Where Am I?Matteo De Cannio's eyes flickered open, the stark white ceiling above him a glaring contrast to the dim alleys he had last walked. His body felt heavy, a dull ache throbbing in his chest and limbs. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled his nose, mingling with the rhythmic beeping of monitors.He squinted against the fluorescent light, his mind clawing for answers. Where am I?Memories surged forward like a violent tide. The dirty streets of Naples. The cold, hard stares of strangers. The police sirens blaring behind him. A shot fired, the sensation of cold pavement against his cheek. Matteo sucked in a sharp breath, his chest tightening.He wasn’t supposed to be alive.With great effort, he turned his head to the side, taking in the sight of a modest hospital room. Machines beeped steadily next to his bed, their wires connected to his arms. A window to his left revealed an unfamiliar to him, shrouded in early morning fog. This wasn’t Italy.Before he could fully process

The Secrets The chill of the London night hit Matteo like a slap, but he barely noticed. His mind raced, replaying the events of the last hour in vivid detail. The System, the shadowy man, the abilities he had somehow gained—none of it made sense, yet it was all undeniably real. His body still thrummed with the energy of [Rapid Regeneration], and the lingering sensation of [Shadow Step] left him hyper-aware of the darkness around him.Objective:Find Safe Shelter.Suggested Location: Abandoned Warehouse near King’s Cross Station.The glowing text appeared again, unobtrusive but persistent. Matteo frowned, the name of the location triggering a faint memory. King’s Cross—his father used to bring him there as a child. He could almost hear his father’s laughter, see the way his eyes sparkled when he spoke about their family’s legacy.Legacy. That word struck Matteo like a blow. His family’s empire, once vast and unshakable, had crumbled after his father’s death. Lily, his manipulative

The Shadow’s EdgeThe rain fell steadily over London, a soft rhythm that seemed to sync with Matteo’s restless thoughts. He crouched in the corner of a motel room, the journal from his father open before him on the table. The small lamp above flickered occasionally, its weak light casting shadows over the worn binding.Matteo’s hands trembled as he flipped through the pages. His father’s handwriting was precise, each line carrying the weight of secrets Matteo had only begun to grasp. He knew the System was powerful, but he hadn’t yet realized how deep its influence ran—or how much danger it carried.“Our legacy is bound to the System, Matteo. But it is not ours alone. For centuries, others have sought to claim it, to twist it for their purposes. Beware the Order of Eryndor. They are relentless, and they will stop at nothing to possess what we protect.”The words felt like a warning from beyond the grave. Matteo’s grip on the journal tightened as a faint knock at the door startled him.

Into the VeilStanding at the Veil Anchor Point. The System had guided him here with alarming precision, directing him to what it referred to as an "anomaly." Beside him, Lena adjusted the strap of her tactical bag, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.“You’re sure this is it?” she asked.“Yes,” Matteo replied. The System’s overlay hovered faintly in his vision, highlighting the location in pulsing blue. “This is the entry point.”“And what’s on the other side?”“I don’t know,” Matteo admitted. “But the System says it’s critical to investigate.”Lena scoffed, a mix of annoyance and unease crossing her face. “You’re putting a lot of faith in something you barely understand.”Matteo didn’t respond. She wasn’t wrong. The System’s enigmatic nature unnerved him, but so far, it had been right about everything. He couldn’t afford to ignore it now.“Let’s move,” he said, stepping forward.Crossing the ThresholdAs they passed through the Veil Anchor Point, the world shifted around them

The Arrival of the VanguardMatteo’s headquarters buzzed with urgency. The System’s latest warning had everyone on edge, even Samuel Drake, whose stoic demeanor rarely wavered. The Vanguard was coming. What or who they were remained a mystery, but the System’s tone implied one thing: they were dangerous.The Calm Before the StormThe digital display in front of Matteo glowing with incoming data. Dr. Asha Patel was nearby, her fingers flying across a keyboard as she analyzed the energy signatures the System had flagged. Lena was seated at the conference table, poring over maps and files alongside Drake.“I’ve got nothing concrete,” Drake said, frustration creeping into his voice. “No chatter, no movement on any of the usual networks. It’s like they don’t exist.”“They exist,” Matteo replied, his voice steady. “The System wouldn’t warn us if they didn’t. We just don’t know what form they’ll take yet.”Asha spoke up, her tone sharp. “I’ve isolated the energy spikes. They’re definitely