He thinks this is a game. Tomorrow, I’ll make him beg.”
The locker creaked under his grip. Jason’s eyes gleamed with hatred. That night, as Adrian lay in bed, his body sore but his heart burning, the system spoke again.
[Quest Chain Unlocked: Rising Flame]
[Stage One: Survive Jason’s revenge. Stage Two: Gain the admiration of five peers. Stage Three: Establish dominance publicly][Warning: Jason Reed’s next attack will be brutal. Prepare accordingly]Adrian opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling in the darkness. His lips curled into a small smile. “Let him come.”
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Chapter Nine: Target on the Heart
The bruises from the street fight hadn’t healed yet. Adrian sat at his desk the next morning, jaw stiff, ribs aching. But what weighed on him more wasn’t pain, it was the silence. Jason hadn’t shown up. The system pulsed faintly.[Threat Level: Elevated. Enemy plotting indirect retaliation]Emma slid into the seat beside him, her voice low. “You’re pushing too far, Adrian. He’s going to do something worse.”Adrian forced a smirk. “He already has. Lies. Fists. What’s left?”Emma’s eyes flickered with unease. “People like him… they always find something.”It happened during lunch. Adrian was halfway through his sandwich when a scream echoed from the courtyard. Students surged toward the windows. Emma. She was surrounded by Jason and two of his lackeys. One yanked her backpack away, spilling her books across the pavement. Jason leaned close, smirking cruelly, one hand gripping her arm. The crowd cheered and jeered, phones already out to record.Adrian’s chair screeched back as he stoo
Chapter Eight: The Expulsion Trap
The whispers didn’t stop after the cafeteria incident. If anything, they grew sharper, carrying venom in Jason’s absence. He hadn’t been seen all morning. Adrian sat in class with Emma two rows behind him, unease coiling in his gut. The system’s warning echoed in his mind:[Quest Alert: Jason Reed is preparing a major retaliation. Anticipate sabotage]When the lunch bell rang, Adrian felt the weight of eyes on him. Students parted as he walked into the hallway.That’s when Principal Hargrove appeared, face stern. “Adrian Cole,” the principal’s voice was like a gavel. “My office. Now.”Gasps followed him. Emma’s worried glance burned into his back. The principal’s office was silent except for the ticking clock. Jason was already there, standing tall with mock innocence plastered on his face.Principal Hargrove’s jaw tightened. “Adrian, do you deny placing this in my mailbox this morning?”He slammed a clear evidence bag onto the desk. Inside was a small plastic pouch filled with whit
Chapter Seven: The Public Trial
Morning sunlight streamed into the classroom, but the atmosphere was heavy. Adrian could feel it the moment he walked in, every pair of eyes was on him. Whispers bounced off the walls like bullets. “Jason’s got something planned today.” “He’s gonna bury the worm for good.”“I heard Adrian jumped him last night.”Adrian clenched his jaw. The system hummed quietly in the back of his mind.[Quest Active: Survive Jason’s retaliation. Stage Two begins]Jason arrived late, swaggering into the classroom with a bandage across his nose. He ignored the teacher’s scolding and walked straight past Adrian’s desk, slamming a folded piece of paper onto it.Adrian unfolded it slowly. “Auditorium. Lunch. Don’t chicken out.”Jason’s smirk said it all: it was a setup.By lunchtime, the auditorium was packed. Students filled the seats, buzzing with anticipation. Rumors had spread like wildfire: Jason was going to expose Adrian.Adrian stepped onto the stage cautiously, every step heavy. Jason stood at
Chapter Six: The Trap
The morning sunlight spilled through the classroom windows, but Adrian’s stomach twisted with unease. Every glance, every whisper felt heavier than usual. Jason hadn’t made a move yet, but Adrian could feel it, like thunder building behind the clouds. The system hummed in his mind.[Quest Active: Survive Jason’s revenge. Progress: 0%]Adrian tapped his pencil against his desk, eyes drifting toward the back of the room where Jason sat, staring at him. Not mocking. Not smirking. Just staring. That was worse.When the bell rang for lunch, Adrian braced himself. He carried his tray into the cafeteria, scanning the room. Jason wasn’t at his usual table. Neither were his lackeys.Emma waved him over from across the room, but Adrian hesitated. His instincts screamed. Something wasn’t right. He set his tray down anyway.Emma leaned closer, her brow furrowed. “You feel it too, don’t you?”Adrian nodded. “He’s planning something.”Emma’s lips pressed thin. “Then don’t eat that.”Adrian blinked
Chapter Five: Whispers of Revenge
The lunch bell rang, and the cafeteria erupted in its usual chaos. Students poured in, laughing, shouting, carrying trays of food that reeked of grease and salt. Adrian sat in the far corner, clutching his tray. His ribs still ached, his knuckles were raw, but beneath the pain was something new, a spark he hadn’t felt before. Victory.For once, he wasn’t invisible. Whispers rippled across the cafeteria as eyes turned toward him. He heard fragments of their murmurs. “Did you see him? He actually made Jason bleed.”“No way. Adrian? The worm?”“Lucky punch, maybe.”“Still… Jason’s nose was busted.”Adrian kept his eyes on his food, pretending not to hear, but inside his chest swelled. The humiliation of yesterday was still fresh, yet now people talked about him. Not as trash. Not as nothing. But as someone who fought back. The system hummed in his mind.[Update: Reputation increased to 50. New threshold unlocked: You are no longer entirely ignored. Peers will begin noticing you]Adria
Chapter Four: First Blood
The crowd tightened around the back of the gym, a circle of eager faces hungry for blood. Phones were already out, recording. Whispers and laughter filled the air, but Adrian barely heard them. His heart thudded in his ears like war drums.Jason cracked his knuckles, his grin sharp and cruel. “I’ve been waiting for this, Worm. Time to show you what happens when trash forgets its place.”Adrian clenched his fists, heat burning through his arms. The system’s voice hummed in his head.[Major Task Active: Defeat Jason Reed in combat. Reward: +3 Strength, +2 Confidence][Penalty for failure: -20 Reputation, public humiliation]His mouth was dry. His knees shook. “I can’t beat him… but I can’t run, either.”Jason stepped forward, towering over him. “Any last words?”Adrian swallowed. His voice trembled, but the words came. “Yeah… try not to cry when this ends.”Gasps erupted from the crowd. Jason’s grin faltered. “You’ve got guts, Worm. Too bad guts won’t save you.”He lunged. The first pu
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