A dull and persistent pain suddenly pulled Alex from unconsciousness. His eye fluttered weakly before slowly opening.
Then, he was greeted by the bright hospital lights, which almost blinded him.
A sterile scent filled his nose, and the beeping of machines surrounding him echoed in his ears.
'What happened?'
He tried to move, but he soon realized that half of his lower body refused to respond.
'Huh?'
Panic surged through his mind.
Alex's breathing slowed as memories of the accident flooded back—the blinding headlights, the sharp impact, the feeling of being tossed into the air before everything went dark.
Oh right. He remembered it now.
He got into an accident.
"I'm… alive?" Alex murmured in disbelief, his throat was dry and hoarse.
He was in a state of confusion when the door to his room suddenly burst open.
"Alex!" A woman's worried voice appeared.
In there, a woman named Claire, rushed to his side, her usually composed face was filled with distress. Behind her stood her husband, Richard, who was equally worried about him.
"Thank God you're awake," Claire breathed, gripping his hand tightly.
"We were so worried, Alex."
Claire's face looks youthful and elegant as ever. She had light brown eyes and long black hair that draped down behind her back. Her white skin was also flawless, showing barely any signs of aging.
However, what one would notice at first when you look at her was her curvy body and her large bosoms. Claire was wearing a tight black dress that was hugging her body.
Richard, on the other hand, looked noticeably older. You could see the deep lines on his face. His hair was also thinning, and his bulging stomach was too obvious.
"How are you feeling, Alex?" Claire asked worriedly. She went near him, holding his hand softly. Her face looked visibly distressed.
For the last 5 days, Alex had been unconscious in the hospital bed, and she was deeply worried.
"I don't know… What happened? Why can't I move the lower half of my body?" Alex answered. He was a little bit scared thinking that he might not be able to walk anymore.
Claire's grip on his hand tightened as she exchanged a quick glance with Richard. Her lips trembled slightly, but she forced a reassuring smile.
"You got into an accident, Alex," she said gently. "A hit-and-run."
"And my legs?" Alex swallowed hard.
"The doctors said there's some nerve damage. It'll take time to heal, but they're hopeful with the right treatment and therapy." Richard sighed, stepping closer.
Alex felt a lump form in his throat. He wasn't sure what to feel, but at least there was hope to it.
Claire ran her fingers through his hair soothingly. It sent a comforting feeling to Alex. Claire always does it to him.
"Don't worry, we'll be here for you. Just focus on recovering, okay?"
"That's right. You've always been strong, Alex. You'll get through this." Richard nodded.
Alex blinked at them. His mind was still blank, but he deeply appreciated their care for him.
Claire and Richard weren't his parents, nor was he related to them. However, he stayed with them since he was 8 years old.
His biological father was Richard's best friend, and when he passed away more than a decade ago due to an unfortunate accident, they decided to take him in.
He was really thankful for them.
"How long was I out, Claire?" Alex asked.
Still, with his years of being with them, he had never called them Mom or Dad, even if they wanted to. Maybe it was because, at the back of his mind, he knew they weren't his real parents.
Claire sighed softly, brushing his hair back again. "Five days," she answered.
"You were unconscious the whole time. The doctors said it was a miracle that you even survived."
Alex's heart sank. Five days. He had been out for that long? The last thing he remembered was the pain he felt, and now… he was lying in a hospital bed, unable to move his legs properly.
"You scared us, Alex," Richard added, his voice was heavy with concern.
"When we got the call, we thought…" He trailed off, shaking his head. He couldn't imagine it. He thought that Alex would have the same fate as his father.
"But you're awake now," Claire quickly reassured him, squeezing his hand. "And that's what matters."
Alex forced a small smile. "Yeah… I guess. Thank you for everything. He uttered.
Before they could continue, a soft knock on the door interrupted them. A nurse peeked inside.
When Alex saw her, he immediately thought that she was beautiful. The nurse's hair was tied up in a bun. She looked young, and her features were cute.
Alex's face reddened. The girl was his type. However, he cannot even say it out loud. He was feeling shy, and even if it was too embarrassing to say, he was also inexperienced.
"Mr. and Mrs. Adams? The doctor would like to speak with you."
Claire hesitated, reluctant to leave Alex alone, but Richard gave her a small nod.
"We'll be right back, sweetheart," Claire promised, giving Alex's hand one last squeeze before standing up.
Richard patted Alex's shoulder. "Just rest for now. We'll take care of everything."
With that, they stepped out, leaving Alex alone in the room. The silence settled over him like a heavy blanket.
Alex exhaled slowly, staring at the ceiling. His mind was still processing everything.
'What now?' he thought bitterly.
But before he could dwell on it further…
[The Temptation System has been activated.]
-----
Name: Alex Collins
Age: 20
Status: Recovering (10%)
Strength: 3
Endurance: 4
Charm: 7
Skills:
Basic Endurance (Passive): Increases stamina recovery rate by 5%.
Beginner Persuasion (Passive): Slightly improves chances of convincing others.
-----
A translucent screen appeared before Alex's eyes, floating in midair.
Alex's eyes widened.
"What the—?" Alex blinked rapidly, his heart was pounding out loud.
Did he just become crazy? Was the impact so great that he's hallucinating now?
[This is not a hallucination, Host.]
A soft monotonic robot voice answered his thoughts, scaring him even more.
[You have been chosen, Host. The System saved you from dying. The universe pitied you as you haven't experienced life yet.]
Alex's hands clenched the hospital sheets tightly.
"Huh? What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" His voice was barely above a whisper. He was so confused with everything that was suddenly happening.
[The Temptation System is here to assist you, Host. Your life has been granted a second chance, and I am your guide to experiencing it to the fullest.]
His fingers trembled slightly as he clenched the hospital sheets tighter.
"Assist me? What do you mean?"
[You can complete missions to gain rewards, but failure to accomplish them may result in penalties.]
"Rewards? Penalties?" The words didn't make sense, but the voice was too clear in his head that it's really impossible for it to be all a delusion.
[Correct, Host. Completing missions will grant you rewards that could make you above any ordinary man.]
A mixture of shock, disbelief, and the faintest glimmer of hope sparked in Alex's chest.
Still, something felt... off.
"And what happens if I fail these missions? You mentioned penalties. What kind of penalties?"
[Penalties vary depending on the mission. In worst-case scenarios, failure could lead to irreversible consequences.]
Alex's breath hitched.
Before Alex could process the meaning of those words, another notification appeared before his eyes.
[First Mission: Capture the Eye of a Tempting Beauty.]
[Objective: Gain the favor of the Nurse within 24 hours.]
[Reward: +5% Recovery Boost.]
[Penalty for Failure: Slows down recovery.]
His eyes widened in horror.
"What the hell? Gain the favor of the nurse?"
He doesn't even know how to engage a conversation with a woman!