The Caffeine System: Critical Heart Protocol

Chapter 2: The Admin of Hell Named "Netizen"

'Time to stop.' Raka thought strangely.

Dust particles floating in the moonlight froze in the air. Drops of sweat that were just about to fall from Raka's temples now hung there.

In front of Raka, the blind monster's face was frozen, just inches from his own. The creature's terrifying blank expression was captured in a single moment.

Even Raka's previously frantic heartbeat felt still. The world had become a frozen diorama.

Amidst the silence, the blue text on his retina flickered before transforming into a transparent holographic panel.

The panel floated in front of Raka's eyes and then displayed a strange logo, namely a thumbs down icon burning with fire and a series of welcoming words accompanying it.

[Welcome to the Streaming Apocalypse, Host #7,342,109. You're very lucky! Or maybe not. Depends on your point of view.]

Raka stared at the screen with his brain trying hard to digest the impossible information.

“Streaming? Host? Is this some kind of ridiculous joke?” he whispered. Even his own voice sounded strange in the silence.

As if hearing Raka's question, new text appeared.

[Joke? No. This is the new reality. Just think of us as admins from hell and our audience as a bunch of entertainment-hungry 'Netizens'. And the entertainment is your own suffering.]

"Viewer?"

Raka glanced around the cramped bar after reading the panel. He looked for no one. He was alone with the still-frozen monster.

[They are watching through your eyes. Every breath, every heartbeat, even every stupid decision you make, they all know. Speaking of which, let's see what we have here.]

The panel blinked once and then displayed his profile status. Raka's name was at the top, followed by a series of statistics that made him want to cry.

Name: Raka Adhitama 

Occupation: Barista (Irrelevant) 

Status: Scared to Death

Basic Attributes: 

- Strength: E (Equivalent to opening a jar of jam) 

- Agility: D (Fast enough to run away from a debt collector, maybe) 

- Stamina: E (Out of breath after climbing two flights of stairs) 

- Courage: F- (The level of courage of a rabbit seeing headlights) 

- Mentality: Tempeh (Easily crumbles under pressure)

Raka stared at the last line in disbelief. “Tempeh Mentality? That’s not a rating scale!” he protested, holding back his protest.

[That's an accurate description,] the System replied emotionlessly.

[Based on biometric analysis, your current stress level is enough to make three adults pass out. You're basically a panic attack with legs. Overall, you're the worst host we've had in a cycle. Netizens will love this.]

The humiliation was so real that Raka almost forgot about the frozen monster before him. He wanted to be angry, but part of him knew the statistics were true.

[That's enough introductions. Since we're being generous and Netizens love seeing underdogs suffer, you're receiving a 'Starter Pack'. Think of it as a tutorial.]

Beside Raka, a flash of light appeared. When the light faded, an object lay there.

It was a highly sophisticated portable espresso machine. Next to it was a small black velvet pouch.

Raka tentatively reached out to touch the machine, then reached for the velvet bag and opened it. He found a handful of coffee beans. The beans were jet black and gave off a very rich aroma, with a hint of earth after rain and a faint hint of ozone.

[Starter Pack: 'Fate-Determining Espresso Machine' and 'Blackout Coffee Beans'.] 

[Description: Your only friend in a silent world. Caffeine is your strength. The stronger the better.]

“Coffee?” Raka stared at the coffee beans in his hand. “I have to fight that monster with coffee?”

The holographic screen flashed and displayed his first mission in glowing red letters.

[Active Tutorial Mission: First Shot of Caffeine] 

[Objective: Brew and drink 4 shots of Pure Espresso from Blackout Coffee Beans within 10 seconds.] 

[Reward: Survival (temporary).] 

[Failure Penalty: Disqualification (read: death).]

Raka's eyes widened when he read the target. Four shots of pure espresso in ten seconds? That was insane to him.

“Wait! It can’t be!” he exclaimed, starting to panic. “I have a history of acid reflux! GERD! Four shots of that strong coffee could blow a hole in my stomach! That coffee could kill me!”

[So, you choose to die from stomach acid? Very good,] the System replied in an annoying manner. [Die from stomach acid in a few minutes or die from having your head crushed by a Sleeper in a few seconds. Choose wisely. The tutorial time is ending soon.]

As if to prove the system's words, the world around Raka began to tremble. The previously frozen monster now moved slightly, its long fingers twitching. Time was about to start running again.

No choice.

“Damn, damn, damn!” cursed Raka.

His hands trembled as he reached for the portable espresso machine. Miraculously, he seemed to know how to use the sophisticated machine. His hands moved on their own, placing the coffee beans into a small compartment, then pouring a little water from a bottle that had somehow already been there, and pressing a button.

The machine didn't make a sound. It just vibrated softly. In an instant, four small, black ceramic shot cups appeared beside the machine, filled with a thick, black liquid.

On the holographic screen, a countdown timer appeared.

[10… 9…]

“Okay, okay!” Raka grabbed the first cup. The aroma was so strong it made his eyes water.

[8…]

Without thinking, he began to chug the contents. It felt like swallowing molten charcoal. Bitter, thick, and burning hot, it burned his throat. His stomach immediately churned.

[7…]

The monster in front of him was now fully mobile. Its eyeless head turned slowly, and its radar ears twitched as it sensed the faint vibrations of Raka's movement.

[6…]

Raka reached for the second cup and downed it. This time it was worse. A sharp nausea rose in his throat. He could feel his stomach acid rising.

“Ugh…” He pressed his stomach. He tried to hold back the contents of his stomach from spilling out.

[5… 4…]

The monster's pale fingers now touched the edge of the bar counter and began to feel down to find Raka.

Fear finally overcame the pain. Raka grabbed a third cup. The black liquid felt like lava as it hit his stomach. His vision began to blur and his head began to spin.

“One more…” he muttered breathlessly.

[3… 2…]

The monster's hand was already under the bar and only inches from his foot. Raka could feel the cold radiating from its pale skin.

With his remaining strength, Raka reached for the last cup. His hands shook so violently that some of the contents spilled. He began to lose interest. He brought the cup to his lips and downed it just as the countdown reached one.

[1… MISSION COMPLETE.]

The empty cup he was holding fell instantly. Raka clutched his chest, feeling something happening inside him. He could feel the caffeine coursing through his veins like liquid electricity.

His eyes bulged, the veins in his temples bulging and throbbing. His heart was no longer pounding, but vibrating at a supersonic rate, producing a low hum that he could feel.

The monster's hand shot forward to grab her neck. A movement that was too fast to be seen. However, for Raka, the movement seemed very slow.

The world around him slowed down. He could see every detail of the pale hand's movements. The tension of the muscles beneath the creature's skin and the way dust particles shifted in the air currents it created. Everything moved like a slow-motion movie. The fingers crept toward him at a snail's pace.

Raka stared at the hand, then looked at the narrow space around him.

"What is this?"