Dave sat alone in his room, the hum of the city outside barely muffled by the reinforced glass window. It was a small space, just a bed, a desk, and a tall cabinet filled with old school files and combat manuals. His suitcase was already packed. Tomorrow, he would leave for the compulsory three-year military academy, just like every other graduate. But tonight… tonight his mind was on something else.
He stared down at the old metallic box sitting on his desk. Roughly the size of a shoe box, it was engraved with strange symbols—symbols he'd long memorized but never understood. It was his only inheritance. The only thing his parents left behind before they died in the war between humanity and the vampires. No one knew how they died, only that their bodies were never found. And this box… it was all he had to remember them by.
He had tried everything to open it. Keys. Heat. Scans. Passwords. He even had experts from his college tech division look at it during a project. But every time he touched the surface, the same thing appeared in red glowing text:
"Incorrect Password."
Now, on the night before being shipped off to the academy.
Dave clenched his fists. "What the hell are you hiding?" he muttered, pacing. "Why would you give me something I can't even use?"
He had just graduated from high school, and yet he felt like a failure. No ability. No powers. Nothing but this damn box.
His frustration boiled over. Without thinking, he grabbed a small knife from his drawer — and slammed it against the edge of the box.
Clang!
No scratch.
Teeth clenched, he gripped the knife tighter and shouted, "Open! Damn it!" He tried to force the edge under the lid, pushing with all his strength.
But the knife slipped. His hand jerked forward.
A sharp sting. Blood welled up from the cut on his palm.
"Shit—" he hissed.
A single drop splashed onto the surface of the box.
Everything stopped.
The symbols on the box glowed crimson. A loud hum filled the air. Then, with a low click, the box slowly opened on its own.
Dave's breath caught in his throat. "What the—"
A faint light swirled inside the box. Not an object. Not a message. Just… light. It surged upward like a mist, then shot toward his chest.
Pain exploded in his head.
His eyes rolled back.
And then — darkness.
---
He woke up to the sound of birds chirping faintly in the distance.
Sunlight streamed through the window. His head throbbed.
"What... happened?" Dave sat up, wincing. His shirt clung to his chest with sweat. The box lay open on his desk, now completely empty.
Suddenly, a screen with mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[System Online.]
[Initializing User Data...]
Dave froze. "What…?"
[Welcome, Dave Snyder.]
[You have been chosen as the bearer of the Punisher System.]
"Punisher?" he whispered. "What the hell is that?"
The voice continued as if reading from a script:
[Long ago, the world relied on the strength of the Punishers — five warriors who enforced balance between humans and vampires. When both sides strayed from peace, the Punishers intervened.]
[But they were betrayed... and destroyed.]
Dave sat motionless, eyes wide. "You mean... they were real?"
[Correct. Their knowledge and strength were sealed within the system you now possess.]
He gripped the edge of the bed. "Why me? How did I get this box? What were my parents hiding?"
There was a pause.
[Access to that information is currently restricted.]
"What?" he snapped. "Why? What are you hiding?"
[Unable to comply.]
"Of course you are," Dave muttered bitterly.
But the system wasn't done.
[Displaying Base Stats:]
---
Name: Dave Snyder
Race: Human
Level: 1
EXP: 0/50
Strength: 10
Agility: 10
Stamina: 10
Speed: 10
Skills: 0/?
Mana Pool: 0
System Status: Stable
Evolution Stage: None
---
Dave blinked at the glowing interface floating before his eyes. "Stats? Like a game?"
[You may grow stronger by gaining EXP, leveling up, and completing quests.]
[Every 10 levels, you will undergo a Punisher Evolution — a transformation unlocking new abilities.]
A chill ran down Dave's spine. This was insane. It couldn't be real. And yet, here it was — undeniable.
[Daily Quests Generated:]
Complete 30 push-ups — +5 EXP
Run 3 kilometers — +5 EXP
Do 20 sit-ups — +5 EXP
Completion Reward: All Stats +1
Dave rubbed his eyes, still processing everything. "You want me to do a workout now?"
[Quest expires in 24 hours.]
He laughed bitterly. "You're serious."
He stood slowly, glancing again at the empty box.
Whatever this thing was… it was real