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
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 streets were still, but Dexter knew better than to let his guard down. Dead Skull was coming—this was just the warning shot. Every fiber of his being screamed to stay alert. The enforcers had failed, but their deaths only bought Dexter time, not safety.The system hummed within him, tracking his every heartbeat, his every movement. With each mission completed, his skills sharpened, and the stakes grew higher. He wasn’t just leveling up anymore—he was preparing for war.---The Morning AfterThe next morning, Dexter woke with an uneasy feeling. His muscles ached from the fight with the enforcers, but what gnawed at him most was the knowledge that Dead Skull now had him in his crosshairs. The system might have given him an edge, but Dexter knew that facing a grade S awakener was an entirely different level of danger.He got dressed quickly, slinging his school bag over his shoulder, though he knew classes were becoming more of a distraction. The real battlefield wasn’t in textbooks;
Dexter’s encounter in the Core weighed heavily on his mind. Each mission pushed him further, sharpening his skills but also bringing him closer to the inevitable clash with Dead Skull. As the system grew more demanding, so did the tension between Dexter and those around him—especially Charlotte, who had now seen a glimpse of his secret life.The next morning was oddly peaceful. For a few fleeting moments, Dexter allowed himself to believe he was just another student again, walking the familiar streets to school. But in the back of his mind, the clock was ticking.---When Dexter arrived at school, he noticed Charlotte waiting by the entrance, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. He sighed, knowing this conversation was unavoidable.“Hey,” Dexter said, approaching cautiously.Charlotte gave him a long, appraising look. “You’ve got some explaining to do.”“Yeah... I figured.”They walked together to a quieter part of the school grounds. Once they were sure no one was listenin
“Stay close,” Dexter murmured, scanning the area for threats. He could sense the weight of his new mission pressing down on him, a relentless reminder that danger was just around the corner.They moved cautiously through the winding corridors of the Nexus, Dexter relying on the system’s guidance.[Mission Alert: Detecting Multiple Hostile Entities Nearby.][Strategy Recommended: Use Stealth Skills.]“I think they know we’re here,” Charlotte whispered, glancing nervously around.“Yeah, it feels like we’ve walked into a trap,” Dexter replied, his instincts on high alert.Suddenly, the shadows coalesced into forms—figures clad in dark robes, their faces obscured. Dexter recognized the unmistakable auras of grade B awakeners. They were waiting for him.“What do you want?” Dexter called out, trying to sound confident.One of the figures stepped forward, a smirk visible beneath the hood. “Ah, the infamous Dexter. We’ve heard a lot about you.”Before Dexter could react, the other figures lun