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 Final Rhythm
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The Rise of the Living Dream
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The Age of Reflection Begins
The world was quiet.Not the silence of endings—but the stillness that comes after a deep breath, the pause between one heartbeat and the next. For the first time since the beginning, the continuum was not tearing itself apart in conflict or remaking itself in fire. It was simply aware.The rivers moved with a gentle hum, the sky breathed in colors unseen before, and the light that touched the soil was neither harsh nor pure—it was balanced.The Heart of All Things had awakened, and through it, every being now heard a faint whisper, like a song half-remembered.“You are not alone. You are part of the dream that dreams itself.”It was the voice of Liora. Not as goddess, not as mortal—but as memory. The essence of all balance.I. The Dawn of the New AgeIn the Garden of Mirrors, Ariane stood at the edge of her lake, watching her reflection ripple with colors that did not belong to the mortal realm. Each hue shimmered with meaning—gold for will, silver for peace, crimson for courage, and
The Echo Between Gods
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The world no longer dreamed—it decided.The two paths that had once been one now diverged fully beneath the silent gaze of the Dreaming God. The Children of Dawn no longer gathered beneath the same stars; they gathered beneath their beliefs. The air, once filled with the hum of harmony, now carried the pulse of choice.And from choice, history began.I. The Garden of RemembranceTo the east of the world, where the light of dawn fell longest, Ariane built her refuge. It began as a circle of still water—a lake so calm that even the stars above mirrored within it perfectly, without distortion. Around its edges, she planted the first living trees, each born from a seed of memory.Their leaves shimmered faintly in tones of gold and azure. Whenever the wind passed through them, whispers filled the air—echoes of forgotten songs, laughter from the old worlds, fragments of languages no longer spoken.This was the Garden of Remembrance.Her people, the Keepers of Light, believed that peace coul
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