Simulator

Lu Siyan cycled past the bus stop, the gas cylinder wobbling precariously on his bike. He was still replaying the awkward encounter with his colleague and his "fiancée" in his head, a small smile playing on his lips. Right, gas refill, then… Ugh, not now. I'm already late for that meeting with Marketing. Whatever it is, it can wait.

A faint voice, almost like a stray thought, whispered in his mind: "Rescue the old man near the bus station. You have two choices: act now or ignore."

Lu Siyan blinked. "Huh? Did I just think that?" He shook his head. "Must be tired." He dismissed it, focusing on the road ahead. Ignore.

As he cycled past the bus stop, everything seemed normal. He passed the bus station, the old man stood waiting on the sidewalk, and then the smell of burning rubber filled the air as the sound of screeching tires ripped through the air.

The old man suddenly stumbled into the street, unaware of the oncoming car. The protagonist's heart raced as he watched in horror—the car, a blur of metal, sped uncontrollably toward the old man. He's too far away to do anything.

Before he could even think of a solution, the car crashed into the bus stop with a sickening crunch, the impact sending a shower of sparks into the air, followed by a blast. The old man was thrown to the ground, a spray of red coating the windshield, lifeless before the explosion consumed the scene. The heat of the explosion washes over him.

"Failure. Consequence: Simulation reset. Retry task."

Everything around him blurs into a harsh, unnatural brightness. The world resets in a blink, the destruction vanishing. The protagonist feels disoriented, his vision spinning. Then, it happens.

Suddenly, the world starts to feel off. The sense of reality begins to warp. He experiences the crash, the heat, the pain—not his own, but a reflection of the old man's death. It feels visceral. The pain is real. The sensations of blood, heat, and suffocation press down on him.

His body flinches as if he's dying, the fear gripping him like a vice. His chest tightens in a suffocating panic, yet he's still alive, sitting on his bike.

"Second try: Pain of death experienced. Proceed carefully."

He gasps for breath, still shaken. The text flashes again, "You have 5 minutes before the task resets. You must act quickly." The time limit is clear—five minutes to rescue the old man.

The world shifts again, and this time, the protagonist doesn't hesitate. He knows what's coming. He rides furiously, aiming to reach the bus station faster. His mind is racing—How can I save him? What if I can stop this?

As he nears the station, a chilling realization hits him. In his desperation to get there in time, he miscalculates his speed. The bike wobbles as he veers toward the curb, but it's too late. His tire hits a rock, and the bike flips out of control. The protagonist is thrown into the air, helpless as he crashes to the ground. The rough asphalt scrapes his skin. A sharp pain explodes in his shoulder. The air is knocked from his lungs, a burning sensation in his chest.

He feels the agony of impact—the pain shooting through his body as he hits the pavement, vision blurring. Before he can even comprehend the pain, the simulation resets again.

"Failure. Second death experienced. Simulation reset."

This time, it's the weight of the experience—his own death—and the crushing knowledge that he can't escape the cycle. He feels it deeply, the suffocating despair, the failure of not saving anyone.

"Time remaining: 2 minutes. Attempt again."

When the world resets for the fourth time, it's like an itch in the back of his mind. The pain, the pressure of the previous failures—they are lessons now, not just experiences. As the protagonist sits on his bike once more, he feels a change. Something new, something sharper.

The sensation is subtle at first, a coolness in the air, a glimmer at the edge of his vision. The world begins to pulse with a faint, light blue glow, slowly wrapping around the environment. It's a shift, a transition, and for the first time, he feels like he's in a different world.

"Transition complete. World adjusted for analysis. Time remaining: 1 minute."

His heart races. "I need to act, now!"

This time, he looks around, his mind snapping into focus. The world feels different. He can see it—the options, the environment laid out before him like a puzzle.

"Analytical View Activated. Use surroundings to your advantage." The environment briefly overlays with faint blue lines highlighting interactive elements.

Okay, think. The car's coming fast. The old man's right in its path. Analytical View... activate. (The blue lines appear). The bike rack... the trash can... the bus! That's it!

In one fluid motion, he swerves his bike toward the rack, grabbing a metal pole from the nearby trash can. He hurls it into the car's path, causing the car to swerve just slightly, enough to avoid the old man. The car screeches, but it hits the bus, not the man. The explosion is contained.

The old man, still shaken but alive, looks around in disbelief. The protagonist breathes a heavy sigh of relief, exhaustion flooding him as he watches the car come to a stop.

The blue glow slowly fades, and the world seems to return to normal—yet something remains different. He's aware now, aware of the system's presence, its influence. The protagonist looks around, still trying to process what just happened.

"Task complete. Reward: $200 deposited into your account and skill unlocked: Analytical View."

He feels different now—more aware, more in control. His thoughts are sharper, the world a little clearer. He's unsure of what this means, but the thrill of success is undeniable.

"The world is not what it seems. Keep your wits sharp. The simulation continues."

He stares at the screen, wondering what lies ahead. As he looks at the old man, he notices a faint shimmering around him. The text flashes again: "New task available."