Liam slowly stood up, testing his newly enhanced body. His movements were smoother, faster, controlled. He clenched his fist, feeling the power surging beneath his skin.
"This… this is real," he whispered.
For the first time in his life, he wasn't just surviving.
He was evolving.
Then, another notification appeared.
> Next Upgrade Available: Choose One
1) Intelligence Enhancement
2) Social Skills Upgrade
3) Financial Assistance Package
Liam stared at the options, his mind racing.
This was his chance to break free. To rise.
And he wasn't going to waste it.
---
The Path to Power Begins
Liam's pulse thundered in his ears as he stared at the glowing System interface hovering before him. The choices flickered, each one promising a piece of the future he never thought possible.
> Next Upgrade Available: Choose One
1) Intelligence Enhancement
2) Social Skills Upgrade
3) Financial Assistance Package
His breath came in sharp bursts. This was real. He could feel the residual energy humming in his veins, his body still adjusting to the physical upgrade. His reflexes were sharper, his endurance limitless—but his mind? His mind was still trapped in the limitations of his past.
He clenched his fists. The choice was clear.
"I need to be smarter. Strength alone won't change my fate."
With unwavering determination, Liam reached out and selected—
[1) Intelligence Enhancement]
---
The Awakening of the Mind
A torrent of fire and ice exploded in Liam's skull. He gasped, staggering backward as his brain ignited with electric fury.
His vision blurred. The world twisted. Numbers, patterns, symbols, equations—they all flashed before his eyes like a never-ending cascade of knowledge.
> Processing Cognitive Upgrade…
Neural Pathways Expanding…
Memory Retention Boosted: 200%
Problem-Solving Speed: Enhanced
Logical Processing: Enhanced
Creativity Surge Activated
Language Processing: Upgraded
Liam collapsed to his knees, clutching his head as an unseen force rewired his very consciousness. Everything clicked. Concepts he had struggled with suddenly made sense. Math equations resolved themselves instantly. Words he had only skimmed before now held depth and meaning. He understood.
Then, just as suddenly as it began, the pain vanished.
Liam exhaled sharply, his mind—clear. Sharper than it had ever been. The world around him no longer seemed like a chaotic mess of struggles. Instead, it was a puzzle waiting to be solved.
His fingers trembled as he pressed them against his forehead, testing the limits of this newfound power.
"I… I can think faster. Process things differently."
His gaze darted to a broken street sign at the alley's edge, his mind calculating angles, distances, probabilities—effortlessly.
Then a new alert flashed.
> Side Feature Unlocked: Quick Learning Mode.
Absorb knowledge at 5x speed through books, videos, and observation.
Liam's heart pounded. Five times faster? That means… I can learn anything.
The implications hit him like a freight train.
He could master subjects in days, learn new skills, outthink anyone in any situation.
This wasn't just intelligence—this was power.
And power meant control over his destiny.
A slow smirk formed on Liam's lips. The game had just changed.
---
A Test of Power
Liam stood up, his body and mind now operating on a completely different level. His steps were confident, his posture upright. No more slouching, no more hesitating.
He had spent years as the one overlooked, underestimated.
Not anymore.
As he walked back toward his home, he passed a group of kids from his school, laughing and talking as they loitered near the corner store.
"Hey, isn't that Carter?" One of them, Ethan Walker, sneered. "Still wearing that thrift store trash, huh?"
A week ago, Liam would have clenched his fists, lowered his gaze, and walked faster to avoid them.
But not today.
His new mind processed the situation instantly. Their body language, their tone, their weaknesses—he saw it all in a split second.
Liam stopped.
"Ethan," he said smoothly, his voice carrying calm confidence. "You know, for someone who failed last semester's math test, you sure have a lot of time to run your mouth."
Ethan's smirk faltered. "What did you just say?"
"I said," Liam continued, tilting his head slightly, "that instead of worrying about my clothes, maybe you should be worrying about how you're going to pass this year. Because, if my calculations are correct, you need a 75% average on the next three tests just to not get kicked off the basketball team. Good luck with that."
Ethan's eyes widened, and his friends exchanged surprised glances.
Liam watched every flicker of emotion cross Ethan's face. Shock. Embarrassment. Anger.
The boy gritted his teeth, but he had no comeback. Liam had just exposed him effortlessly.
Liam smirked. So this is what it feels like to be in control.
With measured confidence, he stepped past them, leaving Ethan fuming in silence.
He didn't need to fight. His mind was his weapon now.
---
A New Challenge Awaits
By the time Liam reached his apartment, the world already felt different.
His mother was asleep on the couch, her shift-worn body curled under a thin blanket. He swallowed the familiar ache in his chest. Soon, she won't have to suffer like this.
He sat at the rickety kitchen table, his fingers drumming against the surface. His mind buzzed with possibilities.
"With this intelligence boost, I can pass any test. Get scholarships. Escape this life."
But deep down, he knew that wasn't enough.
Knowledge is good… but money is power.
His eyes flicked to the System panel, still hovering faintly before him.
> Next Upgrade Unlocks in 24 Hours.
A plan began to form in his mind. He wouldn't wait. He'd push the limits of his Quick Learning Mode right now.
His gaze swept across the room, landing on his mother's old laptop. It barely worked, but it would be enough.
Liam grabbed it, opened a search engine, and typed:
"Best ways to make money online."
The screen loaded slowly, but Liam devoured the information in seconds.
Dropshipping. Trading. Freelancing. Investing. Opportunity after opportunity.
His new brain processed everything at lightning speed, filtering what worked and what was a scam.
A slow grin spread across his face.
"If I can learn at five times the speed… I can master any skill overnight."
The old Liam would have hesitated. Would have let fear dictate his actions.
But this new Liam?
He was ready.
Liam cracked his knuckles, his mind sharper than ever, his body stronger than before.
The Ultimate Life Upgrade System had given him a chance.
And he was going to use it to take everything he deserved.