From Zero to Stardom: The Radiant Rebirth

After finishing dinner, Charlie fell into bed, his stomach grumbling faintly. The meager chicken breast and vegetables hadn't filled him up the way he was used to, but he told himself it was fine.

"Just sleep," he muttered, rolling over. "You'll forget about it."

Sleep came slowly, but when it did, it felt like no time had passed before he was jolted awake by the familiar chime of the System.

"Wake up. Task: 3,000 steps."

Charlie groaned loudly, burying his face in his pillow. "Can't I sleep in for once?!"

"No. Begin now."

Grumbling under his breath, Charlie hauled himself out of bed and began pacing around his basement. Step by step, he worked toward the goal, his body protesting every movement. By the time he hit 3,000, his legs felt like lead, and his shirt clung to him with sweat.

"Task complete. Reward: Stamina recovery."

The moment the notification appeared, Charlie felt the familiar wave of energy wash over him. It wasn't miraculous, but it was enough to stop him from collapsing on the floor.

"Thanks, I guess," he muttered, heading for the shower.

---

After cleaning up, Charlie grabbed his bag and headed to school. It was the last day before vacation, and for once, he felt a flicker of excitement. No school meant no teachers, no Bobby Klein, and no cramped desks mocking his size.

But the excitement was short-lived.

The System's voice echoed in his mind as he walked through the halls.

"Reminder: You must cook and complete a workout routine today."

Charlie froze mid-step, his shoulders slumping.

"Seriously?" he muttered under his breath.

The looming thought of more cooking and exercising cast a shadow over his mood. As he shuffled into his classroom, his earlier excitement about vacation faded completely.

Here's the revised version with your updates incorporated:

---

In class, everything was the same. Charlie slouched in his seat, the desk groaning under his weight. He barely looked up as the teacher made the announcement about vacation. The class cheered, but for Charlie, it didn't mean much. Vacation was just more time spent in his basement, now with added tasks from the System.

Bobby Klein and his group were in rare form, though. During a break, someone slapped a "Kick Me" sign on Charlie's back. He didn't notice at first, not until the first nudge came. Then the second. By the third, he realized what had happened.

Instinctively, he tried to reach around to his back, but his fingers couldn't make it. His body just wouldn't cooperate.

Charlie sighed and let his arms drop. He didn't care enough to ask for help—not from these people. The snickers around him confirmed what he already knew: they'd only make it worse.

The laughter followed him into the hallway after the bell rang, echoing in the background like static. He shuffled along, resigned to letting the sign stay where it was, until the janitor spotted him.

"Hey there, son," said Mr. Higgins, the school janitor. He was an older man, always polite, with a mop in one hand and a kind smile on his face. "Turn around for me, will you?"

Charlie frowned but did as he was told.

"Ah, thought so," Mr. Higgins muttered, peeling the paper off Charlie's back. He crumpled it in his hand with a disapproving shake of his head. "Kids these days. Don't pay them any mind, you hear me?"

"Yeah," Charlie mumbled, avoiding eye contact. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it." Mr. Higgins gave him a small pat on the shoulder before heading down the hall.

Charlie trudged back to class, slouching even lower in his chair. He wasn't mad. He wasn't anything, really.

---

When the final bell rang, Charlie stayed seated as the classroom emptied. He always made sure to be the last one out. He knew better than to get too close to anyone. If he did, the whispers would start.

"Oh my god, the slug is coming."

"Ughhh, he's sweating again. So nasty."

Charlie didn't need to hear it to know exactly what they'd say. It was easier to wait, let everyone else leave, and walk home in peace.

Finally, the room emptied, and Charlie gathered his things. As he shuffled out the door, he sighed heavily. The walk home felt heavier than usual.

---

Charlie reached home, the familiar creak of the front door echoing through the small, quiet house. His parents were still at work, like always, grinding through long hours to make ends meet. Even though they didn't say it, Charlie knew they were tired—exhausted, really.

Dropping his bag near the couch, he slumped into his usual spot. The silence was oppressive, the weight of his day lingering in the air.

"System," he muttered, rubbing his hands over his face. "I... I want to change."

The words felt foreign on his tongue, but they came out anyway.

"Vacation's started. I want to be better... and I want more monetary rewards."

For a moment, there was nothing but the faint hum in his ears. Then the System's voice responded, steady and emotionless:

"Acknowledged. Preparing meal plan, workout plan, and additional purchase recommendations."

A series of translucent screens appeared before him, each one overflowing with information:

---

Meal Plan:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with fruits and a protein shake.

Lunch: Grilled chicken salad with avocado and whole-grain bread.

Dinner: Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli.

Workout Plan:

Morning: Cardio (5,000 steps minimum).

Afternoon: Strength training (focus on core and arms).

Evening: Stretching and cooldown.

Shopping List:

Protein powder.

Gym membership.

Resistance bands.

Basic dumbbells.

---

Charlie gulped, his eyes widening as more screens appeared, displaying Milestone Rewards for sticking to the plans:

Milestone 1:

Reward: $500.

Milestone 2:

Reward: Pumped Perk increase (+5%).

Milestone 3:

Reward: Potion for gradual height increase (effective until age 21).

Milestone 4:

Reward: Better Genes Potion (enhances physical attributes and resistance to illness).

Milestone 5:

Reward: $5,000.

Milestone 6:

Reward: $400.

Milestone 7:

Reward: IQ Enhancement Potion (improves focus and cognitive abilities).

Milestone 8:

Reward: Battle Sense Potion (enhances reflexes and situational awareness).

---

Charlie stared at the glowing screens, his jaw hanging open. "What the... all this... just for me?"

The sheer scale of the rewards left him speechless. He'd wanted change, sure, but this? This felt like a video game on steroids.

His heart raced as his eyes darted from one screen to the next. The potions, the cash, the perks—it all seemed too good to be true. But then his gaze shifted back to the plans, the workouts, the shopping list.

It wasn't going to be easy.

Gulping again, Charlie leaned back into the couch. His mind was spinning, but one thought pushed itself to the forefront:

"I'll do it," he whispered, clenching his fists. "I'll really do it."

The System's response was immediate.

"This is not all,".

Charlie froze, narrowing his eyes at the glowing screen. "What? What do you mean 'not all'?"

Another notification popped up:

"New Task Added: Combat Training."

Before Charlie could protest, the System continued:

"After every workout, you must complete fighting simulations. You will learn boxing, taekwondo, and jiu-jitsu. This will ensure you master punches, kicks, and ground fighting techniques."

Charlie's jaw dropped. "Why the hell would I need all that?!"

"To evolve, Charlie."

A new screen appeared, breaking down the task further:

Combat Training Rewards:

Boxing: 1-star to 5-star mastery.

Taekwondo: 1-star to 5-star mastery.

Jiu-Jitsu: 1-star to 5-star mastery.

Each star unlocks significant rewards.

And then, as if that wasn't enough:

"To achieve a 1-star Unbreakable Body, you must sustain 5,000 hits during training."

Charlie's face turned red. "FIVE THOUSAND HITS?! What the—! No! No way! I'm not doing that!"

"If you master these skills, you will never be bullied again."

That made him pause, just for a moment. The thought of standing up to Bobby Klein—or anyone, really—was tempting. But 5,000 hits? And training on top of everything else?

"I... I can't do all this in three months of vacation!"

"No," the System replied calmly. "But in three years, you can. Progress takes time."

The screen flashed again, displaying another motivational quote:

"Endurance is not the absence of struggle. It is the triumph over it."

Charlie's eye twitched. "YOU! FAKE... SYSTEM... DAMMIT!" He threw his head back and groaned, clenching his fists. "This is hell! Pure hell!"

But deep down, beneath the frustration and the swearing, a flicker of determination started to grow. He wasn't ready to admit it, but the idea of becoming someone stronger—someone who couldn't be pushed around—was hard to ignore.

And so began what Charlie would forever call "Hell Summer."