Rain drummed against the glass windows of Blue Orchid Restaurant. Inside, couples laughed over expensive meals while soft piano music filled the air. Ethan Cole sat nervously at a corner table, clutching a small velvet box hidden inside his jacket. Tonight was supposed to be special. Four years. He and Lily had been together for four long years. Through poverty, late-night shifts, unpaid rent, and empty stomachs, he had believed one thing would never change. Her. He then thought within him " Why did she choose such an expensive restaurant,........ Maybe she had got really lucky today and wants to surprise me ...." He blushed as he thought more about it. He smiled as he checked his phone. 7:58 PM. "She's almost here." A waiter approached. "Would you like to order while waiting, sir?" Ethan smiled awkwardly. "No... I'll wait for my girlfriend." The waiter nodded politely and walked away. Five minutes later... The restaurant doors opened. Ethan's face lit up. "Lily

THUD...THUD...THUD...The heavy footsteps echoed through the silent hospital corridor.Ethan's heartbeat quickened.He stared at the glowing blue screen floating before him.Main MissionEscape the hospital within 60 minutes.Reward: Hidden Guardian Skill.Failure: Death.Death...The word alone sent chills down his spine."E-Excuse me..." Ethan called out to the nurse. "Who's outside?"The nurse frowned."What do you mean?""The ....footsteps?." Ethan asked She looked into the hallway."There isn't anyone there."Ethan froze.How could she not hear them?"Are you sure?..... Are you not hearing those footsteps..." He asked the nurse looking scared "I think you need some brain checkup because no one is coming here".The nurse said sarcastically .He panicked and said " Noo.... I was just trying to prank you. " He smiled The n

BOOOOOOM!!The hospital's entrance exploded inward.Glass and concrete rained across the lobby.Doctors and patients screamed as smoke swallowed everything.Ethan instinctively covered his face.When the dust settled...A woman slowly walked through the destroyed entrance.She wore a crimson leather coat that fluttered behind her despite the still air.Long silver hair flowed over her shoulders.In one hand, she carried a jet-black sword.The blade wasn't made of metal.It looked... alive.Its surface pulsed like a beating heart.Her cold crimson eyes swept across the hallway before locking onto Ethan.She smiled."There you are."The System immediately reacted.WARNING!Threat Detected.Scanning Target...A blue screen appeared.Enemy ProfileName: UnknownCodename: Crimson HuntressAffiliation: The HuntersDanger Level: SSS+Host Surv

The hospital lobby buzzed with activity.Doctors hurried past.Patients waited impatiently for their names to be called.Everything looked... normal.As if the battle Ethan had witnessed only an hour ago had never happened."..."Ethan glanced at the transparent blue panel floating before him.Daily MissionMake three strangers smile.Progress: 0/3Reward:$500Basic Negotiation Skill2 Guardian PointsA faint smile crept onto Ethan's lips." if it wasn't because of that bad luck lily,...... I wouldnt have failed the mission......... and I would have still had my full money .......This shouldn't be too difficult."Just as he folded the discharge papers and slipped them into his pocket— as he walked slowly toward lilly .His eyes locked into hers She felt strangely irritated as she was moving backwards. Ethan was still moving closer to her, seeing how scared she was he smirked and walk a