Disclaimer:This is a work of original fiction. Any resemblance to actual people, events, or existing stories is purely coincidental. This story is inspired by the genre of system-based action and fantasy, but all characters, organizations, and events are original.
Mumbai, India — 10:42 PM.
The humid air pressed heavily against Raunak Virk's chest as he sprinted through the narrow, uneven streets of the city. His schoolbag bounced wildly against his back, threatening to fall as his legs pounded the ground. Angry voices echoed behind him.
"Catch that bastard!" one of the men roared. "He saw everything!"
Raunak's heart thundered in his chest. He had only wanted to take a shortcut home. But instead, he had accidentally stumbled upon a drug deal by one of Mumbai's most dangerous gangs. Now they were hunting him.
He darted left, then right. His mind scrambled for options.Left? Dead end. Right? Too narrow. Straight?
Panic surged through him as the alley abruptly ended — a tall graffiti-stained wall rising before him. He was trapped.
Footsteps closed in. Shadows swallowed the alley as the gang approached.
"You're cornered now, little boy," the leader sneered, stepping under a flickering streetlight. "You should've kept your nose out of our business."
Raunak pressed his back against the cold wall, searching frantically for anything he could use — a stick, a rock, anything. There was nothing.
The first punch landed hard against his jaw, sending stars across his vision. Blood filled his mouth.
As his body crumpled, something strange happened.
A cold shiver crawled up his spine. A metallic chime echoed inside his head.
[The System has detected imminent death conditions.][Initialization complete.][Activating Emergency Survival Protocol.]
Raunak's eyes shot open in shock. What the hell...?
A translucent blue screen appeared before him, floating in mid-air like a hologram.
[SYSTEM QUEST GENERATED]Quest: Survive for 3 minutes.Failure: Death.Reward: Beginner Combat Skill: "Reactive Instincts" (Level 1).Penalty for Failure: Permanent system lock.
The gangsters mistook his wide-eyed stare for fear.
"Too scared to even move?" one mocked, swinging a bat toward his head.
But before the bat could connect, Raunak's body moved on its own. His head jerked sideways, narrowly avoiding the strike. Without thinking, his right foot kicked out, slamming into the thug's shin. The man howled in pain and fell.
Raunak gasped. How did I do that?
[Skill "Reactive Instincts" activated.]
Time seemed to slow. Every movement around him became sluggish, like swimming through molasses. His body dodged and countered, as if controlled by invisible instincts far beyond his natural ability.
Another attacker lunged with a knife. Raunak's hand shot up, twisting the man's wrist and slamming him into the wall. The knife clattered to the ground.
[2 minutes 13 seconds remaining.]
The leader's expression twisted in anger. "What the hell is going on?!"
Raunak didn't have an answer. His body shook from adrenaline and fear, but for the first time in his life — he wasn't powerless.
When the timer finally hit zero, all three attackers lay groaning on the ground.
The blue screen flashed again.
[Quest Complete.][Reward Unlocked: Reactive Instincts (Level 1).][New System Functions Unlocked.]
Raunak stood there, breathing heavily, as the screen faded. His mind spun with questions.
What is this System? Why me?
One thing was certain:His life had just changed forever.
End of Chapter 1