The dead of night enveloped the streets of London. Rain drizzled down the hood of Atlas. He carefully crossed the narrow alley, hiding in the shadows, and glanced at the massive building ahead. It was his last contract. Or, as it turned out, the last day of his life.
The mission seemed simple: to break into a private laboratory at Knox Tech, steal biological weapons data, and escape unnoticed. For the M-6 operative, an elite hitman with dozens of successful assignments under his belt, it was routine. But it's the routine that sometimes ruins even the best.
Through the infrared scope, Atlas saw two guards at the entrance. One was smoking, the other was looking at his phone.
Mistake. He silently pulled out a pistol with a silencer, fired two accurate shots. The men collapsed before they even realized what had happened.
Atlas slipped inside and moved through the corridors. The laboratory was empty – the staff had already left, leaving the building on automatic security. He turned off the cameras beforehand using a virus uploaded by his partner Mark.
"Here it is, the server" – Flashed through his mind as he entered the secure room. After connecting the USB flash drive, Atlas started copying files. Documents flashed across the screen: formulas, reports, diagrams… It was a virus of unknown origin, designed to turn a human into...
"Damn..." – he muttered when he saw the final report.
But at that moment, something changed.
A sharp rustle behind him. Atlas turned around, but it was too late. A thin dart pierced his neck. A burning sensation shot through his body. His vision was blurred, and his muscles were weak. He jerked, trying to raise the weapon, but his fingers wouldn't work.
Unknown people came out of the darkness of the corridor. Black masks, tactical suits–obviously not lab security. They didn't shoot. They didn't need it. They were just watching the poison do its job.
Gunshots rang out in the distance. So his team is already dead. By the way, he knew them, knew their real names, especially that Mark, who was shot, had a family and children.
Atlas didn't want to think about what kind of funeral his colleagues at work would have....He didn't want to think about his funeral, but no one would grieve for him except his superiors.
"Is this how it ends?"– Flashed through his mind. He expected death, but not like this. Not in a cold, silent building, surrounded by enemies he didn't even know. So many years of training, so many completed tasks, and all in vain. Was there any point in what he was doing? Or was he just a pawn that could be thrown off the board at any moment?
Memories flashed before his eyes. The first day at M-6. Training, the first task, the handshake of a partner. Laughter in the bar after a successful mission. He was never a good man, but he lived. He chose. There was no choice now.
"But I'm happy that they'll write over my coffin that I died as a hero, the M-6s always do that... I hope they'll put up a monument to me, too."
His fingers trembled, but the strength left his body. It was getting dark in my eyes. Fear? No. Only regret. That I didn't have time. That he hadn't realized before how vulnerable he was.
"That's it..." – The last thought flashed through my head.
The darkness closed around him.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Atlas felt his mind drifting in the void. Was it the end? No. Something has changed.
The cold water enveloped his body... if it could even be called a body. Atlas tried to move, but realized that he was too small, too weak.
°°°
"What... what happened to me?" – his mind screamed, but there was no answer.
The interface window flashed in front of my eyes.
[Poseidon Trident system activated]
[Status: Plankton]
[Goal: Survival and Evolution]
"Are you kidding me?!"– Atlas howled mentally, realizing that his new path was just beginning.…
He tried to look around, but his eyesight was weak. The world around him was an endless sheet of water, shimmering with blue highlights. Suddenly, something bigger flashed by–a tiny shrimp-like creature.
[Warning!]
[The first threat has been detected nearby.]
[Collision avoidance is recommended.]
"What?! A threat? – It's just some kind of shrimp!"
But just as he thought that, the creature abruptly lunged in his direction. Atlas barely had time to move–if that could be called a movement. He felt his tiny body squirm, trying to escape.
[Danger!]
[You can use the first available ability.]
A menu appeared in front of him.
[Ability: Microscopic reactivity – sudden acceleration over a short distance.]
Atlas didn't hesitate. At the same moment, his body shot forward with unexpected speed, leaving the hungry shrimp behind.
"Phew… It was close..."
He took a deep breath–or what was now his substitute for breathing.
[Congratulations!]
[You have avoided the first threat.
[Gained 5 experience points.]
Good. If I want to survive in this world… I need to get stronger."
He felt something new inside himself, as if his tiny body had become a little stronger.
[The threshold of 10 experience points has been reached]
[The first evolution is available.]
Atlas froze. Evolution? Already? So, he could change, become bigger, stronger.…
A new window opened in front of him.
[Choose the direction of evolution:]
[Reinforced shell – increased protection from predators.]
[Predatory mandibles – the ability to attack smaller creatures.]
[Jet fins – even greater acceleration in the water.]
Atlas thought about it. This was his first step towards surviving in this new world. A choice on which his future depended.
He chuckled.
"Well then... let's see what I'm capable of."
Suddenly, his body began to change. Pain shot through every cell, but soon the realization came – he became stronger. The world didn't seem so hopeless anymore.
A new goal loomed before him: not just to survive, but to become the pinnacle of this ecosystem.
"Well then... let's start the game."