The alley was quiet—too quiet.
Just two hours ago, Arin had received his first combat quest. The system had marked a target with a red pulsating icon on his minimap: a Class E Threat lurking near the abandoned sewers on the edge of Sector 9.
He moved cautiously now, navigating the twisted metal fences and broken concrete slabs that guarded the entrance. The air reeked of damp soil, old oil, and something… unnatural.
> [Quest Active: The First Test]
Objective: Eliminate 1 Class E Threat
Target Type: Mutated Rodent Drone – Status: Active
Reward: +2 Stat Points, +1 DNA Fragment, Combat Log Access
His heart pounded.
"I've never fought anything before," he whispered, gripping a metal pipe he'd scavenged from a junkyard.
The system buzzed again.
> [Skill Activated: Bio-Regen (Passive)]
Minor stamina restored.
A soft comfort—but no guarantee of survival.
He stepped deeper into the tunnel. Yellow warning lights flickered along the walls, casting erratic shadows. Water dripped from above, echoing eerily.
Then, a low growl echoed from the darkness.
It wasn't a normal animal sound—it was mechanical, glitched, distorted. Like a dying robot trying to mimic rage.
The red icon on his map pulsed faster.
"It's close…"
---
Suddenly, a blur leapt from the shadows.
It was grotesque—a hybrid of flesh and metal. Its eyes glowed red. Patches of fur were fused with circuit plating. Two tails, sharp like whips, lashed at the air. It was at least twice the size of a regular rat.
The Mutated Rodent Drone.
It hissed, scanning Arin with an eye that blinked in binary code.
> [Threat Level: E – Low Intelligence – Aggressive]
> [Combat Mode Activated]
The rodent pounced.
Arin barely rolled away in time, scraping his elbow on the tunnel floor. Pain surged—but his mind was sharp.
"Move first. Think later!"
He swung the pipe at the creature's flank.
A loud clang—and the drone staggered slightly.
> [Damage Inflicted: 4 HP]
But it wasn't enough.
The beast recovered, its tail whirling like a blade.
Arin ducked. Too slow.
> [Damage Received: -6 HP]
Injury: Shallow cut on right shoulder
Blood trickled down his arm.
"Damn it…"
His breath grew heavy, but his body reacted faster than expected. Muscles tense. Heart steady.
> [Bio-Regen Engaged – Minor recovery activated]
The system was keeping him alive—but only just.
He needed a new strategy.
---
Arin scanned the surroundings. Pipes. Loose cables. A hanging light fixture.
"Time to think like a survivor."
He baited the rodent, luring it toward the leaking pipe. The creature hissed and charged again.
Arin jumped aside at the last moment.
The rodent struck the pipe—bursting it open. Steam shot out, momentarily blinding it.
He didn't waste a second.
He dashed forward and slammed the metal rod directly into the creature's eye socket. Sparks flew.
> [Critical Hit! – Damage Inflicted: 17 HP]
[Target HP Remaining: 0%]
[Target Eliminated]
The drone sparked once more and collapsed.
Arin dropped to his knees, panting.
"I… I actually did it."
---
> [Quest Complete: The First Test]
Rewards:
– +2 Stat Points
– +1 DNA Fragment
– New Menu Unlocked: Combat Log Memory
> [DNA Rank Progress: 1.7%]
> [Congratulations. You are now eligible for Basic Combat Integration.]
A new tab opened on his interface:
> [Combat Log Memory – Access Granted]
You may now record, review, and simulate battles in memory-space. Neural sync limit: 3 minutes/day.
Arin tapped it.
Suddenly, the world faded—and a virtual projection of the sewer fight played out in his mind. He could see his movements, his mistakes, his angles.
"It's like my own battle trainer…"
The system was preparing him—not just to fight, but to master combat.
---
Back in the real world, Arin exited the tunnel with a limp and blood on his clothes—but a spark in his eyes.
"I'm getting stronger," he whispered, looking at his stats.
> Strength: 4
Agility: 2
Stamina: 3
Intelligence: 4
Unassigned Stat Points: 2
He placed one point in Agility, one in Stamina.
> Agility: 3
Stamina: 4
His movements felt smoother instantly—his heartbeat steadier.
> [You have met the minimum requirements to unlock a new skill path.]
Available Skill: Reflex Boost (Passive)
Requires: Agility ≥ 3, Combat Experience ≥ 1
Status: Unlocked
> [Skill Acquired: Reflex Boost (Passive)]
Description: "Enhances reaction speed by 5% in short-range encounters."
Another piece of the puzzle.
Arin was building something now—a version of himself that could finally fight back against the world.
---
But miles away, someone else was watching.
Inside a control room buried beneath the capital sector, an agent viewed Arin's surveillance footage. The director's order was clear: monitor, assess, and classify.
"He just took down a Class E in 48 hours with no formal training," the analyst said, adjusting her glasses.
"Implant?" another asked.
"No. The system is integrated on a cellular level. This isn't artificial. It's organic evolution."
The commander crossed his arms. "Tag him. Code: Anomaly Seed."
---
Meanwhile, back in Sector 9, Arin returned to his room exhausted.
His clothes torn. Arm bandaged.
But his spirit?
Alive.
He opened the Skill Tree again, and this time—more paths lit up.
More possibilities.
> – Neural Sync (Locked)
– Reflex Boost (Unlocked)
– Muscle Density (Locked)
– Pain Resistance (Locked)
– System Hacking (???)
"System Hacking…?" he whispered. "What the hell is that?"
The path was blurred. Requirements: Unknown.
Another mystery.
But Arin knew one thing—every drop of sweat, every injury, every battle was building him into something new.
Not just stronger.
Unpredictable.
He stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror.
"Tomorrow… I train again."