"You look nervous, cousin."Damon's hand tightened around his champagne flute as Adrian's voice slithered over his shoulder.The crystal ballroom of the Blackwood estate glittered around them—a sea of designer gowns and thousand-dollar suits, all gathered to celebrate what should have been his moment."Just excited," Damon forced a smile, scanning the crowd for Claire. Where was she? The engagement announcement was supposed to happen in ten minutes.Adrian chuckled, that same condescending laugh that had grated on Damon's nerves since childhood. "Excited to finally prove yourself worthy of the family name?"Before Damon could respond, the orchestra fell silent. Every head turned toward the grand staircase where Claire descended like a vision in white silk.Her diamond necklace—the one Damon had spent his last savings on—caught the chandelier light perfectly.This was it. His redemption."Ladies and gentlemen," Claire's voice carried across the ballroom with practiced elegance."Thank

"FREEZE!"Time slowed. The police officer's finger tightened on the trigger. Damon could see the man's pupils dilate, could hear his accelerated heartbeat somehow. What the hell?[EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS ACTIVATED][INITIATING EVASION SEQUENCE]His body moved without conscious thought.Damon rolled left as gunfire erupted, bullets sparking off the brick wall where his head had been a split second before.The movement felt fluid, impossibly fast—like he was watching someone else control his limbs."Jesus Christ, he's fast!" One officer shouted.Damon vaulted over a dumpster in a single bound, landing silently on the other side.Since when could he do that? He'd barely passed gym class in high school.[PHYSICAL ENHANCEMENT: 12% COMPLETE]The voice in his head wasn't going away. If anything, it was getting clearer, more insistent."Spread out! Cut off his exits!"The alley was a dead end, but somehow Damon spotted a maintenance ladder hidden in shadows twenty feet up the wall.He leaped, fin

[TIME REMAINING: 11 HOURS, 23 MINUTES, 7 SECONDS]The countdown had been burning in Damon's peripheral vision all night. No sleep. Just pacing the rooftop like a caged animal while his body temperature climbed degree by degree.By morning, hunger finally drove him down to street level.Sal's Diner sat wedged between a pawn shop and a check-cashing place—the kind of greasy spoon where a plate of eggs wouldn't bankrupt him.The $47 in his wallet was all that remained of his former life."Coffee, black. Two eggs, over easy." He slid into a corner booth, keeping his back to the wall. Paranoia, maybe, but the system had taught him to think tactically.[SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: LEVEL 2 ACTIVATED]Without meaning to, his eyes catalogued every exit, every potential weapon, every person who might pose a threat. The skill felt natural, like muscle memory he'd never developed."Rough night?" The waitress poured coffee into a chipped mug."Something like that."She studied his bruised face with the

By evening, Damon had walked fifteen miles through the city, avoiding main streets and security cameras. His stomach felt like it was eating itself, and his clothes were starting to smell like the alleys he'd been hiding in.He ducked into a McDonald's bathroom, staring at his reflection under harsh fluorescent lights.The healing was still happening—bruises fading to yellow, cuts sealing themselves. But he looked like hell warmed over."Okay," he said to the empty bathroom. "Time for some answers."[QUERY ACKNOWLEDGED.]"I need somewhere to sleep. Food. Basic human necessities." He felt ridiculous talking to a voice in his head, but what choice did he have? "Don't systems usually provide resources? Money? Equipment?"[UNCLEAR REQUEST. PLEASE SPECIFY DESIRED ASSISTANCE.]"Money! I need money!" He kept his voice low, but frustration leaked through. "Every game I've ever played, every story I've read—the magical system gives the hero resources. Where's my starter pack?"[REVIEWING STAND

By Morning, the whispers had started."Did you hear about the Blackwood heir?""Five men in the hospital. Professional fighters.""They say he didn't even break a sweat."Damon caught fragments of conversation as he walked through Midtown, testing his enhanced hearing. Amazing how quickly rumors spread when you gave people something impossible to gossip about.At the Starbucks on Fifth Avenue, two socialites leaned over their lattes."My personal trainer knows one of those security guards. Said Damon moved like something out of a movie.""Impossible. I've known him since prep school. He couldn't even make varsity tennis."Their conversation died when they spotted him in line. Word traveled fast in their circles.[REPUTATION ENHANCEMENT: 12%.][FEAR FACTOR: MODERATE.]"Is that good or bad?" Damon asked quietly.[DEPENDS ON YOUR OBJECTIVES. FEAR COMMANDS RESPECT. RESPECT GRANTS POWER.]The barista's hands shook slightly as she took his order. "V-venti Pike Place. Anything else?""That's