The grind was relentless.
Another day, another set of grueling physical exercises.
It wasn't like I had any choice in the matter. This world was all about strength—both in body and in mind. If I wanted to survive, hell, if I wanted to thrive, I had to push through every last drop of sweat and blood.
The first few days had been rough, and honestly, they still were. But today? Today, things felt different. Maybe it was the fact that I was a bit stronger—or maybe it was just the sheer stubbornness that kicked in.
Whatever the reason, the words I now repeated in my head with every rep, every set, had become a mantra—endure this if you want to be strong.
The phrase echoed in my mind as I gripped the bars for my last set of pull-ups. You'll thank yourself later, Noah.
Sweat dripped down my forehead as I pulled my chin over the bar again. The burn in my arms was intense, but I fought it off, pushing through the pain like it was nothing.
An hour later, the training was over. My body screamed for rest, but I ignored it. I didn't come here to be average—I came here to make sure that whatever happened, I would never be weak again.
I activated my HUD, and as expected, the rewards popped up. My eyes twinkled a little as I saw the totals.
Rewards:
+12 STR
6 Gacha Spins
1000 GED
Easy money, I thought with a grin. It wasn't much, but it was something. A good start.
Then, I checked my status.
Noah Adler
Class: Technomancer (Unique)
Rank: C
Talent: Technical Specialist
DA: 65
EA: 70
STR: 73
INT: 77
WIL: 82
AGI: 62
END: 68
LCK: 10
Okay, hold on.
I blinked twice. I raised my rank?
The C-rank was new. That meant I'd leveled up somehow, and the best part? My other stats had been boosted along with my strength. I'd only just begun this physical training routine, and I was already seeing results.
I leaned back, stretching my aching muscles. Codebreaker is working its magic. I wasn't sure how, but I knew that every time I upped my strength, everything else followed suit. Strength, agility, endurance, and even my luck—every single stat had improved slightly. It was like Codebreaker had some kind of hidden synergy with my physical training.
I couldn't deny the truth—this world, with its strict rules and overwhelming challenges, had one major upside—the system. Sure, it was controlled by Gaia, but with my skills, I could bend the rules without breaking a sweat.
But now… the real question is, should I spend these Gacha Spins?
I stared at the remaining spins in my inventory, contemplating. On one hand, I could be practical—use them carefully, save them for later.
On the other hand, I had a lot of catching up to do if I wanted to keep up with those already way above my rank.
"Alright," I muttered, shaking my head. "Let's not waste time."
I grinned and activated the Gacha system.
Initiating Gacha Rewards...
Available Spins: 12
Let's do 2 spins. I decided to go big, and use three gacha spin rewards per spins right off the bat. The gacha rewards were notoriously unpredictable, but the payoff could be huge.
I clicked the button and watched as the wheel began to spin. The familiar blur of colors and shapes spun faster and faster, making my heart race in anticipation. This was it—the moment of truth.
You've received:
[Summon Drone Rogue: C Rank] - Summons a basic Rogue Drone for 10 minutes with enhanced stealth and reconnaissance capabilities. Cooldown: 15 minutes.
[Summon EMP Grenade: B Rank] - Summon three throwable devices designed to temporarily disable or overload electrical systems in an area.
[1 Free Pass: C Rank] - Free pass to C Rank training facility. Usage for 2 hours. One time use.
The first spin wasn't terrible, but it wasn't a jackpot either. A drone and some grenades—useful, sure, but nothing to write home about. Still, I wasn't about to get discouraged.
I tapped the screen again. Spin number two.
You've received:
[Mecha Suit Summon: B Rank] - Summon a large mechanized suit for combat or heavy lifting. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
[Electromagnetic Barrier (Passive) C Rank] - A force field created from electromagnetic energy that blocks physical and minor magical attacks for a short period. Cooldown: 30 minutes
[Electrostatic Pulse (Active) B Rank] - Generates a burst of electricity that can disrupt or disable nearby technology. Cooldown: 25 minutes.
My eyes widened. Wait, hold on… Was this for real? This was way better than what I expected. A Mecha Suit, an Electromagnetic Barrier, and an Electrostatic Pulse—those were seriously solid rewards.
But then it happened. The Codebreaker HUD flickered to life, and my jaw nearly hit the floor.
[Codebreaker initiating…]
[Copying skills and items…]
[Upgrading Copied Skills and Items..]
The spinning gacha rewards didn't just stay as they were. They upgraded—massively.
[Summon Drone Swarm: EX Rank - Summons a set of small stealth drones capable of surveillance, minor attacks, or defense. Can be remotely controlled or set to automatic. Cooldown: 10 seconds]
[Summon EMP Barrage: EX Rank - A barrage of EMP grenades that disables entire networks, including systems and electronics. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
[Unlimited Free Pass- Free entrance to Premium Rank training facility. Unlimited use.]
[Mecha Suit Summon: EX Rank - Summon a fully functional EX-ranked mechanized combat suit. Enhanced combat capabilities and heavy-duty protection.]
[Electromagnetic Barrier (Passive): EX Rank - A nearly impenetrable force field that blocks all physical and magical attacks for an extended period. Cooldown: N/A]
[Electrostatic Pulse (Active): EX Rank - Unleashes a massive burst of electricity that can disable advanced technology and electronic systems for minutes. Cooldown: 10 Seconds]
I stood there, dumbfounded. This was it. This was the edge I needed.
The gacha system was supposed to be a gamble, but with Codebreaker, I had hacked the system, literally and figuratively.
My rewards had just gone from C and B ranks to EX ranks—EX—the highest and most powerful tier. It wasn't just luck. It was strategy.
Now, Codebreaker will include the upgraded skills and abilities in its system, while GAIA will still display the original skills.
Sweet.
I stared at my new abilities, my eyes scanning the list. This was no longer about getting stronger, it was about dominating the field. With a swarm of rogue drones, a mecha suit that could rival the best warriors, and an EMP barrage that could decimate whole fleets—there was no limit to what I could do now.
I smiled.
"Alright," I said to myself, almost grinning at the absurdity of it all. "Now the real fun begins."
Just as I was about to get lost in my thoughts, a notification pinged. It was from the Gaia Talent Bureau.
[GAIA Talent Bureau]
[Notification: Invitation to GAIA Enforcer Academy accepted. Prepare for entry exam.]
A challenge. A big one.
The Academy wasn't going to be a walk in the park. I had the skills, but did I have what it took to survive?
I looked down at my upgraded gear and my steadily increasing strength.
It didn't matter. I was ready.
*******
As the notification faded, my comm link buzzed. It was Damian.
"Hey, little bro," his voice came through, heavy with tension. "Got a minute?"
"Yeah," I said, leaning forward. "What's up?"
"I've got a tower mission tomorrow. Guardian level. I'm just calling that it may take longer than I thought it would."
I sat up straight. Guardian level wasn't just dangerous—it was outright reckless for someone of Damian's rank.
"Why are they sending you?" I demanded. "You're barely B rank."
"Because no one else will go," he shot back. "And the money's good. It helps pay for your academy and Brix school too."
I gritted my teeth. Damian had always been the protective older brother, but this felt like a suicide run.
"Don't do it," I said, my voice low. "I'll be a GE soon too. I got admited to your alma matter. Just got the notification. I can work part time for my academy or get scholarsh..."
He sighed. "We need the cash, Noah. You know that. Anyway's I'll be back when you least know it. Take care of the turf while I'm gone, okay?"
The line went dead, leaving me with a sinking feeling in my chest.
I stood by the window, watching the neon-lit skyline of the city. Gaia Towers loomed in the distance, their peaks shrouded in artificial mist. Somewhere in those towers, Damian would be risking his life tomorrow.
And in 48 hours, I'd be walking into the academy, facing challenges I couldn't even begin to imagine.
The grind wasn't over. If anything, it was just beginning.
I clenched my fists, the faint hum of Codebreaker thrumming in the back of my mind.
Whatever this world threw at me—Gaia, the towers, or the academy—I'd be ready.
Because if there was one thing I'd learned as a hacker, it was this— control isn't given, it's taken.
And I was about to take it all.
********
The next morning, a notification jolted me awake. It was my Codebreaker HUD.
[New Mission: Protect the Tower Guardian.]
[Objective: There is a breach from the otherworld inside the tower. Your mission is to protect the Tower Guardian from being conquered and destroyed.
Rewards for completion: 1 EX Skill
Failure: Imminent destruction of your world.]
[Do you accept? Y/N]
Guardian? My brow furrowed as I opened the message.
And then my comm device buzzed. Damian's name flashed on the screen.
Something was wrong.