Author's Note: I will start using shortcuts from here on out for:
Strength will be STR.
Agility will be AGL.
Intelligence will be INT.
Vitality will be VIT
Flexibility will be FLX.
....
Quinn watched with interest John who closed his eyes and concentrated on shifting his attributes. In the first two minutes, John didn't feel any change, but gradually, the memory surfaced vividly.
The hall melted away, replaced by the comforting familiarity of his apartment. It was Friday evening, and the mundane routine of life unfolded. John finally had time to relax after a long work week—setting in his comfy chair—he powered up is computer.
Just as he was deciding which game to play the doorbell rang unexpectedly—echoing through the apartment.
Opening the door, John was greeted by the grim faces of two police officers. With an air of authority, they presented an official document, demanding John's immediate compliance. Confused and uneasy, John quickly changed into a T-shirt, comfortable pants, and boots.
As the officers led him out of the apartment, the scene shifted once again, this time to a building labeled Special Investigation Bureau. After they escorted him to the entrance, the officers left, and someone else led him inside. He was searched, and his wallet, keys, and phone were confiscated.
John was then guided into a hall, where he was greeted by Quinn and another figure. Before John could question what was happening, a wave of dizziness struck him. The last thing he remembered was the flash of blinding light from the teleportation device, and then... the test site.
John blinked his eyes open, finding himself back in the brightly lit hall, its white and gold décor gleaming. Turning to Quinn, he asked, "So, my belongings are here. What about the tablet? You said it will be my Id here, how do I get back?"
Quinn chuckled, waving his hand. Like a magic trick, John's backpack and the sword from the test appeared on the floor. "I brought them for you while you were engrossed in the memory. The tablet's inside the backpack. I'll have someone show you to your personal storage, where you can leave the sword."
John eyes twitched, trying hard to hide his surprise at Quinn's abilities. "So, I can leave now?"
Quinn nodded. "Yes, but remember to come back in three days."
As he spoke, the hall door swung open, revealing a man in his mid-twenties. The man immediately addressed Quinn. "Mentor Quinn, I'm here. What do you need me to do?"
Quinn gestured toward John. "This is John, a new recruit. Henry, please take him to his personal storage and help activate his tablet."
John stood, extending his hand for a handshake. Henry barely glanced at him before turning and heading toward the door. "Come with me."
John frowned at the rude behavior but followed, carrying the backpack and sword. 'Are all the people here weirdos? First Simon, then Quinn and now this piece of watermelon. Great. Working with these people's going to be so much fun.'
As they exited the hall, John took in the corridor's design. The walls had a muted, matte gold finish that contrasted sharply with the pure white background, while vibrant red doors lined either side. Signs bearing the emblem of the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation (BMI) on each door.
Henry walked ahead silently as John followed, eyes scanning every detail. After a while, they reached an elevator. Stepping inside, they ascended to the next floor and soon approached a gray door. Henry flashed his watch at the door, which opened with a quiet hiss.
Inside, there was a desk with a peculiar black and silver square device on top. "Put your tablet here," Henry said, pointing to the top of the device. "And place your hand here," he added, indicating a side panel.
John, puzzled, pulled the tablet from his backpack. "What's the point of all this?" he asked as he placed it on the device.
Impatiently, Henry explained, "You need to activate the tablet so it's linked to you. It's your ID now. Stop asking questions and just do it."
Frowning, John muttered, "Okay, fine, whatever."
Azure and deep purple lights pulsed from the device as John felt a slight prick on his finger. After a moment, the lights faded. John looked at Henry, confused. "Now what?"
Henry replied, "Take your tablet," and turned to leave.
John picked up the tablet, which vibrated in his hand. A new notification appeared on the screen:
(The tablet is now linked to John…
You can now change its form to:
Tablet— already in use. )
"What?! I can change its form?" John exclaimed, selecting the watch option. He watched as azure light engulfed the tablet, transforming it into a watch within seconds.
"Wow, that's pretty handy." John fastening the watch around his wrist with a beaming smile. Before he could explore further, Henry's voice cut through his excitement.
"Stop standing around and follow me."
Suppressing his curiosity, John followed. 'I will explore it later. I need to get my wallet, keys, and phone, and then go home. Hold your emotions, John—everyone here's a freak with superpowers. Don't let something trivial affect you.'
The two descended to the first floor, where Henry led him to a door marked Personal Storage. "Use your ID to open the door," Henry instructed, turning to leave.
"Hey, wait a second," John called after him. "How do I get out of here? This place is a maze!"
Henry, already walking away, replied, "Take the elevator to the ground floor and head straight. You'll see a blue door."
John sighed and scanned his watch near the door, which opened with a click. Inside was a room with rows of doors. As the door behind him closed, his watch vibrated with another message:
(Personal storage detected. Navigate to your storage room? Yes/No)
"Well, that's convenient," John muttered, clicking "Yes."
He soon arrived at a door with his name on it. he swiped the watch to open it. what greeted him was a small room with empty shelves, except for one that held his belongings.
"Yes!" John finally retrieved his items, couldn't contain his relief. he feeling of his wallet, keys, and phone brought a sense of normalcy back. The sword, his only ally in the test, found its place on an empty shelf.
With satisfied grin, John exits the personal storage. Following Henry's instructions, John found the blue door, scanned his watch to unlock it, and stepped outside. "Finally, I can go home." John murmured while shielding his eyes from the sun.
Checking his phone to order a taxi, he muttered, "Sunday, 10:40 AM? It felt like ages in that jungle…"
The taxi ride back was a welcome reprieve, and the moment he stepped into his apartment felt like heaven. "All what happened felt like a dream, but I'm sure it is not." John muttered as he sank into the comfort of his apartment's couch.
John pulled out the newly transformed watch-tablet. He played with its transformation function for a few minutes until he felt satisfied. Settling on the tablet form to explore further. New icons appeared on the screen:
(-Status.
-Monsters Data.
-Current Task.
-Form Change.
-Colleagues List.
-Shop.)
"I know my status. Let's check Monster Data," John murmured as he clicked on it.
(Monsters data: You gain data on monsters you observe, kill, or receive from others. You need to observe or kill a minimum number of each species to unlock their full stats.
-Wild-Fury.)
"Ah, so I can get info from others. Let's check the current task," John said, clicking on the next icon.
(Current task: Report to the BMI on Wednesday at 9:00 AM.)
"Got it. Now, the colleagues list."
(Collogues list:
-MENTOR Quinn.)
"I need to add people. Makes sense. I don't want random people having my contact info," John tossed the tablet aside, feeling his curiosity satisfied.
"I should start writing my resignation letter, and … that's it I guess."
John stood up and went to his room. He powered up the computer and reclined in his chair, staring at the blank document on the screen. Drafting the resignation letter felt more final than he'd expected, but there was no turning back. Typing out the words was easy, but the weight behind them wasn't. "Well, this is it. Goodbye to normal work," he muttered, clicking 'send' before he could second-guess himself.
His phone buzzed on the table, and for a moment, John hesitated. He hadn't called his parents in a few weeks. After everything he'd been through, maybe it was time to check in. He dialed his mom first, knowing she'd be the one to pick up.
"Hi, Mom. Yeah, I'm good... no, nothing too exciting. Just, you know, work."
After a brief chat with her, where he gave vague updates and reassured her everything was fine, John dialed his dad. Their conversation was even shorter, mostly centered around football and the upcoming games, but it brought a sense of comfort.
With that taken care of, John decided it was time for something lighter. He turned his attention to his computer. His go-to game was already loaded on the screen, and for the next few hours, he lost himself in the familiar sounds and strategies. It felt good to escape into something predictable for a while.
Later, hunger pulled him from his screen, and he wandered into the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge. After a quick debate with himself, he settled on cooking a simple pasta dish. As he stirred the sauce, he found his thoughts drifting back to the Bureau—what lay ahead, what his role would be.
After eating, he decided to clear his head and headed to the park. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the trees, and for a moment, he let himself enjoy the serenity of the scene.
John sat on a bench, watching life unfold around him—kids laughing on the playground, couples walking hand in hand. Everything seemed so peaceful, so normal. It was hard to believe that just a few days ago, he'd been fighting for his life in a jungle filled with monsters.
"I wonder how many of these people would believe me if I told them about dungeons and monster tests."
Shaking his head, John tossed these thoughts out of his mind and enjoyed the breeze. But that moment passed, and with the energy still buzzing in him, John headed to the nearby club for a swim.
Swimming had always been his go-to for clearing his mind. The steady rhythm of his strokes, the way the water resisted and then gave way. Lap after lap, he felt the tension in his shoulders ease, his thoughts drifting to nothing in particular.
The cool water helped him shake off the last of the tension, and as he floated—staring up at the stars—he felt the weight of his new life settle more firmly on his shoulders.
By the time he left the club and made his way back home, John felt a sense of acceptance to what he had been through and to his new life.
...…..
Wednesday 7:50 AM
John, dressed in a sport attire, slung his backpack over his shoulder. "I guess this is my new life now—a member of the Bureau of Metaphysical Investigation, Ordinary-Sleuth."
With both excitement and apprehension swirling within him, John drove toward the Bureau, ready for whatever was coming next.