2026-01-22 07:08:57Derek circled Kai like a predator sizing up prey. His phone was out, recording. Brandon and Justin flanked him, their expensive shoes crunching on broken glass from the taxi's shattered mirror.
The crowd had grown larger. At least twenty people now, all of them with phones pointed at the scene. Someone in the back whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Isn't that the guy from the video? The one who barked?"
"Oh shit, it is. This is about to go viral again."
Brandon heard it and grinned wider. He held his phone up higher, making sure to capture everything. "The dog found his bark again, guys! This is going to be even better than last time! Make sure you all follow me for part two!"
Justin stepped closer to Kai. Close enough that Kai could smell his cologne. Expensive and suffocating. He leaned in, his voice low and mocking.
"You remember what happened last time you talked back, right? Should we make you bark again? Right here in the street? I bet the views would be even higher this time."
Driver Chen was still on his knees. His hands shook as he reached up and grabbed the hem of Kai's jacket. His voice came out desperate and broken.
"Please, sir. Please don't make this worse. They'll destroy both of us. Just let it go. I'll figure something out. Please."
Kai looked down at Chen. The man's eyes were wet. His whole body trembled. This was what fear looked like when it had nowhere left to hide.
Kai's vision flashed blue.
The system screen appeared in front of him. But this time it was different. The border pulsed red, urgent and demanding. Text scrolled across it fast.
EMERGENCY MISSION TRIGGERED: HUMILIATION REVERSAL
CURRENT SITUATION: Three of your tormentors have appeared. Public humiliation opportunity detected. The universe has given you a chance for righteous vengeance.
MISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Expose their hypocrisy and cruelty publicly
Protect the innocent (Driver Chen)
Demonstrate your new status without revealing the system
DO NOT resort to violence (righteousness, not revenge)
MISSION REWARDS:
500 Upgrade Points
Special Skill: Authority Presence (Make people instinctively defer to you)
Cash Bonus: $5,000,000
Hidden Reward: (Unlocked based on performance)
FAILURE CONSEQUENCES:
Loss of 200 UP
System will mark you as unworthy of further combat related missions
They will continue to torment you and others
OPTIONAL BONUS OBJECTIVE: Make them kneel and apologize to Driver Chen
Bonus Reward: Epic tier skill unlock
TIME LIMIT: 30 minutes
Kai read it all in seconds. His expression didn't change. The screen flickered, and new text appeared. This time it was different. Colder.
SYSTEM OVERRIDE
The word appeared right before Kai's eyes in bloody red.
Clawing at him and screaming, deadly.
The host has been granted power, resources, and opportunity. But power without the ability to wield it is meaningless.
This mission will proceed without system assistance.
No special contacts and hidden advantages.
OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE
Derek and his friends stepped forward from the crowd with matching smirks plastered across their faces, their eyes fixed on Dante like wolves circling prey.
Derek folded his arms and tilted his head with mock concern dripping from every word as he said, "Hope you're ready to bark again, just like old times."
The crowd erupted into fresh laughter and phones angled toward Dante to capture what they assumed would be his humiliation.
Dante reached into his jacket pocket without breaking eye contact and pulled out a small bottle of water that had been there all along, droplets clinging to the plastic as he held it up for everyone to see.
"Drink up," he said with his voice cold and even, "because you're going to be the ones barking instead."
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#8#
Derek circled Kai like a predator sizing up prey. His phone was out, recording. Brandon and Justin flanked him, their expensive shoes crunching on broken glass from the taxi's shattered mirror.The crowd had grown larger. At least twenty people now, all of them with phones pointed at the scene. Someone in the back whispered loud enough for everyone to hear."Isn't that the guy from the video? The one who barked?""Oh shit, it is. This is about to go viral again."Brandon heard it and grinned wider. He held his phone up higher, making sure to capture everything. "The dog found his bark again, guys! This is going to be even better than last time! Make sure you all follow me for part two!"Justin stepped closer to Kai. Close enough that Kai could smell his cologne. Expensive and suffocating. He leaned in, his voice low and mocking."You remember what happened last time you talked back, right? Should we make you bark again? Right here in the street? I bet the views would be even higher th
#7#
Kai sat in the back of the worn out taxi, watching the city blur past his window. The morning sun cut through the buildings and painted everything gold. His phone was heavy in his pocket. Sixteen million dollars. The number didn't feel real yet.The driver was a middle aged man with graying hair and laugh lines around his eyes. His name tag said Chen. He had been talking since they pulled away from the hospital, mostly about his daughter."She's fifteen," Chen said, glancing at Kai in the rearview mirror. "Smart kid. Really smart. She got accepted into Silvercrest Prep on a scholarship. Can you believe that? My daughter, going to a school with all those rich kids."His voice was full of pride and worry at the same time.Kai thought about Mara. His own sister was fifteen too. She had that same scholarship. That same chance at something better."That's good," Kai said quietly. "You should be proud.""I am. I really am. But man, the expenses. They say it's a scholarship but there's still
#6#
The hospital waiting room had gone silent after Kai's card went through. Six thousand dollars, approved just like that.The receipt printed slowly, each mechanical whir sounding louder than it should have.Brett Harrison stood frozen near the administrator's desk, his phone still in his hand. He had been recording the whole thing, expecting Kai to be dragged out by security. Instead, everyone was staring at the receipt like it was some kind of miracle.Dr. Walsh cleared his throat and straightened his white coat. He looked at the receipt, then at Kai, then back at the receipt. His expression had changed completely. The smugness was gone. Now there was confusion and something else. Nervousness."Well," Dr. Walsh said with a forced laugh. "I suppose we can proceed with the examination after all."Brett's jaw tightened. He stepped forward and waved his hand dismissively at the whole situation. "Six thousand dollars? That's nothing." He pulled out his own card, a black credit card with go
#5#
Dr. Walsh stared at the screen. His smile vanished. His face went blank with shock.Brett stopped recording. His mouth fell open.The receptionist made a small choking sound.No one moved. No one spoke. They all just stared at the payment terminal like it had personally betrayed them.Dr. Walsh blinked hard. Once. Twice. He looked at Kai. Then back at the screen. Then at Kai again."This... this can't be right." His voice came out weak. Uncertain.He pressed a button. The transaction details popped up. Six thousand dollars. Approved. Successful. Already processed.The terminal started printing a receipt. The sound of paper feeding through was deafeningly loud in the silent room.Dr. Walsh grabbed the receipt as soon as it emerged. His hands were shaking slightly. He read it once. Read it again. His lips moved but no sound came out."It went through," he finally whispered. "It actually went through."Brett pushed forward, his confidence cracking. "Let me see that!"He grabbed the recei
#4#
Everyone froze.The laughter died in their throats. Brett stopped mid-chuckle, his mouth hanging open. The receptionist blinked like she'd misheard. Even the security guard looked confused.Then the laughter exploded back, louder than before."Double!" Brett slapped the reception desk, his whole body shaking with laughter. "Did he just say DOUBLE? Six thousand dollars? Is this dog having actual delusions?"The staff joined in. The nurse was wiping tears from her eyes. The orderly had to lean against the wall.Dr. Walsh smiled, but it wasn't quite as confident as before. His eyes had changed. Something calculating flickered behind them."Six thousand dollars?" he repeated slowly. "For a simple medical checkup?"Brett was still laughing. "Doc, come on. Look at him. He probably doesn't even have six dollars. This is sad. Actually sad."But Dr. Walsh was quiet now. Staring at Kai. Doing math in his head. Six thousand dollars for maybe an hour of work. That was a lot of money. Even for him
#3#
The receptionist looked at Kai like he was something stuck to her shoe. "Listen, we don't have any toilets for you to clean here. No vomit to mop up either. This is a hospital, not a homeless shelter."Kai's head throbbed where Chase had kicked him. His vision blurred at the edges. He needed medical attention."I understand," he said softly. "I just need to see a doctor. I can pay."The woman laughed. Actually laughed. "Sure you can, honey. They all say that. You know what? I'm calling security."She picked up her phone. Kai didn't argue. He just stood there, waiting quietly while she made the call. A security guard appeared a minute later, already looking annoyed."What's the problem?""This man is bothering patients. I think he's homeless or on drugs. Can you escort him out?"The guard looked at Kai's stained janitor uniform and bruised face. His expression said everything.Before anyone could move, the automatic doors slid open.Brett Harrison walked in.Everything changed instant
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