The city was drenched in holiday magic. Streets sparkled with strings of multicolored lights, snowflakes twirled lazily through the crisp winter air, and the aroma of roasted chestnuts and cinnamon hung in the bustling market squares. Families bustled past decorated shop windows, their laughter and chatter blending with carols played on speakers, while children tugged at their parents' hands, eager to catch glimpses of Santa displays and twinkling decorations.
But for Steven Blake, Christmas passed unnoticed.
His room was a fortress of solitude, a dim cocoon lit only by the glow of his computer screen and the faint twinkle of string lights along the ceiling. Textbooks were stacked in precarious towers, scattered notes littered the desk, and open tabs on his laptop displayed graphs, equations, and tutorials on everything from physics to advanced economics. The holiday cheer outside the window seemed like a world away, a distant, muffled celebration he had no time for.
Steven rubbed his eyes, fatigued but far from deterred. For weeks, he had poured over books, videos, and online courses. He had absorbed every lesson, every principle, every technique the system allowed, mastering them with a speed no ordinary human could match. Yet now, progress had stalled. Proficiency points no longer appeared. Skills no longer advanced.
He leaned back, fingers brushing over the edges of his desk.
[Host has reached the maximum knowledge capacity for current materials. To advance further, Host must explore new resources of greater complexity.]
Steven's brow furrowed. "So… the basics are done. Everything I've learned is just… done? I've hit a wall?" He ran a hand through his hair. "Not acceptable. If I want to face Arnold, if I want to protect Veronica and stand my ground… I need more. I need power. I need resources."
A soft chime sounded in his mind, the familiar signature of the system alert.
[System Upgrade Available. Initiating First Upgrade.]
Before he could react, a blinding white light exploded across his vision. His head split with an unbearable, searing pain, and his body stiffened as if every nerve had been electrified. The room seemed to dissolve into shards of light, his walls and floor stretching into infinite lines of code and color. Symbols he had never seen before raced past his eyes, swirling, spinning, embedding themselves into the edges of his mind.
A scream formed in his throat, but it was swallowed by the storm of energy coursing through him. His limbs twitched uncontrollably as the system restructured his very essence—his reflexes, his strength, his intelligence, his luck. Waves of raw power slammed into him like ocean tides, testing the boundaries of his body, threatening to tear it apart.
And then—silence.
Steven's eyes snapped open to his dimly lit room, unchanged, yet everything felt different. His muscles buzzed with potential energy, each breath filling his chest as though he could leap buildings. He flexed his fingers experimentally; they tingled with an unfamiliar vigor.
"System panel," he called out, voice steady despite the lingering awe.
[SUPER GROWTH SYSTEM – Level 2]
Host: Steven Blake
Strength: 30 Agility: 30
Stamina: 30 Intelligence: 30
Charisma: 30 Luck: 100
Mana: 0 Force: 0
System Points: 100 Merit Points: 0
Steven's jaw dropped. "All stats at 30… and Luck at 100?" He leaned back, trying to comprehend the implications. "This… this isn't just an upgrade. This is insane."
Another prompt appeared.
[First System Upgrade rewards: 100 System Points and 5 System Lottery Tickets.][Would you like to draw from the System Lottery now? (Yes/No)]
A grin spread across Steven's face, spreading to the tips of his fingers. "Yes. Definitely yes."
The first ticket glowed and vanished.
[Lottery 1 Drawn: Dragon Cultivation Art.]
[Lottery 2 Drawn: Tycoon Treasure Chest.]
[Lottery 3 Drawn: Rich Lord System.]
[Lottery 4 Drawn: Rich Guy Treasure Chest.]
[Lottery 5 Drawn: Holy Goddess Charm.]
Each prize hovered in the air before materializing in his inventory.
He stared at them, mouth dry. "Dragon… cultivation? Tycoon treasure? Rich Lord… this is too much."
First, he opened the Dragon Cultivation Art.
[Dragon Cultivation Art] A powerful cultivation technique developed in the Realm of Perstia. Grants mastery of Dragon Breathing, Mystic Arts, and Martial Arts. Enhances Mana and Force.[Learn it? (Yes/No)]
"Of course, yes!"
Immediately, his mind was flooded with knowledge: ancient martial forms, breathing techniques that could manipulate internal energy, mystical principles he didn't fully understand but could feel coursing through his veins. His body began moving instinctively—stretching, bending, twisting—as if guided by some invisible master. The Dragon Breathing Technique activated; warmth flooded his chest, energy surged down his arms and legs, and his vision sharpened.
A glance at the system panel revealed two new stats:
Mana: 1 Force: 1
"Mana and Force…" Steven murmured, flexing experimentally. "These must be… the key for cultivating martial arts and mystical techniques. Just like those novels… only real."
Next, the Holy Goddess Charm glimmered in his hand.
[Holy Goddess Charm: Grants resistance to evil, immunity to poison, and dramatically enhances luck.][Retrieve? (Yes/No)]
He pressed 'Yes,' and a radiant locket appeared, floating before him. It hummed with divine energy, warm and comforting. He slipped it around his neck, feeling an immediate sense of protection.
[Holy Goddess Charm bonded. Soul-bound and cannot be lost.]
His attention turned to the Rich Guy Treasure Chest. With a trembling hand, he opened it. Gold coins, digital contracts, property deeds—everything materialized in his inventory.
Received: $100,000 Received: Ownership of Crimson Hill Estate 1 Received: Lamborghini Aventador (Parked at Estate). Keys and documents sent to Inventory.
His phone buzzed instantly. A notification confirmed the deposit. Then another call:
"Mr. Steven, this is the manager of Crimson Hill Estate. Congratulations. When would you like a tour?"
"Uh… soon," he managed to say, still reeling from disbelief.
The Tycoon Treasure Chest followed.
Received: 51% ownership – Griffin Technology Studio
Received: 67% ownership – Star Power Corporation
Received: 53% ownership – Odin Industries Ltd.
Ownership documents, company certifications, stock portfolios—everything now belonged to him. Each company was a high-growth, nationally recognized enterprise. His financial empire had been born overnight.
Then the final, most astonishing reward:
[Activate Rich Lord System? (Yes/No)]
"Activate," he whispered, not believing the words coming from his own lips.
[Rich Lord System Activated]
Starter Rewards: Ownership: Sky Pearl Club + Capital Fund: $1,000,000 USD
Steven's mind reeled. The Sky Pearl Club was a legendary lounge, known only to the city's elite. And now… it belonged to him. The system even provided a starting capital of one million USD.
[Rich Lord Task: Transform 'Heavenly Dine' into a Five-Star Luxury Restaurant.]Reward: $5,000,000. Ownership of Rosewood Hotel.
"This… this is my parents' restaurant! I was already planning to renovate it, but now…" His heart raced as he imagined the upgrades: luxury interiors, Michelin-level menus, private VIP suites. The system had given him the means to make it happen, plus a bonus hotel as reward.
Steven stood by the window, snow drifting past, silent against the backdrop of sparkling city lights. He realized for the first time that the world had shifted under his feet. Power, wealth, skill, destiny—all within reach.
And yet, in the quiet of his room, a small voice of caution whispered in the back of his mind.
With great luck comes attention. With great wealth comes enemies. And with great power… comes responsibility.
He clenched his fists. "I'm ready."
Outside, the city celebrated Christmas. For most, it was a day of gifts, family, and warmth. For Steven Blake, it had been a day that redefined his life—a day when a system, as strange as it was powerful, had handed him the tools to reshape not just his future, but the world itself.
He exhaled, snowflakes drifting against the windowpane. The holiday lights sparkled back, reflecting off his determined eyes. This Christmas, he hadn't just received gifts. He had received a gift of destiny.
And somewhere in the shadows of the city, he knew the next challenge was already waiting: Arnold's return, the looming threats, and a world that suddenly seemed both infinitely larger—and infinitely more dangerous.
But for now… he allowed himself a rare smile. He was ready.