THE RISE OF THE SYSTEM OVERLORD

CHAPTER 3

First Bond – Stella Vasquez

The scent of antiseptic and something faintly floral reached me before I saw her. I was staring at the floating system screen, my mind racing over the warning it had just given me, when the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor pulled my attention back to the present.

Then she walked in.

Dr. Stella Vasquez.

She was young for a doctor—late twenties, maybe early thirties. Dark hair pulled into a sleek ponytail, sharp hazel eyes that took in everything with a mix of curiosity and calculation. Her white coat fit perfectly over her frame, giving off an air of competence that wasn’t just for show.

She paused at the doorway, glancing down at the tablet in her hands. "Caden Kelly?"

"That’s me," I said, shifting slightly against the stiff hospital bed.

Her gaze lifted, meeting mine, and for a split second, something flickered across her face. Confusion.

Like she recognized me.

I frowned. "Do I know you?"

She hesitated before stepping further into the room. "No. At least, I don’t think so." Her voice was smooth and professional, but there was an underlying note of uncertainty. "You’ve made quite the recovery, Mr. Kelly. When you were brought in, your condition was critical. And yet, here you are. Stable. Alert."

I gave her a lazy smirk. "What can I say? I’m full of surprises."

Her lips twitched, but she didn’t return the smile. Instead, she walked closer, pulling a penlight from her coat pocket. "Let’s check your vitals."

She leaned in, and I caught another whiff of her scent—warm, subtle, distracting. The light flickered in my eyes as she checked my pupils, her face inches from mine.

My heart did something weird.

I ignored it.

"Any dizziness? Headaches?" she asked, her voice softer now, almost… gentle.

"Not really."

Her brow furrowed. "Pain?"

"Less than I should have," I admitted.

Her fingers brushed against my wrist as she checked my pulse, and a strange sensation rippled through me—like a low hum just beneath my skin. The system screen in my vision flickered.

[Bonding Detected.]

I tensed slightly, but Stella didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes were fixed on my wrist, her expression shifting.

"Your pulse is strong. Too strong for someone who lost as much blood as you did."

I pulled my hand back casually. "Guess I really am lucky."

She didn’t look convinced.

She reached for the tablet again, scanning my charts. "Your wounds are healing at an accelerated rate. The human body doesn’t recover like this."

I could hear the questions forming in her mind. Could see the sharp intelligence behind her eyes. She wasn’t the type to ignore something like this.

Before she could press further, the system screen flashed again.

[Bond Established: Dr. Stella Vasquez]

[Stat Boost Acquired: +10% Recovery Rate]

I sucked in a breath.

The warmth in my chest spread, a strange sense of clarity settling over me. I felt stronger. More… alive.

What the hell just happened?

I lifted my gaze back to Stella, and for the first time, I noticed it—her pupils dilated slightly, a faint pink hue dusting her cheeks.

She felt it too.

Her fingers flexed around the tablet, and for a brief second, she looked almost… flustered. But just as quickly as it appeared, she masked it, clearing her throat and straightening.

"I’ll need to run more tests," she said briskly. "Your case is—unusual."

I smirked. "You mean miraculous?"

She exhaled, clearly torn between skepticism and fascination. "Something like that."

Our eyes locked, and an unspoken understanding passed between us.

She didn’t believe in coincidences. Neither did I.

Something was happening.

And she was part of it.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Nurses came and went, checking my vitals and asking routine questions. Liz stayed for a while, her overprotective nature in full force, but I convinced her I was fine. Barely.

But through it all, my mind kept drifting back to Stella.

The system had bonded me to her.

What did that mean?

I needed answers.

And I had a feeling she did too.

---

Night fell, casting long shadows across the hospital room. The hallways were quieter now, the beeping machines the only sound filling the space. I shifted, feeling the energy in my limbs, the strange warmth still humming beneath my skin.

Then, the door opened.

I turned my head just as Stella stepped inside, this time without her white coat. Just a fitted black blouse and jeans.

Off-duty.

"Couldn’t stay away?" I teased.

She rolled her eyes but didn’t deny it. Instead, she leaned against the door, arms crossed.

"I looked into your records," she said. "Before your attack, you were a perfectly normal, healthy man."

I raised a brow. "Flattering."

She ignored me. "Then you show up here with injuries that should’ve killed you. And now? You’re healing like nothing happened."

I held her gaze. "What do you think is happening, Doctor?"

She hesitated, then sighed. "I don’t know. But I do know one thing."

She stepped closer, and that same electric pull crackled between us.

"You’re not normal anymore."

I smirked. "I was never normal to begin with."

Her lips parted, just slightly.

For a second, the air between us thickened. Her fingers twitched at her sides like she was resisting something.

She felt it.

This connection.

Whatever it was.

Then, a loud crash echoed from the hallway.

Both of us snapped to attention.

Stella turned toward the door. "That came from the west wing."

My system flared to life.

[Warning: Hostile Presence Detected.]

My heart pounded.

Someone was here.

Another crash. Then—a scream.

I threw off the sheets. "Stay here."

Stella grabbed my wrist. "Caden, wait—"

But it was too late.

I was already moving.