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2024-10-29 19:42:56"We are Agents Yun and Kai from the DPER. A Psychic event was registered as originating from this location last night. May we come in?" The female agent in the black suit jacket and pencil skirt announced as she gestured to herself first and her partner next.
"Please, come in," Ethan said with a bow as he opened the door further and gestured to the living room.
Agent Xi Yun scanned the aftermath of Ethan's rage from the night before with a raised eyebrow. "Thank you. We need to confirm a few things."
Ethan awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about the mess. Please sit down."
He swallowed as Agent Yun slowly sat down and crossed her legs while peering at him over the rim of her glasses. A silent pressure seemed to emanate from her partner, who stood silently by the window. Before they could ask their questions, a deep frown appeared on Agent Yun's face as her gaze moved to the two bright boxes on the table.
A small gasp escaped her glossy red lips. "Are those what I think they are?"
"Um?"
She leaned forward and snatched a box before tearing it open. A small, corked vial of blood-red liquid appeared in her hand. Her expression turned grave as she turned her sight back to Ethan.
"Where did you get these from? You do know it's illegal to have Otherworld goods without a license. Don't you?"
"Wait! It's not what you think!" Ethan innocently threw up his hands. "You're from the Department of Psychic and Esper Regulation. Right? So you're here to confirm if I've awakened any powers. What if I told you these basic healing potions were created with my ability?"
"You can't be serious." Agent Kai scoffed. "There's never been a case of an esper who can create items from the Otherworld. If you want us to believe you, prove it. Create more right now."
"I.. can't."
"Why?" Agent Yun interjected before her partner could say anything else.
"These two were all I could make when I tested my ability."
"I see." Agent Yun said slowly, as she showed a thoughtful expression. "It's a case of having already depleted your energy capacity. We can always wait until it recovers to verify this. Sheng, go ahead with the tests."
She fiddled with the potion as she scrutinized Ethan's calm reaction. He didn't resist when Agent Kai attached a small black disc to his temple before studying the results on his phone. A few seconds later, Sheng grunted as he nodded to Agent Yun.
"Well, Mr Li, congratulations on your awakening. Now, if your ability is what you say it is, then we have a limited number of options available."
"Why is that?" Ethan looked puzzled as he met her gaze.
"Our department won't allow you to propagate Otherworld goods in our market. Research is being conducted on how these items affect the general population. We know that people like yourself aren't affected, but the results aren't always so promising for others. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Good. Now, in light of your unusual abilities, you only have two choices. First, you can join the Department of Interworld Affairs and work as a hero in the Otherworld. I can tell you now, they will pay a nice amount to gain whatever items you can create as you master your abilities in the Otherworld."
"What's the second option?"
A predatory grin appeared on Agent Yun's face. "We seal your ability so there will be no risk of you spreading creations from your untamed ability."
"I'll take the job!" Ethan's back became ramrod straight as a serious expression crossed his face. 'With this, I should be able to earn enough to cover the medical bills!'
"You've made an excellent choice, Mr Li. Now please, come with us. We need to register you and put you through the induction program to prepare you."
As the two agents flanked Ethan and led him out of the apartment, Ethan spotted someone who triggered his rage as Agent Yun opened the door.
"My God! Ethan! Look at the mess you made! I can't believe you'd be so petty as to smash my photos!" Mei stood there with her keys in her hand while peering into the hallway. "I hope they lock you away for this. You're so useless! Jun is so much better than you. He took me to the Five Rivers Restaurant last night. That's the Five Rivers we're talking about. You'll never be able to afford it in your whole life. You're just so pathetic!"
SLAP!
Mei's face twisted violently to the side as a bright red mark appeared on her cheek. Ethan's eyes widened as he whistled approvingly at the expertly delivered blow from Agent Yun.
"You... you hit me!"
"Listen here, miss nobody. You just verbally assaulted Mr Li, who just so happens to be the newest strategic resource of our government. As a soon-to-be Otherworld Hero, he has certain rights and privileges." Agent Yun smirked. "You, on the other hand, are nobody important. Come now, Mr Li. Your bright future awaits."
Ethan chuckled at Mei's dazed expression as he passed her. Her big brown eyes were dazed and confused, almost as if she couldn't accept reality. He smirked as he stared straight at Agent Yun's back.
SLAP!
"Agh!" Mei cried out.
"I felt like it." Agent Kai shrugged as Ethan and Agent Yun turned to see Mei sporting a red mark on her other cheek and leaning against the wall to prevent herself from falling.
Ethan struggled not to chuckle as they marched on without paying Mei any more attention. It felt good to witness her receive some kind of karmic retribution for how she had been treating him.
He took a deep breath as he felt the rage he had bottled up slowly slip away. 'She's not worth it. I'm on track again to have a good life. One that will ultimately be better than whatever she ends up with.'
With that thought, he pushed Mei from his mind. After all, it wouldn't do to get hung up on a woman who didn't treat him with the respect he deserved. He looked forward to the future, and all it held for him.
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Ethan stood in the Hero's Hall before the scarred man, Wei Zhang. The tension was as thick as their silence. The remnants of the mutated Blight creature lay on the counter, undeniable proof of his first real victory in this world.The scarred man inspected the remains with a cold, calculating eye before nodding slowly. "Impressive work," he finally said, his voice devoid of warmth. "Not many survive an encounter with a mutated Blight, let alone manage to kill it."In return, Ethan offered a brief nod. The man's words held no comfort, only a reminder of the brutal reality he now lived in. "What now?" Ethan asked, his voice steady despite the exhaustion eating away at him.The scarred man's eyes flickered with something unreadable as he reached beneath the counter, pulling out a small, ornate box. He slid it across to Ethan, who hesitated momentarily before opening it. Inside lay a gleaming ring with intricate runes carved into the metal, and beside it, a small vial filled with a shimme
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Galen stood beside Ethan, his sword raised, the dark blood of their enemies still dripping from its blade. The mercenary's eyes darted between Ethan and the advancing creatures, his jaw clenched in frustration."I hope you've got more tricks up your sleeve," Galen muttered, readying himself for the next onslaught.Ethan gripped his sword tighter, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. They were both exhausted. The odds were against them, but he couldn't let fear take root."We can't fight all of them," Ethan said, his voice strained. "We need to retreat, regroup, and figure out how to get ahead of this thing."Galen gave a bitter laugh, sidestepping as a creature lunged at him, his sword flashing in the dim light. "Retreat? You mean run for our lives.""Call it what you want," Ethan replied, slicing through a snarling beast that came too close. "But if we stay here, we're dead."The creatures were closing in faster now, their twisted forms moving with a hunger that made Ethan's skin crawl.
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The world seemed to collapse into chaos the moment the creatures charged. Ethan barely had time to react. The ground quaked beneath his feet as more of the twisted monsters clawed their way to the surface. They were smaller than the ones they had fought earlier, but there were more of them—dozens, maybe hundreds—and their numbers seemed endless.Galen was already in motion, his sword gleaming as it carved a deadly arc through the first wave of creatures. His movements were fluid and precise, like a seasoned warrior who had seen his share of nightmares. But even Galen couldn't cut them down fast enough."Focus, Ethan!" Galen's voice cut through the chaos, snapping Ethan from his trance. "We need to keep moving!"Ethan forced himself to act, pulling his sword free once more. His arm ached from the earlier skirmish, the bite wound still fresh, but there was no time to worry about pain.One of them lunged at him, its claws aimed at his throat. Ethan ducked, swinging his sword upward in a
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The echo of the tree's deathly screech still sounded through the surroundings. The air felt different now—less oppressive, but not by much. Ethan crouched by the remains of the twisted tree, studying the charred roots curling inwards like the clawed hands of a dying monster.He winced as he reached into his pack for a pair of gloves. His forearm throbbed where the creature had bitten him, but he couldn't afford to stop now. They had come this far, and he needed more than guesses if there was any hope of truly understanding the Blight—of defeating it for good.As his fingers brushed the tattered remnants of the tree, a cold shiver ran up his spine. Even in death, the thing exuded a dark energy. Ethan pulled a small vial from his belt, scooping up a sample of the blackened bark. It crumbled quickly under his touch, releasing a faint, sulfuric odor."This is definitely unnatural. Even for this world," Ethan muttered under his breath, scanning the area. "There's something more here."Gale
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Ethan barely had time to process the change in the air before the first creature came charging at them from the shadows of a tree. It moved so fast it was a blur, a mass of twisted limbs and pulsing flesh. The smell hit him first—a pungent stench of rot and decay, like something that had been left to fester far too long. The creature let out a wet, gurgling screech as it lunged for Galen, its claws swiping at the older man with terrifying speed.Galen reacted in a flash, his sword already drawn. Steel met flesh with a sickening thud as he sidestepped the creature's attack and brought his blade down, cleaving through one of its gangly arms. The beast didn't slow. It twisted in mid-air, its remaining limb extending unnaturally to grab Galen's arm. Ethan watched, horrified, as the thing's flesh seemed to pulse and stretch like putty, trying to envelop Galen's wrist.But Galen was ready. With a swift, brutal motion, he sliced again, severing the mutated limb entirely. The creature howled,
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The Heart of Darkness (Part 1)
After a busy few days in Nexus and grueling training sessions with Galen, Ethan stood at the city's edge, staring into the vast horizon where the Blight awaited. His body ached from Galen's relentless combat drills, but the real exhaustion settled in his mind. He'd done everything he could to prepare, both physically and mentally. Still, as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the decayed land beyond, he couldn't help but wonder if it was enough.Nexus bustled behind him, ignorant of the encroaching danger. The city's citizens went about their lives, unaware of the dark, festering wound spreading not far from their doorstep. Ethan took in a deep breath, letting the cold, crisp air fill his lungs. It was almost peaceful here, but the tranquillity did little to settle his nerves.He adjusted the straps of his backpack, mentally ticking off the list of things he'd prepared for this expedition. His trips into the Otherworld Free Market had been productive, though cos
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Shadows Of Succession (Part 3)
Ethan stood in the dimly lit Nexus, the evening sun casting long shadows on the shop's stone walls. His mind buzzed with a hundred thoughts, each one tangled in a web of alliances, enemies, and opportunities. He felt like he was juggling too many flaming swords at once, and one misstep would set his entire world ablaze.The King was dying. The royal court was a viper's nest, poised for a deadly game of succession. Princess Elara was scrambling for control, the Baron was plotting revenge, and the Blight festered like an open wound in the world."Reputation," he muttered again, the word haunting him like a whispered curse. Nexus had potential, but potential wasn't enough. He needed to carve his place into the city's bones before someone else carved him out of it. And that meant making a bold move.The door to Nexus swung open, and Xi stepped in, her presence as unsettling as ever. Her sharp, calculating gaze scanned the room before locking onto Ethan."You've been brooding," Xi said, he
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Shadows Of Succession (Part 2)
The early morning light filtered through the windows of Nexus, casting long shadows across the shop floor. Ethan sat at his desk, running his fingers through his hair, mentally preparing for the day ahead. The weight of the previous day's revelations hung over him like a dark cloud. The palace, a battleground for succession; the illness of the King; Princess Elara's desperate need for protection, and Marcus Ainsworth's looming vendetta—it was all spiraling towards a confrontation he knew he couldn't avoid.Ethan drummed his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. The game he was playing was dangerous, with each move carrying unpredictable consequences. But if he wanted Nexus to thrive—and more importantly, if he wanted to survive—he needed to be proactive, not reactive.His eyes flicked to a map of the city pinned to the wall beside him. "Reputation," he muttered, recalling his final thought the night before. Nexus might have been gaining notoriety, but it wasn't enough. He needed leve
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Shadows Of Succession (Part 1)
Ethan stood behind the counter of Nexus, his thoughts still lingering on the events of the morning. The encounter with Marcus Ainsworth had been unsettling. Still, the knight's intervention and connection to Princess Elara offered new opportunities. However, these opportunities could, in time, become as dangerous as they were potentially lucrative.Still, there was much he needed to do to stay ahead. And so, he found himself lost in thought until a voice snapped him back to reality."Boss?"Selene's voice was soft, but there was a note of urgency in it. She had a talent for moving quietly, and Ethan hadn't noticed her approach."Selene," Ethan acknowledged, nodding at his half-elven spymaster. "I need you to gather some information. Discreetly."Her eyes gleamed with curiosity. "What am I looking for?""I have a suspicion there's unrest in the palace. Something to do with the royal family. I need details. Who's involved, and what they're aft
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Foundations Of Influence (Part 3)
Ethan leaned against Nexus's counter, absentmindedly polishing the glass case that held the silver earrings with the pale blue gems. Business had been steady that morning, with customers trickling in and out, browsing the growing selection of items on display. The shop had become a quiet hub of curiosity, drawing in adventurers, merchants, and those who sought something different.As he polished the glass, the door creaked open, and a burly figure stepped inside. Ethan looked up, noticing the man's armor beneath his cloak. The stranger had a muscular build, a square jaw, and an aura of quiet authority that set him apart from the usual customers. His eyes scanned the shop with the calm precision of someone trained to assess danger.Ethan straightened up, nodding in greeting. "Welcome to Nexus. Is there anything I can help you with today?"The man approached the counter, his gaze falling on the earrings. "These caught my eye," he said, his voice deep and measured. "Tell me about them."
