The world shifted again. The damp, eerie swamp vanished in an instant, replaced by something else. Aleric found himself standing in the doorway of a dimly lit room, his breath catching in his throat. He knew this place. The familiarity of the place could never leave him. The torture. The suffering. He couldn't ever forget.His room. His old room. It was smaller than he remembered, the walls a lifeless shade of gray, cracked in places where time or rage had left its mark.The wooden floorboards creaked beneath his weight, some loose and splintered, as if they had been stomped on too many times. A battered bed frame sat in the far corner, its mattress sagging in the middle, covered in old, faded sheets.The desk against the wall was overturned, its drawers yanked out and empty, just as they had always been when someone had taken whatever little belonged to him. The only source of light came from a flickering bulb overhead, casting long, shifting shadows across the room. They str

Aleric's eyes blazed with rage as he summoned the last vestiges of his strength. The system's warnings still echoed in his mind, but he decided to push them behind him. This wasn't the time for him to heed the system's warning. He either finished them off, or they finished him, and he couldn't let that happen. They can't outdo him when he is younger and immature, outdo him in real life, and then outdo him in the game. IMPOSSIBLE!!. {Skill Activation: Abyss Breaker} The air around him seemed to tear apart, revealing a dark, swirling vortex. His veins pulsed with otherworldly energy as if the very fabric of reality was being channeled through his body. Aleric's mind flashed back to the countless hours he spent playing HQ Virtual Game. He recalled the Master skills he learned, the strategies he employed, and the victories he achieved. The memories flooded his consciousness, imbuing him with a sense of confidence and purpose. With a battle cry, Aleric launched himself at his brothe

Kpa!!Baxter’s knuckles cracked as he delivered a final, thunder-charged uppercut straight into the beast’s gaping jaw.CRACK—BOOOOOM!!!The impact was devastating.The Sand Reaper's body convulsed violently, electricity surging through its skeletal frame.ROAR!!!A high-pitched screech tore through the air as its entire form lit up from within, jagged cracks spider-webbing across its black exoskeleton.And then…BOOSH!!The monster disintegrated into a swirling cloud of ash and sand, dissolving like it had never existed.Baxter staggered, panting, arms twitching from the overload of energy. “Stay down, you roach-faced bastard.”But there was no time to breathe.ONE…TWO…A split second later…SLAM!!A sharp blow struck Baxter square in the back, sending him crashing face-first into the sand.“FUCK!!”He groaned, trying to push himself up, but another hit struck his ribs, knocking the air from his lungs.[ALERT: New Entity Detected!][Designation: Phantom Strider!]-Level: 10 -Healt

BAXTER HOLMES Stat Sheet Updates _System:_ NeuroSpark _Combat Style:_ Close-Quarters / Electrokinesis _Energy Core:_ 78% _Health:_ 42% SYSTEM RESOURCES - System Points: - Previous: 20 - Gains: +10 (Sand Reaper kill) +10 (task) +90 (Phantom Strider kill) -Total: 130 SP -Tokens: - Previous: 8 - Gains: +4 (Sand Reaper) +4 (task) +25 (Phantom Strider) -Total: 41 Tokens. - Money: - Previous: $140.2 - Spent: -$800 (Neural Boost purchase) - Gained: +$60 (Sand Reaper bounty) +$60 (task) +$740 (Phantom Strider loot) - New Balance: $200.2. COMBAT STATS -Kills: - Previous: 3 - +1 (Sand Reaper), +1 (Phantom Strider) -Total: 5 Kills - Completed Tasks: - Previous: 3 - +1 (Sand Reaper defeat), +1 (Survive Execution-Class Entity) -Total: 5 Tasks. CURRENT TRAITS -Pain Resistance I – Reduces pain feedback from injuries by 20% -Adrenal Surge I – Grants temporary strength/durability boost when HP drops below 15% -Overclocked Instinct (

Baxter surged forward like a torpedo, arcs of blue lightning trailing behind him. With Aqua Pulse Engine engaged, he darted past a snapping jaw and fired a charged blast straight into Mireya’s chest.ZRRRACK!!She convulsed, shrieking, before vanishing into the murky dark.[Target: Mireya, Health at 62%]But the celebration was short-lived.WHOOOOMMM!A shadow engulfed him. The Nautilus Breaker descended from above like an underwater meteor, spiraling shell glowing with molten veins. Its Hydro Tail lashed once, and twice, crushing coral towers like toothpicks.SLAM!Baxter dodged the first.SLAM!!!The second clipped him. Pain screamed through his spine. His body rocketed downward, smashing into the seafloor and leaving a bloody crater.[HP: 21% → 12%]He coughed violently, blood mixing with seawater.The system flashed warnings in red.[Fractured Rib Detected] [Mobility Reduced] [Vision Blurring]Mireya returned, her voice low, yet predatory.“Oh, brave little flame… you’re dimmi