Keagan stood amidst the dimly lit records office, lost in a daydream as he mechanically cleaned the shelves that housed countless paper files. It was a monotonous task, one that gave him plenty of time to retreat into his thoughts and escape the harsh realities of his life.As he wiped away the dust, the sound of approaching footsteps jolted him back to reality. His heart sank as he recognized the familiar voices of his tormentors – Marcus, the arrogant supervisor, and his lackeys, Todd and Kyle. These individuals took every opportunity to make Keagan's life miserable within the confines of the company walls.They sauntered into the room, their presence suffocating, their laughter dripping with malice. Marcus, a tall and imposing figure with a sneering expression, directed his gaze toward Keagan and said, "Looks like we've found our little janitor slacking off again. Maybe he needs a reminder of his place."Todd and Kyle snickered, joining in the mockery. Todd, a stocky guy with a cre
"Alright, that wraps it up for today. You can finish up your final sets while I submit the daily task report," Whiplash declared, closing his magazine and rising from his chair. The rest of the squad acknowledged his message. Dante stepped off the treadmill and reached for a towel hanging above his head.The team gathered around Whiplash to confirm their daily task rewards before going their separate ways. With a few taps on his display, Whiplash triggered a familiar ring notification sound that activated the augmented displays of each squad member. They navigated to their notification tabs and opened the pending messages, revealing the amount of skill points they had accumulated:- Shadow striker: 0.54 skill points- Sparkles: 0.48 skill points- Emberlyn: 0.52 skill points- Jester: 0.42 skill points- Blaze: 0.39 skill points"Another day, another worthless session just to earn measly skill points," Max muttered, closing his display and slumping into a nearby chair.The rest of the
Blitz chuckled and addressed Keagan, seemingly amused by his skepticism. "You must be the Spectral Guardian, huh? Quite the peculiar name," he remarked, swiftly taking the can from Keagan's hand and popping open the lid. With a series of rapid blinks, Blitz appeared to savor the flavor of the energy drink, as if it enhanced its taste. He then returned the can to Keagan and tapped him on the shoulder."If you're going to drink anything, I highly recommend the Wild Berry flavor of Pulse Power. It's my personal favorite!" Blitz exclaimed, his smile exaggerated as if he were starring in a commercial. Keagan regarded him with a strange look, finding his animated demeanor rather overwhelming. Moreover, Blitz seemed oblivious to the concept of personal space. Keagan turned his attention back to the can; he was still thirsty, but Blitz's earlier invasive act of drinking from it had dampened his enthusiasm for taking a sip."And you're not just saying that because you're sponsored by Pulse Pow
Keagan arrived at the meet-up point. From a distant vantage point, NeoVista revealed itself as a sprawling cityscape illuminated by a neon tapestry of lights. The metropolis buzzed with life, its streets alive with the ebb and flow of a tech-driven society. Towering skyscrapers pierced the night sky, their facades adorned with dazzling displays that bathed the surroundings in a vibrant glow. Their lights seemingly blinded Keagan as he traversed the rooftops, taking in the city with a bird’s eye viewAs pedestrians navigated the bustling streets, their augmented reality glasses flickered with information and overlays, guiding them through the labyrinthine cityscape. The denizens of NeoVista, a tapestry of humanity, showcased an array of cybernetic enhancements, their bodies transformed by the merging of man and machine. Neural implants glowed softly beneath the skin, a testament to the seamless integration of technology into everyday life.The architecture of NeoVista told a story of c
Chapter 12Whiplash stood there, waiting for Keagan's answer. He could see the wrinkles on his face behind his half mask as he pondered, but he didn't interrupt his thought process. "I'll give you a definitive answer after the task you're going to assign me. Right now, I can't make such a heavy decision on the spot. I need some time to think," Keagan finally responded. Whiplash felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had been testing Keagan, seeing if he was the type to act fast and think later. As a teacher of many, he couldn't seem to turn off his role, always seeking to turn situations into teaching moments or tests for his students. Keagan passed his little test, but Whiplash knew it wasn't the right time to press him for an answer. Deep down, however, he felt a sense of pride for Keagan's thoughtful approach."Okay, I understand. I'll give you the time you need to think it over. But for now, you must focus on your task. Consider yourself a B-ranked hero from this moment on. You
As Keagan approached the rooftop, the familiar scent of vehicle exhaust filled the air, reminding him of the bustling city below. He spotted Dante, slouched over the railings and gazing down at the city with a calm demeanor. Though Dante seemed aware of Keagan's presence, he made no effort to acknowledge him or turn his head. Keagan understood the unspoken signs and decided not to disturb him.Leaning against the doorway that led back into the building, Keagan observed the cityscape, waiting for the rest of the squad to arrive—time seemed to stretch as they remained in this silent stalemate. But soon, the atmosphere shifted with the arrival of Lily, whose vibrant energy breathed life into the surroundings.Lily bounded onto the rooftop, her infectious enthusiasm lighting up the space. She greeted Keagan with a cheerful smile, bringing some much-needed warmth to the otherwise subdued atmosphere. Keagan couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as he exchanged greetings with Lily, gratef
Chapter 10Keagan turned the key in the motel room door, which creaked open, and Josh burst into the room, leaping onto the bed with boundless energy. The mattress sank under his weight as if embracing his vibrant spirit. Keagan followed closely behind, feeling the exhaustion seep into his bones. It was almost 11 p.m., and he hadn't experienced a proper sleep session in what felt like forever. Although his body had fully recovered from the injuries, thanks to his exceptional healing factor acquired from the system, it still needed time to recharge after expending its entire energy reserves. Keagan knew that once he touched the bed, it would be lights out for him. But before he succumbed to sleep, he wanted to share the good news with his brother about his plans for resuming his education.Taking a deep breath, Keagan sat down on the edge of the bed, facing Josh, who was eagerly awaiting his brother's attention. He looked into Josh's eyes, searching for a glimmer of hope and excitement
Keagan returned to the park, the same spot where the mystical door had transported him to the other realm. A surge of questions flooded his mind, compelling him to seek answers from the system. With a quick summon, he initiated a rapid-fire session of inquiry."Hey system, did all that really happen? Did I actually defeat a villain?" he asked, his voice filled with both excitement and disbelief.The system responded in its convincingly human-like robotic voice, "Yes, all your actions have been recorded in your activity report, accessible at any time."A sense of satisfaction washed over Keagan. However, he couldn't help but notice that not much time had passed in the real world. It was only a two-hour difference from when he left in the evening to now, even though it felt like he had spent an entire night in the other world. Perplexed, he decided not to dwell on it for now, as a jumble of emotions overwhelmed him.Some passersby cast curious glances at him, seemingly talking to himsel
As the battle came to an end, the atmosphere calmed, and the augmented reality display within their suits illuminated once more. The system's voice reverberated through Keagan's consciousness, congratulating him on successfully completing his daily tasks and vanquishing the infamous-ranked villain. A sense of accomplishment surged within him."Congratulations, Keagan," the system's voice chimed. "For your triumph over the infamous-ranked villain, you are rewarded with 20 skill points. You can use these skill points to boost your attributes to level up your rank "Keagan's HUD displayed an increment in his skill points. He stood in awe as the system's voice resonated in his ears. "Congratulations, Keagan," the system spoke, "For your exceptional performance in battle.". After it spoke, the familiar ring of the notification alert sounded, and a circular icon appeared on the edge of the display. Keagan waved his hand over it and a new option appeared; Artifacts.The menu dropped down, re
Keagan's instincts kicked in, and he swiftly activated a hidden gadget within his suit. Brilliant beams of light erupted from his armor, piercing through the suffocating darkness that had ensnared them. As the shadows weakened their grip, Keagan and Emberlyn seized the opportunity to break free.In the midst of their escape, both of them couldn't help but notice the subtle enhancements in Keagan's suit. New mechanisms glimmered, indicating upgrades he had acquired. Emberlyn's curiosity flickered briefly, but the urgency of their mission pulled her focus back to the looming threat before them.A surge of courage washed over her, an indomitable will that seemed to emanate from deep within her being. Unbeknownst to her, it was one of the newfound skills Keagan had acquired, the ability to inspire his allies in battle. She couldn't comprehend the source of her sudden empowerment, but she embraced it wholeheartedly.Keagan's voice resonated with newfound authority as he addressed Emberlyn,