The early morning sun glinted off the high-rise windows as Ethan steered the service boat back to a discreet docking area along the river. The adrenaline from the confrontation with Mirella Kane and The Viper was still coursing through his veins, but now that he was out of immediate danger, his mind began to process the broader implications.He was no longer just a businessman or a “nobody” trying to survive. The System had pushed him into a level few could ever imagine. The S-Tier rank advancement notification still glowed in his vision, accompanied by the words:[S-Tier Skill Unlock Pending: Awaiting Mission Debrief and Cognitive Alignment.]Ethan exhaled and leaned back in the boat seat, letting the hum of the engine soothe his racing thoughts. Miles had already sent a secure message with the encrypted logs from the dock incident, showing that despite being outnumbered, Ethan’s tactical decisions had minimized casualties. That partial bonus completion meant one thing—the System was

The night air was thick with tension, carrying the acrid scent of diesel and salt from the river. Ethan Cross crouched behind a stack of cargo crates, the Tactical Grid in his mind flashing red with danger. The Council reinforcements had surrounded the docks, and The Viper was advancing, his eyes gleaming with predatory focus.[System Alert: Survival Probability – 42%] [Master Tactician Active – Full Combat & Tactical Simulation]Ethan’s mind worked faster than any human should. Every exit route, every environmental hazard, every enemy movement was mapped in real-time. His allies were in position but outnumbered, and the reinforcements closing in were elite—trained soldiers, mercenaries, and Council enforcers.He exhaled slowly, letting the chaos of the situation crystallize into clarity.“This isn’t about brute force,” he muttered. “It’s about control.”Calculated CounterEthan activated Shadow Command, manipulating the crates, shadows, and even the reflections of the water to confus

The night hung heavy over the city, its lights dimmed by a fog that clung stubbornly to the skyline. Ethan sat in silence, perched on the edge of the rooftop overlooking the Council’s northern compound. The place was a fortress—high steel walls, guard towers, and patrol drones slicing through the fog like silent predators.The mission timer blinked in the corner of his mind. 17:49:23. Every second was a reminder that time was no longer his ally.For hours, he had studied the compound’s movements, the ebb and flow of guards, the blind spots in surveillance. He’d marked entry points and calculated escape routes, but his gut told him this wouldn’t be enough. Not against the Council.He wasn’t here for information. He wasn’t here for money. He was here for Grayson—the man who seemed to be the thread woven through every mission, every trap, every test the system had thrown his way.And tonight, that thread would finally be pulled.“Still staring at the impossible?” a voice whispered behind

The city was changing. Ethan could feel it in the air—like static before a storm. The once-bustling nightlife felt tense, the clubs filled with whispers, the backrooms thick with deals made in fear rather than ambition. Every player on the board knew that something big was coming, and somehow, all eyes were starting to turn toward him.He had always lived in the shadows, a ghost that few could name, fewer could track, and none could control. But now, with Grayson’s betrayal, the Council’s hidden hand, and Damian’s cryptic promises, the shadows themselves felt hostile.Ethan sat at his desk, screens glowing around him. Mission timers ticked down in the corner of his vision, the System’s cold presence as constant as his own heartbeat. Forty-eight hours. Two contracts. One city about to explode.“Cross,” Jade’s voice broke through his thoughts. She leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, eyes sharp. “You’re moving faster than usual. Care to let me in on what storm you’re about to drag

The city was drenched in rain, neon reflections flickering on the slick asphalt like shards of glass. Ethan stood alone on the rooftop of a half-collapsed warehouse, the storm thrashing around him. Below, the streets were empty—too empty. The kind of silence that came right before the world erupted.Maya’s blood still lingered in his memory. Her words, her last look, the weight of failure pressed against his chest like a physical force. He had followed every protocol, every system command, every mission directive… and still, he couldn’t save her.The System pulsed in his skull, distant, cold, and insistent.Mission Timer: 05:48:23Current Mission: Eliminate Damian Black Optional Objective: Avoid civilian casualtiesEthan scowled. Optional. The System’s idea of “optional” when blood had already been spilled.He clenched his fists. No. This wasn’t optional. This was personal.The mission board glowed faintly in his vision, Damian’s avatar pulsing red like a heart under siege. All previou