"Zhao Wei! You never do things properly, always ruining everything. You're fired!"
The ball-headed man in his late 40s, his boss, bellowed, his voice laced with unrelenting anger. Sweat dotted his furrowed brow as his trembling hand pointed toward the door.
Zhao Wei stood before him, his face blank, but inside, a storm raged. Ten long years of tireless effort, only to be discarded the moment he asked for what he was owed. His body clenched, a flicker of resentment flashing in his eyes, but he remained silent.
"I hired you because I thought you were talented! And what have you done for me lately? Sitting around like a lazy bum and asking for more money!" The boss's voice rose with each word, growing more furious.
Zhao Wei opened his mouth, but the words caught in his throat. He knew the man would just keep yelling, no matter what he said. He had been here before—logic and reason meant nothing when anger took over. He had tried to explain, to negotiate, but it was always the same: empty promises and more work.
He wasn't even surprised anymore. His resignation had become as much a part of the routine as the endless grind of the job.
The boss didn't give him a chance to speak, continuing his tirade about how useless Zhao Wei was. The office seemed to shrink, the words pounding against his ears like a hammer. It wasn't just the firing that stung; it was the betrayal. The realization that the man he had worked for a decade had never seen him as anything more than an expendable tool.
Zhao Wei clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. [Damn it, this fucking boss. I want to knock his teeth out.] But he couldn't. He couldn't break the laws, couldn't break the rules that kept him shackled to this miserable existence.
The laws.
His mind briefly wandered to the absurdity of it all—the same laws that bound him to this toxic company, the same ones that kept him from retaliating. It wasn't just the company's rules, but the larger societal ones. The ones that punished anyone who dared defy their superiors. Even if he had the strength to fight back, the consequences would be severe. The legal system favored those in power, like his boss, and there was no escape for the powerless.
His entire life, reduced to this.
He had worked here for ten years. Ten long years of sacrificing his personal life, health, and happiness, all for the hope that things might one day get better. But now, he was out. Fired. For asking for a raise he deserved. The injustice made his chest tighten with frustration.
[But I can't do anything to him. Just have to find another job. Ha…]
Zhao Wei exhaled deeply, trying to quell the rising tide of anger. He had been here before. His mind worked mechanically, figuring out his next steps. He had saved up some money—just enough to stay afloat for a while. But with the economy in shambles and the job market more competitive than ever, finding another position wouldn't be easy.
He walked out of the office without looking back. His boss didn't even acknowledge his departure, too busy ranting to anyone who would listen.
Zhao Wei stepped out into the cold streets, the weight of his failure heavy on his shoulders. He felt like just another cog in the machine—unnoticed and easily replaced. The snow falling around him seemed to reflect his inner emptiness, the grey sky matching his mood.
He sighed and pulled out his phone, scrolling through his usual pirated novel sites. His eyes briefly lit up when he saw a new chapter posted but quickly dimmed. He clicked on the latest update, only for an ad to pop up.
"Ugh, not again. Maybe I should install an ad blocker."
As he reached for the X to close the pop-up, something caught his attention. The ad read: "Do you want to rewrite your fate?"
Zhao Wei frowned. "What is this nonsense? Is this a scam?" But, for some reason, he couldn't stop himself. Maybe it was the alcohol or just the frustration of the day, but he clicked "Yes."
The screen redirected him to an invalid website. "I should've known better," he muttered, feeling foolish. He closed the phone and prepared to cross the road, his excitement for reading gone.
Just then, a blinding light flashed in his eyes. He blinked, confused. "Is this a stage light? What's going on?" But before he could think further, he saw a massive truck speeding straight toward him. His legs froze in place, and panic gripped him.
The world went black.
He thought he was dead.
But instead of darkness, he found himself struggling to breathe, as though underwater. His chest burned, and he fought to reach the surface. When he broke through, a wave of bright light hit him, forcing him to close his eyes. When he opened them again, the surroundings were completely different—snowy mountains, cold air, and an eerie stillness.
A sudden ding echoed in his ear.
The first trial initiated.
Mission: Survive for 1 hour.
Reward for mission completion:
Reward 1: ???
Reward 2: Destiny Value +100.
Penalty for failure:
Death.
Fate points will be issued based on your performance.
Good luck!
A hologram flickered before him, its faint yellow glow barely visible against the snowy backdrop. Zhao Wei stared at it, confused. "Survive? From what?"
Before he could think further, a distant howl echoed through the mountains, sending a shiver down his spine. He instinctively turned toward the sound.
Zhao Wei's heart pounded in his chest, his breaths forming clouds in the freezing air as he turned toward the source of the sound. The howls grew louder, echoing through the snow-covered landscape. He looked around, hoping to spot an escape route, but all he saw were towering trees and the seemingly endless expanse of the mountain range.
Then, it appeared.
Emerging from the treeline, the creature came into view—a wolf. But this was no ordinary wolf. This one stood three times the size of any wolf Zhao Wei had ever seen, its fur an eerie shade of gray that blended with the snowy surroundings. To make matters worse, it had two snarling heads, each bearing rows of sharp, glistening teeth.
"Of course it has two heads," Zhao Wei muttered under his breath, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.
The wolf snarled, its dual heads snapping in unison as it began to sprint toward him. Zhao Wei didn't waste a second. He turned on his heel and bolted in the opposite direction, his legs moving as fast as they could. The icy wind stung his face, and the uneven ground made every step treacherous. Behind him, he could hear the heavy thuds of the wolf's paws growing closer.
He risked a glance at the holographic timer floating in the corner of his vision.
35 minutes remaining…
[Fuck! There's still that much time left? I can't keep this up! I'm so tired!] Zhao Wei cursed internally, his lungs burning as he pushed himself to keep going.
He knew he couldn't outrun the wolf forever, and fighting it was out of the question. The creature was far too powerful. His only chance was to outsmart it. His eyes darted around, searching for anything he could use. Then, in the distance, he spotted a path winding up toward the mountain's peak.
The path showed signs of past human activity—broken carriages lay scattered along the way, their wood splintered and half-buried in the snow. Zhao Wei didn't stop to inspect them. Instead, he grabbed a sturdy piece of wood as he passed, clutching it tightly as he continued his climb.
The wolf's snarls grew louder, but the dense trees slowed it down just enough to give Zhao Wei a slight advantage. As he reached the peak, he turned to see the wolf emerging from the treeline, its glowing eyes fixed on him.
"Unafraid of dying, are we?" Zhao Wei muttered, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips despite the terror coursing through him.
He didn't wait for the wolf to reach him. Clutching the piece of wood, he leaped down the snowy slope, landing on the steep incline with both feet. Using the wood as an improvised snowboard, he began to ski down the mountain, the wind roaring in his ears.
[Thank you, boss, for that one company ski trip.] He laughed bitterly, leaning into the momentum as he sped down the slope.
The wolf followed, its massive form launching itself down the mountain after him. Its first landing wasn't as graceful, its heads burying into the snow before it recovered. But the slope's slick surface worked against it, and its large frame struggled for balance. Zhao Wei looked back just in time to see the beast lose its footing entirely.
The wolf let out a frustrated snarl as it tumbled down the slope, its massive body rolling uncontrollably toward the bottom.
"Yes!" Zhao Wei pumped his fist in triumph, but his celebration was short-lived. Ahead of him loomed a steep cliff, the end of the slope approaching far too quickly.
"Shit!" He jumped off his makeshift snowboard, rolling through the snow in a desperate attempt to stop himself. The impact sent pain shooting through his body, but he managed to grab onto the edge of the cliff just before he fell.
Dangling by one hand, he panted heavily, his muscles screaming in protest. His entire body ached, but he refused to let go. Below him was nothing but a sheer drop into oblivion.
He glanced at the timer again.
1 minute remaining…
The seconds ticked down agonizingly slowly. Zhao Wei stared at the countdown, his mind blank from exhaustion. The numbers blurred together, but he refused to close his eyes.
10… 9… 8…
His grip began to weaken, his fingers slipping against the icy edge.
5… 4… 3…
He gritted his teeth, his vision darkening at the edges.
2… 1…
Ding! Mission completed.
Calculating rewards…
As soon as the notification rang in his ears, Zhao Wei's strength gave out. His fingers slipped from the edge, and he plummeted. His body tumbled through the air, weightless and numb.
His vision went blank.