Chapter 3

Bloody-eyed, Lucas lay on the floor, remembering how beautiful he and Katherine had been together. He had only kissed her all year long without getting a chance to score, especially since Katherine had stopped him, letting him know that after they got married, he could have it all.

Having been together, this unexpected circumstance didn't seem likely. For quite some time now, she had been unfaithful to him. The most memorable discovery was this one.

A blinding flash of light engulfed his entire face as he was ready to stand up, and a torrent of blood shot out of his mouth as he passed out.

A week later, Lucas finally woke up. He felt weak and had limited strength. A doctor, who was changing his IV fluids, noticed it.

"Hello, I'm your doctor. You have been unconscious since last week. Someone found you lying in a small park at Marikina Polytechnic University, and thankfully the rescuers managed to get you to the ER in time. You are currently in the hospital."

"I didn't mean to shock you. How are you feeling?" the doctor asked.

"I feel weak, doc. My stomach still hurts a little," Lucas responded.

"As your medical results indicate, you have sustained abdominal injuries. Specifically, you have a blunt abdominal trauma that has damaged your retroperitoneum and a small part of your liver. Additionally, it is evident from the results that this was not an accident. The damage to the side of your stomach suggests an assault, which has resulted in a laceration," the doctor explained seriously.

"If you are not treated promptly, this condition could become serious. The laceration and internal damage can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated."

Lucas was speechless and shivered upon hearing this information. If he had been left behind and no one helped him, he would have died. He then said to himself, "Thank God I'm alive."

"Doc, am I being discharged now?"

"Nope. Since you just woke up after a week, you will not be discharged immediately. You will be continuously monitored and further treatment is necessary to ensure your condition stabilizes. At least five days more," she added.

"Anyway, I'm Dr. Jannie Anne Cabrera, your specialist."

In the blink of an eye, five days passed, and Lucas was ready to be discharged.

A doctor came in and said, "You are going to be discharged this afternoon. Your injuries have improved, and we saw signs of healing. However, you still need to rest as your body is frail and your well-being isn't good enough."

"Note that your body needs nutrients; eat healthy food rich in protein, calcium, iron, and potassium. Eat more vegetables and fruits, and exercise daily," she said.

Dr. Cabrera handed him a wooden box and a letter. "Someone visited you and gave you this wooden box; he also left a note for you."

"I got it, Dr. Cabrera. Thank you."

"My pleasure."

A few minutes later, after the doctor left the ward, Lucas opened the wooden box and saw a silver-like diamond shape with a golden lining. He didn't understand it or its purpose, so he read the letter left for him.

"Dear chosen host, I will not tell you my name. This note is to inform you that if you open the wooden box, you need to drop your blood on it. If you are curious, you will know more after you do what I told you. After dropping your blood, put your hands on it, and this thing will explain everything."

Following the mysterious man's instructions, the diamond-shaped object with a silver and gold lining immediately became a liquid that surged inside his body and was automatically ingested, becoming permanently implanted.

Lucas suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head and could feel abnormalities in his body. He was sweating and overheating.

"Argh, why is my head in so much pain and why do I feel so hot, damn it?"

After saying this, he saw something in front of him.

Interface Overview:

[Alert: body is weak - select optimal]

...

[Scanning and analyzing...]

[Data processing: 10%...80%...99%...100%. Please wait...]

[Welcome host: Lucas Salvatore]

[Health status: Optimal (normal)]

[Upgrade points available: 10]

[Account balance: $51,000,000,000,000,000 dollar]

main dashboard to upgrade overview:

[Available points: 10]

[Account balance:51,000,000,000,000,000 dollar]

-Health Overview

[Heart rate: 75 bpm]

[Blood pressure: 120/80]

[Mind activity: Normal] ability:0

[Physical abilities : 0 level: 0

-Menu: [Physical Upgrades | Mind Upgrades | Diagnostics | History]

Lucas selected "Physical Upgrades."

Available:Strength Enhancement

Display: "Strength Enhancement

[Current Level: 1]

[Upgrade Cost: 2 points]

[Upgrade Button]"

Lucas selected the Upgrade Button to continue.

You selected: Strength Enhancement Level 2.

[Cost: 2 points]

Lucas tapped "Confirm Upgrade."

"[Upgrading...]"

[Diagnostic & monitoring]:

[Scanning... All systems normal.]

Alert: No alerts.

[History...]

Display: Strength Enhancement Level 1 upgraded to Level 2.

[Host, be advised that this system is linked to your bank account, allowing for seamless transfer of funds between the in-app balance and the bank. Click 'manage account' to proceed.]

Deposit:

The host can add funds from their bank account to the in-app balance.

Withdrawal:

The host can transfer funds from the in-app balance to their bank account. You can use fingerprint, face recognition, or password.

[This integration allows the host to not only manage their enhancement points but also use the system as a practical financial tool, making it highly versatile and user-friendly.]

[Rules:

Use strong passwords: Protect your account with a strong password. Enable multi-factor authentication for added security.]

"Damn it, is this system a kind of joke? Am I dreaming or just mentally ill? I hope not," he thought to himself.

Suddenly, the door of his ward opened, and it was Dr. Cabrera coming in. Lucas then asked, "Doc, can you slap me on my face? I feel like I'm dreaming and I just want to be sure."

The doctor was taken aback and said, "No, sir. We don't do that here. I'm a doctor to treat your illness, not to treat you like that."

"Please, doctor, I promise I won't hold you accountable. Just slap me once," he pleaded and swore.

Slap!

A sharp sound echoed from the hard slap.

"Ouch! So it wasn't a dream, it's true."

"Are you okay? I told you, I'm really sorry."

"No, doc, it's okay. I'm fine, perfectly fine."

Then he started to feel awkward for a moment. Upon realization, he got up and felt that his body had undergone some changes and he had his strength back.

"Maybe it's due to the system. Wait, I'll fix this at home then," he said to himself.

"Thank you, doc, for taking care of me. I should be discharged by now, it's already noon," Lucas said, ready to leave the ward.

"Oh, it's okay. A pleasure is mine, Mr. Salvatore. Goodbye, and make sure to rest more and keep your health in good condition," Dr. Cabrera bid him farewell.

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