2025-10-26 23:27:36The 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 punch came fast, a blur of muscle. Adrian barely dodged, stumbling back as the fist slammed into the wall with a crack. Dust rained down. Jason smirked. “Lucky.”
Adrian’s breath hitched. His body screamed to run, but the system pulsed.
[Adrenaline Surge Activated: Strength temporarily boosted]
Heat shot through Adrian’s limbs. His fists felt tighter, heavier. When Jason swung again, Adrian’s hand shot up, blocking the blow. The crowd gasped. Jason blinked. “What the?”
Adrian’s arm shook violently under the force, but he didn’t collapse. For the first time, he stopped Jason. Jason snarled. “Fine. Let’s see you block this!”
He swung again. Adrian ducked. Instinct, not skill. His fist lashed out, grazing Jason’s jaw. The crowd roared. “Did you see that? The worm hit him!”
Jason staggered back a step, shock flashing in his eyes. Then anger drowned it out. “You’re dead!”
He charged, fists flying. Adrian blocked one, dodged another, but a third slammed into his ribs.
Pain exploded in his side, knocking the wind from his lungs. He stumbled, coughing, vision blurring. Jason laughed. “Pathetic. Thought you were tough, huh?”
The crowd joined in. “Worm! Worm! Worm!”
Adrian’s chest heaved. Every breath burned. He was losing. Again. “No. Not again. Not this time.”
The system’s voice thundered.
[Emergency Quest Unlocked: Land one decisive blow on Jason Reed. Reward: +2 Strength, +1 Confidence]
Adrian’s eyes narrowed. One chance. Just one. Jason smirked, stepping closer. “On your knees, Worm. Beg, and maybe I’ll let you walk away.”
Adrian’s fists clenched. His body screamed in pain, but the fire in his chest blazed hotter. He raised his head, meeting Jason’s eyes. “I’m not begging,” he rasped. “Not to you.”
Jason’s grin twisted. “Then I’ll break you.”
He swung. Adrian moved. His body felt lighter, faster. Jason’s fist missed by inches. Adrian’s own fist shot forward, driven by every ounce of fury, shame, and fire in his veins.
His knuckles crashed into Jason’s nose with a sickening crack. Blood sprayed. Jason stumbled back, clutching his face, eyes wide. The crowd erupted in chaos. “No way!”
“The worm hit Jason!”
“Holy shit, he’s bleeding!”
Jason’s roar silenced them. He wiped the blood from his face, fury blazing in his eyes. “You little piece of.”
Adrian’s chest heaved, his fist throbbing. Pain radiated through his knuckles, but inside, triumph burned. He had done it. He had drawn first blood. The system’s voice chimed.
[Emergency Quest Complete. Reward: +2 Strength, +1 Confidence]
[Major Task Progress: 50%]Heat surged through Adrian’s body, flooding his veins with new power. His muscles tingled, his stance steadied. He wasn’t the same weak worm anymore.
Jason spat blood, glaring. “You think one lucky hit changes anything? I’m going to kill you!”
He charged again, fist raised. Adrian braced himself, only for a sharp voice to cut through the chaos. “Stop right there!”
The crowd froze. A teacher’s voice. Mr. Harris, the gym instructor, stormed into the circle, face twisted with fury. “What the hell is going on here?”
Jason froze mid-swing, his fist inches from Adrian’s face. He pulled back quickly, wiping the blood from his nose. “It’s nothing, sir. Just a misunderstanding.”
Adrian’s chest heaved, sweat dripping down his face. He wanted to speak, to tell the truth, but his instincts screamed at him to stay silent.
Mr. Harris’s glare swept over the crowd. “All of you, back to class! Now!”
Groans and protests erupted, but the crowd dispersed quickly. Jason shot Adrian one last murderous look before stalking off with his lackeys.
Adrian stood frozen, his body trembling with pain and adrenaline. His knuckles throbbed, his ribs ached, but inside, victory pulsed. He had stood. He had hit back. The system whispered.
[Task Update: Jason Reed defeated partially. Strength +3, Confidence +2 awarded. Reputation: 45]
Warmth flooded him again. His chest swelled, his shoulders straightened. He wasn’t the same anymore. Not completely.
As the crowd scattered, Emma lingered near the edge. Her eyes were wide, lips parted in shock. She stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. “You… you hit him.”
Adrian swallowed, his voice hoarse. “Yeah. I did.”
Emma’s gaze softened, something unreadable flickering in her eyes. “Be careful, Adrian. Jason won’t forgive this.”
She turned and walked away, leaving Adrian standing alone, clutching his bruised ribs and bloodied knuckles. The system’s voice returned one last time.
[New Quest Unlocked: Face the consequences of victory]
[Warning: Jason Reed will strike back harder than ever. Prepare]Adrian closed his eyes, breathing deep. Fear still gnawed at him. Pain still burned through his body. But under it all, fire roared louder than ever.
For the first time in his life, he wasn’t just a worm. He had fought back, and the war had only just begun.
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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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