The Fighter Number One

Starting from heartache

In tense silence, Bryan stood before his boss, Smith. The room was full of staring eyes, some full of wonder, others suspicious. Bryan felt the pressure of those stares, making him even more nervous and tense.

 "Bryan, I don't know where to start... But, sit down first!

Bryan complied, sitting down with his heart racing. Although he had done a good job so far, Smith's gaze made him feel uncomfortable, as if something was wrong.

"Ok... Bryan, I have a very alarming report. A report about your corruption."

"What? Corruption? Boss, I don't understand at all."

"Don't pretend. We have strong evidence of suspicious transactions in your account."

"No, it's all untrue! I've never done anything illegal or suspicious," Bryan said with a scared look on his face.

 "We have quite complete data, Bryan. Not just transactions, but also money trails unrelated to your activities," Smith raises his eyebrows skeptically.

 "Boss, I assure you, I know nothing about this. I've never done anything to harm this company," Bryan said almost in tears.

"Bryan, I'm disappointed. I gave you trust and opportunity, but you used it for something that is not commendable."

His boss's gaze, once full of trust, now turned cold and sharp. Bryan felt like a knife was piercing his heart, not only because of the accusations directed at him, but also because of the feeling of disappointment that came from the person he considered a mentor.

"Bryan, as a consequence, I must dismiss you from this job. You no longer belong in this company."

Bryan felt as if the world around him was collapsing. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. The job that had been a part of his life for years seemed to vanish in an instant.

"Boss, please... I didn't do anything. Please believe me."

"That's enough, Bryan. This decision is final."

Smith's cold stare seemed to lock Bryan into an irreversible decision. Bryan felt weak and broken. He stood up from his chair with mixed feelings, trying to calm himself down.

 "Ba-how did this happen? I never meant to do anything bad."

Smith looked at her for a moment, then turned back to his desk as if he no longer wanted to continue this conversation.

"Now that's enough, Bryan. You can leave."

Heartbroken, Bryan walked out of the office. The gaze of the people around him felt like a stabbing knife. He felt a tense silence, realizing that this news would probably spread throughout the company.

Bryan was devastated, his trust and reputation shattered in an instant. He walked out of the building with shaky steps, his heart filled with feelings of defeat and discouragement. He felt alone and isolated, not knowing how he would cope with a future that had suddenly become dark and uncertain.

"Damn it! Why the hell do I have a boss like that?!" Bryan swore loudly. "I didn't do anything wrong, so why would he fire me on a whim? Fuck, you asshole boss!" he added.

Now he was walking with irritation and anger. Even he kept swearing without stopping. It was because he had been fired without knowing what his mistake was. It was as if his boss was hiding everything.

He was confused about where to go to make money. His sister was sick and in the emergency room, and needed intensive care. He only lives alone with his sister.

"You stone people!" he swore for the umpteenth time.

Bryan kicked something, venting his frustration. Under the drizzling rain he walked with an uneasy mind.

He turned down the alley towards his rental house, but at the same time he saw his belongings flying out of the house.

Bryan quickened his pace, wanting to know what had happened.

"How dare you come back here, heh. Poor bastard!"

"Mom, please! I'll pay this month's rent for sure!" said Bryan as he knelt down to hold the hand of the landlord who wanted to throw the small box left by his parents.

"No more tolerance!"

"Mom... Please! I'll pay it as soon as possible!"

There was no reply, the woman continued to remove her belongings until only the small box remained.

"I promise I'll come back to pay, you heard that!!!

Plakkk!!!

A slap landed on Bryan's cheek from the landlord.

"Don't talk nonsense! Pay up first and then yell at me!" he said with his eyes blazing.

There was no choice, Bryan had to get out of there that second. He carried only the small box and his diploma in a folder. He walked languidly out of the alley.

Tring!

A message came in from his sister.

"Bro! buy me a tart, hope you don't forget my birthday. I'm sure I'll get better if my birthday is celebrated."

Bryan stared at his phone screen without blinking, and soon a drop of water fell from his eyes.

His fingers started typing. "I'll bring you a tart soon! Then get well soon!

The light turns green, and Bryan walks down the sidewalk. A few seconds later, a red light beckons him and Bryan sees a small child who has slipped out of his father's grasp.

From the other direction, a high-speed car sped by. Bryan decided to take action.

"No!!!"

Bryan couldn't let it go, he didn't care and ran towards the boy. He grabbed the boy quickly, and with the remaining strength he had managed to throw the boy to the side of the road.

 The car sped off, with no time to dodge. Bryan gave up. Bryan's eyes only saw something hit his body.

Brak! !

Ciiiiiiittttt!

Brush!

"Where am I?" Bryan felt like he was floating in the air, while the streets were crowded and everyone was looking at his bloodied body.

"Oh my God! My body!"

 Bruab couldn't close his eyes, he saw himself.

I'm dead? I'm already dead?

"I can't die! I can't!"

A second later, Bryan remembered his sister who was being treated, he immediately wanted to go back and be normal again.

"NOOOO!"

"I have to go back! I have to come back! I can't die."

The wind was blowing, as if to blow Bryan away. He didn't care, he forced himself to get to his body. He had to go back, no matter what. Even if it meant fighting a grim reaper.

"I have to go back!"

The strong wind slammed into Bryan again and again, not caring. Bryan stepped up and continued to crawl, occasionally being knocked down again. He had to crawl with all his might, as the wind continued to batter him to keep him away from his body.

"I don't care, I have to go back for my mom!

I have to go back!"

Passion, strength, and burning eyes. Bryan continued to approach her bloodied body. Bryan reached his hand from her body.

"I have to go back!"

"[It's too late, human! This is just another realm that lies beneath the human consciousness. A monograph point at the very bottom of your consciousness."]" a voice from behind Bryan.

Bryan could not see who was speaking. The voice continued to echo.

"You won't be able to return to your body."

"I must return, even if I have to fight thousands of gods!"

"Fool! You are already dead. Your body is almost 50% destroyed."

"I don't care! I have to live!"

"Damn! Humans are stubborn!"

"I have to live! For my sister!"

[Alright..Because of your suffering, the Gods are giving you a second chance at a decent life]

"Is that so?"

[You will have strength with the development you will experience, Bryan. It is the blessing and mercy of the Gods for you,"] explained the disembodied figure.

 ["But of course it is not free. There is one thing you must accomplish."]

"Anything! I'll do anything!"

[Alright]

***

Serial Number: 98023670089001

Activate the 7th Regeneration engine.

Scan user's physical data

Scan ....

[PRIVATE STATUS!]

[Name: Bryan Max

Title: -

Level: -

EXP: 120/200 HP: 40/100

Strength: -| Endurance: -| Agility: -| Sharpness: -

POINTS: 20]

.

[STATISTICS: Body Muscle: Lv. 1 | Sprint: Lv. 1 | Unlocked].

Groaaaaaaarkk!!!!

Bryan turned his head toward the sound. The huge, disgusting thing started walking towards him, a triangular monster with one eye and tentacles accompanied by dozens of spears.

Wush! Wush!!!

 Ting ting.

The arrows threatened around his arms

Bryan, who was unprepared, could only bulge his eyes

"A... What is this? Where am I?"

Bryan struggled to free himself from the arrow.

DING!

[all] Welcome Warrior! Welcome to the consciousness chamber.

[First mission: run from the monsters...]

"Running? Where should I run?"

Buuuhgh!!! Splash!

The arrow pierced Bryan's back and he fell limp. Blood poured out of the arrow but he didn't feel any pain. All he felt was tired from running without direction.

Ding!

[ Player dies. Quest Failed ]

[ Regenerate again]

[ Activate human consciousness]

Suddenly Bryan's body appeared next to him with no wounds at all. Just like before. His body was connected as if nothing had happened.

"Is this a dream? What am I? ... I have to get out of here!" said Bryan who immediately vomited looking at his corpse that had just been hit by an arrow.

"Why am I alive again? Where did that crazy monster come from?"

Dap... Dap... Dap... Bryan ran away without direction and purpose

"What exactly happened?"

[Welcome player! Welcome to the practice room]

Bryan looked around him. A vast land with holograms everywhere like in a computer. The atmosphere was just like in the fantasy novels he often read.

[Training test begins]

[ A monster is created]

Bryan looked at the row of letters and numbers in front of him, which he didn't understand in the slightest.

Groaaaaaaarkk!!!

Again, the golden yellow monster attacked him. This time with sharp claws made of iron.

"You're crazy! How can I face a monster this big!"

Ding!

Quest: Perform an attack on the monster.

"No!!!"