Zero to Trillionaire: The Scholar’s God-Tier System

The Cafeteria Trap

The next day, the atmosphere at Northwood Institute was different. Every time I walked down a hallway, the talking stopped. People leaned against their lockers and watched me pass, their eyes full of questions. Some looked at my new clothes, and others looked at my hands, probably wondering how I had taken down Bryan so easily.

But I was hungry. Using the System’s "Brain Overclocking" to study my research and the new "Perfect Chemical Logic" was draining my energy fast. I needed a heavy meal.

I walked into the cafeteria during the lunch rush and

something felt… wrong. Too quiet in the wrong places. Too many eyes on me at once.

Like people weren’t just watching. Like they were waiting.

The room was huge, filled with the smell of fried food and the loud roar of hundreds of students talking at once. I picked up a tray and moved toward the line.

I could see Bryan sitting at his usual VIP table in the center of the room. He had a big bruise on his forehead and a band aid on his arm. Chloe was sitting next to him, but she wasn't looking at him. She was staring straight at me.

I ignored them and got a plate of steak and potatoes. I found a quiet table in the corner, hoping to eat in peace. But as soon as I sat down, the noise in the cafeteria started to die down.

Clang.

I looked up. A tall, muscular guy had just slammed his tray down on the table right next to mine. It was Chad, the captain of the wrestling team and one of Bryan’s biggest thugs. Behind him were nine other guys, all of them wearing varsity jackets. They surrounded my table, blocking every way out.

"Look at the little genius eating all by himself," Chad sneered. He leaned over, his shadow covering my plate. "I heard you got lucky yesterday, Ethan. I heard you tripped Bryan while he wasn't looking."

I didn't look up from my food. I cut a piece of steak and chewed it slowly. "He wasn't looking because he was busy falling. You want to join him, Chad? Or are you just here to watch me eat?"

The guys around the table let out a low "Ohhh," and Chad’s face turned red. He hated being made to look stupid.

"You’ve got a big mouth for someone who used to beg for leftovers," Chad hissed. He reached out and grabbed my water glass, pouring the cold water right onto my plate, ruining my meal. "Oops. My hand slipped. Now what are you going to do?"

The cafeteria was silent now. Everyone was standing up, trying to see what was happening. I saw Chloe standing near her table, her heart skipping a beat as she watched. She knew Chad was a beast. Most people would be shaking in their boots right now.

I put my fork down. I felt a cold calm wash over me. The God-Level Fighting Skills weren't just about strength, they were about a feeling. I felt like everything around me was moving in slow motion. I could see the way Chad was standing, all his weight was on his right leg. He was wide open.

"You shouldn't have done that," I said. My voice was quiet, but it sounded like a crack of thunder in the quiet room.

“That was the first decent meal I’ve had in weeks.”

I looked at the ruined plate. “You shouldn’t have touched it.”

"What are you going to do about it, beggar?" Chad laughed. He looked back at his friends, and they all started laughing with him. He felt powerful. He thought he had ten guys and I was just one.

Chad turned back to me and suddenly swung a massive, heavy punch straight at my nose. He didn't want to talk anymore, he wanted to break my face.

I didn't stand up. I didn't even flinch.

As his fist came screaming toward me, I didn't move not until the last inch. I simply raised my left hand. I didn't use my palm to block it. I didn't even use my whole hand. I just extended my index finger.

Thwack.

Chad’s fist hit my finger and stopped dead.

The sound was like a hammer hitting a stone. Chad’s eyes went wide. He tried to push forward, but it felt like he had punched a mountain. My finger didn't bend. I didn't move an inch.

"Is that all the strength a captain has?" I asked.

"What... what is this?" Chad gasped. He tried to pull his hand back, but it was stuck. It felt like I had a grip on his whole soul with just one finger.

The entire cafeteria was in shock. Someone dropped a tray in the distance. People were rubbing their eyes, thinking they were seeing things. How could a skinny student stop a 220-pound wrestler with a single finger? They were staring at me like I wasn’t human anymore.

"My turn," I said.

I gave my finger a tiny flick. It was a small move, but with my new power, it sent a wave of force through Chad’s arm. He let out a yell of pain and stumbled back, tripping over a chair and crashing onto the floor.

The nine other thugs looked at Chad, then at me. They weren't laughing anymore.

"What are you waiting for?" Bryan screamed from across the room. He was standing on his chair, looking desperate. "There are ten of you! Get him! Break his legs!"

The nine thugs looked at each other. They didn't want to fight a guy who could stop a punch with a finger, but they were more afraid of losing their spot in Bryan’s circle. They all roared and lunged at me at the same time.

I finally stood up.

I felt the System hum in my mind.

[Ding! Mission: One Against Ten.]

[Objective: Take down all attackers without getting a single drop of food on your clothes.]

[Reward: Master-Level Stealth Skills.]

I looked at the first guy coming at me with a tray. I didn't even think. My body just moved on its own.

The cafeteria trap was supposed to be my downfall. But as the first thug swung at me, I realized this wasn't a trap for me.

It was a trap for them.