-Chapter 1-

-Chapter 1-

"Hey brother, how are you doing?" I said, calling Ryan, a friend from the private high school I attended and saw all the time whenever I had leave.

"Everything's good with me. I'm at a reception with a bunch of top models; you're welcome if you want to come," said Ryan.

I could already sense he had taken something, but I couldn't tell from his voice if it was coke or just alcohol.

"Thanks, brother, but I just need a place to crash for a few days."

"Dude, you know I have to bring girls to the house, I can't lend you my place for your stories when I need it."

"No, it's not what you think, my parents kicked me out and I need to find somewhere to crash while I get an apartment, a job, or both."

"Dude, weren't you supposed to be in Afghanistan on one of your missions or something?"

"Yeah, but I got kicked out of the army, and that's why my father kicked me out of the house."

"Shit… Damn guys, Dave got kicked out of the army."

"So, is it okay?" I said.

"I really wish you could come, but you know, my place is small and I already have someone living with me, so..."

"It's fine, enjoy your girl, man. I'll manage."

"Dude, you know if it was convenient for me, I'd say yes, but really right now it's not convenient."

"It's no big deal, we'll see each other soon."

"Yeah, bye brother."

I hung up and then watched the passersby coming out of the subway.

I had two big bags with me, and I didn't even know where to go anymore because all my friends had come up with different excuses to avoid telling me they simply didn't want me at their place.

It had been five hours since I finished calling all my friends and acquaintances to find a place to stay for a few days, and now I had to face the fact that I was either going to end up spending $100 on a hotel room or sleeping on the street.

After yet another sigh, I decided to focus on discovering my system.

{System} 

{Achievement System}

{Attributes} 

[Strength: 78]

[Speed: 74]

[Agility: 70]

[Intelligence: 81]

[Wisdom: 82]

[Perception: 75]

[Endurance: 72]

[Constitution: 81]

{Skills} 

[Sniper LV6] [MMA LV5]

{Inventories} 

[Reward Inventory: $10,000]

[Personal Inventory: /]

{Points} 

[Skill Point: 1]

[Attribute Point: 1]

[System Point: 10]

Basically, I got a system that will reward me for every achievement it deems worthy of a reward. That's pretty cool; now I just need to know what can earn me a reward.

Forgetting the system and everything else, I need to think about my future.

It's 2006, which means that in no less than two years, everything will start to go haywire, I thought, remembering seeing the spitting image of Robert Downey Jr on TV, indicating that I was in the MCU or at least a variant of it.

I fiddled around for a few moments to understand how my system worked and finally managed to figure out what all my points were for and how to assign them to gain advantages.

I mentally pressed the gray plus sign next to the Sniper skill, and then a message appeared in the air.

[Do you want to upgrade your Sniper skill from level 6 to level 7 by sacrificing one skill point?]

'Yes,' I thought inwardly.

I felt a sort of improvement deep within me.

It was extremely bizarre; I knew I was better, but nothing had changed, I still had the same memories and skills.

I put this bizarre feeling behind me and assigned my single attribute point to my strength, which increased to 79.

I had more trouble understanding what my system points were for, but seeing the + next to my personal inventory, I realized that each system point could expand personal storage slots.

I looked around to see if anyone was watching me, and seeing that they weren't, I made my two military bags, which contained most of my essential stuff before getting kicked out... well, out of my parents' house, disappear.

Now lighter by a few kilos, I decided to spend $100 on a hotel room before considering finding a way to quickly make more money.

'After all, in San Diego, opportunities were not lacking.'