LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 3: chapter 3
It had been a few weeks since the shard fused with Alex's soul, and life was, for the most part, normal. He went to work, had dinner with his family, and spent time playing video games with his friends. Yet, there was always that undercurrent—his system lurking in the background, silently storing every piece of information he came across.
At work, Alex found himself finishing tasks faster than ever before. He'd be done with bookkeeping projects hours ahead of schedule, leaving him with an unsettling amount of free time. His boss, Mr. Harris, even commented on how efficient Alex had become.
"You've been knocking out reports like clockwork," Mr. Harris said, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Got some kind of secret technique you're using?"
Alex smiled politely. "Just staying focused, I guess."
But deep down, he knew it was more than that. The system's memory processing made everything effortless. He could retain every number, every transaction with perfect clarity, reducing the workload to nothing more than routine. Yet, as easy as it was, Alex was careful not to show too much. He didn't want to stand out.
---
That evening, he sat at the dinner table with his family, the sounds of clinking silverware and casual conversation filling the room.
"So, Alex," his mom asked, "anything exciting going on at work?"
Alex shrugged. "Not really. It's been pretty routine. Just handling reports, filing some tax forms. You know, the usual."
His mom nodded, but Amilia, his younger sister, was more animated. "I bet that's soooo boring!" she said with a grin, twirling a fork full of spaghetti. "You should come to my school sometime and see what real work is like—group projects and everything."
Alex chuckled. "I'll pass, thanks. Besides, I've been there, done that. College was full of group projects."
"Yeah, but you never had to deal with the sheer chaos that middle school brings," Amilia retorted with a dramatic flair. "You wouldn't survive a day."
His dad chimed in with a laugh. "You'd be surprised, Amilia. I think your brother has a way of handling things we don't even know about."
Alex gave a half-smile, unsure if his dad's words were a compliment or some kind of observation. He played it off as just another dinner conversation, but in the back of his mind, a small voice whispered: You could show them.
He could—he could show them how easy everything had become, how his system gave him an edge no one else had. But no. Alex quickly dismissed the thought. He wasn't going to stand out. Not like that.
---
Later that night, he was gaming with his college friends online. They were deep into a strategy game, trying to outmaneuver each other in a battle of wits. Normally, Alex would have struggled to keep up with their fast-paced thinking, but now? It was different.
"Dude, how are you pulling off these insane moves?" his friend Ben asked, frustration clear in his voice. "You're like five steps ahead of everyone."
"Yeah, seriously," another friend, Kyle, chimed in. "It's like you can see the future or something."
Alex shrugged, though a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Just lucky, I guess."
But it wasn't luck. His mind was operating in "Smart Mode" again, just for a few minutes. He saw the game's strategies, calculated his friends' likely moves, and adjusted his own tactics accordingly. It was as if everything was slowed down for him, giving him the perfect edge.
The temptation to keep it going was strong. He could dominate every game, outthink every opponent, be the undisputed king of their friend group. But after a few more minutes, Alex forced himself to shut it down. His head throbbed slightly, reminding him of his limits.
The truth was, while the system made him sharper, there was a cost. The mental strain of "Smart Mode" wasn't something he could sustain for long. It left him drained if he pushed it too far. And besides, what was the point of showing off to his friends? He didn't want them asking too many questions.
As the game ended and the group signed off for the night, Alex leaned back in his chair and sighed. He could feel the itch to do more—to see just how far the system could take him. But he also knew it wasn't worth the attention. Not yet, anyway.
---
The next day, as he walked into work, his co-worker Jane greeted him at the door with her usual cheery smile. "Hey, Alex! You're early as always."
"Yeah, I like to get a head start," Alex replied, returning her smile. Jane had been with the company longer than he had, and they had developed a friendly rapport. She was always full of energy, talking about her weekend plans or the latest shows she was watching.
"Hey, have you seen that new series on Netflix?" she asked as they walked inside together. "It's a mystery-thriller, kind of like that old show Sherlock, but with more twists. You'd probably like it."
Alex shook his head. "No, haven't had time to check it out yet. What's it called?"
"It's called Shattered Truth. You should totally binge it this weekend."
"I'll add it to the list," Alex said, mentally storing the information away. With his system, watching an entire series in a weekend wasn't just possible—it would be effortless. He could probably recall every scene with photographic accuracy after just one watch. But then, what was the point of binge-watching if there was no real challenge?
Jane chattered on about the show, describing the plot in detail as they reached their desks. Alex half-listened, focusing instead on the day ahead. He had a few reports to finish up, but he knew they wouldn't take long. With his system, he'd breeze through them by mid-morning.
As the workday began, Alex sat at his desk, his thoughts drifting. He could feel the pull to do more—to use the system's full potential in ways that went beyond simple bookkeeping or games. But every time the thought crossed his mind, he reminded himself of the risks.
For now, he would stay low-key. There was no rush. After all, he had plenty of time to figure out just how far this system could take him. But that time hadn't come yet.
For now, he was just Alex—a guy with a regular job, regular friends, and a not-so-regular system tucked away where no one could see.