Chapter 4 - The Lottery

Ben's eyes widened as he stared at the list of skills presented to him by the System. Charm Cultivation and Mind Manipulation? He thought he had escaped the horrors of his first day, but it seemed the System had other plans.

He scanned the list, trying to make sense of the jumbled words. Cultivation? What did that even mean? He thought back to his memories of his mother, but it was all just a blur. The System's words were like a foreign language to him.

But then, he saw it - a button with a red label that read "SSS Level". Ben's heart sank. What was an SSS Level?

Suddenly, the System's voice spoke again, its tone dripping with excitement. "Congratulations, Ben! You have chosen the SSS Level. You will be rewarded with a unique set of skills that will aid you in your survival in this world."

Ben's mind reeled as he tried to process what was happening. He was being treated like a tool, a means to an end. The System was manipulating him, using him to further its own goals.

The System presented him with two options:

1. **Physical Strength**: +20% to melee damage and attack speed
2. **Seduction**: +10% to charm and manipulate NPCs

Ben's eyes narrowed as he considered the options. He didn't want to be a monster, not again. But the System's promise of power and control was too enticing to resist.

He clicked the button for Seduction, and a warm, golden light enveloped him. Ben felt a surge of confidence and charisma flow through him. He was now a monster, a creature of the night, feared and revered by the very creatures he was supposed to be hunting.

But as he looked around the room, he realized that he was trapped. The System had set him up, and now he was at its mercy.

Ben's eyes locked onto a figure standing in the shadows, a figure that looked uncannily like his mother. She smiled at him, her eyes gleaming with a sinister light.

"Welcome to our little game, Ben," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "You're going to play out your role, and we'll see how long it takes you to realize what's really going on."

Ben's heart sank, but he knew he had no choice. He was a monster now, and he would have to play by the System's rules.

Ben, still reeling from the revelations about the System, is determined to escape the world he's been trapped in. He decides to take a chance and try to gather more information about the System's true nature and his own role in it.

He begins to explore the ruins of his home, searching for any clues that might help him understand what's happening. As he navigates through the ruins, he stumbles upon a strange device that seems to be emitting a faint signal.

The device is a small, sleek box with a holographic display and a series of buttons and levers. Ben's curiosity gets the better of him, and he decides to investigate.

As he touches the device, the screen flickers to life, displaying a cryptic message: " SYSTEM: REACTIVATE".

Ben's heart racing, he realizes that the device might be the key to escaping the world he's been trapped in. But he also senses that there's something more to it, something that could put him in even greater danger.

What does Ben do next?

Chapter end