Systemfall: Flames of Rebellion

A Deal with Destiny

The line between life and death had blurred. And in that liminal space, something ancient—and powerful—had chosen him.

Dustin stared at the blue lights that had just shot through his body. For a heartbeat, he thought he was dreaming again. But the sting of his cracked ribs and the burning throb in his forehead said otherwise. His body was still broken—but alive. Somehow.

BING!

System: "Whopping Tycoon System successfully paired. Host life functions temporarily stabilized. Emergency protocol in standby."

"What the hell is going on?" Dustin muttered.

His heart rate sped up. He wasn’t just hallucinating—the system was real. And it was talking to him.

System: "Host authorization required. Say: 'System, I authorize you.'"

He hesitated. It sounded ridiculous. But after what just happened, was anything still normal?

"System, I authorize you."

System: "Authorization accepted. Host has officially activated the Whopping Tycoon System. Initializing basic starter pack."

Suddenly, a rush of warmth flooded his chest, like a second heartbeat awakening inside him. A glowing interface appeared in his mind’s eye:

--- SYSTEM INTERFACE ---

Host: Dustin Ryan

Level: 1

Reputation: 0

Wealth: $0

Skills: [Locked]

Missions: [1 Pending]

Bonuses: [None]

*****

BING!

New Mission Unlocked: Rise from the Ashes. Objective: Escape the hospital. Reach a safe location. Time Limit: 45 minutes. Reward: $10,000 starting capital + Ability Unlock: "Minor Heal."

Dustin blinked. "Escape the hospital? Why? What’s going on?"

System: "Warning: Host location compromised. Assassins en route. Target elimination confirmed within 45 minutes."

His heart skipped. "Assassins?!"

Almost as if on cue, the room lights flickered. He pushed himself upright, biting back a scream as the pain screamed through his bones.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway. Heavy. Unrushed.

The nurse who had panicked earlier rushed back in with a doctor. But the moment they saw Dustin sitting up, both froze.

"It—it can't be," the nurse whispered.

The doctor, a stern man with gray at his temples, walked up with cautious steps. "Son, who brought you back?"

"I woke up," Dustin replied.

"No. You were clinically dead. Your ECG flatlined."

"Guess I got better," Dustin grunted, eyes darting toward the door. "Listen, are there any back exits here? Service stairs?"

The doctor frowned. "Why?"

"Because I need to leave. Now."

System: "30 minutes remaining. Target lock confirmed on hospital ward. Three hostiles identified."

"Hell," Dustin cursed under his breath.

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed in the hallway.

Screams followed.

Dustin didn’t wait.

He threw the blanket off and stood, staggering. His left leg refused to move properly, and the pain blurred his vision.

System: "Emergency Skill Unlocked: Minor Heal. Would you like to activate?"

"Yes! Now!"

BING!

A soft, golden glow spread from his chest down to his limbs. The stabbing agony in his legs dulled, his cracked ribs felt less sharp, and his vision began to clear.

"Whoa..." Dustin flexed his hand. He wasn’t fully healed, but enough to move. Enough to survive.

The doctor was too stunned to stop him. Dustin grabbed a pair of crutches, bolted past them, and limped toward the fire exit.

A bullet ripped through the main door just as he exited into the stairwell. He tumbled halfway down the first flight, rolled onto a landing, and sprang up despite the agony.

The System pinged again.

System: "Host resilience increased. +1 Physical stat."

Three floors. That’s what separated him from the basement.

Gunfire echoed above. They were coming.

As Dustin reached the bottom floor and burst into the emergency corridor, he heard a voice crackle in his ear. No, not his ear. His mind.

System: "Bonus Mission: Retrieve Secure Bag hidden under Hospital Parking Lot Drain. Reward: Investment Portfolio Seed Funds + Weapon Unlock."

He didn’t stop to question it.

He pushed through the basement door, eyes scanning for anything that looked like a drain. There—beside a stack of broken pipes.

He dropped to his knees and felt around until his fingers hit a cold metallic case buried in the drain grate.

With a grunt, he pulled it out.

BING!

Item Acquired: Beginner's Pack - Business Tycoon Series.

The box shimmered and opened in his hand:

$10,000 digital credit

Basic business license (Auto-generated)

Concealed pistol (9mm)

Skill Chip: "Negotiation Lv.1"

Fake identity: "Damian Knox"

"This is insane," Dustin breathed. "I love it."

System: "15 minutes remaining."

Suddenly, a red laser dot appeared on his chest.

"Shit!"

Dustin dove to the side as a suppressed shot cracked. The bullet pinged off a pipe.

From the shadows, a tall figure in a long coat stepped out, wielding a silenced pistol. "You weren’t supposed to walk out alive, kid."

"Tell the Wynnes I don’t die so easy," Dustin growled.

He raised his own weapon and fired.

BANG!

The assassin ducked. Bullets whizzed.

Dustin dashed for the back exit, grabbing a fire extinguisher along the way. Just before reaching the door, he turned and launched it at the assassin, then shot it.

BOOM!

The metal canister exploded in white smoke and pressure, throwing the man backward.

System: "Escape route cleared. Reward unlocked."

Dustin burst into the alley behind the hospital, gasping. Every muscle ached, but he was alive.

Just as he turned the corner, a sleek black car skidded to a stop beside him. The window rolled down. A woman in her late 20s with sharp green eyes and military posture stared at him.

"Get in if you want to live," she said.

Dustin paused. "Who the hell are you?"

"Your only chance."

System: "Warning: Another assassin approaching."

Without another thought, he jumped in.

The car sped off into the night.

As they disappeared into the city's dark arteries, Dustin's mind flooded with questions. Who was this mysterious woman? How did she know he was in danger?

And most importantly—

System: "New Primary Quest Unlocked: Infiltrate the Wynne Conglomerat

e. Expose their darkest secret. Reward: $5,000,000 and Reputation Boost."

Dustin clenched his fists. The Wynnes tried to kill him. Now, he was coming for everything they built.