Chapter 2
James sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the floating blue screen.
"What the… am I… the protagonist?"
His voice echoed in his cramped, gloomy room.
Was this the moment?
The beginning of his legendary rise?
Or was the universe setting him up for a cosmic punchline?
The screen flickered.
SYSTEM LOADING… 1%... 25%... 69%... 100%
WELCOME TO DOMINATION SYSTEM
HOST — JAMES
ASSETS — NONE
CASH — $30
James gave a flat stare.
"Nice. Even the system knows I'm broke."
Another window appeared.
STATUS SCREEN
Name: James Allen
Age: 24
Level: 1
Title: None
HP: 100/100
MP: 50/50
Strength: 5
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 6
Charisma: 3
Luck: 1
Assets: None
Cash: $30
He sighed.
"So, I'm a weak, unlucky, charisma-less nobody. Just perfect."
[SYSTEM EXPLANATION — STAT GUIDE]
[HP — Life force.]
[MP — Skill power.]
[Strength — Physical power.]
[Agility — Speed and reflexes.]
[Intelligence — Learning and skill use.]
[Charisma — Social influence.]
[Luck — Chance-based outcomes.]
James muttered,
"Basically, I'm useless in every department… except maybe sarcasm."
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]
[QUEST — READ 5 BOOKS]
[REWARD — +1 TO ALL STATS]
[PENALTY — DEHYDRATION FOR 4 HOURS]
[TIME LIMIT — 1 DAY]
He raised an eyebrow.
"Read five books? That's it? No fighting demons? No unlocking secret powers? Just summer homework?"
[QUEST IS BENEFICIAL TO HOST.]
James crossed his arms.
"Yeah? And you're just doing this out of goodwill?"
[HOST IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO KNOW.]
"Oh, I see. Mysterious puppet master trope. Very original."
System didn't responded
"Alright, have it your way. I'm not doing squat until you spill."
---
**Day 1**
The penalty hit.
His throat went dry like sandpaper.
Water? Useless.
James sat through it, glaring at the wall.
"Is this supposed to break me? Try harder."
---
**Day 2**
[NEW QUEST — DO 10 PUSH-UPS]
[REWARD — +1 STRENGTH]
[PENALTY — SORENESS FOR 2 DAYS]
[TIME LIMIT — 12 HOURS]
James yawned.
"Ten push-ups? What am I, a shonen side character?"
[QUEST DECLINED.]
Soreness arrived like an old friend.
He groaned but didn't budge.
"Yep. Totally worth it."
---
**Day 3**
[NEW QUEST — GREET 3 STRANGERS]
[REWARD — +1 CHARISMA]
[PENALTY — LOSS OF VOICE FOR 6 HOURS]
James smirked.
"Talk to strangers? Are you trying to get me stabbed?"
[QUEST DECLINED.]
His voice vanished for half a day.
James scribbled notes to himself.
"Still better than small talk."
---
**Day 4**
[NEW QUEST — EAT A HEALTHY MEAL]
[REWARD — +1 HP RECOVERY]
[PENALTY — STOMACH ACHE FOR 8 HOURS]
James scoffed.
"What's next? A balanced breakfast?"
[QUEST DECLINED.]
Cramps hit later that night.
He cursed the system between painful groans.
---
**Day 5**
[NEW QUEST — SMILE AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR]
[REWARD — +1 CHARISMA]
[PENALTY — UNCONTROLLABLE FROWN FOR 12 HOURS]
James blinked.
"A smile quest? You really reaching for content, huh?"
[QUEST DECLINED.]
He spent the day looking like a scowling villain.
[NOTE — HOST LOOKS INTIMIDATING.]
"Good. Keep people away."
---
**Day 6**
[NEW QUEST — WATCH A MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO]
[REWARD — +1 INTELLIGENCE]
[PENALTY — 24 HOURS OF RANDOM INSULTS]
James read it and laughed.
"You're seriously trying to emotionally blackmail me now?"
[QUEST DECLINED.]
Random insults poured in all day.
"You're a failure."
"Your haircut is embarrassing."
"Your fashion sense is a crime."
James stretched on his bed.
"Joke's on you. I already think worse about myself."
---
**Day 7**
Sitting in the dark, staring at nothing, James spoke aloud,
"You think I'll dance to your tune like some clueless NPC?"
The room remained silent.
"I've been a loser… but at least I'm a stubborn one."
His pulse pounded.
"I'm not doing a single thing until you tell me who you really are."
Silence.
Then—
[WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW]
James blinked.
The voice wasn't robotic this time.
It felt… almost human.
James leaned forward.
"Let's start with this… what the hell are you?"
---
End of Chapter 2