The sun rose on an ordinary morning in the bustling city of Athens, Greece. But though it didn't end as it normally does. Marcus, a sixteen-year-old native Greek orphan, had lost his parents in a car crash when he was just seven. With no relatives to turn to, he was placed in an orphanage, where he endured a harsh and unkind environment. Despite the challenging circumstances and his secret nighttime job, Marcus remained hopeful. His goal always was to support the orphanage and contribute to charity, and though he often returned home with bruises from his job, though he often get beaten up in school and shouted at, his hopes for life never disappear..

On the early morning, His alarm blared at 6:00 AM, dragging him from a restless sleep. He sat up, rubbing his tired eyes, and glanced around the small, shared room. The other boys were still asleep, their quiet breathing the only sound in the room. He quickly dressed in his worn jeans and a faded t-shirt, moving quietly to avoid disturbing anyone.

In the dimly lit kitchen of the orphanage, he grabbed a piece of toast and an apple—his usual breakfast. He ate quickly, knowing he needed to catch the bus soon. Eleni, the matron of the orphanage, offered him a tired smile as he prepared to leave.

"Have a good day, Marcus," she said, her voice weary yet kind.

"Thanks, Eleni," he replied, managing a small, tired smile before heading out the door.

The bus ride to school was monotonous. The cityscape of Athens passed by in a blur as Marcus sat near the back of the bus, lost in his thoughts. He wondered if today would be any different, but deep down, he feared it would be just another day of routine and hardship.

Upon arriving at school, he went straight to his locker, dropping off his bag and retrieving the books for his first class. The halls were crowded, filled with chattering students who seemed to move in their own cliques. Marcus navigated through the throng with practiced ease, avoiding eye contact and the laughter of those around him.

First period was history, and Marcus took his usual seat near the front. The teacher, Mr. Nikolaidis, was already at the board, scribbling the day's agenda. All his teachers were harsh and unsympathetic, but Mr. Nikolaidis was particularly notorious for his cruelty. He seemed to take pleasure in highlighting his students' shortcomings, especially Marcus's.

"Alright class," Mr. Nikolaidis began as the bell rang, "let's start with a few questions. Marcus, what was the primary cause of the Peloponnesian War?"

"Sparta's desire to challenge Athens' dominance," Marcus answered confidently.

"Correct. Who wrote 'One Hundred Years of Solitude'?"

"Gabriel García Márquez."

"Good. Now, Marcus, what is the chemical symbol for gold?"

"Au."

As he continued to answer question after question, the other students grew visibly annoyed. Marcus was accustomed to this reaction; his brilliance only seemed to fuel their resentment.

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"Why do you always have to show off, Marcus?" one student shouted, unable to contain his frustration.

"Yeah, give someone else a chance!" another chimed in.

The classroom erupted into murmurs and complaints. Marcus felt the familiar sting of isolation, shrinking back in his seat as the hostility in the room washed over him. The teachers, indifferent to the bullying he faced, seemed to revel in the discord.

"And Marcus," Mr. Nikolaidis said with a condescending tone, "you might be top of the class, but that doesn't mean you can slack off." The teacher's words stung, adding to Marcus's growing sense of isolation.

After history, the day continued with more classes, each one as challenging and unkind as the last. Mathematics was taught by Mrs. Katsaros, who had a reputation for being particularly harsh. Her glare could silence the noisiest of classrooms, and her scolding tone left no room for errors. Marcus often felt like he was under constant scrutiny, his every mistake magnified under her critical eye.

The lunch break was a brief respite, but not much of one. Marcus ate his meager lunch alone, his usual spot at the far end of the cafeteria providing him with some peace but also highlighting his loneliness. The cafeteria buzzed with the chatter of students who had their own groups, their laughter and conversations forming a backdrop to Marcus's solitary meal. He watched them with a mixture of envy and resignation, wishing he could be part of their world but knowing he was an outsider.

By the time the final bell rang, Marcus was exhausted, both mentally and physically. His spirits were low, and the day's events had only served to deepen his sense of isolation. The weight of his struggles seemed unbearable at times, and he longed for a moment of respite, a break from the relentless cycle of his life.

After school, Marcus headed to his part-time job at a local diner. The shift was grueling, with Marcus constantly on his feet, serving angry customers with a forced smile. The diner's patrons were mostly indifferent to him, and the occasional rude customer made the job even more trying. Despite the exhaustion, he pushed through, driven by the need to earn a bit of money to support himself and contribute to the orphanage and charity. Marcus often said, "If there are two people without food and one person with food, I would leave all my food to them and rather starve than see someone else suffer."

As evening approached, Marcus wrapped up his shift and stumbled out of the diner, his body aching from the long day. He was looking forward to some quiet time, but his troubles were far from over. He headed to a nearby park, hoping to find a moment of peace amidst the chaos of his life. It was here, under the dim light of a streetlamp, that he encountered Alex and his gang.

Alex and his cronies had made a habit of tormenting Marcus, but tonight they seemed particularly menacing. They approached him with hostile intent, demanding money and threatening violence. Marcus tried to reason with them, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. The situation quickly escalated, and the bullies began to beat him mercilessly.

As Marcus lay on the ground, his vision blurring and his consciousness fading, he whispered to himself, "Why is my life this bad? Why can't I get a normal day?" The words were a desperate plea, a reflection of his profound sense of despair.

One of the bullies, trembling with fear, asked, "Is he dead?"

"I think so," Alex replied, panic seeping into his tone. "We need to get out of here quickly!"

Without another word, they all fled, leaving Marcus's lifeless body behind.

[System Awakening Loading...]

"Am I dead? System awakening loading? Am I in some kind of a novel?"

[System Awakening 50%]

"50? What is happening?"

[System Awakening 70%]

"70??? Is this some kind of prank?"

[System Awakening 100%]

"Who is playing this funny prank on me?"

In the face of this brutality, Marcus's fate took an unexpected turn. Instead of meeting his demise, he encountered the mysterious God of Death system, which would transform his life in ways he could never imagined.