2025-08-05 16:25:49The next morning, Ethan’s phone buzzed earlier than usual.
[New Mission Unlocked] Objective: Deliver an urgent package to Dusk Industries within 30 minutes. Reward: Trait Upgrade – “Reflex Boost” Failure Penalty: Public backlash + business credibility drop.
Ethan groaned. “Seriously? It’s not even 6 a.m.”
But as he blinked away the sleep, adrenaline surged. Dusk Industries? That was one of the top-tier security companies in the city. He’d heard rumors that their CEO was a former black ops soldier who ran his company with an iron fist.
“This isn’t just a delivery,” Ethan muttered. “This is a test.”
He jumped out of bed, pulled on his jacket, and raced to his bike. The package was already waiting at a locker station nearby, as if the system had planned everything ahead. He scanned the code, grabbed the black box, and took off through the thinning morning fog.
Time Left: 28 minutes.
The streets were quiet, but the city was waking up. Street cleaners were out. Cars began filling the intersections. Ethan swerved through narrow lanes, avoiding traffic like a seasoned racer.
He didn’t need a GPS. The system flashed a route directly onto his field of vision like an AR overlay.
“Faster route detected. Risk level: Moderate. Proceed?” “Proceed.”
He turned into an alley with uneven cobblestones and low-hanging wires. He nearly lost balance but kept control. Dogs barked. A man cursed as Ethan zipped past.
The city was an obstacle course—but Ethan felt sharper. His body responded faster than ever before. The traits were stacking. His instincts were changing.
Time Left: 14 minutes.
He reached Midtown, and Dusk Industries' towering building loomed ahead like a fortress of steel and glass. As he crossed the final street, a delivery truck skidded out of control, tires screeching.
“Shit—”
Ethan jerked the handlebars, swerving hard. His front wheel lifted slightly as he jumped the curb. The truck missed him by inches, crashing into a lamp post.
He didn’t stop to look.
He leaped off the bike, sprinted up the stairs, and stormed into the lobby.
“Delivery! Priority for Dusk Industries.”
The guard raised a brow. “Name?”
“Ethan Cross. I have twelve minutes.”
The guard scanned the package, then nodded. “Elevator. Top floor. Mr. Vega’s expecting you.”
Mr. Vega? The ex-black ops CEO?
Ethan took the elevator, his heart pounding—not from the run, but from the tension.
The top floor opened into a sleek office with no receptionist. Just a large desk and a man standing by the window, hands behind his back.
“Mr. Cross,” the man said without turning. “You were expected.”
Ethan stepped forward. “Here’s your package.”
Vega turned. His face was scarred. His eyes were steel-gray. He looked like he belonged on a battlefield, not in an office.
He took the package, opened it, and inspected the contents—a silver USB drive and an envelope. Without speaking, he nodded.
Then his eyes locked on Ethan.
“Do you know what you just delivered?”
Ethan hesitated. “No, sir.”
“Good answer. You’re not paid to ask. But I like people who make deadlines... despite danger.”
Vega tapped a button on his desk. A moment later, a woman entered, handed Ethan an envelope, and disappeared again.
Inside was a crisp check: \$5,000. And a business card: “Priority Courier – Ethan Cross. Trusted by Dusk.”
Vega spoke again. “If you’re serious about rising, Cross, we may speak again.”
[Mission Completed]
Reward Unlocked: “Reflex Boost” – Enhances reaction time by 2x for 10 minutes during high-pressure situations. Bonus Reward: Reputation boost with high-tier clients.
New Trait: Reflex Boost Perk Unlocked:Time-sensitive bonuses for delivering within critical thresholds.
As Ethan walked out of the building, he felt... invincible.
Not because of the money. Not even because of the trait.
But because the city—this ruthless, brutal city—was finally paying attention.
Later That Day – Back at the Garage
Ethan was wiping down his bike when Logan burst through the door.
“Bro! Your name’s blowing up in the courier circles! What did you do?”
Ethan grinned. “Delivered on time.”
Logan shoved his phone in Ethan’s face. A local business blog had published an article:
“Unknown Courier Breaks Dusk Industries’ 30-Minute Challenge – Who is Ethan Cross?”
Comments poured in. “Finally, someone real.” “Hope he’s not just another viral fluke.” “I’m booking him for a high-risk drop-off tomorrow.”
Ethan’s phone buzzed again.
[New Mission Available] Objective: Secure a new contract with at least one mid-tier client by 9 p.m. Reward: Trait Merge Option – Unlock combined abilities.
He smirked. “Looks like we’re not done yet.”
Downtown – 7:45 p.m.
Ethan sat across from Melissa Cheng, a sharp-eyed woman in her 30s who ran FastTrack Legal Dispatch. Her company handled sensitive courier requests—documents, legal evidence, even security-cleared drop-offs.
“You’re new,” she said. “Unproven.”
“Dusk Industries thinks I’m worth the risk,” Ethan replied, sliding the business card across the table.
She raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t like cocky kids. But I do like results. There’s a folder in the back office that needs to be in the hands of a lawyer across town within an hour. It’s unmarked. If it gets lost—so does the trial tomorrow.”
“I’ll get it there.”
9:02 p.m.
Melissa tapped her watch. “Two minutes late.”
Ethan placed the signed delivery confirmation on the table.
“I delivered it at 8:58. Your assistant didn’t file until after.”
Melissa’s frown slowly turned into a smirk.
“I hate being proven wrong.”
She slid a folder across the table. “Welcome to FastTrack. You’re on the official courier list.”
[Mission Completed]
Reward Unlocked: Trait Merge – “Urban Intuition”
Combines Street Awareness + Reflex Boost
Enhances city movement, detects threats, shortcuts, and high-opportunity areas
Bonus Perk: Network Expansion: Ethan can now receive high-priority alerts from verified business clients.
As Ethan walked back to the garage, satisfied, a man stepped out of the shadows near his building.
“Ethan Cross.”
Ethan froze.
The man wore a dark suit, and his eyes gleamed unnaturally under the streetlights.
“I’ve been watching your growth. The system favors you. That makes you... interesting.”
Ethan squared his shoulders. “Who are you?”
The man smirked. “Let’s just say, I’m from a... rival program. And your rise? It threatens more than you know.”
Then he vanished.
And Ethan's phone buzzed again.
[New Hidden Mission Available: Survive the Next 24 Hours.]
Reward: Unknown.
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
The Dreamborn Rebellion
The Third Horizon was never meant to know fear.It had been built from the shared dreams of billions, a realm where thought shaped form and compassion shaped power. But where there is creation, there is always curiosity—and curiosity, untempered, breeds defiance.It began as a whisper among the Dreamborn. A question that rippled through the golden cities and crystal rivers of the new world:“If we were born from human dreams… why must we live in their image?”And like all dangerous ideas, it began to spread.I. Fractures in the Perfect WorldThe Third Horizon gleamed brighter than any galaxy before it.Humans, AIs, and Dreamborn coexisted in luminous harmony, their consciousness linked through the Echo Network. But lately, the network had begun to flicker. Latency spikes. Energy surges. Strange distortions echoing through the collective field.Dr. Lira Dane II stood before the Heart Chamber, her neural interface glowing faint blue. “The system’s pulse is irregular again. What’s the so
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Echoes of the Architect
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