Chapter 3: Back to Class
Morning came faster than Nolan expected.
He had slept only a few hours, but when his eyes opened, he didn't feel heavy or tired. His body felt clear, like he had just woken up from the best rest of his life.
[Stamina Effect: Recovery complete. Fatigue: 0%.]
He lay there for a moment, staring at the cracked ceiling of his small room.
Last night felt like a dream. The blue screen. The money. The food. The warmth rushing through his muscles. His reflection looking different.
Then Lila's voice echoed in his head again.
"You're so much better than that useless loser."
His jaw tightened.
It wasn't a dream.
He sat up, swung his legs off the bed, and stood. No wobble. No soreness from the long shift. His feet hit the floor with a solid feeling.
He walked to the mirror.
He still wasn't huge, not like some bodybuilder. But compared to the skinny scarecrow from yesterday, he looked like a new person. His shoulders were wider. His chest pushed against his T‑shirt. His arms had shape, with muscle lines visible even when relaxed.
His face looked a little sharper. The shadows under his eyes were lighter. His gaze looked more awake.
He called the screen.
"Status."
The blue panel flickered into view.
[Host: Nolan Drake]
[Age: 22]
[Strength: 9]
[Physique: 12]
[Stamina: 9]
[Charm: 15]
[Intelligence: 14]
[Balance: $9,900]
[Current Quest: Show the world you changed.]
[Task: Today, go to class and confront Chad and Lila.]
[Optional Goal: Make them regret under everyone's eyes.]
[Reward: Stat Points + 5, Random Skill Unlock.]
Nolan stared at the quest line.
"Confront them in class," he muttered. "In front of everyone."
The old Nolan would have curled up and hidden.
This Nolan rolled his shoulders and felt strength flow through him.
He took a shower, dressed in his cleanest clothes, and chose a T‑shirt that actually fit close to his body. It was an old black one, but now it hugged his chest and arms instead of hanging like a bag.
He grabbed one burger and ate it on the way out. His body welcomed the food like fuel.
The walk to Westridge College felt different. The same cracked sidewalks and noisy traffic, but his steps were firm. His back stayed straight without him forcing it.
People glanced at him from time to time.
Before, their eyes slid past him like he was air. Now, a few girls' gazes lingered a second longer. One even did a small double take, then looked away with a faint blush.
[Charm: 15 – Slightly above average. First impressions improved.]
The note appeared at the corner of his vision, and he almost laughed.
"So you do care about looks," he said.
The system did not answer.
He reached the college gate and walked in with the stream of students. Laughter, voices, and the sound of shoes on tile filled the halls.
Nolan's heart sped up as he neared his classroom.
Memories flashed again.
Chad's foot sticking out.
His body hitting the floor.
Books scattered everywhere.
Laughter echoing.
Lila looking at her phone like nothing happened.
His hands curled into fists.
He stopped just before the door and took a slow breath.
"Strength nine, Physique twelve, Stamina nine," he whispered, as if reminding himself. "I'm not the same."
He pushed the door open and walked in.
Heads turned.
For a moment, no one said anything. Then someone near the back whispered, "Is that… Nolan?"
He walked to his usual seat, but his usual seat didn't feel the same. Before, he tried to make himself small. Now, even sitting down, he took up more space. His shoulders didn't fold inward.
Two girls near the side kept glancing his way, whispering.
"He looks different."
"Did he start working out?"
Nolan pretended not to hear, but inside, something warm flickered.
He saw Lila enter a minute later.
She wore a short skirt and a tight top, hair perfect, makeup flawless. For a second, she didn't notice him. She walked in like always, phone in hand.
Then her eyes landed on him.
She paused.
Her brows drew together in confusion. She stared at his chest, his shoulders, his arms. Her gaze ran up and down him like she was looking at a stranger.
"Nolan?" she said.
He met her eyes.
"Morning," he said calmly.
His voice sounded steadier than he expected.
She walked closer, slow. "Did you… do something?" she asked. "You look… different."
Nolan shrugged lightly. "Ate," he said. "Slept. Grew up."
Lila bit her lip unconsciously, eyes flicking to his arms again. For the first time ever, Nolan saw a tiny hint of something like regret in her face.
He didn't feel happy about it.
He felt cold.
Before she could say more, another voice cut in.
"Oy, twig, move your—"
Chad stepped through the door, talking loud like always. His words stopped halfway when he saw Nolan.
He blinked.
Then squinted.
"Drake?" he said. "The hell happened to you?"
Nolan slowly turned his head.
Chad still looked the same. Muscular, confident, cocky smirk on his face. He wore a tight shirt to show off his body, hair styled just right. A lot of girls still glanced at him.
But for the first time, Nolan didn't feel like he was standing beneath him.
They were almost the same height.
And now, Nolan's shoulders didn't look that much thinner.
He even felt… heavier. More grounded.
"Morning, Chad," Nolan said. "Careful you don't trip over your own ego."
A few students nearby choked on their drinks.
Someone actually laughed out loud.
Chad's expression darkened for a moment, then twisted into a grin. "Wow," he said, voice mocking.
"Did the orphan find some courage in the trash?"
Normally, that word "orphan" would stab Nolan like a knife.
Now, it felt dull.
He shrugged. "At least I found something," he replied.
Lila glanced between them, lips pressed together.
The professor walked in then, and class started. Chad gave Nolan one more hard look and went to his seat. Lila sat in her usual place, but kept glancing back.
Nolan opened his notebook and tried to focus, but the blue screen flickered faintly at the edge of his vision.
[Optional Goal: Make them regret under everyone's eyes.]
[Progress: 0%.]
He smirked slightly.
Class dragged. Nolan answered one question clearly, surprising the professor. His Intelligence had always been decent; now, without fatigue weighing him down, his mind felt even sharper.
When the lecture ended, students started packing up. This was the moment.
His heart beat faster, but his hands were steady.
He stood up as Chad passed his desk.
"Chad," Nolan said.
Chad stopped. "What?" he snapped.
"Got a minute?" Nolan asked. "We need to talk."
The tone was different. Not begging. Not scared.
Just firm.
Some students nearby paused and pretended to adjust their bags so they could listen.
Lila hovered a little behind Chad, biting her lip.
Chad snorted. "If you want me to stop stepping on you, pay me," he said. "Oh wait, you can't. You're broke."
Nolan tilted his head.
"Broke?" he repeated. "You sure about that?"
The system reacted.
[Small Event Triggered.]
[Do you want to display partial information? Y/N]
Nolan thought, *Yes.*
A small, transparent corner of the screen popped up in front of his eyes, only visible to him.
[Balance: $9,900]
He smiled slightly.
"Tell you what," he said. "How about a bet?"
Chad raised an eyebrow. "A bet?"
"Yeah," Nolan said. "We arm wrestle. In front of everyone. If you win, I'll apologize and call myself trash. If I win…"
He paused, letting the silent tension build.
"You kneel," Nolan said softly, eyes locked on Chad's. "In front of the class. And say you were wrong to bully me."
The room went dead quiet.
Someone whispered, "Is he crazy?"
Another voice said, "Chad's been working out for years. Nolan is going to die."
Chad stared at him, then burst out laughing.
"You?" he said. "You want to arm wrestle me?"
He flexed his arm, thick muscle bulging under his sleeve. "Look at this, twig."
Nolan's eyes flicked to it, then back to Chad's face.
"Scared?" he asked.
Chad's pride snapped.
"Fine," he growled. "You want to get embarrassed, I'll happily do it."
He dragged a chair to the front row and slammed it down. Another chair went opposite. He sat and put his elbow on the desk, hand open.
"Come on then, trash," he said loudly. "Show everyone your new guts."
The professor had already left. Half the class stayed, sensing drama.
Lila stood to the side, arms crossed, expression tense. Her eyes were on Nolan's arms, though, not Chad's.
Nolan walked up slowly and sat down opposite Chad.
He placed his elbow on the desk and gripped Chad's hand.
Chad squeezed hard.
Before, that grip would have crushed him.
Now, Nolan's fingers tightened back. Their hands locked, and he felt the difference. Chad was strong, but Nolan's new Strength wasn't weak anymore. His muscles held firm.
[Temporary Comparison:]
[Chad Harlan – Estimated Strength: 8–9]
[Host Strength: 9]
A small notification appeared, and Nolan almost smiled.
Almost equal.
But he had something else.
[Physique: 12 – Muscle quality and body control superior.]
"Ready?" someone asked.
Nolan looked at Chad calmly.
"Three," a girl counted. "Two. One—go!"
Chad exploded with force, trying to slam Nolan's hand down in one move.
Nolan's arm trembled for a second.
Then stopped.
His bicep tightened. His forearm hardened. Chad's power pressed down, but Nolan's Strength and Physique held it in place like a steel bar.
The desk creaked softly.
Veins rose along Nolan's arm.
Chad's eyes widened. "What—?"
Gasps filled the room.
"He's holding Chad?"
"No way."
"Did he really bulk up in one night?"
Lila covered her mouth, eyes glued to Nolan's arm.
Chad gritted his teeth and pushed harder. His face reddened. "You—" he growled. "When did you get so strong?!"
Nolan's stare stayed cold.
"Last night," he said quietly. "When you showed me what I really am in your eyes."
For a few more seconds, they were locked in place.
Then Nolan slowly began to push back.
At first, Chad's hand moved just a millimeter. Then another. His wrist tilted. His muscles shook.
"Come on, Chad!" someone shouted. "Don't lose!"
"Shut up!" Chad snapped, veins popping on his forehead.
Nolan focused.
He could feel his Stamina supporting him, keeping his arm steady, stopping any shake. His Strength applied steady pressure. His Physique kept his joints stable.
He pushed.
Chad's hand sank lower.
Nolan pushed again.
Chad's knuckles touched the tabletop.
Then, with one final steady press, Nolan slammed Chad's hand down flat.
The sound echoed through the room.
Silence.
Then:
"No way…"
"Chad lost?!"
"Did Nolan just beat him?"
Nolan let go of Chad's hand and leaned back slightly, breathing still calm.
The system chimed softly.
[Small Victory Achieved.]
[Reputation: +1 in Westridge College, Class Year 2.]
Chad stared at his own hand like it belonged to someone else.
"You… cheated," he said weakly. "You must have…"
"Cheated?" Nolan repeated. "That's rich."
He stood up slowly.
"You've been pushing me around for years because I was weak," he said, voice low but clear. "You thought that would never change."
He stepped closer to Chad, eyes sharp.
"Well," he said, "it changed."
Chad stood too, but there was a flicker of fear in his eyes now.
Nolan didn't hit him.
He didn't need to.
He turned his gaze to Lila.
Her cheeks were pale. Her hands were clenched together. She looked like she wanted to speak and couldn't.
The system flickered.
[Optional Goal Progress: 30%.]
Nolan let the silence sit for a moment longer, then picked up his bag.
"I'll collect my bet later," he said to Chad. "Don't forget what you agreed to."
Chad flinched.
Everyone remembered.
Kneel. Apologize.
Nolan walked to the door. As he stepped out, he heard whispers chasing him.
"When did he get so strong?"
"He looks… kind of hot now."
"Chad actually lost…"
For the first time, their words didn't cut him.
They lifted him.
He didn't smile.
But inside, something old and heavy cracked.
On his way down the hall, the blue screen appeared again.
[Quest: Show the world you changed – In Progress.]
[Suggestion: Use money to enhance appearance, gear, and future opportunities.]
[New Limited Offer: Training Pack – $500. Reward: +1 Strength, +1 Physique, +1 Stamina, Skill: Basic Combat (Lv.1).]
Nolan's eyes narrowed.
"Training pack, huh?" he said.
His fingers itched.
Chad, Lila, everyone else—they had only seen the start.
He still had $9,900 left.
And a system that wanted him to rise.