I'm not dead. I keep reminding myself of that. Every breath I take is like inhaling a fresh dose of reality—a bitter, metallic taste in the back of my throat that tells me I’ve just stepped into some twisted new version of my life. I've watched a million animes, read a thousand mangas and played gazillion VR games, but not even once would I have ever imagined this would be happening to me in real life.The glowing blue screen hovers at the edge of my vision, pulsing softly, like it’s waiting for something. Probably waiting for me to mess up again. Well, joke's on it—I’m already a screw-up, so the pressure’s off.I’m wandering aimlessly through the dark streets, my mind half-dazed, when the screen flickers, catching my attention.*First mission commencing: Neutralize threat. Location: Three blocks north. Objective: 100 Essence.*"Neutralize threat? What the hell does that mean?" I mutter, glancing around as if the screen might answer me. Of course, it doesn’t. This system, Rolin - as i

I should be nervous. I should be sweating bullets, thinking about all the ways this can go wrong, but instead, there’s this weird calm washing over me as I make my way toward the warehouse. The Rolin system has been quiet since I accepted the mission, just that soft hum in the back of my mind, like it’s biding its time. And maybe I’m doing the same—waiting for something to click, for that moment when it all makes sense. The warehouse is in the industrial district, one of those places you don’t go unless you’ve got a damn good reason. Tonight, I’ve got one—500 Essence, a number that’s burned itself into my brain since the mission details popped up. That’s a hell of a lot more than I got from those street thugs, which means this job is bigger, more dangerous. But then, isn’t that what I signed up for?I slip around the back of the building, avoiding the main entrance. The place is dark, just a few scattered lights casting shadows across the cracked concrete. I pause at a side door, the

The rain’s coming down hard, turning the streets of Seattle into a slick, shining maze of reflections and shadows. It’s the kind of night where decent folks stay inside, locked up tight with their families, away from the dangers that lurk in the dark. But I’m not decent, and tonight, I’m not staying inside.The Rolin system’s been buzzing in the back of my mind since I left the apartment, like an itch I can’t scratch. The mission it’s assigned me this time is different, bigger, and I can feel it in my bones. There’s a heaviness to it, a sense of danger that’s almost palpable.*Mission Objective: Infiltrate the underground auction. Secure the data chip. Target: High-priority. Reward: 800 Essence.*An auction. Black market, no doubt. The kind of place where you can buy anything from stolen tech to human lives, if you know the right people. And tonight, I’m about to walk right into the middle of it.I pull my hood up, shielding my face from the rain as I make my way down an alley that sm

The rain’s been pouring for hours, hammering down on the streets of Seattle like it’s got beef against the city. My hood is pulled low, hiding my face from the worst of it, but there’s no escaping the chill that seeps into my bones. I’ve been on edge since I left Oz’s studio, the weight of the mission pressing down on me like a lead blanket. This one’s different. Bigger. And I can’t shake the feeling that tonight’s going to be a turning point—one way or another.The Rolin system’s been quiet since it gave me the mission, which is almost worse than the constant buzzing. It’s like it’s waiting, watching, seeing how I handle this on my own. But I’m not alone. Not entirely.Lyle’s beside me, his usual cocky grin replaced by a grim determination that tells me he knows how serious this is. He’s been quiet too, only speaking to go over the plan one more time, making sure we’ve got our angles covered. But even the best plans can go to shit in the blink of an eye, and I’ve got a feeling we’re

The rain’s relentless. It’s like the sky’s got a grudge against me, pounding me with everything it’s got, as if trying to wash away the weight that’s settled on my shoulders. But it’s not working. Nothing’s working. The word keeps looping in my head, over and over, until I can’t think straight.Pregnant.Emma’s pregnant. The mother of my child—my child—just betrayed me, just sold me out to God knows who, and now I’m supposed to do… what? Pretend it doesn’t matter? Pretend that I’m not scared out of my mind about what comes next?But there’s no time to think about that. No time to let it sink in. The Rolin system’s buzzing in my head, louder than before, more insistent, as if it knows something I don’t. And maybe it does. Hell, it probably knows everything, and I’m just catching up.I keep walking, aimless, no destination in mind, just moving because if I stop, I’m afraid I’ll fall apart. But the system’s not going to let that happen. It’s got other plans.*New mission: Incoming threat