Jason sat in his dorm room, staring at the blue screen in front of him. It flickered a few more times, like some sort of malfunctioning advertisement, before it finally settled into a steady glow. He rubbed his eyes, convinced he was still seeing things.
Hey host!! Don't worry! I'm here to help!!
His heart thudded in his chest. Was he losing his mind? Had the rejection from Lily pushed him over the edge? He glanced around his small, messy room — a pile of textbooks on the desk, clothes scattered across the floor, a half-eaten pizza on the corner of his bed. Everything looked just as it always had. Nothing out of the ordinary, except for the glowing blue screen that floated in the air like a glitch from some video game.
He swallowed hard and leaned closer to the screen. "What... what do you mean, 'help'?"
The screen flickered again, and a new line of text appeared.
You've been chosen, Jason! I'm here to assist you in your journey to greatness. This is your chance to turn everything around!
Jason stared at the words, his mind a whirlwind of confusion. A voice in his head screamed that this was all impossible. He had never heard of anything like this, and certainly didn't believe in supernatural systems or magic. Yet, as he sat there, something about the screen felt... real.
He swallowed again, trying to steady his nerves. "But... I don't understand. What journey? What do you want from me?"
The screen flashed once more, and a playful, almost eager message appeared.
First things first, let's get you started! Your life is about to change, host. Get ready to unlock your potential!
Before Jason could even process the words, the screen expanded, filling his entire vision. It was as if the world around him had been replaced by a glowing blue interface, and the room around him disappeared. He blinked, disoriented.
Welcome to the Crazy Money System!
A series of options appeared on the screen, each one glowing in bright, vibrant colors:
Personal Transformation
Financial Gain
Skill Enhancement
Appearance Overhaul
Jason's heart pounded in his chest as he read the options. What was this? A game? A scam? It all felt so surreal. He reached out instinctively, his finger hovering over the first option — Personal Transformation. His mind was still reeling from the conversation with Lily, but something deep inside him stirred, a desperate need for change.
Personal Transformation seemed like the most fitting choice. He had never felt more stuck, more desperate to escape his current self.
He tapped the screen.
Good choice, host! Let's begin.
In an instant, Jason felt a sharp, almost electric jolt run through his body. His breath caught in his throat as warmth flooded his veins, his body tingling like he had just stepped into a hot shower on a cold morning. The sensation was strange, but not unpleasant. It felt... right.
Activating Personal Transformation… the screen chimed.
Jason's head spun as the world around him blurred. His clothes seemed to tighten, his skin pulsing with energy, and the very air around him seemed to hum with power. He stumbled backward, nearly knocking over a stack of textbooks. His hands trembled as he reached out for support, but the room was spinning too fast. His vision blurred even further, and for a moment, he thought he might faint.
But then, as suddenly as it had begun, the sensations stopped. Jason blinked, his mind trying to catch up. He stood there for a long moment, waiting for something to happen, unsure of what to expect.
He looked at his hands. They felt... different. His fingers, once long and awkward, seemed more defined. His arms no longer had that thin, wiry look to them. Even his legs, which he had always considered too lanky, felt stronger, more substantial.
Jason stepped over to the mirror, cautiously at first, as if expecting it to be some sort of trick. But as he looked into the reflection, he couldn't believe his eyes.
His face was... different. His jawline, once soft and round, was now sharper, more defined. His brown eyes, which had always been dull and lifeless, seemed brighter, sharper. His messy hair, which had never quite fallen into place, now framed his face in a way that made him look... well, not handsome, but certainly more presentable. More appealing.
His heart raced in disbelief. Was this... was this real?
A sudden text appeared on the screen before him.
Congratulations, host! Your first transformation is complete!
Jason reached out to touch his reflection, still unsure if this was some dream or if he had truly changed. But the cool, smooth surface of the mirror beneath his fingers felt real. He was breathing. He was awake.
You've unlocked the appearance overhaul! You are now in control of your transformation. Feel free to adjust as needed.
He stared at himself for a moment longer, the words sinking in. His mind began to process what had just happened. His appearance—his very self—had changed in a matter of seconds. The awkward, unattractive boy he had once been was gone. Or, at least, he wasn't the same anymore. He was different.
But was this enough?
Jason's stomach churned. Would this transformation be enough to finally be seen? To make Lily see him for who he was? He couldn't stop thinking about her. Would she even recognize him now? Would things be different? Or was this all just a temporary fix, a quick patch on a much deeper wound?
His thoughts were interrupted by another message on the screen.
Now, host, let's move on to the next phase: Financial Gain.
Jason hesitated. He had always dreamed of wealth, of being able to live without the constant fear of debt, without struggling for every dollar. But did he really want to change his life in such a drastic way?
Another message popped up.
Trust me, host. You don't want to miss this opportunity. Let's unlock your path to success!
Jason stared at the glowing prompt, a strange mixture of excitement and fear building inside him. What was this system really offering him? Was it too good to be true?
But something inside him urged him to continue. He had nothing left to lose.
He tapped the Financial Gain option.
System activating...
The screen blurred again, and Jason's body tingled once more, but this time, it was different. This time, it wasn't just his body changing. He could feel his mind sharpening, as if he were suddenly becoming aware of countless opportunities, of ways to earn, ways to grow. A rush of information flooded his brain—stocks, investments, business ventures—things that he had never been able to understand before now seemed clear, almost second nature.
The blue screen pulsed once more.
You now have access to financial strategies that will lead you to unimaginable wealth. Use them wisely, host.
Jason blinked, his head spinning with new knowledge. He felt like a different person, someone more capable, more in control. It was as though the world around him had shifted, and he was no longer bound by the limitations of his past.
Welcome to your new life, host. This is just the beginning.
Jason's heart raced as he looked at the screen. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Maybe, just maybe, his luck was about to change.