I died choking on sand and blood. I woke up to a roommate yelling about ramen.
Kai Mendoza's Dorm Room – Monday, 6:47 AM
"Bro, if you ate my last Shin Ramyun again, I swear—!"
My eyes snapped open.
Not from fear.From disbelief.
I saw a white ceiling, a bunk bed, a laptop, posters of UFC fighters, and Kendrick Lamar. And some half-dressed guy with a toothbrush in his mouth, glaring at me from the bathroom mirror.
This wasn't Iraq.This wasn't my world.
'Where the fuck is this...?'
I felt pain, dull and aching, throbbed in my chest, but not from a bullet. There was no gunfire and no tinnitus. Just a weird, pressing fog in my skull. My hands were clean, with no calluses, and it was soft.
I looked at the mirror.
The face staring back was tall, tan-skinned, and lean-built with messy black hair and sharp, tired eyes. Not a single scar. Definitely not my body.
But... it was mine now.
"Yo, Kai? Earth to Kai," the guy said, spitting toothpaste foam into the sink. "You good? You zoned out again. Midterms stress?"
Kai. That was the name.I was Kai Mendoza now.
And this... this was college.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION COMPLETE]
Welcome, Host. You have been chosen by the VCP Combat Ascension System.Loading Baseline Physical Stats...STR: 2.5 | SPD: 3.0 | END: 2.0 | IQ: 8.0 | STAMINA: 2.2Martial Skills: [None Acquired]Combat Rank: F-
"Objective: Become the Greatest Combatant of All Time."
'...Oh. A system?'
I sat up slowly, my heart is beating like a damn jackhammer. I'd been blown up in my last life. I didn't expect to wake up again, let alone with some anime-ass leveling cheat installed in my soul.
Was I hallucinating? Am I dead?
No. This was real. I could feel it, the cold floor, warm air, and even the ramen smell from downstairs. It's all real.
And so was that voice.
I wasn't a merc anymore.
I was a college nobody.
But maybe… not for long.
Kitchen – 7:11 AM
"So, you're telling me," said Eli, my roommate, "you pulled an all-nighter, aced that econ quiz, and now you're—what? Enlightened?"
I smirked, stirring my eggs. "More like... reborn."
He laughed, not even asking what I meant. Typical Eli—loyal, sarcastic, a walking TikTok meme in pajama pants.
"You better enlighten yourself into getting a job soon cause rent's due."
"I got plans," I said, sliding two perfect omelets onto plates.
"You always say that."
This time, I wasn't bluffing.
Campus Gym – 8:02 AM
The smell of sweat and steel hit me like nostalgia.
'God, I missed this.'
"Yo, Kai?" called Coach Miller, the ex-Marine who ran the college MMA club. "You sure you wanna spar today? You've been skipping for weeks."
I tightened the wraps on my hands, smiling like a man about to relive his first kill.
"I'm sure."
He shrugged. "Alright. Pair him with Trey. Light spar only folks."
Trey grinned like he smelled blood. Arrogant, tall, and boxer build. The coach's favorite. Thought he was untouchable.
Poor bastard.
[SPARRING MODE DETECTED]Analyzing Opponent: Trey Santiago (Amateur Boxer, 1-0)Strength: 4.0 | Speed: 4.3 | Combat Pattern: Aggressive Counter-Puncher
Initiating Tactical Overlay...
[Weakness Detected: Left-side feint response delay – 0.3 sec lag][Optimal Strategy: Lure right cross → pivot left → inside elbow → liver jab]
'Ooh, I like this system.'
Sparring Ring – 8:05 AM
The bell rings.
Trey lunges in fast—jab, jab, cross.
I don't block. I dodged.
Slip right. Duck low. Step in.
His left twitches.
I pivot. Right elbow slams into his shoulder. He jerks.
Boom—left jab, liver shot. His entire frame shudders.
He's down. Gasping.
Coach whistles. "Damn! Where the hell were you hiding that, Mendoza?"
I wiped sweat from my brow. "Just got tired of losing."
[VICTORY]
Skill Gained: Basic Boxing Lv.1EXP +120Combat Rank: F → F+New Trait Unlocked: "Fighter's Flow" – Grants mild precognition at Lv.1
'This system... It's like having a coach, strategist, and personal devil in my head. I see things clearer, think faster and move sharper. If I train like hell, if I win small... it stacks.'
'I don't need to jump to the top. I just need to climb fast.'
'And maybe... this time, I'll make it.'
10:00 AM, Student Commons
My phone buzzes. I got a text from Eli.
Bro. Ur in that viral clip. "College MMA Guy Wrecks Golden Gloves Champ." Over 100k views already.
I stared at the screen.
The next text came in from a strange number.
"We saw your fight. Call me. - MR Promotions, Miami"
I blinked.
'What the hell is MR Promotions?'