2025-04-18 18:26:04I opened the file Felix had sent. It was detailed—impressively so. Within a span of hours, Felix had delivered everything I needed to know about Paul Madison.
His address, his parent’s names, where they worked, their financial situation, academic records, behavioral files, even psychiatric evaluations. Paul Madison, born and raised in a middle-class family. His father, Gerald Madison, was an ex-cop turned private investigator with a gambling problem. I held my phone and looked at the messages again. My face shrinked. I wonder how someone like Paul was able to measure to me and even had the gut to have me bullied. It was just unforgivable to me. His mother, Lacey, a struggling nurse trying to hold the household together. A single medical bill could send their entire world crashing. Paul himself had two misdemeanors from high school that were buried with money his father didn’t have—most likely favors from friends in high places. Interesting. “Felix, you weren’t kidding when you said you were good,” I muttered under my breath, still scrolling. A second file came in a few seconds later. A video clip. I clicked on it. Footage from a hidden camera inside a campus hallway. Paul, standing by a locker, exchanging something with a shady guy in a hoodie. Felix had tagged the clip: "Suspected drug trade. Might be useful leverage." I grinned. The pieces were coming together. I wasn’t going to fight Paul with fists—no, I was going to dismantle him piece by piece. Emotionally, psychologically, and when he least expected it. Felix called almost immediately. “I told you I don’t miss,” his voice came through my earpiece. “You’re good,” I replied. “But I need you to dig deeper. Find out what scares him. What he hides from the world.” “Already ahead of you. I got access to his therapist’s records from two years ago. I think you’ll like this—he has unresolved childhood trauma from being bullied and humiliated in public. You see where I’m going with this?” “Perfect,” I said, a sinister calm washing over me. “Oh, and get this—he’s deathly afraid of being exposed. Especially to his girlfriend, Natalie. He’s lied to her about a lot. I’m sending a full breakdown.” “Good job, Felix. Keep your head down.” “I always do, boss. By the way, the underground fight’s tomorrow night. I hope you’re ready.” I hung up and stared at my reflection in the window. Ready? No. I wasn’t just ready—I was hungry. And nothing was going to stand in my way. Absolutely nothing! ****************************************************************** [ The Underground Fight Night ] The basement of the abandoned railway warehouse was loud and sweaty. People were packed like sardines, cheering, drinking, placing illegal bets. It was a place where most of the students go to have fun. It was always lively but then a lot of shady deals are done in the course of the fight. A bare bulb hung overhead, flickering like it was unsure of its own existence. The smell of blood, smoke, and testosterone filled the room. I don't know how Frank managed to get us a ticket to fight each other but I gladly accepted the challenge but seeing all of this, I was beginning to get scared and the thought of maybe it was a mistake came to my thought. But then I have the hellish system in my favour. Not that it thought me to fight but I believe it was something. Frank Carter stood in the center of the ring, shirtless, flexing his muscles as if he’d already won. His crew was chanting his name. I stood in the corner, my hoodie covering most of my face. I could feel the tension in the air like static. Paul was already leaning on the fence, smug as ever. When he saw me walk in, he laughed out loud. “Look who actually showed up.” I didn’t respond. I just locked eyes with Frank. “Hey,” Felix appeared beside me like a ghost. “I did what you asked. Natalie got an anonymous text. Video clip and everything. Paul’s going to be dealing with his own war soon.” “Nice timing,” I whispered. “Oh, and by the way—Paul’s dad? Just got a call from someone pretending to be an Internal Affairs officer asking about those buried misdemeanors. That family is going to sleep with one eye open tonight.” A bell rang. “Showtime,” I said, stepping into the makeshift ring. Frank laughed as he bounced on his feet. “I almost feel bad, Ethan. Almost.” “Don’t bother,” I replied. “You won’t be standing long enough to feel anything.” The crowd roared. Bets were being yelled across the room. I could hear Paul’s voice over the din. “Knock his teeth out, Frank!” The ref—if you could even call him that—raised his hand. “No rules. First to go unconscious, or beg for mercy, loses.” He dropped his arm. Frank charged. I sidestepped. The crowd gasped. Frank spun and came again with a jab to my ribs. It connected, but not deep. I absorbed the blow and countered with a quick punch to his jaw. He stumbled slightly, surprised. “Didn’t think I had that in me?” I said, circling him. “You’re dead,” he spat. “Not yet.” He lunged again, but this time I anticipated his movement. I ducked and landed a right hook directly to his ribs—hard. I heard him grunt, and his eyes flared with anger. He threw a wild uppercut, and it missed by a mile. I punched him in the gut again, then delivered a clean knee to his chest. Frank fell to one knee. The crowd went quiet. I turned slightly, catching Paul’s shocked expression from the side of the ring. “You still think I’m garbage?” I yelled at him. Frank growled and lunged from below, slamming into me, knocking the wind out of my lungs. We both hit the floor. I rolled, flipping on top of him, raining punches down on his face. Blood sprayed. I didn’t stop. My fists pounded him—each strike a memory of every humiliation. BAM. BAM. BAM. Someone finally pulled me off. Frank was unconscious, his face a mess of bruises and broken pride. The crowd stood in stunned silence before erupting into chaos. Some cheered. Some looked terrified. Paul disappeared. I stood in the middle of the ring, breathing heavily, blood on my knuckles, sweat dripping down my face. I had won. But it wasn’t over. This wasn’t just about a fight. This was the beginning of a reckoning. Felix came back in, whispering something in my ear. “Paul’s girlfriend just dumped him. Campus admin got wind of the video too. And his dad? He just got suspended for investigation. You’re officially in his nightmares now.” I nodded slowly. Frank’s crew slowly backed away. I saw fear in their eyes. Good. I wanted them to fear me. Because the money demon was real. And his name was Ethan.
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THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter one
The hallways of Frontale University reeked of expensive perfums, arrogance, and wealth—none of which belonged to me. I tightened my grip on my worn-out backpack, my knuckles turning white. This was supposed to be my golden ticket, my chance to stand among the elite, to prove that talent and intelligence could break through even the thickest walls of privilege. But that was before everything went to hell. Before Selena. Before Frank. Before I lost everything. “Hey, isn’t that Ethan Summerville?” The voice dripped with mockery, sending a cold chill down my spine. I recognized it instantly—Paul Henderson, one of Frank’s lapdogs. A quick glance told me all I needed to know. He wasn’t alone. I barely had time to react before a shoulder rammed into me, knocking me off balance. My bag hit the marble floor, spilling out its contents—second-hand textbooks, notes scribbled in the margins, and an old phone with a cracked screen. The students burst into laughter. “Damn, you stil
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter two
Rock Bottom Pain. It was the first thing I felt when I woke up. A deep, bone-deep ache that made it hard to move, hard to breathe. My body ached as I shifted, the taste of blood thick in my mouth. I cracked my swollen eyes open, vision swimming as I tried to piece together what happened. The dim, flickering light of my dorm room cast long shadows against the walls. My sheets were stained with crimson, and the sharp sting along my ribs told me something was definitely broken.The memory came rushing back—his smirk, his fists, the feeling of my body hitting the ground again and again. He didn’t just beat me. He made sure I stayed down. I forced myself up, every movement was painful. My phone lay on the floor, cracked and useless. How long had I been out? The clock on my desk read 3:14 AM. No one had come looking for me. Not that I expected them to. I pressed a hand against my bruised ribs, hissing in pain. My body felt like it had been through a shredder. My face was swollen,
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter three
I looked at the holographic message right before my eyes and blinked. [ SYSTEM MESSAGE ; DO YOU WANT THE POWER OF THE HELLISH SYSTEM? PRESS YES/NO ] I let out a weird laugh as I turned away from the holographic message. I must have been imagining things. Someone in my state of mind would. I was down to earth with nothing. My cafe job was not paying much. I might as well drop out like Paul asked me too. I could barely keep up with my daily lessons and up keeps. I walked down the silent street with my hands in my warm hoodie. The temperature was dropping since it was almost time for Christmas. I turned each time I walked trying to check if the mysterious message was there, hanging in the thin air. But when I looked, it was gone. Or should I say, it has disappeared. I bent my head with shame. I wish that was actually real. I tilted my head up to look at the road before me and it flashed again before my eyes. [ HELLISH SYSTEM ACTIVATED] [ YOU NEED TO PICK THE OPTIONS.
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter four
Laughter rippled through the hallway of Frontale University, bouncing off the pristine marble floors and the grand pillars that lined the corridors. I could hear it all around me—the mocking whispers, the amused smirks, and the quiet murmurs of pity and disdain. I clenched my fists, my breath ragged as I pushed myself up from the cold floor. My knees stung from the fall, my hands scraped against the unforgiving tiles. My backpack had spilled open, my few battered notebooks lying scattered like fallen leaves. Paul’s voice was the first to cut through the noise, sharp and laced with cruelty. "And down goes the pauper prince again!" he mocked, nudging his polished shoe against my shoulder, shoving me back down with ease. A fresh round of laughter erupted into the thin air. I looked around and I could see their faces, basking in my pain. But I didn't care, all I wanted was to get a shot, a chance to sit for my exam. Frank, Paul, and the rest of their minions stood over me, basking
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter five
A sharp, rhythmic beeping pulled me from the darkness. My eyelids felt like they were heavyweight like stones, my body sinking into the stiff mattress beneath me. The scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, sterile and suffocating. I could hear the faint beeping of the machine above my head as I tried to sit up. I groaned, my head pounding like someone had taken a hammer to it. My fingers twitched against the thin hospital sheet as I tried to push myself up, but a wave of dizziness knocked me back down. Where the hell was I? I pry open eyes as my head throb gently. My vision blurred before sharpening on the white ceiling above me, the fluorescent lights flickering slightly. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor beside me matched the erratic thumping in my chest. I tried to move my hand—and that’s when I saw it. The gentle glow of the tattoo. It was glowing again. A deep crimson, pulsing like a living thing beneath my skin. The intricate design twisted and burned, th
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter six
I stood in front of the receptionist’s desk at the hospital, my fingers tightening around the sleek black card that had mysteriously appeared in my wallet. The Hellish System had given me fifty thousand dollars, and now, it was time to use it."How much is my hospital bill?" I asked, my voice steady but cold.The nurse behind the counter barely spared me a glance. "You were here overnight. The total comes to $3,200, including the emergency treatment and tests."I exhaled slowly. That was a lot of money for a single night, but with my current balance, it was nothing.I slid the card across the desk. The nurse's fingers hesitated over the card before swiping it through the machine. She glanced at the screen, her brows furrowing. "It… it went through?"I smirked. "Of course it did."Her eyes flicked to my hospital gown, then to the worn-out sneakers I’d managed to retrieve from the storage locker. I could see the disbelief on her face."Do you need a receipt?" she asked hesitantly.I sh
THE HELLISH SYSTEM chapter seven
I pulled out my phone and tapped on the banking app, my thumb hovering over the "Transfer" button. The silence around me was deafening. Every student in the courtyard was frozen in place, their eyes locked onto my screen, waiting.Frank scoffed, crossing his arms. "Yeah, right. No way you're actually doing it."Selena chuckled beside him, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder. "This is just for show. He’s stalling."I didn’t respond. Instead, I tapped the transfer option and entered the university’s account number.$20,000.My finger hovered over the "Confirm" button."Alright," I said, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Let’s see if I’m bluffing."I pressed the button.A moment later, my screen flashed: Transaction Successful.Then, almost immediately, a chime echoed from the administrative building. The Dean's phone.The crowd turned toward the building in slow motion, like a wave of disbelief washing over them.Seconds later, the Dean himself stepped outside, adjusting his gla
THE HELLISH SYSTEM Chapter eight
Frank stormed through the crowd, shoving students aside as he made his way toward me. His face was twisted in rage, his hands balled into fists. I barely blinked. I could see the disbelief in his eyes, the rage and the unsettling anger, all rising to the surface. But I was not fazed, not when I am on top of my game. "You think just because you’ve got money now, you’re better than me?" he spat, stopping a few inches away from my face. "You’re still the same pathetic loser you were yesterday, Ethan. And I’m about to remind you of that." I tilted my head. "Go ahead, Frank. Try." I said with a smirk on my face. My eyes darted around and I knew this was just the best way and place to have Frank humiliated. Only if he was dumb enough to fall for it. The crowd hushed. The tension in the air was thick, almost suffocating. Frank sneered and pulled back his fist, ready to punch me. But before he could even swing, something strange happened. A burning sensation shot through my ar
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Chapter nineteen
I opened the file Felix had sent. It was detailed—impressively so. Within a span of hours, Felix had delivered everything I needed to know about Paul Madison. His address, his parent’s names, where they worked, their financial situation, academic records, behavioral files, even psychiatric evaluations.Paul Madison, born and raised in a middle-class family. His father, Gerald Madison, was an ex-cop turned private investigator with a gambling problem. I held my phone and looked at the messages again. My face shrinked. I wonder how someone like Paul was able to measure to me and even had the gut to have me bullied. It was just unforgivable to me. His mother, Lacey, a struggling nurse trying to hold the household together. A single medical bill could send their entire world crashing. Paul himself had two misdemeanors from high school that were buried with money his father didn’t have—most likely favors from friends in high places.Interesting.“Felix, you weren’t kidding when you sai
Chapter eighteen
Trust me, when you have money, there is a lot you can do. You can either be a kingpin or even become a money demon yourself. I was going to become the demon that Frank needed to be scared of. I was not going to steal his spot in the university grounds, but I was going to break his backbone. I knew what I needed to do. I was going to attack this source of wealth. His father. That was the only way I was going to be sending a clear message to him, or should I say a warning. "It is going to be a pleasure working with you, Ethan." Felix said after I transfer a sum of ten million dollars into his account. At first, Felix looked at me and couldn't believe his eyes. It was when he saw the six zeros that he was damn sure I meant business. "Is there any other thing I have to know?" Felix looked at me. "Like?" I looked at him. "You tell me, boss. You are the one after Frank. I need to know who is in on this, and does that include taking down Selena as well?" "Frank's friends are my ene
Chapter seventeen
I read the message, and I immediately rushed down to the location he had sent to me. I met him seated all alone by himself, and when I got to his side, he yanked me toward the chair opposite him. I barely had time to adjust myself before falling to the floor. "What the hell was that for?" I said with anger. "Are you seriously asking me that, Ethan?" Felix snapped at me. " You tell me why you have been snooping around the death of Thomas Rabbit." I looked around, and my gaze landed back on some of the people staring at both of us. Not that Felix cared anyway. "Keep your voice down, will you?" I said, adjusting myself on the chair. I know one thing: I needed Felix if I was going to get to Frank and his minions. He was the one holding the keys to all their secrets, and with just the right amount, maybe I can get him to work for me. "Can I have some juice?" I said, motioning to the bar attendants. A young lady in her late twenties walked towards me. She was wea
Chapter sixteen
[ HELLISH SYSTEM MESSAGE : UNRAVEL THE DEATH OF THOMAS RABBIT ] [ SYSTEM REWARD; $5,000,000 ] My face went pale. I looked around trying to see if I was being monitored or followed. But everywhere was so quiet. The gentle breeze clashed against my face, and the background music was playing melodiously. "Are you alright, Ethan?" Mr Rabbit asked, staring at my face. I let out a slight cough and nodded. "Do you want to tell me what happened to your son? He is dead right?" I asked, staring at both of them. "That is a long story, Ethan. One which we are ready to share with you when you become a part of the family. Me and my wife just wanted to look you up and then decide if we want an adopted child." Deacon said, staring at his wife before he finally looked at me. "So what do you think?" I asked, staring back at them. I know I don't need a family, but this family was special, and I knew they had a connection to Frank. Something in my gut tells me, and I could feel it. "Well, my h
Chapter fifteen
Tracy was about to walk away when I drew her back. "What are you trying to do?" She asked immediately, staring back at me. "I know we got off on the wrong foot. I am not supposed to kiss you, and I am sorry for that, but why don't we make a new set of rules?" I said with smiles. "What are you talking about?" Tracy said, looking at me. "Your rules are not fair. It keeps protecting you while leaving me on the losing end. I know you also want to take revenge on Frank Carter. Why don't we just agree we both need each other?" I said finally releasing my hands off her waist. Tracy chuckled and folded her two arms while looking at me. "I think I like the new version of you, Summerville." She said, smoothing my rumpled clothes. "You said you were going to propose a kind of solution to boycott my rules. I am all ears." Tracy said with a smile. "I don't know why I am doing this, but I believe it is going to be a win-win for the both of us. We make the students believe we are an it
Chose fourteen
Fiona Carey had the camera fixed and immediately positioned it to my face. The hallway was silent, with some of the students whispering if I was going to take revenge on her for what she had done. But I was not a woman beater. I chuckled and looked at her. "Well, it looks like you still have a lot to learn. Do you feel less than you already have? Look around you, Mighty Selena Ray. Do you think I was going to get back with you simply because you said please'? I snapped. "I thought I could manage someone like you, but it is obvious that you are way beneath me. Do you think because you have some ill-gotten money now, you can do whatever you feel like?" Selena, akimbo, looking at me. I laughed again, staring at her face. "Then if it is not money, then what is it?" I walked round her like a predator circling its prey. "You left me for that bully, didn't you? And if my guess is right, you are coming back to me because you honestly think that I have more money than Frank ever
Chapter thirteen
[ DING! ] [ DING! ] [ DING! ] All the students phones buzzed as I walked past the student hall. "I told you; I said he was rich." "Who are his parents?" "Don't you think it is a little fishy where he got his wealth from? No, parents. No uncles and boom!" "Who cares about how he got his wealth? I heard your father just sold some illegal drugs into the system. Don't you think that is really bad?" One of the students taunted Philip Jayden that his father was a notorious drug baron in the city. Philip charged at the student, and a huge fight erupted in the hallway. I laughed slowly, feeling myself. Yes! Let them fight over me. I had to show them I was not on Jeremiah's level. I need to prove to those low scum that I won't be bullied. Not anymore. "Hey! Rich kid." I heard a familiar voice right behind me. I turned slowly to meet Selena's gaze. She was putting on a hat, and she was flanked by her friends who were drooling over me. I felt the tattoo under my skin burn hot, and
Chapter twelve
Felix smirked and leaned back in his chair, tapping a finger against his chin like he was calculating a formula in his head. He looked me over, his sharp eyes sizing me up — not just my money, but my ambition. "Two million”, he said. "Money is not the issue right now, Felix, but I need you to keep a secret. None of this must reach the ears of any students on this campus." I said, staring at him. Felix looked around and smiled, "Well, that depends on how much you are willing to pay for my service and how much you are going to be paying to have me keep my mouth shut. I can do both if the pay is high enough." I didn’t blink. I reached into my bag, brought out a slim envelope, and placed it gently on the table. He raised a brow. “You came prepared.” “I always do.”He picked up the envelope, peeled it open slightly, then nodded. “You want your name everywhere, right? Campus fame? Digital presence? Social media dominance? All of that?” “And more,” I said. “I want them to know
Chapter eleven
My hands grasped my phone gently. My gaze was fixed on the screen. I could barely believe it. I was twelve million dollars richer. A money that was not befitting of a small boy like me. You know that moment you saw the zero at the back of the actual number. You lose focus. That was exactly what happened to me. My head swells, and my palms become sweaty. I looked around the school, and I noticed some of the students were beginning to know my weird behaviour. I have a lot of bills to settle. I need to buy books and also invest. The school were filled with different calibres of students whose parents got their money from gambling, investment, fraud and many other atrocities. But most of them like to deny the fact that their parents were a bunch of criminals. Rather, they prefer to flaunt their parents wealth and oppress the poor, like me. But not anymore. I looked at the message I was seeing right in front of me. I have been upgraded. That was also a good thing, right?
