“Where did it all go wrong? Oh, that’s right. I helped him that day. What a shitty mistake,” Ryan thought.

He lay on the hard pavement, covered in bruises. He carefully tried to stand, wincing in pain as he did.

“That bastard, Joseph Smith... I’ll get revenge on—“

Ryan closed his mouth before he finished.

“What a silly thought. No way in hell I can do that. I’ll get my ass kicked again.”

Ryan touched his lips. A little mark of his blood stained his finger, he sighed tiredly and started to walk home. He stumbled as he walked. His body was marked with bruises; he wished that none of this had happened. After a few minutes of stumbling around like an idiot, he finally reached home. He took his keys and opened the door.

“Hey, mom?”

He said it in a tired, monotone voice.

“…”

He heard no response. Ryan let out a long, weary sigh and shuffled to the kitchen. His footsteps were heavy and dragging. He pushed the kitchen door open with a tired groan and glanced around for a moment, his shoulders slumped. He noticed a note on the table.

“Sorry honey. I’m off to work. Don’t forget to eat! Love, Mom.”

Ryan sighed. His mom is always working, working to provide for the family. His father left them at a very young age. He only has his mother left. Ryan closes his eyes for a moment. He stumbled back into his room. He threw his backpack on the floor and plopped himself on his bed. His house was the only safe spot he had; no jerks were annoying him or beating him. He slowly drifted to sleep.

Beep beep!

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Ryan shut off his alarm. Another grueling day at school. He sat straight up, rubbed his eyes and yawned. He started changing into his school uniform. He did not want to go, but he had no choice. He had to. After changing, he brushed his teeth, and he didn’t even bother combing his hair. It’s going to get messy either way after the beating. He slung his backpack onto his shoulder and started walking to school. As he reached the school gates. He sighed and walked in. He’s like a background character to the other people. Nobody paid attention to him. Ryan’s heart pounded in his chest as he frozen, his breath catching in his throat. The familiar, taunting voice sent a shiver down his spine.

“Hey, fucker. Aren’t you going to greet me?”

It was Joseph Smith. The boy who made his life a living hell. Joseph approached and smacked Ryan in the back of his head.

“You didn’t greet me. I should teach you some matters. Follow me”

Ryan’s jaw tightened, and his hands balled into fists, knuckles whitening as his anger boiled over. He took a deep breath, his chest heaving with the effort to restrain himself. He wanted nothing more than to lash out, but instead, he followed Joseph in silence. Joseph stopped and turned around. He punched Ryan in the stomach.

Ack!

Ryan groaned, bits of spit spewed from his mouth. He clenched his stomach as he looked at Joseph defiantly. Joseph looked at his defying look and laughed. He suddenly stopped laughing and kicked Ryan to the floor.

“You little shit. I don’t like that look.”

Joseph said. Joseph walked closer to Ryan. Ryan stayed on the ground, clenching his stomach. He looked at Joseph as he opened his mouth.

“Clench your teeth.”

Joseph grinned devilishly. He started pummeling Ryan. Blood trickled down Ryan’s nose as he tried to shield himself from the punches. After a few punches, Joseph stopped.

“Next time you greet me. Loser.”

Joseph said as he left Ryan on the floor. Ryan crawled to the wall. He slowly sat up and slumped against it. Blood spurred from his nose. He was sick of this and hated his life.

Why? This is the question that danced around Ryan’s mind; he wanted to know why the world treated him like this. He always read those stories where a person was granted a system. Why couldn’t he have that? Right, it’s real life. He wished his life were a game where he could level up and grow stronger.

“O-o..open System”

He muttered.

“What the fuck was I thinking? This wouldn’t work...”

Ryan laughed painfully. He sat there for a few moments until

"Welcome, Ryan Anderson!

Age: 17

Height: 170 cm

Strength: E

Endurance: D

Speed: E

Potential: S

Intelligence: B”

A translucent blue screen appeared before his eyes.