THE GREATEST REVENGER SYSTEM

Guilty And Grudge

Thenma blinked slowly as his eyes fluttered open. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled his senses, and the ceiling above him was blindingly white. Pain radiated from his ribs and thigh, forcing him to stay still. He realized he was in the hospital, his body aching with every breath.

A soft rustle beside him caught his attention. Thenma turned his head slightly and saw Adeline sitting in the chair next to his bed. Her face looked gaunt, her once lively eyes now dull and lifeless. The cuts on her face from Evan’s abuse were faint but still visible, casting a shadow over her usually glowing appearance. Her shoulders were hunched, and her clothes were wrinkled, as though she hadn’t left his side for days.

Adeline noticed Thenma was awake and stood up, her movements slow and heavy. She looked at him for a long moment before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "How… how are you feeling?"

Thenma’s throat tightened as guilt washed over him. He tried to answer, but the words stuck in his throat. How could he tell her how much pain he was in when she had suffered so much more?

"I'm glad that you finally open your eyes, Thenma. You've been unconscious for three days," she said, as Thenma could see her reliefs but the brightness was dull. Then he knew that there were so many complicated things that his sister had in her head, making it harder for Thenma to held his guilt.

"I… I’m sorry, Adeline," he croaked, his voice hoarse. "This… this is all my fault."

Adeline didn’t respond. She just stood there, her hands trembling slightly as she clenched the edge of her hospital pajama. She wasn’t the same bright, spirited girl she used to be. Evan had stolen that from her, and it was all because of him. Because he was too weak to protect her.

Before Thenma could say anything else, the door opened, and Collin walked in, carrying a small bag of food. He froze for a second, as Thenma who finally woke up was sending him a big happiness to surprise himself. Collin's face lit up with relief when he saw Thenma awake, he ran to hug Thenma who was still lying in the ward, forgetting about the fruit that had fallen on the floor.

"Oh my God, thank you... thank you. I thought I was going to lose you, Thenma!" Collin said with relief tears. He accidentally nudged Adeline's hand who was standing behind him, making him realize Adeline's presence and making him try to calm down again. That relief quickly turned into sorrow when he noticed Adeline’s expression.

"Thank God you’re awake," Collin said again in softly, wiping his tears and picking the fruits on the floor. "I was worried you wouldn’t pull through."

Thenma didn’t respond, he felt a little relief but his eyes flicking back to Adeline, who still hadn’t moved or spoken more. He felt a tear slip down his cheek. "I should’ve protected her, Collin… I should’ve protected her."

Collin’s jaw clenched as he placed a comforting hand on Thenma’s shoulder. "This wasn’t your fault, Thenma. This was Evan’s doing. That bastard and his friends…" His voice trailed off, filled with anger. "They’re the ones who should pay for this. Not you."

"I need to make them pay," Thenma whispered, his voice trembling. "There has to be something I can do. I can’t just… let this go."

Collin hesitated, glancing at Adeline before responding. "Thenma, Evan’s family is one of the most powerful in Boston. My family’s business even relies on them to some extent. If you try to get to Evan, my parents will pull me away from all of this before you can touch him. You’ll be alone."

Thenma’s fists clenched in the sheets, his knuckles turning white. "Alone? I’ve always been alone! And now Adeline’s… she’s like this because of me. I have to do something, Collin. I can’t just sit here and do nothing!"

Collin sighed, stepping back. "I get it, Thenma. I do. But even if you want revenge, you don’t have the power to take him down. Not on your own."

Thenma’s face crumpled as fresh tears spilled over. He looked at Adeline, who had turned her gaze to the window, staring out blankly. He wasn’t crying for himself anymore. He was crying for her.

"If I had one chance, just one," Thenma said, voice cracking, "I would take it. I’d do it for her, not for me."

Collin frowned, worried. "Thenma…"

"Excuse me..." A nurse came in, and her face looked like she had expected something when she saw Adeline in the room. "Miss Adeline, should we go back now?" The nurse approached Adeline, leading her back to her room with a gentle touch on the shoulder. The nurse looked at Collin and said, "I was worried when you wanted to go out for a while, I don't think I can watch over Miss Adeline properly without your help, Mr. Collin."

"Oh, ya... I'm back, I'll take care of Adeline."

"How is Adeline?" Thenma asked before the nurse left.

"Her body has better a lot, but we still have to keep an eye on Miss Adeline until she is completely ready. Thanks to Mr. Collin who always looks after her, and follows Miss wherever she goes. Yeah... even though she only goes to this room to wait for you to wake up every day. Oh yeah, I'll call your nurse right away, Mr. Thenma."

Nurse leaves, taking Adeline with her. That leaves Collin and Thenma who know went quiet, staring up at the ceiling with an unreadable expression. His lips parted slightly as if he were seeing something.

"Collin…" Thenma mumbled, his eyes narrowing. "Do you see that?"

"See what?" Collin asked, confused.

"The screen… on the ceiling," Thenma said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Collin looked up, but there was nothing there. He shook his head slowly. "There’s no screen, Thenma. What are you talking about?"

"It’s right there," Thenma insisted, his gaze still fixed on the invisible display. "I can see it."

Collin’s concern deepened, and he placed a hand on Thenma’s shoulder. "I’m going to call the doctor. Just… just stay here, okay?"

As Collin left the room, Thenma’s gaze shifted, and to his shock, the hologram screen moved from the ceiling to hover directly in front of his face.

[Congratulations, you have become a User! Ready for an epic and festive journey of revenge?]

Thenma blinked, his heart racing. "What… what is this?" he muttered under his breath.

The text on the screen flashed and changed.

[Enjoy a registration reward to start your journey, Revenger! Reward: $1,000,000]

Thenma’s eyes widened in disbelief. His breathing quickened as his phone, resting on the nightstand, began to vibrate. With trembling hands, he grabbed it and stared at the screen.

The amount was real.

"$1,000,000…" Thenma whispered, his heart pounding in his chest. "Where did this… how is this…?"

He glanced around the room, but no one else seemed to notice the holographic screen. It was as if it only existed for him. Thenma swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

"Who… what are you?" he asked aloud, trying to keep his voice steady.

The system responded immediately.

[I am the Great Revenger System, a tool designed to fulfill the greatest wishes of those who seek revenge. I have chosen you as my new User]

Thenma’s mind raced. "So… what can you do? How can I use you to get my revenge?"

[You must complete the tasks I give you] the system explained. [In return, you will receive rewards—money, power, skills, and knowledge that will enable you to exact your revenge]

"Tasks?" Thenma repeated, his eyes narrowing. "Like what?"

[Your first task] the system said, [restore your health points. They are dangerously low after your recent injuries. Completing this task will grant you a bonus]

Thenma’s thoughts whirled. If this was real—if this system could help him—then he could finally do something about Evan and his friends. He could make them pay for what they did to Adeline.

"Do you know who I want revenge on?" Thenma asked cautiously.

The screen flickered, and a list appeared before him. At the top was Evan Clauster, along with a detailed profile of his background and the reasons for Thenma’s hatred toward him.

Thenma’s heart pounded in his chest. This was real. This system knew everything.

"Yes," Thenma whispered, his voice growing stronger. "I’ll do whatever it takes."

The system responded with a new task.

[First, increase your health points. Once completed, we will begin the true path to vengeance]

With newfound determination, Thenma pushed himself up, ignoring the pain that shot through his body. He had no time to waste. He had to get started.

Collin returned just as Thenma struggled out of bed. "Thenma! What are you doing? You’re still injured!"

But Thenma didn’t stop. His eyes blazed with purpose. "I’m going to get stronger, Collin. I’m going to make them pay."

"Thenma!" Collin called after him, but Thenma was already out the door, leaving behind his hospital room and the life of weakness he no longer intended to live.