"The launch of Hope online commences at 9:00pm! It is compulsory for all individuals of age to purchase it's gaming pod!.."

"The launch of Hope online commences at 9:00pm! It is compulsory for all individuals of age to purchase it's gaming pod!..."

The advert boards kept repeating the same announcement.

Jayden hurried down a large crowded staircase while occasionally bumping into people who turned to glare at him, but he never for once stopped to apologize, and ignored their angry remarks.

He quickly took a left turn when he arrived at the next floor, and began sprinting towards his destination. He ran pass several identical steel doors which were lodges to those who lived in the E2 district, till he screeched to a stop before a certain steel door. 

He quickly inputted a four digit PIN on the small keypad by the door, and it slid open with a click.

"Aunt Mary! I got the drugs!"

Jayden echoed in relief as he stepped into the small one bedroom steel lodge. 

*Sobs*

But he was greeted by the sight of aunt Mary tightly hugging her daughter, Stephanie, as they both sobbed loudly.

"W-what's wrong? I-i got the drugs"

Jayden stammered nervously when he saw the sad scene. But he was relieved to know that Stephanie, who he purchased the drugs for, was still alive... and strong?

He last saw her thirty minutes ago, and she was unresponsive and as cold as a corpse.

"T-that won't be needed anymore Jay..."

Aunt Mary said amidst her sobs.

"W-why?... I-i mean that's good news, but..."

Jayden stammered awkwardly, he wasn't sure of what to ask exactly.

Aunt Mary finally broke her hug from her daughter and walked up to Jayden to give him a hug as well, while stroking his back.

Jayden hugged her back in confusion and looked at Stephanie, who quickly averted her gaze from him.

"My daughter was never sick... It was her ability awakening"

Aunt Mary said, still hugging Jayden and stroking his back.

The moment Jayden heard those words, he felt his heart clench, and he froze in place.

"Thanks for all the sacrifices you made for me and my daughter, I appreciate them a lot"

Aunt Mary said as she broke the hug.

"We've already informed the EAGLE squad, and we've been given permit to move to D1 district"

Aunt Mary said with a wide smile.

"That's... That's great! Yeah, I'm happy for your promotion"

Jayden said with a forced smile.

"I'll leave you two to it then..."

Aunt Mary said while patting Jayden's arm, then walked out.

Jayden's smile slowly dropped after aunt Mary left, as he stared at Stephanie with a conflicted feeling.

Stephanie was his only friend still in district E, as the others had awakened their abilities and moved to district D, according to the law. It could also be said that she was his only friend, as the others were now ignoring him.

But that was a norm, because those who awakened their abilities saw the powerless as ants, forgetting for the fact that they were once powerless. And that was how all of Jayden's friends now saw him, including Stephanie, who had just awakened her's a few minutes ago.

"Don't think of me as the bad guy, you know the unspoken rules. If I'm to be seen with you after we move, then things are going to get tough for the both of us"

Stephanie suddenly said, breaking Jayden's line of thought.

"I thought you would be different.... You kept complaining and vexing over the aloofness of the awakened... You even made me swear that I wouldn't forget you if I'm to awaken my ability... But here you are, spitting this... Bullshit"

Jayden said with a pained chuckle.

"Thing's never go as planned in this accursed world, you should've learnt that by..."

Stephanie was saying, when Jayden turned his back at her and walked out the steel door from which he came in.

"Jayden! You dare walk out on me!"

Stephanie voiced out angrily, but Jayden ignored her and stepped into the crowded street.

[What's the matter? Did you really think she'd be different?]

Jayden heard a familiar robotic voice ask with a hint of sarcasm.

He didn't look around to see who had spoken, as he knew the voice was in his head, and just ignored it as he made his way up a large crowded staircase.

[The earlier you learn to accept me, the better it would be for us. Because we both know you'll be getting no superpower on my watch... I hate magic.]

'Incase you haven't heard, the game is launching this night. And it would increase my chances of wielding magic, and kicking you out of my head!'

Jayden thought to the voice in his head.

[Why don't you like me? We could achieve great things together!]

'What?! You dare ask such question! What the hell would I do with a slingshot rifle and throwing daggers, in a world of terrifying monsters and magic?'

Jayden asked the voice in annoyance.

[Patience! I'm too weak to give you the real deals. All you have to do is trust me this once, okay?]

'You've been lounging in my head for three months now! You're just a lazy parasite?!'

[Be rest assured that after tonight, your life would be different.]

'And what would make it different?'

Jayden asked curiously, as he inputted his four digit PIN into the keypad by his door.

[Destroy that keypad and quickly get inside before the door closes.]

'What? Why should I do that?'

Jayden asked in confusion.

[Your choice. But if you want to gain cool abilities, then do as I say without questioning.]

Jayden paused to think over what his system had said, and decided to go with it's plan. Besides, he could call an electrician later to fix the door.

[Be sure the cameras aren't looking, and do not look suspicious.]

"I have a bad feeling about this..."

Jayden muttered to himself, and began pretending to shoo an imaginary insect, while marking the position of the CCTV camera mounted a few blocks away.

The moment the camera tilted the other way, he cautiously slammed the keypad with his ankle.

The street was crowded, so he also had to avoid drawing attention, and quickly slipped into his one bedroom lodge, as the door slammed shut behind him.

'Now what?'

Jayden asked sarcastically.

[Good! Now prepare for the game launch.]