[Start]
A few months later, Ivan Rukovski (actual system level <3S>) arrived in the USA as his government had planned. The Texas sun poured down relentlessly, shimmering against the vibrant blue sky, casting lively shadows on the ground below. He rented an apartment in Texas after hearing that a certain CEO of a company, Genau, was running a famous big company named Agglomy in the tech field. The air was thick with the scent of barbecue, and as he roamed the bustling streets, he could hear the distant sounds of laughter and clinking glasses from nearby cafes, a stark contrast to the mission that loomed before him.
[Main]
We see an overview of Texas, wide and expansive, shimmering under the hot sun, before zooming in on the sleek, modern structure of the Genau headquarters building. Glass panels glisten, reflecting the vibrant life of the city around it. On the first floor, an open office room was filled with Genau employees working, their fingers tapping furiously at keyboards, punctuated by the occasional laughter or distant ringing of phones. The energy felt electric, alive with ambition and determination.
On the 6th floor, Genau (actual system level <20A>) was sitting in his chair, a frown etched across his face as he stared at some charts for the company's growth earnings in his spacious CEO office. The walls were adorned with accolades and achievements, while sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm light on his troubled expression. He took a long, deep breath, trying to steady himself, and then walked to his wide glass windows, standing there, the cityscape sprawling beneath him like a living, breathing organism.
He was recalling his first day when he ignored the system and the company that had fired him unexpectedly, a bitterness bubbling up in his chest. Memories flooded back of intense, vivid flashbacks from fights with hollows. The whispers of those moments flickered in his mind like ghosts, urging him to confront the past.
We will relate some flashbacks from months ago as he faced hollows that obstructed his path to success. One fierce hollow encounter was in Los Angeles, bringing back images of destruction and chaos. The hustle of the city echoed around him, but all he could see was the grim reaper's silhouette against the sunset as he fought Maria.
A few days later, after sharing brief moments of tenderness with her, one of the encounters involved him driving his motorbike in broad daylight on the highway when suddenly a hollow appeared on its own motorbike, the ominous figure resembling a grim reaper, standing out against the vibrant blue sky. Maria's warning sliced through the wind, tense and urgent, and without hesitation, Genau accelerated, adrenaline coursing through his veins.
The hollow's scythe struck with a whoosh, the wind howling as if screaming in warning. Genau instinctively lowered his head, feeling the rush of air as the attack whooshed past him. It was a dangerous dance, their battle a deadly rhythm, as he dodged with fluid grace along the edges of a bridge while the city pulsed vibrantly below. The thrill of the encounter mingled with fear; he was trapped, unable to escape easily.
He put his bike on automatic mode, a hum of machinery blending with the roar of the engine. In a daring leap, he jumped onto a truck on the road; the hollow followed suit, relentless. They fought fiercely, spiraling through the air, Genau employing martial arts moves he had mastered. Each dodged scythe felt like a heartbeat missed, and when the hollow's weapon sliced through the truck, it exploded behind him, debris pelting the ground.
The encounter grappled faster as he was catapulted into the river below the bridge. The cold water engulfed him, sending shockwaves of vigor ripping through his body—a stark contrast to the warm sun above. The reaper plunged in too; with his skeletal structure, he could breathe underwater without any problems, the pressure of the depths enveloping them in a strange, deadly calm.
They continued to fight, movements feeling almost dreamlike, slowed by the water's resistance, as though they were moving through molasses. Genau stepped back for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest. He picked up a stone from the riverbed, the cool, rough texture grounding him, and threw it with all his strength. It sailed through the water with a splash, effectively hitting the hollow's left arm, and he saw the <
He noticed that during their fight, the grim reaper had dug some holes in the ground, revealing cables tangled yard, hints of danger lurking beneath. He asked Shiva if those cables contained electricity, a tense silence hanging in the water as she analyzed and confirmed it with a cold precision. Now, the only thing Genau needed to do was to drive his opponent to hit the ground where the cables were to electrocute him while he quickly exited the river to avoid being electrocuted.
His plan began to unfold; with a quick dodge, the grim reaper struck the cables, jolting with electricity, while Genau surfaced, lungs filling with air as he climbed out of the water.
Meanwhile, Maria (system level <18B>) was sitting in her CEO office room, the atmosphere thick with nostalgia as she felt the weight of her past fights pressed against her. Traditional office sounds faded into a blur—phones ringing and keyboards clacking. Lately, she hadn't progressed, her achievements creating a void she couldn't fill. The luxurious surroundings in her office felt hollow, and she gazed outside the window, where a sunset painted the sky with hues of orange and magenta. It was beautiful but lonely; like the majority of women her age, she was searching for something more—a reliable partner to fill the silence.
Although some men tried to flirt with her, smiles were exchanged like currency, but her heart was elsewhere. Gedanken dripped into her mind like shadows, casting her thoughts back to Genau. He was still firmly entrenched in her psyche, memories dancing like flickers of flame in the twilight.
Sometimes, when she felt the sting of solitude in her bedroom, akin to the strangling shadows of night, she tried to find solace in her fantasies, imagining Genau's face igniting her desires. Each kiss on her fingertips while daydreaming felt forbidden yet intoxicating. Driven by a surge of courage, she made a decision to move to Texas, determined not to wear her gear—she feared it might frighten him. Instead, she donned a simple outfit, blending into the shadows while she observed his movements from a distance, like a ghost haunting the edges of reality.
A few days later, Ivan Rukovski walked around the Genau building as a normal citizen, blending into the afternoon hustle, sipping his coffee while the sun beat down, its heat resonating against the pavement. He reveled in the aroma of freshly brewed dark roast wafting through the café with an outdoor terrace, where people laughed and chatted, oblivious to the plans unraveling in the background.
Holding an S rank, he had the ability to hide his wave suit signature—he was an unseen predator pacing through the flock of innocents. He even had the means to detect a user, even if they didn't wear the skeleton.
When Genau finally exited with his car, Ivan felt a thrill of triumph. He was detected as a user by Yaga, the AI assistant of Ivan Rukovski. "Now it was confirmed," he thought, his heart racing. But Ivan wanted to assess Genau's abilities further, to understand the depth of his power—a chess player studying his opponent's moves.
In the following days, he observed as Genau went about his life, immersed in the rhythms of a bustling city. One night, as darkness blanketed the landscape, Genau was pulled into the night, driving home, when suddenly, Ivan's car blocked the way on a secluded road, the headlights glaring like a looming fate.
Expecting the driver to make a mistake and move, Genau hesitated, confusion clouding his thoughts. But instead of retreating, Ivan exited his vehicle with an imposing calmness, a grandpa cane held with precision in his right hand, approaching Genau's car with an ominous purpose.
Shocked and bewildered, Genau watched as Ivan raised the cane like a weapon and smashed the front of his car, metal crunching and bending. Fear ignited within him, a primal instinct to survive surged—he grabbed his bag containing his gear and escaped. The adrenaline rushed through him, heightening every sense, making the world around him crisp and vivid.
Both of them locked eyes; a flash of realization and dread flickered across Genau's face. Perplexed, he asked Shiva why she hadn't warned him. Her voice responded, laced with urgency, stating that even then, she did not identify him as a user, leaving a chilling silence.
Ivan stood calm and smiling just a bit—his demeanor unnerving—as he introduced himself as a Valher, requesting Genau to don his skeleton, the very thing Genau planned to do. The tension thickened like a fog enveloping them.
While putting on the skeleton, Genau aimed to gather information about his opponent: what propelled this man into attacking him, and from where did he come?
Ivan remained silent, a smirk playing on his lips, declaring that if Genau sought information, it would unravel through fighting at his full potential.
With renewed determination, Genau donned gauntlets on his hands, designed to absorb the weight of an opponent's brutal damage—a strategy born from past experiences.
He unleashed his pent-up fury in a punch aimed at Ivan, but Ivan's reflexes shimmered with ease, dodging as if the air he moved through parting like water. Genau threw a kick, a feint, a whirlwind of martial motions, but still, nothing seemed to work against Ivan's fluid movements.
They moved faster, the world around them merging into a blur—a dance of power and skill—until Genau nearly found his opening with a decisive kick, but Ivan used his cane to effortlessly parry, a deceptive master of rhythm and control.
Ivan pressed a small button on the cane, extending the stick slightly and making contact with Genau's stomach. The force of the hit propelled Genau away into a tree in the nearby forest, the impact jarring as bark splintered under his weight, leaves scattering in chaos.
Ivan took his time, like a predator savoring the chase, slowly jogging before leaping, aiming to reach Genau's location.
As Genau tried to stand, a creeping shadow fell over him. He felt a rush of air as something red-hot and heavy descended from the sky at frightening speed, like an asteroid or comet—it was Ivan.
In a split second, he gauged his escape path and barely dodged, the ground exploding in a cacophony of rock and dust, uprooting nearby trees, sending him tumbling slightly away, disoriented.
Before he could gather his wits, Ivan moved swiftly—a blur, like a ninja on a mission—toward Genau, seizing his neck with cold precision. Gasping, Genau fought against the grip, desperation coursing through him, but he couldn't break free.
Ivan released his hold but stepped back just enough to assess the full extent of his opponent, the air charged with tension. As he regarded Genau, like a gamer feeling humiliated, anger and embarrassment churned inside Genau like a storm.
Frustrated and driven by a need to reclaim his pride, he commanded Shiva to upgrade his level to the full amount of his bank account, the stakes of his desperation amplifying. She responded cautiously, asking if he was sure about that decision.
But to Genau, it was no longer about ego; it was about survival, about gaining user equipment as invaluable loot.
Shiva analyzed his bank and the system pricing, concluding his maximum potential was system level 28A. He confirmed the transaction, urgency fueling his resolve.
Feeling faster, he rushed with newfound energy, but it became clear that Ivan was still tracking his every move, eyes sharp, parrying and dodging with flawless movements as they engaged fiercely once more in martial arts.
Strikes collided against the scenery; the nearby forest trembled as their fury sought to conquer the air surrounding them. Finally, one of Genau's blows caught Ivan's jaw—a victory marked by surprise.
Ivan smiled slightly, recognition dawning as if he finally saw Genau as a worthy adversary; a glowing mark appeared on his left hand as he manipulated the ground surrounding him, veins of power pulsating.
He directed his hand toward Genau, and the earth responded, moving as an extension of his will—the ground morphed, rocks and long sticks forming into weapons of assault, launching at Genau like missiles.
As debris hurtled through the air, Genau sprang into motion, desperately trying to dodge ground attacks while circling Ivan, shouting questions about the glowing tattoo and how he had mastered the earth.
Amid the chaos, Shiva analyzed the mark, her voice factual and steady as she revealed the user had reached a certain level that unlocked such a feature. Ivan used the knowledge like a hammer, driving his punches home.
Hearing Shiva's explanation ringing in his ears, Ivan closed the distance with a surprise punch attack, knocking Genau to the ground with unparalleled force.
Ivan did not relent; he jumped on him, unleashing a barrage of strikes against Genau's face. Each blow echoed through the forest as trees swayed, leaves falling like confetti amid battle.
Genau instinctively blocked with his arms, a boxer defending against an onslaught, his gauntlets absorbing some of the damage. But as he braced himself, Ivan aimed at his stomach hurling beams of agony, successfully damaging the skeleton—the unsightly cracks visible through the suit—as ribs broke and skin tore, leaving Genau vulnerable.
Finally, a crushing blow sent him spiraling into unconsciousness, darkness folding around him like a blanket. Ivan paused, breathing deeply, surveying the scene, confirming that the USA posed no threat in this moment, as he darkly planned to return to Russia to report.
That day, meanwhile, Maria acted like a stalker, her heart racing as she followed Genau in her car while anxiously maintaining a safe distance, her thoughts racing in circles. The road before her seemed to stretch endlessly, shadows creeping along with her every turn.
She spotted Genau's car on the road with its crushed front. Concern washed over her like a wave, and unease prickled at her skin as she wondered what had transpired. Hearing distorted noises from the forest, she parked her car a distance away, her heart pounding hard in her chest, and cautiously approached the source of the sounds with bated breath.
As she reached the location, the sight before her struck her like a slap to the face. Genau lay there on the ground—his once-heroic figure now reduced to a pitiful state amidst the disarray of the forest. Shock coursed through her; it tore away the pedestal she had built for him as a powerful man.
Steve, her ever-reliable personal assistant, suggested injecting him with a serum, but she felt a knot tighten in her stomach—she had left it in her apartment. Panic briefly flickered in her eyes. Desperate, she wore her gear, her heart racing as she lifted him, using her strength to carry him to her car.
Once inside, she drove swiftly to her apartment, excitement bubbling within her despite his pitiful state, the thrill of being so close to him sending adrenaline coursing through her veins.
Once they arrived, she unceremoniously placed Genau on her bed, her heart hammering, urgency propelling her actions as she began administering the serum.
The process was swift, and she watched as the glowing liquid worked its magic, reconstructing Genau's ribs, the lines of power stitching him back together as his skeletal frame began to restore itself, intact but still unconscious, breathing steadily alongside her own frantic heartbeat.
She lay next to him, gazing intently at his face, a swirl of confusing emotions flooding her mind as visions of what could be pulled at the edges of her thoughts.
The warmth radiating from him was intoxicating. She thought about how she had saved his life, but the notion receded beneath a tide of longing; he'd likely remain cold toward her—like ice, she mused, frowning slightly.
Her heart raced, knowing that this might be her only opportunity to have him there, to weave herself into his existence. Gently, she started to caress his chest, fingertips gliding over hard muscles, hesitant but eager, her breath quickening as she leaned closer, heart pounding in her ears.
She kissed him softly on the cheek, waiting, checking if he would wake. When he didn't respond to her gentle touch, frustration sparked within her. Her next kiss was bolder, pressing her lips directly to his mouth, a spark igniting an uncontainable fire, her hands moving lower to explore, the promise of intimacy clouding her judgment.
In the depth of their tangled sheets, she moved further until reaching his penis, fingers deftly navigating through the constraints of the suit. All suits possessed a secret orifice for the lower body; she felt her heart race as she unlocked that part, undressed completely, revealing her naked body as she joined him in their shared world of temptation.
She kissed him passionately, desperation igniting the surrounding air, moving lower, her lips enveloping him eagerly, a feverish sanctum in which she surrendered to her desires, the world outside fading into obscurity.
Once he was fully erect, a wave of satisfaction rushed through her—it felt wrong, but it only heightened her thrill. Without a care for consent, she inserted his penis into her vagina, an act of raw desire overwhelming her senses.
No matter Steve's warnings about consent, her excitement drowned them out. She was determined, bordering on feverish, as she lost herself in the moment, oblivious to everything beyond the confines of her heated urges.
In the morning, as dawn's light began to filter through the curtains, they both lay sleeping under the covers, the weight of night still hanging between them. Maria clung to him as if they were already a couple, hearts entwined amidst the aftermath of their heated decisions, still naked, vulnerability coloring her mind.
As Genau began to wake, his mind groggy, he felt warm arms around him, their heat suffusing into his consciousness. A sense of disorientation clouded his thoughts, and as he turned his head, confusion intensified when he noticed a girl sleeping beside him, a stranger in a sea of familiarity.
Panic surged through him; confusion broke the surface of his thoughts, and his only instinct was to escape the situation he found himself ensnared in—a web of uncertainty.
Gently pushing her arms away, he grabbed his clothes, an urgent need to leave gripping him, yet as he reached the bedroom door, déjà vu struck him with greater force.
Slightly sobered by the sensation of reality crashing around him, he glanced back, asking what had happened, as the only thing he could remember was being in the forest with an old man—an ambiguity threading confusion through his veins.
[End]
She explained the situation—the serum, the battle, how she had saved him, and her own inner turmoil. He thanked her, a vague sense of gratitude coursing through him, promising to return the serum, but she didn't want that kind of response; her heart raced as she asked for his number instead.
He remained silent, the questions churning in his mind as he left, stating that a delivery package for the serum would soon arrive at her apartment, an excuse to create distance.
Genau didn't have time for such emotions; his thoughts were tangled with memories of a powerful opponent who was not a hollow. Frustration gnawed at him, and as urgency gripped him, he awaited quests or relevant events to uncover more about the system, determined.
In the meantime, thoughts of his parents in Germany surfaced, memories washed in the warmth of nostalgia. He also planned to pay them a visit, but the weight of his newfound reality was heavy, and he braced himself for the turmoil that lay ahead.