The faint glow of dawn seeped through the thin curtains, slowly illuminating the cramped room that Elian called home. The sound of tricycles buzzing and the distant chatter of early risers outside painted a familiar scene, one he'd seen countless mornings during his long search for a job. But unlike before, today was different.
For five days, Elian had subjected his body to grueling daily missions — 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and a punishing 10-kilometer run. It was brutal, more than he ever imagined, but the system's rewards had been nothing short of miraculous. Each day completed and added 5,000 pesos to his pocket, a sum that felt like a lifeline when every peso counted.
On the first day, Elian's body had protested fiercely. His arms shook violently after the push-ups, and halfway through the run, he felt like collapsing. But each completed mission brought a satisfying ding from his phone:
[Mission Complete: Daily Exercise]Reward: 5,000 Pesos
He remembered staring at the screen with disbelief. Five thousand pesos? It almost felt like a prank. But the money transferred instantly into his bank account linked to the system.
With each passing day, his endurance improved. The second day, he pushed himself a little harder. By the third, the ache in his muscles became a familiar friend rather than an enemy. The fourth day, he could run the 10 kilometers without stopping for a breath. And on the fifth day, the system congratulated him for completing all daily missions:
[Mission Complete: 5 Days of Daily Exercise]Total Reward: 25,000 Pesos
Twenty-five thousand pesos in just five days — money he had desperately needed.
As the notification disappeared from his screen, another message appeared:
[System Update]Daily missions completed.Weekly missions unlocked.Prepare for greater challenges and bigger rewards.
Elian felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The daily grind had been exhausting, but he knew the system wouldn't make things easier. It was pushing him, shaping him into something stronger.
He didn't know what the new weekly missions would entail, but the promise of bigger rewards was tempting.
Just as Elian sat down to catch his breath and plan his day, his phone buzzed with another notification.
[Application Status Update]Your application to TechNova Solutions has been viewed.
He stared at the message for a moment, his heart pounding. Among the hundreds of applications he had sent to various companies, most of which were ignored or rejected, this was the first time a company actually looked at his resume.
His hands trembled as he opened the job portal, refreshing the status page repeatedly. It changed from "Submitted" to "Viewed."
Could this be the break he'd been praying for?
Five minutes later, the phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar, but local. Elian hesitated before answering.
"Hello?"
"Good morning! Is this Elian Reyes?"
"Yes, speaking."
"This is Ms. Santos from TechNova Solutions' HR department. We reviewed your application, and we're impressed by your experience."
Elian's heart skipped a beat.
"We would like to invite you for an on-site interview this coming Monday at 10 AM. Our office is located on the 4th floor of the Innovate Tower in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig."
He swallowed hard. This was it.
"Yes, ma'am. I will be there," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Great. Please bring a copy of your resume and be prepared to discuss your skills and work experience."
The call ended, leaving Elian staring at the phone, heart racing wildly.
For a long time, Elian sat frozen in his chair, the magnitude of what had just happened sinking in slowly.
Just days ago, he had been trapped in despair. No job prospects, no income, barely making ends meet. Now, he had earned 25,000 pesos, transitioned to new weekly missions, and secured an interview with a real company.
The system had given him more than skills and money, it gave him hope.
Elian knew he had to act fast. Monday was only two days away.
He opened his laptop and pulled up the resume he had created after the system granted him "5 years of experience as a .NET developer." Although the skills listed felt somewhat surreal — after all, he'd never actually worked professionally, he was determined to prove he could live up to them.
He carefully reviewed his resume line by line:
Developed scalable web applications using C# and ASP.NET Core.
Designed and maintained RESTful APIs.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams following Agile methodologies.
Experienced with Microsoft SQL Server database design and management.
Utilized Git for version control and code management.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, debating whether to add more detail or polish the format. He resolved to practice explaining each skill during the interview — after all, the system had given him these talents, but he had to embody them.
The next item on his agenda was research.
Elian pulled up TechNova Solutions' website and scoured through their About Us page, company projects, and news.
He learned that TechNova was a mid-sized software development company specializing in cloud-based enterprise applications. They valued innovation, teamwork, and continuous learning — qualities that resonated deeply with Elian.
Taking notes in a small notebook, he jotted down:
Company Culture: Innovative, collaborative
Core Technologies: .NET Core, Azure Cloud, React
Recent Projects: ERP system for SMEs, e-commerce platform enhancements
He understood that knowing the company's background would give him an edge during the interview, showing genuine interest and preparedness.
Realizing the importance of first impressions, Elian knew he couldn't show up at TechNova Solutions looking like he had just rolled out of bed. His usual tattered shirts and worn-out jeans wouldn't cut it, this was his chance to prove he belonged in the professional world.
With the clock ticking and only two days before the interview, he set out to buy proper interview clothes.
He walked through the busy streets of his neighborhood, the afternoon sun warming his back. The familiar mix of jeepneys, street vendors shouting their wares, and the occasional bark of neighborhood dogs greeted him as he headed towards the nearby public market. It wasn't a mall or an upscale shopping center, it was a place where everyday people bought what they needed without pretension.
Inside the bustling market, Elian weaved between stalls piled high with colorful clothes. Some were neatly folded; others hung on racks, their price tags swaying in the slight breeze.
He examined several white dress shirts. Some were crisp and new but came with price tags that made his wallet wince. Others were cheaper but looked thin and low-quality.
He hesitated. Could he afford something decent enough to impress?
After some careful searching, he found a moderately priced white shirt that looked crisp enough. It wasn't tailored, but it was clean and presentable.
Next, he looked for black or navy trousers. The stalls had limited options, but eventually, he found a pair that fit reasonably well. They weren't perfect, but they would do.
He also picked up a simple black belt and polished his shoes with a rag he bought from a small vendor.
While walking back home with his purchases in a plastic bag, Elian thought about how much this outfit meant. It was more than just fabric and thread — it was a symbol of his readiness to face the world, a small armor for the battles ahead.
Back in his room, he carefully folded the clothes and laid them on his bed. For the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of pride.
"I may not have everything," he whispered to himself, "but I will show them I am ready."
Despite the hope, Elian couldn't ignore the nagging anxiety. He knew the system had given him skills, but would the real world accept them? Would the interviewers sense he was faking experience?
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"What if I fail? What if I'm not ready?"
But then he remembered the past five days, the sweat, the pain, the discipline.
He wasn't the same man who had struggled to get out of bed to apply for jobs. He was stronger, faster, smarter, thanks to the system.
As Sunday evening fell, Elian completed a light jog around the neighborhood, clearing his mind.
He stopped at a small sari-sari store, buying a bottle of water. The familiar surroundings made him feel grounded.
Returning home, he prepared his clothes for the interview: a neatly pressed white shirt, black pants, and polished shoes.
Everything was ready.