Chapter 3: Beginner's Gift Pack
1480 Words
Damian sat frozen on his bed.
The glowing blue screen hovered before him, illuminating the small dorm room.
His breathing was uneven.
His heart raced wildly.
No matter how many times he blinked, the screen refused to disappear.
[Perfect System Online]
[Welcome, Host]
[Current Objective: Become Perfect In All Things]
Damian rubbed his eyes.
Nothing changed.
The screen remained.
"This has to be a dream."
He pinched his arm.
"Ouch!"
The pain was real.
He pinched himself again.
The pain was still real.
The screen remained.
Silence filled the room.
Several minutes passed.
Eventually, Damian took a deep breath.
"Maybe I've gone crazy."
After everything that happened yesterday, perhaps his mind had simply broken.
Being humiliated by Samantha.
Being lured into an alley.
Being attacked by Tyler and his followers.
Anyone would go insane after that.
The explanation sounded far more reasonable than some magical system appearing out of nowhere.
"Forget it."
Damian stood up.
Whether the screen was real or not, he wasn't interested.
Right now, he wanted distance from everyone.
Especially from Westbridge University.
The thought of walking into class and facing the people who had laughed at him made his stomach twist.
He couldn't do it.
Not yet.
After washing up, Damian contacted the university and requested a week's leave.
Fortunately, the process wasn't complicated.
When the confirmation arrived, he felt slightly relieved.
At least for the next seven days, he wouldn't have to see Tyler or Samantha.
As for revenge...
Damian laughed bitterly.
What revenge?
Tyler Dale was rich.
Powerful.
Influential.
Damian was nothing.
Even if he wanted revenge, what could he possibly do?
Fight Tyler?
Impossible.
Expose him?
Nobody would care.
The reality was simple.
The weak had no voice.
The strong controlled everything.
With that thought in mind, Damian changed clothes and prepared for work.
If he couldn't change his life, then at least he could focus on earning money.
Unfortunately—
Ding!
The mechanical voice suddenly echoed inside his head.
Damian nearly jumped.
"What now?!"
The blue screen expanded.
New words appeared.
[Daily Task Available]
[Beginner Training Program]
[Task Requirements]
• Run 5 Kilometers
• 2-Minute Plank
• 10 Push-Ups
• 10 Sit-Ups
[Completion Reward: Beginner's Gift Pack]
Damian stared blankly.
Then he laughed.
"Seriously?"
Wasn't this just basic exercise?
Even if the system was fake, there was no harm in trying.
At worst, he would waste an hour.
At best...
Well, he didn't know.
Curiosity slowly won.
"Fine."
"I'll try."
The university track wasn't far away.
Since he was on leave, nobody would bother him.
Thirty minutes later, Damian arrived.
The morning air felt refreshing.
Taking a deep breath, he began running.
The first kilometer was manageable.
The second wasn't too bad.
By the third kilometer, however, his lungs felt like they were burning.
His body was weak from years of poor eating habits and constant stress.
Still, he refused to stop.
One step.
Then another.
Then another.
Eventually—
[5 Kilometer Run Completed]
A notification appeared.
Damian froze.
The system was still there.
"It's real?"
The realization sent chills down his spine.
Next came the plank.
Then the push-ups.
Then the sit-ups.
None of them were impressive.
But by the time he finished, sweat covered his body.
His muscles trembled.
He collapsed onto the grass.
Ding!
[Daily Task Completed]
[Reward Granted]
[Beginner Gift Pack Received]
A golden chest appeared on the screen.
Damian's eyes widened.
"What the..."
The chest slowly opened.
Bright light erupted.
[Congratulations Host]
[You Have Obtained:]
[Beauty Enhancement x10]
[Body Vitality x10]
[Memory Booster x10]
[Special Check-In Location x1]
Damian stared in disbelief.
Before he could react—
The rewards activated automatically.
A warm sensation spread throughout his body.
His muscles began tingling.
His skin felt hot.
A strange energy surged through every part of him.
The sensation wasn't painful.
Instead, it felt refreshing.
As though years of exhaustion were being washed away.
Minutes later, the feeling disappeared.
Damian immediately rushed to the nearest restroom.
When he looked into the mirror—
He froze.
"That's me?"
His face looked noticeably different.
Not drastically.
But enough to shock him.
His skin appeared cleaner.
His features seemed sharper.
His tired appearance had vanished.
Even the dark circles beneath his eyes were gone.
He looked healthier.
More energetic.
More attractive.
Damian couldn't believe it.
The system wasn't fake.
It was real.
Actually real.
Then another notification appeared.
[Body Vitality Applied]
[Host Physical Condition Improved]
[Memory Booster Applied]
[Host Cognitive Ability Enhanced]
A flood of information suddenly became easier to process.
His mind felt clear.
Focused.
Sharp.
It was as though years of mental fog had disappeared.
Damian's breathing accelerated.
His hands trembled.
For the first time since receiving the system, excitement appeared in his eyes.
"If this is real..."
"What else can it do?"
A final notification appeared.
[Check-In Location Generated]
[Location: National Museum]
[Check-In Reward Available]
Damian immediately became curious.
"What happens if I check in?"
[Unknown]
"Helpful."
The system remained silent.
After changing clothes, Damian decided to investigate.
If rewards like beauty enhancement and vitality existed, then the museum reward might be even more valuable.
With growing anticipation, he headed toward the National Museum.
Along the way, he couldn't stop glancing at his reflection in shop windows.
The changes weren't dramatic enough to make him look like a different person.
But they were obvious.
For the first time in years, he felt confident.
He felt... good.
An hour later, he returned to the dormitory to grab his backpack.
As soon as he stepped into the lobby—
He stopped.
A familiar figure stood near the entrance.
Long black hair.
Elegant posture.
Flawless beauty.
Isabella Hart.
The campus goddess.
Damian blinked.
"What is she doing here?"
The moment Isabella saw him, relief appeared on her face.
A rare expression.
One Damian had never seen before.
She quickly approached.
"You're okay."
Damian looked confused.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Isabella frowned.
"You disappeared."
"Huh?"
"You didn't attend class."
"You didn't answer messages."
"Nobody knew where you were."
Damian was stunned.
Messages?
Concern?
From Isabella?
He couldn't understand it.
Why did she care so much?
"I'm fine."
Isabella studied him carefully.
Then her eyes widened slightly.
Something seemed different.
Yesterday's Damian looked tired and defeated.
Today's Damian looked energetic.
Healthier.
More handsome.
Even she noticed the change.
"What happened to you?"
Damian nearly panicked.
"Nothing."
She clearly didn't believe him.
Still, she didn't press further.
Instead, she crossed her arms.
"Good."
"Huh?"
"I'm glad you're okay."
The simple words struck Damian harder than expected.
Nobody had ever worried about him like this before.
Not at university.
Not after what happened yesterday.
A strange warmth appeared in his chest.
Before he could respond, Isabella spoke again.
"Where are you going?"
"The museum."
"The museum?"
Damian nodded.
"I need to... check something."
A suspicious explanation.
Yet Isabella merely tilted her head.
Then she surprised him.
"I'll come with you."
"What?"
"Unless you don't want me to."
Damian immediately shook his head.
"No!"
The response came too quickly.
Isabella smiled.
A small smile.
But enough to make nearby students stare.
"Then let's go."
Together, they left the dormitory.
Neither of them noticed the shocked expressions from students nearby.
The campus goddess.
Walking with Damian Carter.
If word spread, the entire university would be shocked.
After some conversation during the journey, they finally arrived at the National Museum.
The building stood proudly against the afternoon sky.
Its architecture was magnificent.
Tourists and visitors moved through the entrance.
The moment Damian stepped onto the museum grounds—
Ding!
[Check-In Location Reached]
[Would Host Like To Check In?]
His heartbeat accelerated.
"Yes."
Immediately.
[Checking In...]
[Reward Determination In Progress...]
[Reward Selected]
Damian waited nervously.
Several seconds passed.
Then—
[Congratulations Host]
[You Have Received: Azure Sky Villa]
Damian froze.
"What?"
His eyes widened.
Surely he had misread.
A villa?
An actual villa?
The next notification appeared.
[Ownership Transfer Completed]
[Property Documents Generated]
[Luxury Residence Successfully Registered Under Host's Name]
Damian's legs nearly gave out.
His mind went blank.
A luxurious villa?
For free?
Was this some kind of joke?
A moment later, a set of digital documents appeared.
Including photographs.
Property certificates.
Ownership records.
Everything.
It was real.
Absolutely real.
Beside him, Isabella noticed his expression.
"Damian?"
No response.
"Damian?"
Still no response.
His mind was completely occupied by one thought.
Yesterday, he was a poor student struggling to survive.
Today, he owned a luxury villa.
A villa!
The contrast was so ridiculous that it felt unreal.
Meanwhile, the system's mechanical voice echoed again.
[Host Has Taken First Step Toward Perfection]
[Continue Growing]
[Continue Improving]
[The Journey Has Only Begun]
Damian slowly looked toward the sky.
For the first time since Tyler destroyed his life—
He smiled.
Not a bitter smile.
Not a forced smile.
A genuine one.
Because he finally realized something.
The old Damian Carter was gone.
And the new Damian Carter...
Was just getting started.
- Writer
