Steam curled around the tiny bathroom like ghostly fingers. Zai stood under the showerhead, water dripping down his face in thin streams. The pipes hissed and clanged, rattling against the wall.
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to the cracked tile. Warm water pooled at his feet. He shut his eyes.
Why am I alive?
What's the point?
College, money, games, chores… what am I even doing?
The questions burned as hot as the water.
For a second, the thought crept in, just stay under a little longer, let the water rise, disappear into the noise. His hands trembled as he slid lower, knees touching the slippery floor.
SYSTEM ALERT
Life-force termination attempt detected.
Zai's eyes snapped open. A glowing panel hovered right above the shower drain, words flickering in electric blue like a hologram burned into reality.
SYSTEM WARNING:Host is not permitted to quit.
Resurrection Protocol engaged.
The water felt suddenly cold. Zai stumbled back, soap and shampoo bottles clattering to the floor.
"Wha—?! This again?!" he shouted, blinking water out of his eyes.
Stupid! stupid!
The hologram pulsed brighter, droplets sizzling off it like sparks.
NEW QUEST ISSUED: SURVIVE!
Failure Condition: Death (Not Available).
Zai stared, chest heaving, heart pounding. "I can't even shower without this freaky game UI popping up?!"
The hologram flickered, then vanished, leaving only steam and the sound of rushing water.
Zai slumped against the wall, half laughing, half crying. "Great. I'm broke, I'm soaked, and now I'm a player in some cursed system. Fantastic."
Zai stomped out of the bathroom, hair dripping, towel slung over his shoulders. His heart was still hammering from the hologram. He grabbed a chipped ceramic mug off his desk, turning it over in his hand like it was a weapon.
"Okay, system," he muttered under his breath. "You don't want me to quit? Fine. Let's see what happens when I try something stupid."
He raised the mug high, eyes narrowing like an anime anti‑hero about to unleash his ultimate move.
"This is for science!"
He swung the mug down toward his own forehead.
CRACK!
The mug shattered — not on his skull, but in midair, like it hit an invisible wall. White shards bounced harmlessly onto the carpet. A blue flash pulsed in front of his eyes:
SYSTEM INTERCEPTION
Self‑harm attempt blocked.
Zai staggered back, blinking at the floating text. "What the—?! It didn't even touch me!"
Another line of text appeared, flickering like a warning screen:
Penalty Applied:Headache +2
Suddenly his head throbbed, not injured, but like the worst brain freeze imaginable.
"Ahhh—!" he clutched his temples, hopping in place. "Seriously?! A penalty?!"
Reminder: Survival Mandatory. Failure Condition: Death (Not Available)
Zai groaned and collapsed onto his bed, towel slipping off. "This is ridiculous. I'm a broke loser with a magical parole officer."
The hologram blinked one last time before fading out.
Zai stared at the ceiling, hair still dripping, and laughed weakly. "What kind of twisted game even is this?"
Zai sat on the edge of his bed, eyes wild.
"Okay… so you're real. And you're blocking me."
He cracked his knuckles. "Then let's see just how far this goes."
First test: the kitchen drawer.
He pulled out a dull fruit knife, stared at it, then at the glowing blue text hovering faintly at the edge of his vision.
He poked his arm. Nothing. He jabbed harder. The knife bent like rubber, the blade turning floppy in his hands.
SYSTEM INTERCEPTION
Self‑harm attempt blocked.
Zai scowled. "Okay. Fine. Next!"
Second test: the rope.
He looped an old clothesline around his neck, tugged — and it snapped like paper.
SYSTEM INTERCEPTION
Survival mandatory.
Zai threw the shredded rope across the room. "You've got to be kidding me!"
Third test: blunt force trauma.
He ran at the wall, shoulder first. Instead of pain, the drywall felt like a soft foam pad at a trampoline park. He bounced off, landing on his butt.
Penalty Applied: Embarrassment +5
He clutched his forehead, groaning. "Oh my god. I'm a literal clown."
Fourth test: the stairs.
He climbed to the top of the stairwell, inhaled deeply like a stuntman preparing for a big jump, then slid down the banister with reckless speed. His feet hit the last step wrong. He should've faceplanted. Instead he bounced, landing on his feet like a gymnast.
He threw his arms up. "Ta‑daaaa—"
SYSTEM NOTICE: Acrobatics Skill +1
Zai stared at the glowing notification. "You're… you're leveling me up?!"
The hologram pulsed cheerfully, as if proud of itself.
NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: Adapt to Immortality
Reward: ???
Zai sat down on the stairs, breathing hard, hair sticking up in every direction.
"This is insane," he muttered. "I'm broke. I'm jobless. And now I'm basically the world's saddest superhero."
His grandfather's voice echoed from the kitchen: "Zai, don't break the stairs!"
Zai yelled back, "I tried!" then slumped against the railing, laughing weakly at the absurdity of it all.