Noah paced back and forth in his small, dingy apartment. The glow of the Grindstone illuminated the otherwise dim room. Outside, the city buzzed faintly, but Noah was too preoccupied to notice.
"Income?" he muttered, staring at the new quest prompt. "Sure, let me just snap my fingers and land a job."
The Grindstone's voice responded promptly. "Host is reminded that rewards are granted only through effort. Completion of the task is mandatory."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Noah grumbled, running a hand through his damp hair. He flopped onto the couch and stared at the cracked ceiling. The energy from the earlier rewards still pulsed faintly through him, making him restless.
"Suggestion: Utilize acquired skills to secure income. Potential pathways include physical labor, freelance work, or unconventional methods."
"Unconventional methods?" Noah sat up, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean? You're not telling me to rob someone, are you?"
The Grindstone didn't answer, but Noah got the feeling it wasn't going to be picky about how he completed the quest. He sighed and grabbed his phone, scrolling through job listings. Most required qualifications he didn't have, but a few caught his eye:
Dishwasher at Jimmy's Diner
Freelance delivery driver (bike required)
Street cleaner (night shift)
"Guess I'm not exactly spoiled for choice," he muttered. After a moment's hesitation, he tapped on the dishwasher job and sent in a bare-bones application. He figured the odds of getting a response were slim, but it was a start.
In the meantime, the Grindstone chimed again.
"New feature unlocked: Random Encounter System. Opportunities for growth and resource acquisition now active."
"Random encounters?" Noah repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Like, what, I'm going to run into a dragon on the way to the grocery store?"
The Grindstone didn't elaborate, but a notification appeared:
[Random Encounter Nearby: Investigate the alley behind Marcus Street.]
Noah's pulse quickened. His rational mind told him to ignore it. Random encounters in video games usually meant trouble, and he'd already had enough trouble for one night. But the faint glow of the Grindstone seemed to tug at him, urging him to go.
"Fine," he said, grabbing his hoodie. "But if I end up dead in a dumpster, this is on you."
The alley behind Marcus Street was dark and narrow, the kind of place Noah usually avoided. Garbage bins lined the walls, and the faint smell of rotting food lingered in the air. He hesitated at the entrance, gripping the Grindstone tightly.
"Alright," he whispered. "What am I looking for?"
A faint rustling noise came from deeper in the alley. Noah's muscles tensed as he edged closer. The light from a flickering streetlamp barely reached the shadows ahead.
Suddenly, a shape darted out of the darkness. Noah stumbled back, heart pounding, but the figure stopped a few feet away. It was a young woman, no older than twenty, with wild eyes and a face streaked with dirt. She clutched a tattered bag to her chest.
"Stay back!" she shouted, her voice trembling.
Noah raised his hands. "Whoa, whoa, I'm not here to hurt you!"
The Grindstone chimed in his head. "Potential ally detected. Host is advised to proceed cautiously."
The girl's eyes narrowed, darting between Noah and the glowing stone in his hand. "What is that?"
Noah hesitated. "Uh… long story."
Before he could explain, another noise came from the alley—a low, guttural growl. Noah turned just in time to see a hulking figure step into the light. It was a man, but his eyes glowed red, and his movements were jerky, unnatural.
"What the…?" Noah started, but the Grindstone interrupted.
"Hostile entity detected. Classification: Low-tier Aberration. Objective: Eliminate threat. Reward: Aberration Core."
The girl gasped and shrank back. "It's after me," she whispered.
Noah didn't have time to ask why. The Aberration lunged, moving with terrifying speed. Noah barely managed to dodge, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Combat opportunity: Utilize improvised weapons or environmental hazards."
Noah's eyes darted around. A loose brick lay near the wall, and a rusty metal pole leaned against one of the garbage bins. Without thinking, he grabbed the pole and swung it as hard as he could.
The Aberration blocked the attack with inhuman strength, sending Noah staggering backward.
"Not good," he muttered, gripping the pole tighter.
The Grindstone's voice was calm, almost infuriatingly so. "Host is advised to exploit weaknesses. Aberrations are vulnerable to head trauma."
"Easy for you to say!" Noah shouted, dodging another swipe from the creature.
Summoning all his courage, he swung the pole again, aiming for the creature's head. This time, the impact landed with a sickening crack. The Aberration let out a guttural roar, stumbling back.
The girl watched in wide-eyed terror as Noah pressed the attack, landing another blow to the creature's skull. Finally, with one last swing, the Aberration collapsed to the ground, its body disintegrating into black ash.
Noah stood there, panting, as the Grindstone displayed a new notification:
"Hostile eliminated. Reward acquired: Aberration Core (x1). Strength and Agility experience gained."
The glowing stone pulsed in his hand, and Noah felt another surge of energy flood his body. He turned to the girl, who was still clutching her bag.
"What was that thing?" he asked, his voice shaky.
She hesitated, then muttered, "Trouble. And if you're smart, you'll stay far away from me."
Before Noah could respond, she turned and ran, disappearing into the shadows of the alley.
"Hey, wait!" he called after her, but it was no use.
The Grindstone's voice returned. "Quest progress updated. Host is advised to pursue additional encounters for optimal growth."
Noah groaned, leaning against the wall. "This is going to be a long night…"
End of Chapter 4.