The night pressed heavily around me as I sprinted through the tight alleyways. The walls seemed to close in, and every breath felt like it was clawing its way out of my chest. Sirens blared somewhere far behind me, but my focus was fixed ahead. No thinking. Just running, escaping the chaos spiraling out of control.
The system buzzed in my head, cutting through my haze. "Eric, you must stay safe. I will guide you through this chaos."
"Easier said than done," I muttered, diving into another alley. Before I could even think about my next move—
BAM!
A figure dropped from above, landing with predator-like precision right in front of me. His uniform glinted under the dim streetlights, but it was the smug, icy expression on his face that made my blood run cold. I skidded to a halt, heart slamming in my chest.
"Oi, cheeky bastard," he growled, taking a step forward. His eyes narrowed as he sized me up. "Running from us? Big mistake."
I knew instantly who this was. Kimura, the elite Hunter Police transfer from Japan. His name sent chills through the criminal world, and now he was standing in my way.
Crap.
Kimura cracked his neck, his knuckles flexing. "You hunters think you're untouchable, don't you? Abusing your power, thinking the law can't touch you."
"I don't have time for this!" I growled, clenching my fists as Anium pulsed under my skin. It crackled through me, tingling with raw energy.
Kimura smirked, the kind of smirk that told me he was about to enjoy this. "Then let me make this quick."
He moved like lightning, lunging faster than I could track. My instincts kicked in, and I ducked just in time as his fist whizzed over my head, splitting the air where my skull should've been. But before I could react, his knee drove into my gut.
WHAM!
The world blurred as I doubled over in pain, gasping for air. But Kimura didn't stop. He grabbed me by the collar and hurled me into the alley wall like I weighed nothing. Pain exploded in my back as I collided with the bricks, but I barely had time to register it.
"You hunters are a disgrace!" he snarled, his fist rising again, ready to end it.
I raised my arm just in time to block his punch, but the sheer force of it rattled my bones. My mind screamed in panic. He was too fast, too strong.
I had to get out of here.
I gathered the last of my strength, forcing my Anium into my legs. Vanishing Anium. The world around me flickered, and in a blink, I was behind him. His eyes widened as I disappeared from his sight.
"Not bad," he muttered, spinning around. "But not fast enough!"
I swung at him with everything I had, aiming for his spine. But Kimura's reflexes were otherworldly. He blocked my punch effortlessly, his forearm like steel. "You're quick, I'll give you that."
His knee slammed into my ribs. I staggered, but I refused to fall. I won't die here. Not like this.
I blinked again, moving faster, vanishing and reappearing with every strike. But Kimura… he was adapting. Each move I made, he anticipated. Each punch I threw, he blocked. He was toying with me, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
"You think you can escape me, Eric?" he chuckled, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Your little tricks won't save you."
My heart pounded, anger boiling in my chest. He was playing with me, and I hated it. "Don't think you've won yet!" I shouted, throwing a flurry of punches, each one powered by Anium. My fists connected, but each blow felt like hitting a wall. Kimura barely flinched.
"I was waiting for this," he hissed, his voice low and menacing. "Waiting to crush someone who thinks they're above the law."
WHAM!
His fist collided with my chest, and I felt something crack. I flew backward, crashing into a dumpster, the impact knocking the wind out of me. Blood filled my mouth as I gasped for air.
The system buzzed urgently in my head. "Eric! You need to retreat! He's too powerful!"
"Shut up!" I spat, wiping blood from my lip. My vision blurred, but I couldn't stop. Not now.
Kimura approached, cracking his knuckles, his eyes full of twisted satisfaction. "This is where you fall."
But something inside me snapped. I wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot.
I pushed my Anium to its limit, every muscle in my body screaming as I forced more power out of my veins. The world around me slowed to a crawl. Kimura's grin, his every movement—everything became a blur.
And then—I vanished.
Kimura's eyes widened in shock. "What the—"
I was behind him before he could finish his sentence. My fist, glowing with the raw force of my Anium, slammed into the base of his spine.
CRACK!
Kimura let out a blood-curdling scream as his body crumpled to the ground. He twitched, gasping for breath, completely at my mercy. I stood over him, breathing hard, my body trembling with exhaustion.
"This… is where you lose," I growled.
WHAM!
My boot slammed into his ribs, sending him skidding across the pavement. He tried to stand, blood dribbling from his mouth. His eyes, once full of smug confidence, now held fear.
"Stay down," I warned, my voice ice-cold.
Kimura, always prideful, struggled to his feet. "You… think you've won?"
I narrowed my eyes. "I don't think. I know."
Before he could react, I vanished again, reappearing right in front of him. My fist collided with his chest, the last of my Anium erupting in a final blow. Kimura's body rocketed into the alley wall, the impact cracking the concrete. He slumped, unconscious.
The silence that followed was deafening.
I stumbled backward, chest heaving, my body screaming in pain. But I'd done it. I'd won.
The system buzzed one last time. "Eric… you need to move.
[System Notification]
Gain +99,999 EXP
[System Update: V2.1.0]
New system character modulation activated.
I blinked as the notifications rolled across my vision. A new update? Now of all times? But before I could process it, a voice echoed in my head.
"Eric, you have unlocked a new character!"
"What the hell?" I muttered, trying to shake off the fight with Kimura. I was still catching my breath, the taste of blood on my tongue. But the system was persistent.
"First, select the gender. Male or female?"
"What kind of update is this?" I groaned. My legs were aching, my body was screaming for rest, but here I was, talking to a disembodied voice in my head. "Whatever, female."
"Confirmed! Now, please select a name for your character. You have six options."
A list flashed before my eyes:
1. Hina
2. Nipa
3. Lyla
4. Sneha
5. Elena
6. Shampoo
I blinked. "Wait… Shampoo?! What kind of—" I rubbed my forehead, trying to shake off the absurdity. This was getting ridiculous.
"I don't know what to choose. Do I look like someone who names characters?" I huffed.
"Each name represents a different personality and abilities. Choose wisely."
I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Elena." It was a name that sounded… normal. For once.
"You've selected Elena! Character modulation is now active. The system will now adopt her personality."
Suddenly, the once robotic voice shifted, becoming soft and sweet, almost too perfect.
"Hi there, Eric! You chose me! I'll do my best to assist you!" Her voice was cheerful, almost annoyingly so.
I groaned, "Okay, okay. But just… be quiet for a second."
"Oh, do you want a visual representation of me too?" Elena chirped, almost excited. "I could appear right now! Just say the word!"
A visual representation? "Sure, why not. I could use the company," I mumbled, leaning against a tree. I had finally escaped New Dhaka, hiding out in some rural backwater. But something felt off. The hairs on my neck prickled like I was being watched.
"Reboot in process. Visual representation will complete in one hour."
Perfect. More waiting.
I slumped down, my back against the rough bark of the tree. The night was cold, and the world around me was eerily silent. As I sat there, my thoughts spiraled. The whole situation was out of control. I was now a wanted criminal, running from everyone—and for what? A misunderstanding? No one would believe me. Not even Sarah, the one I thought was my friend.
And just as I was about to lose myself in self-pity, I heard a voice.
"Ericaaaa! Sweetie!" The voice echoed down the deserted street, shrill and unmistakable. My blood ran cold.
No way.
Before I could react, a sleek, bright red Ferrari skidded into view, tires screeching as it stopped inches from my face. I flinched, barely managing to jump out of the way.
The car door swung open, and out stepped… my mom. Tears were streaming down her face as she ran towards me, arms wide open.
"Erica!" she wailed, grabbing me in a bear hug. "My sweet honey! You've grown up so much, but you're still my little child! How could you do something so ridiculous?!"
"Mom, what are you doing here!?" I gasped, trying to wriggle out of her grip. "And stop calling me Erica! It's Eric!"
She wasn't listening. Her grip only tightened. "Don't worry, sweetie. Mommy will protect you! I'll make sure no one hurts my little baby!"
Behind her, Lisa Lisa casually leaned against the Ferrari, arms crossed, looking amused as usual. "This is quite the mess you've gotten yourself into, Eric."
"Lisa Lisa, I didn't do anything!" I protested, trying to catch my breath. "Sarah freaked out for no reason, and now the Hunter Police are after me!"
My mom's eyes went wide. "The Hunter Police?!" She wiped her tears away dramatically. "Oh, darling, don't worry. I'll buy them off. How much could they possibly want? I'll pay double! No, triple!"
"Mom, it's not about money!" I groaned.
As if things couldn't get any weirder, the system buzzed in my head again.
[System Alert: Reboot completed.]
And just like that, a figure appeared in front of me—thin air swirling until the shape of a girl solidified. Her long hair swayed as she stood there, arms crossed, glaring at me.
"Elena…?" I muttered, eyes wide.
But before I could even process what was happening, Elena pointed an accusatory finger at me, tears welling up in her eyes. "You meanie! How could you betray me!?"
"W-Wait, what?!"
"I was there for you! I helped you fight all those terrible enemies! And now you're talking to other girls behind my back?!" she sobbed, stamping her foot.
Both my mom and Lisa Lisa looked utterly confused.
My mom gasped, hands over her mouth. "Erica! How could you!? Cheating on her with another girl? How many girls have you betrayed?!"
"What?!" I threw my hands up in exasperation. "Mom! She's not even—this isn't what it looks like!"
Elena pouted, sniffling dramatically. "You used me for battle, and now you just move on to other girls? You're horrible!"
I rubbed my temples, feeling a headache coming on. "You're a system! A voice in my head! How are you acting like this right now?!"
Elena turned her back to me, crossing her arms. "Well, now I have a body, so I feel things too, you know!"
Lisa Lisa raised an eyebrow, looking between me and the floating girl. "This just keeps getting better."
My mom, ever the over-dramatic, grabbed my arm and wailed. "Oh my sweet baby! Mommy will fix this! Don't worry, Elena! I'll make sure he treats you right!"
"I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!" I shouted, throwing my hands up.
Suddenly, Elena's voice softened, as if remembering her role. "Oh… um, Eric? Before you go, your mom gave you a gift."
"Please, no more surprises…" I groaned, rubbing my face.
My mom beamed, pulling out a sleek, high-tech phone from her bag. "Look at what I got for you, sweetie! The newest smart micro flip phone! And it's Hunter-compatible! You can teleport items, use your Anium to place orders, and they'll appear right in your hands instantly! Isn't that amazing?"
Lisa Lisa snorted. "That thing costs a fortune. Of course, she'd buy the most expensive phone on the planet."
"How much did you spend on this thing?" I asked, already dreading the answer.
Mom waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, it was only 101,000,000 Taka, darling! That's nothing for my precious baby!"
"101,000,000 Taka?! That's like 8.5 million dollars!" I nearly choked.
Mom smiled sweetly. "Only the best for my little Erica."
I buried my face in my hands. "This can't be happening…"
Elena floated closer, looking at the phone curiously. "Let me show you how to use this properly! Look at this sword, isn't it stylish? You can buy it with your experience points. Tap 'Get It Now'!"
I looked at her, completely lost for words. Before I could protest, she tapped at phone screen her fingers moving quickly across it. And just like that, a sword materialized out of thin air, shimmering as it hovered in front of me.
"Isn't it amazing?" Elena said, her eyes practically sparkling.
I blinked. "So that's how it works, huh? Using EXP to buy stuff..." I reached out, my hand closing around the hilt of the blade. The sword was sleek, futuristic, yet ancient at the same time. It felt... powerful.
My EXP dropped instantly. But the sword? Worth it.
Just then, my mom and Lisa Lisa finally left, driving off with a wave and far too many blown kisses. It was only me and Elena now.
"Alright, Eric," Elena said, her tone softening as she prepared to fade back into the system. "I'm going back into the system for now. Take care of yourself, you hear me?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll manage," I muttered, still holding the sword. As she vanished, the weight of everything began to crash down on me.
Man, what is happening to my life? First, the Japanese police… now this? My head throbbed as the overwhelming craziness of the day finally started sinking in.
Suddenly, a loud chime echoed in my ears.
[System Notification]
"Eric," Elena's voice echoed in my mind again, back in her usual system tone. "Here's your next mission. If you want to save your sister and your teacher, Asia, this is your next target."
I tensed. "Asia? Where is she?"
[Present Mission: Save Asia from Dark Man.]
[Location: Cox's Bazar.]
"Cox's Bazar?" I rubbed the back of my neck, already feeling the exhaustion creeping in. "Man, I just fought Kimura. And now this? I'm gonna need a break..."
But there was no time to rest. Asia needed me.
I hopped on the bullet train, arriving at New Dhaka Station 81. My destination? Narsingdi. I wasn't looking forward to the trip, but I had no choice. The train shot through the landscape, blurring the world outside as I headed into unknown territory.
Narsingdi was strange—a mix of rural simplicity and high-tech advancement. The fields stretched as far as the eye could see, glowing under the soft light of dawn. The people here were powerful, each of them wielding strange abilities.
As I stepped off the train, I explored the town a bit. The streets felt like a fusion of future and past—rustic cottages intertwined with cutting-edge tech. Despite its peaceful appearance, I could feel an ominous tension lingering in the air.
Then, from the distance, I spotted something—movement in the rice fields. The clock struck 4 AM. My gut tightened. Something was off. I slowly made my way closer, my senses on high alert. As I neared the edge of the field, I saw her.
A schoolgirl, dressed in a uniform, stood motionless in the middle of the field, her head tilted at an unnatural angle. She wasn't moving... at least, not by her own will. It was as if something—or someone—was controlling her.
Suddenly, she snapped. Without warning, she lunged at me, her movements unnatural and terrifyingly fast. Her eyes were blank, her body jerking like a puppet on strings.
"Whoa!" I barely dodged, rolling to the side as her attack came within inches of my face.
What the hell? I scrambled to my feet. "Why is she attacking me?!"
I stared at her for a moment, realizing that she wasn't conscious—her body was being manipulated, controlled by nearly invisible strings wrapped around her limbs. I could barely see them, but they shimmered under the moonlight.
She lunged at me again, her body moving like a ragdoll. Instinct kicked in, and I drew my sword—Platinum Star. This wasn't just any sword. It was legendary. For 5,000 years, kings, tyrants, and warriors searched for it, but it vanished from history—until now. And I had bought it with a simple tap of a screen.
Time to see what this thing could do.
She charged at me again, but this time, I was ready. I parried her attack with a swift strike from Platinum Star, the sound of metal slicing through the air. The force of the impact sent her stumbling back, but the strings pulled her forward again, like a marionette dancing to the tune of some invisible puppet master.
"Who's doing this?" I shouted, frustration bubbling in my chest. I could feel the presence of someone—or something—watching from the shadows.
The girl lunged again, her movements erratic. I swung the sword, but she dodged with unnatural speed, coming at me from the side. I twisted just in time, countering with a slash, the blade humming with power as it cut through the thin air.
"Why won't she stop?!" I gritted my teeth, sweat dripping down my forehead. I had to end this—fast.
I focused on the nearly invisible strings, watching how they guided her movements. If I could sever them, I could free her.
Her next attack came fast—too fast. I had no time to think, only react. With a single swipe of Platinum Star, I slashed through one of the shimmering strings. The girl froze for a second, her body jerking unnaturally.
One string down.
"Gotcha," I muttered, charging forward. I dodged her next attack and, in one fluid motion, sliced through another string. Her body twitched, fighting for control.
But I wasn't done.
In a whirlwind of movement, I severed the last few strings, one by one. As the final string snapped, the girl collapsed to the ground, her body limp.
Panting, I stood over her, sword still drawn. "Who was controlling her?"
That's when I felt it—an eerie, suffocating presence behind me.
A slow clap echoed from the edge of the field, sending chills down my spine. I turned around to see a figure emerging from the shadows, wearing a strange, elaborate mask and long, flowing robes.
"Bravo, Eric," the figure said, voice dripping with mockery. "I was wondering when you'd figure it out."
I tightened my grip on Platinum Star, my eyes narrowing. "Who the hell are you?"
The figure stepped forward, her mask glinting under the dawn light. "I am Amelia, the one pulling the strings."
Amelia tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes behind the mask. "I was just playing with you. But now that you're here... the real fun begins."