Inside the car, Drake Chwe cried helplessly as a nightmare unfolded before his eyes. He couldn't tear his gaze away from Rebecca Luansing, who had unconditionally protected him.Despite her blurry vision, Aunt Beck could see the terror in Drake's face. Coughing blood, she asked, "Drake, is that the temple you're referring to?" as she pointed at the holy glow slowly emerging on the sidewalk. Drake glanced at it for a moment, confirming that the miniature temple only appeared when someone was near death."Yes, that's it. Try to pray at it. Offer anything while I'll heal you! You'll be fine!" he exclaimed. He hurriedly purchased tons of potions and began to heal Aunt Beck. But just as she was not yet fully recovered, another bullet was fired at their car, and this time, it struck Aunt Beck's temple."No, no!" Drake rushed to pour more potions on her, but they had no effect."System! Stop giving me defective items!" he yelled."User Drake, the potion you purchased is not defective. Potion
Waking up at Merlyn's apartment after his harrowing encounter with his gunmen, Drake found himself in what felt like another nightmarish scenario. He was gearing up to confront Merlyn about the ridiculous conversation he overheard on the balcony, but something even more unsettling caught his attention: his own reflection."Why do I look like this?" he wondered aloud, baffled by his own image. His eyes were weary, adorned with dark circles underneath, making him resemble a tired panda. His skin appeared parched and pallid, as if it had never known hydration, and his hair was a mess. Unkempt facial hair concealed Drake's normally handsome features, a consequence of the exhausting life he had endured.It was as if he was peering at his former self in the mirror, serving as a stark reminder of the wretched existence he had before."Congratulations! You have returned to the past!" Drake reread the notification he had received a while ago. Standing just outside Merlyn's door, he was more fo
In the bustling city of Magrao, where skyscrapers towered like giants, Monday arrives with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.For the office workers at BellRox Corporation, it was a day that unfolded like an unwelcome neighbor, bringing with it the cacophony of blaring alarms and hurried sips of lukewarm coffee.Monday, with its endless meetings, labyrinthine spreadsheets, and relentless deadlines, was a collective sigh that resonated through the cubicles, where life felt trapped in a repetitive cycle.However, BellRox had a unique event that set it apart from other companies.Every Monday, their manager's voice echoed loudly, a weird sense of authority as he berated someone. The employees hunched over their computers, avoiding Marcus Lee, for none of them wished to experience what they referred to as the "Monday Punch." It was a common occurrence for Marcus Lee to yell and bully one of the employees, and his favorite target for berating was Drake Chwe."Drake Chwe!" Marcus yelled li
"You've gone crazy!" Marcus exclaimed, determined to subdue the employee he'd been taming. He clenched his chubby fist, aiming to punch Drake in the face. As he lunged forward, something unexpected occurred.Drake, quicker than anyone had anticipated, blocked Marcus's fist with his hand and delivered a powerful blow to Marcus's gut.Marcus's eyes widened in shock as the air was knocked out of him, and he crumpled to the ground, landing on his butt."How dare you!" he yelled again.The other employees and auditors couldn't help but stop what they were doing and simply watch the action in front of them."Hey, stop them," one employee said."Nah, let them be."Their faces reflected a mixture of surprise and satisfaction. For once, someone had put Marcus in his place.Drake stood over Marcus, his eyes calm but cold. He didn't say a word; he just glared down at the fallen bully. His fists were clenched, and he aimed to continue his assault, as finally, he had the chance to personally punis
Another week passed, and the BellRox Corporation once again proved its resilience, as it wasn't greatly affected by the chaos caused by Marcus Lee.Marcus Lee was proven guilty, and unlike the future Drake had come from, David Cheng, Harold Steal, and Linsey Clare were also convicted, losing any chance of escape.The sales and operations department were still in the process of recovery, but there was no sign of breaking.As the clock neared the time for the daily staff meeting, tension grew. Then, as the office door swung open, all eyes turned toward the entrance. The collective gasp that followed was audible."Who's that?" one employee wondered."Maybe our new manager?" someone responded."Isn't that Drake Chwe?" another commented with a squint.The latter was correct; Drake Chwe returned after a week of recovery. The last time they saw him, his face was adorned with bruises from the fight with Marcus Lee. But now, the scars were gone, and his countenance was remarkably different."I
The department buzzed with anticipation as Marianne Reign, a commanding presence in a sleek power suit, strode confidently through the open-plan office. In her arms, she held a stack of folders, each one boldly marked "DRAKE CHWE'S STRATEGY.""Good morning, everyone!" she announced with unwavering confidence. "I hope you had a restful weekend because we're about to dive headfirst into some major changes."Marianne's tone demanded attention, prompting employees to cease their chit-chat and focus on her."I've heard Marianne doesn't mess around," one staff member whispered to a colleague."No kidding. I've heard she's implementing everything Drake ordered, and she's not tolerating any nonsense," another one nodded.Marianne approached the whiteboard, which still bore remnants of Marcus Lee's ill-fated plans. With a swift motion, she erased it all, emphasizing a clean slate."First things first, Marcus Lee's era is over. We're moving forward with Drake Chwe's vision and strategy. We will
Drake Chwe eagerly checked his system and ordered, "Hey, system, inform me of all the major changes that have occurred.""Okay," the system responded. The holographic screen flickered as a new pop-up message appeared. "First, your level has returned to zero, and the features unlocked through leveling up have been locked.""What the heck? Why? I nearly died getting to that level!" Drake complained."Returning back in time nullified the level. Please offer a tribute to unlock more features," the system explained.Drake sighed at the first bad news. It meant he couldn't buy healing potions yet, as they were only accessible after reaching level one."Whatever, what's next?" he groaned."Second, the contents of your inventory have been emptied.""Okay, next," Drake said with a sigh. He had plenty to complain about, but he knew arguing with the system was pointless."Third, all the data you purchased has been retained.""Yeah, take everything—huh? Come again?" Drake inquired."Third, all th
Director Rox gazed at the shower of dollar bills that Drake had sent raining down upon him. He felt a twinge of offense at Drake's actions, but he couldn't resist the allure of the money."Is this real money?" he inquired."Yes, sir," Drake replied, ceasing to throw the bills and placing the remaining dollars into Rox's hands."What's the purpose of this?" Rox asked."I have $50 billion," Drake shared, causing Rox's eyes to quiver."So?" Rox said."But it was acquired illegally," Drake continued. "I'll give you 1% of it if you help me acquire 50% of BellRox's share, without raising any audit flags or questions about the origin of my funds.""That seems impossible," Rox exclaimed. "Besides, 1% is too meager."Drake grinned. Hearing Director Rox discuss the share suggested that he was considering the proposition. Drake was skeptical about involving Rox, as he couldn't trust anyone with his system like he used to. How else could he utilize his wealth without arousing suspicion?"Oh, my a
Ten years had passed, yet the dream of earning a sextillion coins remained elusive. Time slipped away unnoticed as Drake immersed himself in the relentless pursuit of money to settle his debts. Only too late did he realize the true cost of his singular focus.Seated in his office, absorbed in his tasks, Drake was jolted from his concentration by the ringing of his phone. Glancing at the caller's ID, he recognized his sister Eleanor's number. With a resigned sigh, he answered the call."Hey, Ely," Drake greeted, attempting to sound nonchalant despite his apprehension."Drake, where are you?!" Eleanor's voice crackled with frustration and disappointment."I'm at the office, why?" Drake responded, his heart sinking as he anticipated the conversation that was about to unfold."Seriously? You forgot, didn't you?" Eleanor's incredulous tone pierced through the line.Drake's stomach churned with guilt. "Forgot what?"Eleanor let out an exasperated sigh. "My wedding, Drake! The one I've been
Drake was shocked to learn the truth, his jaws dropping even further when Lucille revealed that he needed to repay the tribute system twofold."Earning sextillion coins is impossible!" he exclaimed."You have to offer it back, or else you'll spend your life paying for it," Lucille replied grimly, exaggerating the explanation to divert Drake's attention away from herself."Damn it. Is this why I can't kill Zack? He cannot die until he pays his debt," Drake said frustratingly, but then he smiled viciously. "But does that mean I can keep him in prison to suffer?""He doesn't change. Good luck," Lucille muttered under her breath, slowly becoming accustomed to Drake's viciousness."What is it?" Drake asked."Nothing. I was just wondering why you came here," she bluntly asked, inwardly worried about the chance of Drake hurting her."What else? To pick you up?" Drake said, grabbing Lucille's hand and looking into her eyes with sincerity. "Lucille, please believe me, what Marianne said was al
Lucille Bmak seized the opportunity to escape when Drake and Rebecca were engrossed in their own conversation.Thinking it was her chance, she began to make her way out. However, unbeknownst to her, she was trapped in a labyrinth from which only Zack, Rebecca, and Drake could find their way out."What the hell is this place?" she muttered to herself as she continued downwards in an attempt to escape, but the path seemed endless."Aah!" she screamed as someone suddenly yanked her back."You're new here? There's nothing above your head yet," the female said, her tone cautious and discreet. “I got the ability to see other users status and progress. You're still fresh. Save yourself!”"What? I don't belong here. Do you know the exit?" Lucille asked, sensing no hostility from the girl."Go up instead of down," the girl replied honestly."Really? But why aren't you leaving?" Lucille inquired."I'm weak, but I can't die. You should be careful. Let go of the system as soon as possible while i
Lucille Bmak had prepared herself for this inevitable day.She knew all too well that her peaceful days would come to an end as long as Zack White and Drake Chwe existed.However, despite her thorough preparation, she couldn't shield her heart from the viciousness that Zack and Drake displayed towards her.The constant hostility from both men exhausted her heart and mind, leaving her unable to display any emotion upon seeing Drake, whose presence made her heart throb, or Zack, whose mere presence sent shivers down her spine."Damn you! Damn your luck!" Zack White growled in frustration, his anger palpable as he longed to inflict harm upon Lucille.He yelled and pounded on the barrier as if he desired nothing more than to tear Lucille apart, but what frustrated him even more was the nonchalant expression on Lucille's face."Do you think you'll escape me for imprisoning me for three years? I'll torture you every second of the day!" he threatened."So foolish," Lucille commented, further
Drake Chwe hurried to find Lucille. He strode past the long underground passage, paying little heed to the torture cell, laboratories, and whatever bizarre occurrences filled each room. As long as Lucille wasn't there, Drake's focus remained undeterred."Where the hell are you?" he muttered exasperatedly to himself, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he reached the final room at the end of the underground complex. Taking a deep breath, he swung open the door, only for his eyes to widen in shock at the sight of his lover bound by chains."Lucille!" he exclaimed, rushing forward to free her, but his efforts proved futile."Drake, long time no see," Lucille greeted casually, her gaze devoid of emotion as if she had just woken up from a nap."Hang on a little longer. I'll free you soon," he promised, frantically rummaging through his bag for any tool that might help, but none did the trick."Damn it!" he cursed in frustration, realizing he couldn't access his trusted system in a time of
Zack sported a victorious grin, his eyes locked onto Drake with the same intensity Drake once aimed at him from within the torture cell. His lips curled as he relished the sweet taste of turning the tables."It'll be better if we suffer together. You know, I didn't plan to torment you for just three years," Zack said, closing the distance between them. "Let's make it forever," he whispered, his voice dripping with menace.His grin widened as he observed Drake's expression darken. However, standing closer to Drake proved to be a mistake."Oh, damn it," Zack cursed, blood bubbling up as he collapsed to the ground."All talk, huh?" Drake snorted, a twisted smirk forming on his lips as he pressed his foot onto Zack's face. "Your only shot at survival was staying locked away. Why set yourself free?""What's happening?" Zack grunted in agony, attempting to extract the knife lodged in his side, but it remained stubbornly embedded in his flesh."Can't you recognize these?" Drake sneered, with
Thanks to Merlyn, Drake finally learned where Lucille had been taken. He instructed Merlyn to locate her using his device, unaware that she would succumb to a heart attack afterward, much like the way he deceived and threatened Natasha into her demise."Code blue! Code blue! Room 203!" a nurse frantically announced.Medical staff rushed to Merlyn Spenser's side, the monitor next to her bed blaring with the alarming sound of a code blue. Doctors and nurses swarmed into the room, their faces etched with urgency as they converged around Merlyn's bed. The room was filled with the sound of rapid footsteps and the clatter of medical equipment."Goodbye, Merlyn. Thank you for your help," Drake coldly muttered as he casually walked out of the ICU, a strange sense of satisfaction washing over him."Why Canman, though?" he wondered, glancing at the address Merlyn had provided. "This doesn't sound good."He immediately hopped into his car and drove to Canman, Zack White’s hometown. Arriving the
When faced with a choice between life and death, the decision might seem obvious to most. Yet, Lucille Bmak's response was anything but expected. Though she typically valued her own survival above all else, this time she made a different choice."F*ck you!" Lucille spat defiantly, refusing to entertain whatever offer Zack White had in store. Having fallen into Drake's traps before, she was adamant about not allowing herself to be ensnared by another chain, even if it meant facing death."This is the last time I'm asking you. Listen to me, or—" Zack seethed, tightening his grip around her neck."I don't care! Kill me!" Lucille exclaimed, though her body trembled with fear. Summoning a forced smile, she added, "You've repeated yourself three times now. You sound like the one who needs me.""Who needs who?" Zack White yelled, his fury palpable. Despite his rage, he found himself unable to carry out Lucille's demise.Rebecca, the veteran user of the system, who had once bestowed favors up
Inside Lucille's house, the dimly lit corridors exuded an eerie aura as Zack White prowled through them, his presence ominous and foreboding. His eyes gleamed with a dark resolve as he approached Lucille's study, his heart pulsing with venomous intent."Finally... the moment I've been waiting for," he whispered to himself. He tried to be as quiet as possible so that no one could detect him."I'll kill you once I'm done with my task," he murmured, his voice low and menacing. Despite the vigilant guards stationed at every corner of Lucille's house, Zack's movements remained undetected. He used a system device to camouflage himself through the guards.Peering into the study, he observed Lucille seated at her desk, completely absorbed in her work, unaware of his presence. Zack's lips curled into a sneer as he watched her, memories of past torment flooding his mind."You thought you could hide from me, Lucille. But I always find my prey," he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "How dar