My Newfound System. 2

Luca was discharged the same day after being told he would be able to heal up by himself and that further staying in the clinic might result in being charged, considering the fact that his mother had proclaimed her lawsuit against the management of the Circuit.

After boarding a cab alone, Luca stood before his family's apartment building, studying the old, unappealing piece of architecture. This would be their fifth year living in this place. Luca had been trying his possible best in school, but when funds couldn't support and invest in his education, he came to the conclusion that this might be their fate forever, unless a miracle happened.

A miracle has happened. Still uncertain about the will the Formula 1 System had set out for him, Luca was anxious about where this endeavor might lead him. But one thing he was certain of was that this System was the miracle that would be able to lift his family from poverty—a very malicious path that had thrown his family into poverty in the first place.

Urngh! Luca groaned, feeling the internal pain at his side while he slowly walked up the stairs.

Approaching their door, he pulled out his mother's keys, which she had given him before going straight to the police station and the city's district to file the lawsuit. Luca knew his mother wasn't just doing this to claim justice for him. She was doing this to extort money from the Federation as damages compensation, believing this was the right case that would grant such if they came out victorious.

Luca rattled the door lock before he finally found the hole. Shoving and twisting the key, he pushed open the door and entered their home. Seeing Sophia standing like a ghost before him startled Luca, and he almost yelped. "What the—! What are you doing here? No school?" he asked her, shutting the door behind him.

Sophia looked very unhappy, dressed in only a bogus t-shirt—one Luca immediately recognized as his. "There is school," she replied. "Mom grounded me from school and locked me in the house."

"She did that?" Luca asked, genuinely surprised, though his face didn't show it. This was a first, but when it came to his mother and sister, he had learned to expect the impossible. He took off his footwear while Sophia complained.

"Yes, she did. And that—?" She said with a quick pause, bending to inspect the crafted piece of metal in Luca's grasp. "That's my key!"

"This?" Luca asked, holding up the key. At that moment, he recognized it was Sophia's. How smart is Mom?

"Yes. She took it; give it back."

Rolling his eyes, he tossed the key to her and passed, walking into the small living room. "I hope you had something to eat all this while? You must have been bored," he said aloud, and she responded positively. "C'mon, come and help me out of my shirt."

"Whaa? You can't get out of a shirt? Are you a kid?"

"Just get over here and help me; my body hurts and I can't stretch that far," Luca said, tugging at the end of his shirt.

Sophia dragged herself to the living room and helped Luca pull off his shirt, surprised at the groaning sounds he made. "What the fuck! What happened to you?!" she yelled, her eyes fixed on the bandaged abdomen, where his skin gleamed red.

"I got into an accident. A vehicle hit me; I'll be fine," Luca said, carefully sinking into the sofa behind him.

Sophia stared at him, shaking her head with pity that Luca found amusing. "What about dear old Mom?" she asked, glaring around in search of her presence. "She didn't come with you?"

"No. She parted ways for something important."

A wide smile spread across Sophia's face, her fingers twinkling with joy. Like a fox, she dashed into their room.

Luca sluggishly helped himself to a meal—he hadn't eaten since today. Wondering if he might have been the cause of the accident, he had a few unreliable theories. Perhaps his lack of food energy made it hard to see the track lane's edge clearly? Nah, I never eat every day to work, and I see everything fine.

Minutes later, Sophia emerged, dressed in party wear. "What—where are you going?" Luca asked.

"Tiffany's house," she replied, swirling around to show Luca how she looked. However, he ignored her.

"I believe Mom grounded you?" Luca recalled the obvious, raising an eyebrow.

Ceasing her swirl of euphoria, Sophia paused. "She's not here... won't you let me go?"

Luca pondered her words. He knew Sophia to be a very maliceful person, and she would never forget today if he refused her. He wondered why she was so eager to be outside with her peers and people older than her. When he was her age, he disliked such things.

After a few seconds, he came to a conclusion. "You can go," Luca permitted. "But 6 p.m. is when you return," he added quickly.

Sophia frowned at that command, but she was happy nonetheless. Giving her thanks, she skipped out of their apartment.

Luca shifted his concentration to the air before him, staring hard for his System to appear. He had sent Sophia out so he could communicate freely with it.

[You can just say System Display, host]

Luca totally forgot how frightening the System's voice was. He swallowed and said, "System display."

[SYSTEM ONLINE...]

The digital interface appeared before him once again, and there was a brief loading bar.

[ANALYSING DATA AND ATTRIBUTES...]

[Welcome.]

"Thank you," Luca said instinctively, his body tingling with anxiety at communicating with such an entity.

[When we last communicated, I sensed the uncertainty in your voice about becoming the host of the Formula 1 System. Does that hesitation still linger within you?]

Luca took a deep breath. This choice he was about to make would change his life for good or for worse—a path he had long promised himself he would never take, and here it was, finding him instead.

Is it the fear of dying in an accident just like Dad, or of not being as good as him? Luca asked himself.

[You must remember you are your own driver, host. The Formula 1 System is designed to bring out your unique potential, not to make you an echo of someone else.]

Luca heaved a sigh and accepted, urging the System to proceed. "So, how do we get started?"

[First, we will begin with your foundational training to build essential skills and reflexes required for the track. You'll receive daily mental and physical exercises focused on strength, stamina and other attributes. Your body will adapt to the intense demands of racing, improving your endurance and ability to handle high-speed situations.]

[This foundational training may come as Daily Quests & Missions, which you will need to complete if you are to pave the way for this endeavor.]

"Wow. Daily Quests and Missions?"

[Yes. Be warned, host. A few of these quests might not be suitable for your lifestyle or align with your ethics. You are required to complete them before the time duration elapses. If not, points will be deducted from the stats you already have.]

Luca cleared his throat. That certainly sounded like what the System would do as a punishment. "But I'll get point increases if I complete the missions?"

[Certainly, host]

"What do you mean by some of these training and quests might not align with my lifestyle?" Luca asked skeptically, unsure where this System was taking him.

[To excel as a racer, your physical condition is critical. You'll need to build and maintain the attributes required to handle G-forces and long races. This means adopting a rigorous training regime and following a strict diet that most racers adhere to—high in protein, balanced carbs, and healthy fats, which may not align with your current lifestyle.]

[System's statement was merely an understanding of the financial strain this might bring you.]

Luca's eyes widened. "I thought you would provide everything and I'd just do the work!" he bawled. "Don't you have a Shop or something?"

[I am sorry, host. But the Formula 1 System has no shop tab where one can purchase from the System. This System is designed for raw sacrifices and determination, and I will only keep a stern record of that.]

Luca lowered his head in disappointment, staring at the plate of noodles he had devoured. Surely, a pro Formula 1 racer would have nothing to do with such a meal.

[System will give you the list of the cheapest food items to kick off your training.]

[Food items:

-Eggs

-Oatmeal

-Beans

-Lean meats

-Brown rice ]

[However, this is only the starting point, a simple list, host. Your body will require much more than just cost-efficient food as you progress. In time, your diet will need to evolve into something more specific to your needs as a racer—focused on speed recovery, energy efficiency, and muscle endurance. You'll need to invest not just in food, but in proper nutrition.]

Luca stared at the food items on the digital interface, visualizing their prices. He could afford them now, but could he continue to do so?

[Ding!]

[Daily Quest has been issued!]

[-·-JOG AROUND FIVE CITY BLOCKS TWO TIMES-·-]

[DURATION: COMPLETE BEFORE 8 PM]

[This will help enhance your cardiovascular endurance and improve your stamina.]

"What? Jog around five city blocks?! I can't even swing my arms!" Luca complained, turning his back to the System as if it were a person before him.

[Reward for Completing Thursday Daily Quest: (EXP)

- Stamina +1

- Endurance +1 ]

[Consequence for Failing Thursday Daily Quest: (EXP)

- Endurance -1

Consequence for Failing Thursday Daily Quest: Punishment

-Severe muscle spasms induced by low-level electrocution will occur.]

Luca's eyes widened in shock as the information hit him like a blow. Muscle spasms? Electrocution? He was just hit by a race car, and this System expected him to be up and running around the whole city?!

Before he could speak, the screen flickered.

[Reanalyzing Daily Routine.....]

[DAILY ROUTINE WOULD COMMENCE OFFICIALLY FRIDAY MORNING—5 AM]

[Ding!]

Luca's heart skipped a beat as the heavy bell-like sound of the System resonated in his ears. Another Daily Quest? If so, no! He swore he would not be doing it.

[Advanced Mission has been Issued!]

[-·-ATTAIN YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT-·-]