The excitement of victory still coursed through Dexter as he, Henry, and Charlotte made their way to the local café, the chatter of fellow students buzzing around them. Dexter felt a mix of exhilaration and exhaustion; his body thrummed with energy, yet the fatigue from the day’s intense matches settled in his limbs.“I can’t believe you took down Kevin like that,” Charlotte said, her eyes sparkling with admiration. “I thought he was going to wipe the floor with you!”“He underestimated me,” Dexter replied, a confident grin spreading across his face. “And I’ve learned a thing or two about fighting since I started.”“Still, a level E taking down a level D? That’s something,” Henry added, shaking his head in disbelief. “What’s next for you? A rematch with Jake?”“Not unless he comes looking for trouble again,” Dexter said, recalling the earlier confrontation with Jake. “I’m done fighting for sport. I want to focus on missions and leveling up.”The café was bustling, filled with students
As Jake swung, Dexter ducked low and activated Raging Thunder, channeling energy through his body as he launched forward.[Raging Thunder Skill Activated!][Charging energy! Prepare to unleash a powerful electrical blast.]With a surge of energy coursing through him, Dexter sprang into action. He launched himself forward, gathering all the electricity around him. Just as Jake lunged for another punch, Dexter unleashed the pent-up energy in a bright arc of lightning that shot straight toward him.“Here’s a taste of what I can do!” Dexter shouted, releasing the lightning like a whip that cracked through the air.The arc struck Jake square in the chest, sending him flying backward and crashing into the ground. The impact created a small shockwave that made the crowd recoil slightly, some gasping in disbelief at the sight.[You have dealt 40 damage to your opponent.][Opponent is stunned for 3 seconds.]The crowd erupted into cheers, but Dexter didn’t let the excitement distract him. He c
The day after the incident with the bullies felt surreal. Dexter had finally confronted the ruffians, showing them he wasn’t just a Grade E awakeners. Despite the brief victory, a sense of unease lingered over him.Sitting in class, he stared at his desk, the rhythmic scratching of pens against paper a distant hum. His thoughts were consumed by the system’s request. After defeating the deer twins, he felt a strange shift in the air, almost as if something bigger was brewing.“Hey, Dexter, you okay?” Henry leaned over, a look of concern etched on his face.“Yeah, just... thinking,” Dexter replied, forcing a smile.Henry raised an eyebrow. “About those bullies? You shouldn’t worry about them. They won’t dare mess with you again after what happened.”“It's not just that. I feel like the system is pushing me toward something. It’s... demanding,” Dexter said, his voice low enough to avoid attracting attention.Before Henry could respond, a notification echoed in Dexter's mind, drawing his
The next few days passed in a blur for Dexter. With the newfound connection to Chaos Weaver, his training intensified. He spent hours honing his skills, pushing his limits, and exploring the depths of his system. He could feel himself evolving, but with each step forward, the pressure mounted. He was acutely aware that greater challenges were on the horizon.As he walked into school on Monday morning, he felt the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him. The hallways buzzed with the usual chatter, but today, there was a palpable tension in the air. Whispers and sideways glances followed him as he made his way to his locker.“Hey, Dexter!” Henry called out, jogging to catch up with him. “You ready for the big test in Mage Theory today?”“Yeah, I’ve got it covered,” Dexter replied, though his mind was elsewhere. The memory of the chaotic battle against the deer twins replayed in his mind, the rush of adrenaline still fresh.As they approached their classroom, a familiar voice
The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains as Dexter rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He had barely rested. His mind had been restless all night, replaying every battle, every warning from the system, and every encounter with bullies. But today wasn’t just another school day—he could feel it.He rolled out of bed and checked his system notifications.[New Mission Available: Shadow of the Core]Objective: Travel to the System Core. Further instructions will follow upon arrival.Reward: Unknown.“Shadow of the Core?” Dexter muttered to himself, a frown settling over his face. Whatever this mission was, it didn’t sound like something simple.Suddenly, a knock sounded at his door. “Hey, you coming down for breakfast or what?” Henry called from the other side.“I’ll be down in a second!” Dexter replied, dismissing the notification and getting dressed. He knew he had to act normal until the time came.---At school, the tension in the hallways had shifted. No one looked at Dexter the
Dexter continued deeper into the Core, his daggers sheathed but his senses alert. The sprawling, interconnected pathways glowed dimly, casting eerie shadows across the space. He knew he wasn’t alone, and the system wasn’t going to make this mission any easier.[Warning: Stealth Protocol Activated. Hostile Agents are Patrolling the Area.]“Great,” Dexter muttered, gripping the hilts of his daggers as he crouched low. He could feel the weight of Dead Skull’s presence, even if it was far off. It was like a predator’s gaze looming just beyond the horizon.A few players nearby gave him curious glances, but no one made a move. That was the thing about the Core—trust was in short supply. For all he knew, any of them could be under Dead Skull’s influence.[New Mission Objective Unlocked: Locate the Saboteur.]Dexter opened his system map. A small red marker appeared, indicating his next target: a terminal deep within the heart of the Core, guarded by players working under Dead Skull’s orders.
The portal spat Dexter back into the familiar streets of Earth, but peace was the last thing on his mind. As the rush of energy faded, his system chimed again:[New Mission: Survive the Next Encounter. Threat: Dead Skull’s Enforcers.][Time Limit: 72 Hours.]Dexter scowled at the cryptic message. “Could’ve been more specific,” he muttered. His hand instinctively checked his daggers, already itching for the next fight. Dead Skull was coming—and this was just the beginning.---The following day, Dexter returned to school, trying to blend into the routine, though the lingering tension of the Core mission followed him like a shadow. But blending in was harder than it seemed, especially when people noticed the slight change in him—an edge sharper than before, as if he’d walked through fire and survived.Henry and Charlotte met him in the hallway, their usual camaraderie hanging by a thread. They didn’t trust Dexter fully, not since his actions during the previous raid, where he’d single-h
The portal spat Dexter back into the familiar streets of Earth, but peace was the last thing on his mind. As the rush of energy faded, his system chimed again:[New Mission: Survive the Next Encounter. Threat: Dead Skull’s Enforcers.][Time Limit: 72 Hours.]Dexter scowled at the cryptic message. “Could’ve been more specific,” he muttered. His hand instinctively checked his daggers, already itching for the next fight. Dead Skull was coming—and this was just the beginning.---The following day, Dexter returned to school, trying to blend into the routine, though the lingering tension of the Core mission followed him like a shadow. But blending in was harder than it seemed, especially when people noticed the slight change in him—an edge sharper than before, as if he’d walked through fire and survived.Henry and Charlotte met him in the hallway, their usual camaraderie hanging by a thread. They didn’t trust Dexter fully, not since his actions during the previous raid, where he’d single-h