(Thursday, May 16, 2026 – 4:17 PM)
The system hummed softly, the gentle whir of the cooling fans blending with the subtle electronic pulses from the high-end components. The BIOS screen flickered, awaiting input. A blank canvas, ready to be shaped.
Adam cracked his knuckles, his black eyes locked onto the display. There was no hesitation as he reached for the keyboard, fingers moving with precise control as he accessed the system's firmware.
A standard operating system wouldn't cut it. He needed something built from the ground up, something custom, something untraceable.
He would create his own programming language first.
His hands moved methodically, defining the syntax, structure, and architecture of the language. Every aspect had to be designed for maximum efficiency, security, and adaptability.
He started with the core principles.
The language needed to be low-level enough to interact directly with hardware, bypassing unnecessary layers of abstraction, yet flexible enough to allow complex functionality.
He built a new syntax, distinct from existing languages, combining the efficiency of C, the security of Rust, and the parallel processing capabilities found in cutting-edge architectures.
Memory management was rewritten from scratch. No garbage collection reliance. Every allocation would be precise, controlled. No memory leaks, no vulnerabilities.
The compiler had to be lightweight yet robust, capable of compiling directly to machine code with zero unnecessary overhead. Instead of following conventional methods, he implemented adaptive optimization routines, allowing the system to analyze code execution in real-time and refine itself dynamically.
The language also needed to be resistant to reverse engineering. He wrote in layered obfuscation protocols, meaning any attempt to decompile or extract code would result in meaningless data.
Even if someone somehow accessed the system, they wouldn't be able to understand or manipulate the source code. It was his and his alone.
Each line of code was written with uncompromising precision. There were no wasted functions, no inefficiencies, no gaps.
As the language took form, Adam could feel something rare, a sense of perfect control over his creation. Every element aligned exactly as he envisioned. A flawless foundation.
Satisfied, he finalized the compiler, running stress tests to ensure stability. It executed flawlessly.
The programming language was complete.
Now, it was time to build the operating system.
He immediately started with the kernel, the core of the OS. It had to be secure, self-contained, and immune to external tampering. No open-source vulnerabilities. No exploitable code.
The architecture was designed for absolute efficiency, direct hardware integration, eliminating redundant processing layers, ensuring it operated at lightning speed.
Security was paramount. Everything was encrypted. The system could mask its presence, operate in the background undetected, and had a failsafe that would self-destruct critical data if unauthorized access was attempted.
Networking protocols were rewritten from scratch. No conventional TCP/IP stacks. Instead, he created a custom transmission method that encrypted and scrambled data at a level no known system could decode.
Even if someone tried to hack into it, they wouldn't even recognize it as an operating system. It would appear as corrupted, unreadable data.
As he built the interface, he kept it minimalistic, functional, and command-driven, no unnecessary visual elements, just raw efficiency.
Hours passed in silence, interrupted only by the rhythmic keystrokes. The screen reflected his work, lines of code forming the backbone of a system unlike any other.
By the time he was done, the OS was stable, undetectable, and completely untraceable.
It was his. Designed from nothing, built with purpose.
The screen flickered for a moment before the system came to life, running smoothly on his new machine.
The perfect digital fortress.
Adam leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes as he glanced at the time on his monitor. 10:27 PM. The hours had disappeared in his focused work, but now that he was done, a different urge took priority, hunger.
Even though Awà is keeping his body operational without problems, he still needs to eat.
With a quiet sigh, he stood up, stretched his arms, and grabbed his wallet before heading out.
....
(10:33 PM)
The night air was cool but pleasant, the streets of Alessandria still alive with movement. Neon signs flickered against the warm glow of streetlights, and the scent of food drifted from the various stalls and restaurants that lined the roads.
Adam walked at a leisurely pace, hands tucked into his pockets, blending in with the evening crowd. The city felt familiar, yet different.
The old-world charm of Italy remained in the architecture and narrow streets, but the influence of hunters had left its mark. Mana-powered vehicles drove on the asphalt, holographic advertisements shifted dynamically, and fortified structures stood as silent defenses against the unknown.
Despite the advancements, life continued. Ordinary people walked these streets, chatting, shopping, living as if dungeons and monsters weren't a looming threat.
A familiar scent pulled Adam from his thoughts. The rich, spiced aroma of grilled meat led him to a small food stall nestled between two buildings.
Stepping up to the counter, he spoke calmly.
"One kebab, with everything."
The vendor, a middle-aged man with a thick mustache, nodded and moved with practiced efficiency. Meat sizzled on the grill, juices dripping onto the open flame, while fresh vegetables were chopped and sauces spread over warm, folded bread.
A minute later, the kebab was wrapped and handed to him.
Adam took the first bite, flavors exploding across his tongue. The combination of charred, spiced meat, crisp vegetables, and creamy sauce was perfect. Simple, but satisfying.
He continued walking, circling the streets slowly as he ate, taking in the sights.
Even with the changes, the city had a vibrancy to it, a coexistence of normalcy and the extraordinary.
A reminder that this was no longer the world he once knew.
(10:52 PM)
Finishing the last bite of his kebab, Adam dusted off his hands and glanced toward the direction where the E-Rank gate had appeared earlier in the day.
'Might as well check it out before heading back.'
The streets were quieter now, the earlier crowds having thinned out. He moved through the dimly lit alleyways and main roads, his footsteps steady but unhurried. The city never fully slept, but there was a noticeable shift in atmosphere, a sense of quiet vigilance as night settled in.
As he neared the site, he spotted a small gathering of civilians standing behind the makeshift barricades set up by the Hunter Association. Some were whispering among themselves, others just watching out of curiosity.
Adam slipped into the crowd, positioning himself where he could see clearly.
The gate still pulsed, its deep blue surface swirling ominously, but what caught his attention was the group of hunters preparing to enter.
[Scanning...]
Awà's voice hummed in his mind.
[All participants are E-Rank hunters, except for the squad captain, D-Rank.]
His eyes shifted to the leader.
She was a muscular woman, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a reinforced combat suit. A large sword rested on her back, the handle extending slightly above her shoulder. Her expression was firm, her stance solid, clearly experienced despite the low rank of the operation.
Adam watched as the team moved toward the gate, exchanging final words before stepping through. The portal shimmered, swallowing them one by one.
Satisfied, Adam turned away and started heading home.
There was no reason to linger.
He had training to do.
----
A what if, this also means different outcomes..
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