Ethan wandered aimlessly down the street, his mind a tangled mess of confusion.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed with a notification. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen, which displayed an urgent message:
"Recent reports indicate unusual creature activity at night. If you encounter anything abnormal, contact Aegis Operations Division immediately. Citizens are advised to avoid going out after dark.
To combat the threat of anomalous creatures, Aegis Operations Division is launching a new recruitment drive. We welcome anyone willing to join us in defending our home.
Since the 'Divine Punishment Day' event 18 years ago, we've successfully established multiple Safe Zones. The threat from Anomalous Creatures is gradually diminishing. Humanity's future is looking brighter."
Ethan's eyes lingered on the words "Divine Punishment Day." That was back in 2035, when a mysterious black hole, known as the "Dark Portal," suddenly appeared on Earth. Swarms of anomalous creatures poured out, bringing unprecedented devastation to the world.
After 18 years of grueling battles, The Federation had finally managed to establish multiple Safe Zones worldwide, known as Safeholds. Some were impenetrable, top-tier Safeholds, while others were second- and third-tier.
Mesa, Ethan's hometown, was one of the second-tier Safeholds.
The "Divine Punishment Day" event happened the year he was born, and he had spent all 18 years of his life in Mesa, gradually getting used to the way things were.
In a way, Ethan felt lucky.
He was grateful to be living in a relatively peaceful time.
Sure, the threat of anomalous creatures was still there, but at least life in Mesa was stable. He imagined what it would've been like if he'd been born during the first few years after "Divine Punishment Day." He probably wouldn't have survived the chaos.
Having enough to eat, living in peace—those were simple blessings.
He took a deep breath, chewing on his gum, and continued strolling down the street.
The weather was a bit gloomy today, and the chill of autumn made him pull his jacket tighter around himself.
He thought to himself, "I should really figure out what's going on with my eyes when I get home. What's up with these status bars I keep seeing?"
Ethan stopped for a moment to tie his shoelaces.
As he stood back up, a sudden, inexplicable chill crept up from his feet, spreading through his entire body. His heart seemed to skip a beat, and the scene before him abruptly changed.
The once-bustling street was now eerily silent.
The buildings around him were crumbling, streetlights swayed precariously, and the trees looked like they'd been drained of life.
Ethan scanned his surroundings and spotted several massive creatures leaping between the buildings.
They had long limbs and moved with terrifying agility, as if they were hunting for something.
In the middle of the street, a bloated creature writhed, performing some kind of grotesque ritual.
Even more unsettling were the twisted shadows floating in the air, flickering like smoke, barely visible.
His perspective zoomed out, and then zoomed out even further.
All around him, strange, monstrous creatures roamed the streets, rooftops, and alleyways. Warriors in blue-and-red combat suits darted between them, slashing with their blades in fierce combat.
Ethan's breathing quickened, and his gaze was drawn upward. In the sky, a black sun hung ominously, casting an eerie glow. Above the sun, a massive status bar appeared:
[HP: 99.99%, SP: 99.99%, Soul Energy (SE): 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999, Burning Planet, Mood: Uneasy]
Ethan's heart clenched, and his fingers trembled slightly.
Only one thought echoed in his mind: "This is really bad."
Just as he was about to spiral into panic, the scene before him faded away like a receding tide.
The street returned to normal, with people walking by, cars honking, and the usual chatter filling the air once again.
Ethan stood frozen in place, his mind a whirlwind of confusion.
What had he just seen? A hallucination? Or some kind of warning?
"Hey, watch where you're going! Pay attention to the lights…"
"Yo, man, wanna buy a porn DVD? Uncensored, legit stuff. Normally 30 bucks, but I'm selling it for 10…"
Porn DVD?
That's expensive.
Can't you just download it online?
Ethan glanced up and saw a large screen on the side of the street broadcasting the news: "It's been 18 years since Divine Punishment Day. The Aegis Operations Division will continue to protect our city and ensure the safety of every citizen."
Ethan's eyes drifted back to the sky. The yellow sun still hung high, its warm rays bathing the earth.
Yet, despite the sunshine, a deep unease gnawed at him.
He lowered his head and kept walking, trying to calm himself down. But no matter how hard he tried, the image of that massive sun and the status bar wouldn't leave his mind.
[HP: 99.99%, SP: 99.99%, Soul Energy (SE): 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999, Burning Planet, Mood: Angry]
Yes, the Operations Division would continue to protect the city, ensuring the safety of every citizen…
Ethan stood frozen in place. "What the hell is going on…" he muttered, a sharp headache suddenly hitting him.
It was early evening, the busiest time in Mesa Safehold.
A couple selling trinkets out of their car's trunk, a girl chasing her dog, couples tightly embracing and kissing…
Who would've thought that beneath this peaceful scene, another world was lurking?
What were his eyes seeing…? Hallucinations?
Was he losing his mind?
Ethan didn't know.
But one thing he was sure of:
His stomach was starting to hurt. And it was getting worse.
He quickened his pace, heading back to his apartment. As soon as he got inside, he rushed straight to the toilet.
After a moment of relief, he stripped off his clothes and turned on the shower, hoping the cold water would help clear his head.
The water cascaded over his hair, and Ethan closed his eyes, letting the icy stream wash over him. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his forehead.
He opened his eyes and looked at himself in the mirror. There, in the center of his forehead, a faint light was flickering.
He leaned closer to the mirror, inspecting the glow. It was a tiny chip embedded beneath his skin, emitting a soft, pulsing light.
Ethan's heart raced. This chip… wasn't it the same thing he'd seen fall from that meteor the other night?
"Ah, damn, that hurts." He reached up to touch the chip, and a wave of intense pain shot through his forehead.
The pain grew worse, as if the chip was connecting to his nervous system.
I should've just gotten a brain scan while I was at the hospital, he thought, regretting his earlier decision.
"Damn it… what the hell is this thing?" Ethan gritted his teeth, trying to endure the pain.
Grimacing, he quickly grabbed some ice from the freezer and pressed it to his forehead.
"Ahhh!!!"
A sizzling sound came from his head, and faint wisps of smoke rose into the air.
"Finally… relief…"
After about a minute, the pain began to subside.
His mind raced with a thousand thoughts. Could this chip be the reason he'd been seeing those strange status bars lately?
As the pain faded, Ethan took a deep breath and looked back at his reflection in the mirror.
He still looked like the same old Ethan, but he knew deep down that something had changed. He wasn't the same person anymore.
Above his head, a health bar had appeared, and the status read:
[HP: 100%, SP: 97%, Soul Energy (SE): ???, Mysterious Man, Tip: Try to avoid watching too much Porn DVD. Maintain a healthy lifestyle.]
Wait, my Soul Energy shows '???'
What does that mean?
...