1 Game System

"I barely pass huh?" Drake's voice drifted off under a dilapidated bridge.

A paper hanged on his lap as he sat on a flat grass. It stated "C+", which "C-" is the passing score.

He languidly stood up and grasped the paper. Suddenly, the paper exploded in particles and entered on his ring at his marriage finger as if it had a dimension on its own.

This was the current technology of this new era, "Evolution Age". Or it meant the borrowed technology, humanity had not progressed that far. They procured mystical beast parts and converted it into technology.

The ring transformed into particles and manifested into a transparent mirror. Suddenly, a picture appeared along with written news. There was an eye-catching headline.

- Daniel Freeze, the youngest man to enter the "Beast Portal".

A look of longing appeared at Drake. He wanted to become a "Progressor" and enter the Beast Portal. He had dreamt of it since he was a kid to garner a strength to obliterate a whole mountain, topple the seas, and break the heavens. Naturally, those persons who wielded such power were the powerhouses and pillars of this world.

To become a successful Progressor was very difficult. It was fraught with extreme dangers and perils. Not anyone could enter the Beast Portal. One needed status and background or one needed to attend a university which focused on the field of Progressors. Of course, you must be tested in strength before you can enter the portal.

"Am I not destined to become a Progressor?" Drake softly said as he looked at the stars.

He was the culmination of the lowest. He was neither smart nor with talent. His features were below average and he had no background. Every time he put more effort than anyone, he always tasted bitter defeat. He could only look at the back of the geniuses as they rapidly extended their distance from him with half the effort but double the result.

The test exam could testify for that. He had secluded himself in his studies and sacrificed his youth only to attain "C+" score. His fate to become a Progressor would be decided at the final exam which would be held after two months from now. The least requirement for someone to attend a university solely for Progressor was an average grade of "A-". For the prestigious ones, it was even "S-".

Drake's chances to pass that requirement was unbelievably nigh.

During the moment he wanted to cast away his gaze from the stars despondently, a glowing dot was seen streaking towards him.

He was surprised when suddenly he became astounded as that dot rapidly increased its size and became increasingly bright.

He quickly jumped away from the spot and rolled, and at that moment, something crashed.

"Boom"

Luckily, he swiftly evaded or else he might die. That impact was very strong as a great tremor was created underneath the ground. A hazy dust eclipsed the area and after a short while, it was slowly clarified. Drake lifted himself to stand and could finally see an outline of a helmet.

"A nerve gear?" Drake uncontrollably said. This was a virtual helmet usually played by every rich kid in the world. He was only able to see it on internet and this was his first time to imprint its form on his vision.

But he was unable to comprehend why it was still unbroken from the fall. A large depression appeared on the ground and he slid into it. He halted at where the virtual helmet situated was and tried to feel it's heat.

However, he gained no such sensation and tried to touch it. It felt cold whatsoever. So he finally decided to catch it in his grasp and coursed his finger across its circumference.

"It truly felt hard. The hardest thing I've ever come across." Drake was astonished for such a small item to had such composition.

'There might be someone who will reclaim this. Better I fidget it for a while.' Drake thought.

He then equipped it into his face. His vision was hindered by the sides of his sight but nothing was different aside from wearing a helmet. It had indeed a greater mass but nothing particular.

If perhaps it was not overly damaged, he could switch it on. But it was not his property and after quenching his curiosity, he wanted to remove it.

But suddenly, large amount of rain dropped from the dark cotton clouds in the skies. It was likely the cause of the earlier accident but it indisputably drenched Drake wetly.

It triggered an error to the virtual helmet's configuration and electrified Drake. His body repeated the movements continuously for a long time. Finally, it was finished and Drake dropped to the ground with his body charred in smoke.

Drake opened his eyes and saw the white neat room. The windows were opened for refreshment along with a vase of flowers. Although there were small items, it was opulent such as his bed with natural interchanging temperature and his bed sheet absorbing odor and bacteria. Even the floor had it's constant cleansing properties.

"Am I in a hospital?" He surprisingly said. Afterwards, he remembered everything that transpired. He inhaled a great amount of breath and let go of it after convincing himself he was alright.

He couldn't help but be surprised to what current heights humanity had able to achieve that he felt his entire body rejuvenated. The medical knowledge was commendable. However, he broke cold sweats from the amount of medical fee he would pay.

Exactly 115 years ago, numerous portals called as "Beast Portals", quietly appeared across the world and suffused every places with new and unknown creatures. It ushered a great war between humans and the beasts, with weapons barely able to exterminate.

Every country had made a peaceful treaty, utilizing every resources for the better of humanity. Unity had enabled them to outdone the beasts and 15 years later, finally defeated every one of them.

But what ensured their victory was the rising heroes that suddenly appeared. The cause was of course they entered the dimension inside the portals, gaining strength beyond the limits of a mortal being.

That's when the new era began. And naturally, it used a new type of currency. It was "World Currency" or shortly termed as WC.

Drake conceived his payment for his treatment was expectantly at 1000 WC. It was an extremely large amount of money. It was because he was gravely electrocuted and was only a step away from the other side. Moreover, he was fully healed without any side-effects.

10 WC was enough for a rich family to raise themselves for a whole year. Even if he had to sell his entire belongings, including his house, he was unable to gather such amount. There was only one way he could pay and that was to sell his body parts, which he would unlikely do.

The door opened and he saw a voluptuous woman with striking features that could drain the colors of any flowers. She was able to subdue any man with her beauty prowess but once Drake saw her, his expression twisted complicatedly.

He had a great deal of history with her. In fact, it was extremely a hot issue that he was forcefully transferred to his current school. It was because they rid of each other's virginity that the woman's father was extremely incensed.

"Trisha, why are you here?" Drake was sizing her. After meeting her for a long time, he had missed her body's tastes that he couldn't help but quietly gulped a good amount of saliva.

His looks was indeed below average and to acquire such an astounding woman, it was miraculous enough. Naturally, there was a reason. He was just chosen out of the woman's desperation in protest to her family's forced marriage between her and a man he extremely detested.

Looking at his infatuated expression, the woman was elated. It was not that she liked him, it was that he was the first to penetrate her. She stepped inside, closing the door.

"Why not? If I wanted to meet you, why can't I?" She tittered.

"How about your father? Did he forbid you to meet me?" Drake worriedly said.

"It's okay. It's just a coincidence that I've come across you. My older brother mischievously bragged his strength that he threw a new virtual helmet that I bought. When I came at the place, I've found you half-dead. Luckily, I'm there or else..." She spoke in great concern before she bowed her head. "Anyway, in behalf for my brother and also me, we apologize."

"It's okay, its okay." Drake waved his hands anxiously. He thought, 'It's my fault to begin with.'

"Thank you." She gracefully stood upright and sweetly smiled, entrancing Drake.

Suddenly, the door opened again. A late-aged imposing man with broad shoulders came in. His face was handsomely chiseled like an art but what's important was that it apparently resembled Trisha's appearance. It was her father and was staring at Drake fiercely, making him and Trisha utterly shocked. He then looked at his daughter disappointedly.

"Why are you so adamant to this trash? It's natural to save him but to show your presence? What a disappointment!" He shook his head.

Drake was enraged at being lowly described whereas Trisha immediately became terrified. She stuttered, "I-I-It's just that--"

Her father interrupted her, "Shut up! And you... "

Drake was harshly pointed at as Trisha's father furiously blared, "Don't come near to my daughter ever again! I'll pay for my son's mistake and cover the fees but once you are ejected out, remember who truly you are. You are just another scum like any other, unworthy for the likes of my daughter!"

Drake gritted his teeth in anger as he could only repress his boiling emotions. Yes he was a scum! Nothing couldn't deny that. He was in fact without status and background. He was unintelligent and he was a good for nothing trash that could only get "C+" score even all of that studying. He was just a pathetic person that could only hide his pent-up feelings.

Whereas this person in front of him was a famous Progressor with a status that could suppress his broken life. He was already in the brink of poverty and only one word from this person, he would suffer miserably.

Trisha looked apologetically at Drake before she came out of the room dejectedly.

Trisha's father gave Drake one long wrathful look before he stormed out of the place.

Only then Drake could exhale a deep breath he silently held.

"Brian Chest, I'll remember this humiliation." He gnashed his teeth.

Suddenly, as if his hatred turned something, a series of words appeared in his vision along a robotic voice.

"50% MS & AS increased from activating Rage Passive Skill"

Experiencing such a peculiar situation and with the additional sensation of a strange agility and reaction speed within him, Drake was unduly shocked.

His rage was immediately vanished. As a result, the strange sensation was also gone.

'Is it related to the degree of how high I am incensed?' Drake thought in disbelief. It meant that if he lost his rage, the power up would also be gone.

But he soon calmed down. Since the new era, unexpected things always happened. Gaining something like this was understandable.

'Is this the only perk I have?' Drake questionably thought. In a game, MS stands for Movement Speed while AS for Attack Speed.

"This is like a game... " He softly said.

Instantly...

At the northwest corner, he saw Green HP (Health Points) bar and Blue MP (Mana Points) bar. At the very bottom was a long narrow transparent bar indicating for his EXP (Experience.)

Drake was surprised anew as he subconsciously thought, 'If I concentrate about a concept, it will come out. Then if I think on character menu... '

Suddenly, there appeared a circular shape holding inside the image of his body's appearance as well series of texts.

Level: 1

Strength: 8

Agility: 8

Intelligence: 7

Endurance: 7

Attribute points: 5

Afterwards, he experimented for numerous times until a nurse entered the room. Drake stopped what he was committing and shifted his attention to her.

"Hello sir. I'm here to tell that you can now leave the hospital's premises for your medical fees had been paid. If you need lunch, you can require of our services." The nurse gently smiled.

"No need. I'm going home." Drake said.

"Okay sir. We bid you a good farewell." The nurse left knowingly that Drake would change his clothes. She would come back later to clean and arrange the room.

When Drake left the patient room, he was greeted by the large amounts of rooms on the patient chamber. Everything felt like a labyrinth and only when he asked any personnel he encountered did he manage to find the elevators and leave outside through a large department hall.

Swoosh The automatic door closed.

He could finally see the scenery outside. There were countless structures around here superimposing a vast private land extending at 10 kilometers, almost a city. It was because after a certain distance, he could visualize of an empty plains and the silhouette of mountain regions.

If what his memory perceived, this land was owned by the medical organization founded by the Change Group. He looked behind him and observed the giant hospital building he came out. It was indeed inscribed on golden writings: CHANGE. The Change Group was an agency with businesses on both the field of medics and theoretical research for Progressors. They stood atop in the worlds food chain of power and commanded unimaginable numbers of Progressors.

His ring transformed into a phone, trying to call a Shoot Ride after not finding any roving taxis. It was a ride with a pricy payment that ensured a good transportation to the needed location. He had no other choices despite his meager amount of money.

But suddenly, a young adult sauntered towards him which made Drake stopped his ongoing action, his expression was astonished.

"Luke Chest" He subconsciously said. This person graduated as a top student at Ouyang University, an international military institute in China. He was also hailed as one of the strongest among his peers worldwide. Every media and cameras were highly attached to his every movement that if he exposed himself in public, countless people would crowd at him.

He was as handsome as a prince in fairy tale with a genetic blonde hair. He was lean and sturdy, having a dazzling physique that garnered men's jealousy. The most noteworthy thing was his looks resembling Trisha's features. He was Trisha's older brother and Drake's only idol.

"Oh, how famous am I..." Luke laughed impishly. "Well, anyway, I am the one responsible for throwing that virtual helmet so... Can you forgive me?"

Drake looked at him weirdly. He had watched him countless times in TV and heard him from Trisha's mouth. He was praised as a godlike man but Drake occasionally listened to Trisha's complaints to his brother. Right now, it was as the rumors had said, he had a playful aspect and even asked for forgiveness in an unconventional way. The way he nobly talked or gave gallant speeches at media, and the style he used for speaking right now, was a big contrast.

"Y- yes it's okay. I forgive you." Drake said in a strange manner.

"Oh, what a good fellow." Luke immediately became cheerful as he hanged his arms around Drake's neck, as if a close friend. "What's your name dude? You are about the age of my sister."

"Drake..." Drake anxiously removed his arm from him. If someone had witnessed this spectacle, he would be swarmed by cameramen and reporters for questioning: what is your relationship with the Indestructible Shield, Luke Chest? and etc. Naturally, he would extricate himself from that annoying trouble.

"Oh, Drake. I'll remember it if I can." Luke laughed and tossed a glittering card. "Here."

As his vision occupied the card and he grabbed it, he lifted his head back and Luke was already gone.

"It was just for a moment." Drake was shocked. He had witnessed it many times from videos of the many battles in a virtual arena between powerful Progressors. But to witness it in reality gave an indescribable feeling and slight disbelief.

"Someday, I'll become that strong." Drake's blood began to boil. As he observed the card, he was shocked once again. This was a classic crystal card ensued by the world government, which was popular in the higher class of people.

There were different colors of each card with ascending amount in an arrangement of white, black, red, blue, yellow, green, silver, and lastly gold.

1 WC equaled to a hundred thousand dollars. A white card was inputted by a large amount of a hundred WC. A red card held a value of a hundred white cards. Then so on for the rising colors.

He had himself a crystal white card. With his remaining meager money of a thousand dollars, he was doubting his future finances. However, currently, all his fiscal burdens had popped out like a bubble. His gratitude couldn't be expressed, he only smiled towards the spot where Luke vanished.