The system Awaken
1074 Words
He stood with his eyes like steel. “And what I want… is repayment.”
“But I have nothing left,” Aiden whispered.
Victor turned to his men, which were three burly enforcers with steel pipes and cruel grins on their faces.
“Then he’ll pay with what he has left,” Victor said coldly. “His life.”
The burly enforcers raised their pipes.
Aiden’s eyes widened.
“Wait, no…please…!” He pleaded but there was no response.
The first pipe struck his ribs brutally. Pain exploded from his lips and blood filled his mouth.
The second pipe shattered his vision.
Everything went black.
…………
Aiden was in unbearable pain.
His ribs cracked with every breath, and the taste of blood filled his mouth. He could barely open his eyes. Everything was dark, cold, and silent except the faint thud of his slowing heartbeat and the cruel laughter of the men who had beaten him within an inch of his life.
“You should’ve known better than to mess with Victor Bale’s money,” one of the goons sneered, wiping blood off his pipe.
“Is he still breathing?” another asked with annoyance.
Victor Bale’s voice cut through the haze like a dagger. “Leave him. He’ll die soon enough. Trash like him doesn’t deserve a bullet.”
Aiden wanted to speak, to scream and to curse the heavens for the life he’d been dealt. But no words came. His lungs refused to cooperate. He was alone, broken and dying.
And yet… something shifted.
It was a pulse not from his heart, but from something deep within. He felt a wave of warmth spread through his dying body.
‘System Activating…
Binding Host: Aiden Cross
Welcome to the Classic Tycoon System.’
A blinding blue screen materialized before his dimming vision, hovering in midair like a hologram. The voice wasn’t real no one else could hear it but it boomed inside his head with clarity.
‘Your debts will be repaid and your enemies will fall. Your dream of becoming a business tycoon shall be fulfilled.’
“What… is this that I hear?” Aiden whispered, barely conscious.
‘Mission One: Survive. Status: Complete.
Reviving host… Initiating body restoration protocol…’
Suddenly, his body began to tingle. He felt a fresh strength surge within his bones. His torn flesh knit together. Then, he gasped, sucking in air like a drowning man finding the surface.
Victor Bale and his men had left before the incident. They were certain he’d die.
But Aiden Cross wasn’t dying anymore.
Hours later, Aiden staggered from the warehouse with his shirt drenched in blood. The memories of Tina’s betrayal, Rico Vale’s smirk, and Victor’s fists all burned in his mind.
‘New Mission Available: Public Humiliation.
Objective: Expose Tina’s affair and betrayal at her birthday party.
Reward: $25,000 debt repayment + 10 Influence Points.’
Aiden's lips curved in a dark grim,
“Let’s begin.”
…….
By the time the sun rose over the city, Aiden had already tracked Tina’s plans.
With the help of the system, he hacked into her private planner, financial records, and schedules.
Her birthday party was that evening. Rico Vale had booked a penthouse ballroom at Grand Arcadia Hotel, a luxurious space where the city’s elite are gathered. Their plan was to publicly announce their relationship and laugh at the man Tina called “failed project.”
‘System Skill Unlocked: Shadow Access Grants temporary hacking access to restricted digital domains.’
Aiden activated it immediately.
He accessed the building's surveillance archives specifically, the apartment Tina and he used to share. And what he saw turned his blood to ice.
There she was.
Tina was laughing, and moaning with Rico.
Video after video, overlapping timelines, all from the days Aiden had been working multiple shifts just to fund her fashion business.
The betrayal wasn’t just physical. It was humiliating and heartless. The worst of it all is how intentional it was.
“Put it together,” Aiden said coldly.
‘Compiling visual sequence… Done. Export format: Shock Reveal. Status: Ready for Upload.’
It was all set. Tonight, the elite of the city would see who Tina really was.
………
The Grand Arcadia Hotel sparkled with gold lights and marble grandeur. Tina stood at the center of the ballroom. She wore a red gown with diamonds dancing on her ears.
“Rico really went all out,” one influencer whispered.
“Of course. She upgraded from a street rat to a billionaire,” another laughed.
Tina basked in it with the champagne in her hand, she kissed Rico on the cheek as he pulled her close, grinning at the envious crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Rico said, stepping onto the raised stage, “thank you for celebrating the woman who stole my heart.”
Cheers erupted. Tina placed a hand over her chest like she was moved.
“We have a surprise announcement,” Rico continued. “From tonight onward…”
“....everyone will know what betrayal looks like.”
The voice didn’t come from the mic. It came from everywhere and Rico was surprised.
Speakers mounted around the ballroom suddenly blared with a sharp tone.
Confused murmurs spread across the hall. The projector behind Rico lit up.
“Rico?” Tina whispered in confusion.
Then the footage played. It was her apartment.
It was the video of Tina kissing Rico, Tina laughing at Aiden behind his back, Tina saying, “He’s just a stepping stone. A dumb, loyal puppy. I only needed his money.”
The room froze. Another clip followed where Aiden was drenched in rain, handing Tina some money.
And another video of how Tina mocked him after collecting the money. “Even if he died tomorrow, I wouldn’t notice.” Her comment after Aiden had left.
Gasps echoed. The champagne glass in her dropped and shattered.
“No… no…” Tina whispered, shaking her head as her face turned ghostly pale.
“Who the hell did this?!” Rico roared.
The screen changed again.
Aiden Cross appeared, standing tall in a black jacket with his eyes as sharp as the steel.
“You thought I was done?” his voice rang out. “You thought I would die quietly in the dark? Tina, Rico… This is just the beginning.”
Everyone turned. The lights brightened. And at the back of the ballroom, the doors opened.
Aiden stood there, burning with vengeance.
- Writer
