The sun rose over the city of Shanghai, casting a warm, golden hue over the landscape. It was just another day in Li Wei's life. He awoke to the sound of his alarm clock, its beeping breaking the tranquility of the early morning. Rolling out of bed, he stretched and yawned, feeling the fatigue from a night of restless dreams. He glanced at the calendar on his wall, realizing that he was late for school.Li Wei rushed to get ready, going through the motions of dressing, brushing his teeth, and combing his hair. His small apartment was sparsely furnished, with little to distinguish it from countless others in the crowded city.He noticed the city's dusty, barren climate through his window. The air was filled with a fine layer of particulate matter, a common sight in a world engulfed in conflict. The constant news of war had become a grim backdrop to his life.Li Wei, however, had grown indifferent to the headlines that blared from the television in his living room. The world's never-ending conflicts, the strife of nations, and the hunt for power and land. He muttered to himself, "The end for this nation is imminent."Resigned to the grim reality of his time, he grabbed his backpack and left his apartment without even greeting his mother due to the urgency. His daily journey to school involved cycling through the chaotic streets of Shanghai. The bustling city was still far better than the desolation of the news he had just witnessed.As Li Wei pedalled through the streets, he tried to clear his mind. He was lost in thought, pondering his own future and the uncertain world that lay ahead, from his questionable school socialising, his absent father, to the outcome and results of this brutal war.But just as he approached the entrance of his school, an unexpected obstacle brought his ride to a sudden halt. Dominant men dressed in impeccably tailored suits blocked his path, their expressions stern and unyielding. Li Wei have never seen people dressed in such a formal manner in his life in downtown Shanghai except on television where he was brainwashed by the propaganda of the Chinese government, where he saw finely tailored, modern black suits of the officials.One of the men stepped forward and addressed Li Wei. "You are Li Wei, correct?"Li Wei, taken aback by this unusual interruption, confusedly nodded. "Yes, I am. What's the matter?"The suited men showed no emotion as they continued, "You have been chosen for 'Project Mythos.' We have already informed you through your microchip implanted in your body."Everyone in modern China had this microchip implanted to their body, both to spy, notify announcements, as well as for communication and leisure, acting with the same purpose as the long-abandoned cell phones.Li Wei's brows furrowed in confusion. He glanced at his wrist, a place where the projecting hologram for his microchip should have been. It was an advanced piece of technology that every citizen was required to have, but he had never received any messages from it before.With a skeptical look, Li Wei touched his wrist, activating the holographic interface. He navigated through the menus and finally found a message notification. As he read the message, his eyes widened in shock.The message confirmed that he had been chosen for 'Project Mythos,' a government initiative he'd hardly heard of and never interested in participating in. It detailed his immediate compliance and the consequences of refusal.Li Wei knew he had no choice in the matter. In China, serving the nation was not an option; it was an obligation, a duty that he could not shirk. With a heavy heart, he nodded to the suited men, silently acknowledging their authority.They gestured toward a sleek, unmarked car that had pulled up beside them. Li Wei reluctantly followed their lead and entered the vehicle. The suited men, clearly part of a well-organized operation, took their places, and the car sped away from the bustling streets of Shanghai.As the cityscape faded into the distance, Li Wei's mind raced. He was bound for a destination he had never fathomed, an assignment that would alter the course of his life and the fate of the world itself.