Chapitre 2: My System

That day I was released from the hospital but I was far from happy. I was thinking about two things, my bills and and the voice in my head.

The voice in my head, that inexplicable message - "System has been granted," echoed through my thoughts. I sat there, still stunned, my skepticism waging war against the burgeoning excitement within me. Was this some kind of prank, a trick of my overactive imagination? Or was I truly on the cusp of something extraordinary?

Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I decided to bide my time and sleep on it. I needed to be sure that this voice wasn't some fleeting illusion brought on by my trauma or stress.

Hours passed, and I lay on the sterile hospital bed, attempting to drift into a fitful slumber. My thoughts danced with uncertainty and anticipation, unsure of what awaited me. When I awoke, still groggy from my restless nap, I hesitated to entertain the notion that the voice might still be there.

Then it came again, clear as day in my mind, a reminder, "System has been granted. Please say or think 'System Open' to access the Terms of Service."

I couldn't ignore it any longer. This was no illusion. The voice was real, and the System it spoke of was right here, within my reach. My heart raced with excitement, like a kid in a candy store about to devour his favorite treat.

"System Open," I muttered hesitantly, half-expecting some grand revelation or the appearance of an AI guide, like those stories I'd read countless times online and in novels. But instead, all I got was a simple text box that appeared before me with an "Accept" button at the bottom.

My eyes were wide open and I was shaking.

The message on the screen was succinct and to the point: "This is what you think it is. Cheating doesn't work. Don't try it."

My initial confusion gave way to understanding. This System wasn't about coddling or hand-holding; it was a straightforward deal. And without hesitation, I pressed "Accept." with my shaky hands

As I did, the world around me seemed to shift. In my mind's eye, I saw a menu appear, reminiscent of a video game interface. It had tabs and ribbons for abilities, settings, and challenges. It was like something out of my wildest dreams.

"Oh shit!"

I couldn't help but grin, my excitement growing with every passing second. This was my chance to change my life, to escape the relentless grip of poverty and despair. But as I browsed through the menu, I noticed something important.

"YES! YES! YES!"

The "Challenges" tab was where I would earn abilities from the System, and my heart sank as I read the fine print. To acquire these powers, I had to complete various challenges, and they were all related to gaming. The timer at the top of the menu ominously indicated that some of these quests would change, implying a limited window of opportunity.

Worse yet, there were penalties for failure, and they were no joke. "System will be unable to use more than one ability," "Unable to talk more than 100 words in a day for a week," and even more ominous ones like "Lose a limb for a month" or "Eternal silence." The harder the quest, the greater the reward, but the higher the penalty for failure.

I couldn't contain my excitement any longer. "Holy cow! This is the real deal! I'm holding the keys to my destiny in my hands!" I exclaimed aloud, though mindful not to exceed the word limit.

My heart raced as I contemplated my first move. It was a high-stakes gamble, but I was ready to embrace it. I took a deep breath, my voice a whisper as I spoke to myself, "Let's do this, Alex. Time to change the game. System, show me the challenges. I'm ready!"