"ARGHH!!!" Liam screamed, jolting awake inside his sleeping bag. He thrashed around, wriggling like a caterpillar caught in a cocoon. His head collided with the tent frame, and he tumbled forward, landing face-first on the ground.
Liam groaned, his voice filled with frustration. "I can't do this anymore," he grumbled.
Liam struggled to rouse himself, his muscles protesting the early morning awakening as he wrestled with the zipper of his sleeping bag, finally managing to open it with a sigh of relief. His body aching from the rough landing.
His bleary eyes surveyed the sorry state of his tent. It had collapsed yet again, and to make matters worse, a slimy, gelatinous creature was crawling all over the crumpled fabric. It oozed a viscous, corrosive acid that had already begun to eat away at the tent, leaving gaping holes in its wake.
Cursing under his breath, Liam reached into his inventory, his fingers trembling slightly, and retrieved a small vial contai
"System," Liam said, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow, "is there any pay later function in the merchant system?"The system responded promptly, "There's no such thing.""What?!" Liam exclaimed, genuine surprise coloring his voice. "How come? I mean, in this day and age, pay later is a thing. Everybody's using it. I think you should do the same," Liam said, trying to convince the system of the benefits.The system fell into a brief silence, its digital gears seemingly turning as it processed Liam's request. After a thoughtful pause, it replied, "It seems it indeed gives so much benefit to the market. I will try to submit a pay-later proposal to higher-ups.""Wait. Higher-ups? You have higher-ups?" said Liam, surprised by this revelation."Yes, indeed," the system replied. "This might take a while, so I might not be able to assist you to a certain extent. You will only be able to use standard functions," the system continued.Liam was take
Naomi sat at her desk in the quiet classroom, meticulously arranging her books and notes for the upcoming class. As she neatly stacked her papers and squared away her pens, a shadow fell over her workspace. Startled, she glanced up to see one of her classmates, Sarah, approaching with a look of disdain etched across her face."Mr. Redwood is looking for you," Sarah stated curtly, her tone dripping with disapproval. Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and hurried away from Naomi as if afraid of catching an incurable disease if she lingered any longer.Naomi let out a resigned sigh. The mention of Mr. Redwood, her homeroom and math teacher, never failed to send a shiver down her spine. She couldn't quite put her finger on why she felt so uncomfortable around him. It was as though his presence carried an unexplainable weight that left her uneasy.She glanced at her phone and saw that she still had a few minutes before her next class. With a sense
Liam staggered back into his apartment, his clothes tattered and his body covered in grime. It had been two grueling weeks since he had embarked on his quest, and he was finally starting to see some progress. He owed a debt of gratitude to the detection skill he had acquired along the way – it had been a game-changer.His weary eyes scanned the room, briefly lingering on the inviting warmth of his bed. The temptation to collapse beneath the cozy covers was almost irresistible. But Liam knew he had to prioritize something else first – a much-needed shower.As he peeled off what remained of his torn and soiled clothes, he couldn't help but shudder at the mess that clung to his body. Dirt, slime, blood, and who knew what else had become a part of his daily existence, and it was making him increasingly uncomfortable.Liam made his way to the bathroom, the anticipation of the warm water washing away the grime and fatigue offering a glimmer of solace. Step
Liam, now fully dressed and no longer in his towel-clad state, walked out of his room. He cast a glance around the apartment, searching for Maeve. His eyes finally landed on her near the refrigerator.Curiosity piqued, Liam approached Maeve, who seemed to be engrossed in something inside the fridge. "What are you looking at?" he asked, his tone curious and inquisitive.Startled by Liam's sudden appearance, Maeve jumped slightly and accidentally hit her head on the refrigerator's open door. She let out an involuntary yelp of surprise and pain, her hand flying to her forehead. "Ouch! Liam, you scared me!" She rubbed her head gingerly, wincing.Liam winced in sympathy as he watched Maeve nurse her head. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to startle you," he apologized, a hint of guilt in his voice.Maeve managed a weak smile through the discomfort, her surprise quickly giving way to amusement. "It's alright, just a little bump. But don't sneak up on people lik
The office complex stood as a modern marvel, a testament to architectural ingenuity and contemporary design. The office sleek facade made entirely of glass, reflecting the vibrant cityscape around it. The building soared into the sky, disappearing into the clouds, and it was impossible to see where it ended.The glass panels that comprised the exterior of the skyscraper were pristine, catching the glint of the sun's rays, creating a shimmering effect that made it appear as if the building was made of crystal. They stretched from the ground to the heavens, giving a surreal impression of transparency and openness.Liam gazed up at the towering skyscraper before him, feeling a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach. He then shifted his gaze to Maeve, who was waiting impatiently by the building's entrance. The line of people in front of her seemed to part, making way for her, a sign of respect or perhaps intimidation. Liam had a sinking feeling that this meetin
"What are you talking about?!" the old man exclaimed, his anger evident in his tone. Maeve, however, remained steadfast in her decision. She stood her ground, her pride evident as she explained, "He can drive, and my driver doesn't need any educational background, so it should be fine." The old man was vehemently opposed to the idea. "No. No, no, no. I can't let that happen," he protested, clearly distressed. Maeve wasn't about to back down. She demanded, "Why not? You must give reasonable reasons, Dad," her determination unwavering. "It's... it's because your driver is not an ordinary driver!" the old man finally blurted out, his words hanging in the air, leaving Maeve with a bewildered expression that seemed to ask, "What the hell are you talking about?" The old man cleared his throat, his demeanor shifting from anger to a more serious tone. "Actually, I've always kept this secret from you. Your driver is not an ordinary driver. He is a secret bodyguard," he admitted, finally r
Liam began his run at a steady pace, his initial steps reflecting a lack of enthusiasm. However, as he continued, something within him clicked. He realized that this was the first time he was seriously testing his physical abilities in a real-life scenario. The skirmish with the skinny man hadn't allowed him to gauge his skills accurately, but now, this challenge provided him with a professional benchmark.With this newfound determination, Liam's half-hearted effort transformed into a focused and committed run. Each step was purposeful, and his breathing synchronized with his pace. He pushed himself to maintain a steady rhythm, all the while wondering just how far his body could carry him in this hour-long test.As the one-hour mark approached, Mark signaled for Liam to stop running. Liam slowed to a halt, his breaths heavy but satisfied. He believed he had performed well during the test. However, as he glanced around at the people present, he noticed they were all looking at him stra
Jun sat alone in his front yard, a sense of loneliness weighing heavily on his shoulders. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the yard, and Jun's solitude felt more pronounced with every passing moment. He played with his toys, but the absence of laughter and playful banter left his heart heavy.His two nieces, the usual companions for his front yard adventures, were nowhere to be found. They had followed their mother, leaving Jun to his own devices. He missed their youthful energy and infectious giggles.As he rolled a ball across the grass, his thoughts wandered to Naomi. She'd been acting strangely over the past few days, distant and preoccupied. Jun couldn't help but worry about her, as they were usually inseparable in their shared games and secrets. Her absence and changed demeanor added to his feeling of isolation.He stared at his toys scattered on the grass, his mind filled with longing. "If only Liam was here," he whispered to himself, his voice ting