Kai Nakamura stared at the holographic screen floating in front of him, his mind racing. The words "Erebus System" glowed faintly, and below them, a list of options:
[Time-Freeze Ability: Active]
[Black Card Balance: $1,000,000]
[Attribute Upgrades: Available]
[Mission: Dismantle the Eclipse Syndicate]
"This… this can't be real," Kai muttered, pinching himself just to be sure. The sharp pain confirmed he wasn't dreaming. He was really here, in this strange room, with a system that seemed ripped straight out of a video game.
He glanced at the black card in his hand. It was sleek, with a faint silver emblem of an hourglass. The words "Erebus" were etched into the corner.
"Alright, Erebus," Kai said, addressing the system. "If you're real, prove it. Show me what you can do."
[Command Acknowledged.]
[Time-Freeze Activated. Duration: 10 Minutes.]
The world around him froze. The sunlight streaming through the window hung motionless in the air, and the faint hum of the air conditioner stopped. Kai's breath caught in his throat. He waved a hand in front of his face, but nothing moved.
"Holy crap," he whispered, his voice echoing in the eerie silence. "This is insane."
He took a step forward, then another, marveling at the stillness. He reached out and touched a droplet of water suspended in mid-air. It didn't budge.
[Time-Freeze Deactivated.]
The world snapped back into motion. The droplet fell, splashing onto the floor, and the hum of the air conditioner returned. Kai stumbled back, his heart pounding.
"Okay," he said, running a hand through his hair. "This is real. This is really happening."
The holographic screen flickered, displaying a new message:
[Mission 1: Establish Your Base.]
[Reward: $500,000 and 10 Attribute Points.]
Kai frowned. "Establish my base? What does that even mean?"
Before he could ponder further, his stomach growled loudly. Right. He was still human, and humans needed food.
The System Interface
Kai decided to explore the system further. He focused on the holographic screen, and a new set of details appeared:
[Current Attributes]
Strength: 5/10 (Average)
Agility: 5/10 (Average)
Intelligence: 7/10 (Above Average)
Charisma: 4/10 (Below Average)
Luck: 6/10 (Slightly Lucky)
[Upgrade Points Available: 0]
[Black Card Balance: $1,000,000]
[Time-Freeze Usage: 1/3 (Resets Daily)]
"Huh," Kai muttered, scratching his head. "So I'm basically an average guy with a fancy system. Great."
He noticed a small note at the bottom of the screen:
[Tip: Complete missions to earn upgrade points and increase your attributes.]
"Alright, Erebus," Kai said, grinning. "Let's see what you can do."
The First Test
Kai stepped out of the small apartment and into the bustling streets of Eclipse City. The city was alive with activity—people rushing to work, street vendors calling out their wares, and the occasional flash of a high-end car speeding past.
He glanced at the black card in his hand. "Alright, Erebus. Let's see what you can do."
He walked into a nearby café and ordered the most expensive item on the menu—a gourmet sandwich and a latte that cost more than his old daily budget. When the cashier handed him the bill, he swiped the black card without hesitation.
The machine beeped, and the cashier smiled. "Payment approved. Enjoy your meal!"
Kai grinned. "Oh, I will."
As he sat down to eat, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. For the first time in his life, he had power. Real power. And he was going to use it to take down the people who had killed him.
A Mysterious Encounter
As Kai left the café, he noticed a commotion down the street. A group of men in black suits were harassing a young woman with auburn hair. She looked familiar, but Kai couldn't place her.
"Hand over the files, Aria," one of the men growled. "You don't want to make this harder than it has to be."
Aria Sinclair, the woman from Kai's past life, glared at them. "You can tell Victor Langston to go to hell."
Kai's eyes widened. Victor Langston—the first name on his list. This was his chance.
[Mission Update: Protect Aria Sinclair.]
[Reward: $100,000 and 5 Attribute Points.]
Kai smirked. "Alright, Erebus. Let's do this."
He activated the time-freeze ability and rushed toward the men. With time frozen, he easily disarmed them and positioned himself between Aria and her attackers.
[Time-Freeze Usage: 2/3]
[Time-Freeze Deactivated.]
The men stumbled back, confused. "What the—? Who are you?"
Kai crossed his arms, his grin widening. "The guy who's about to ruin your day."
End of Chapter 1
Kai stood protectively in front of Aria, the men glaring at him but clearly unsure of what had just happened. Aria looked at him with a mix of curiosity and gratitude.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice steady despite the situation.
Kai glanced back at her, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Someone who's about to change your life."