Chapter Two

The rain had stopped by the time Ethan stumbled back to the small, abandoned warehouse he now called home. Soaked to the skin and trembling, he clutched the strange black orb he'd found, feeling its faint electric pulse as though it were alive. His body ached, his stomach growled from hunger, but somehow, holding this object made him feel... different. It was like a spark in his hand, a promise of something more.

He slid down against the cold wall and stared at the orb, mesmerized by the faint blue symbols that glowed on its surface. The light was hypnotic, luring him in. In the silence, he felt calmer, more focused, as if all the noise in his mind had gone quiet.

Suddenly, the voice returned, calm and steady, as if it were speaking right inside his head:

"System initialization complete. Welcome, Ethan. You are now connected to the Echo Core. Would you like to view your options?"

Ethan's eyes widened. Stories about powerful systems granting abilities were just myths, legends for people who dreamed of escape. Yet, here it was, real and happening to him. He barely dared to breathe as he whispered, "Options?"

"Yes," the voice replied smoothly. "You have been granted access to unique skills and quests. Completing these tasks will increase your power and unlock new abilities. Do you wish to proceed?"

Ethan's mind whirled. He could throw this thing away, go back to surviving one day at a time. But then he remembered the pain, the betrayal. The memory of Carter's smug grin as he betrayed him, Sophia's cold, distant eyes as she chose his best friend over him. His fingers tightened around the orb. This was his one chance, his shot at something bigger—at payback.

He took a deep breath, his voice stronger now. "Yes, I want to proceed."

The orb's glow brightened, filling the dark room with a soft blue light. A screen appeared in mid-air, listing options, and at the top, he read: "Beginner Quest - Survival."

"Beginner Quest - Survive 24 hours without food or shelter. Reward: Basic Skill Package. Failure: System Reset."

Ethan's heart dropped. He hadn't eaten in over a day, and the warehouse was no shelter. But if he wanted the power the system offered, he had to push through. He stood up on shaky legs, determination sparking within him. For the first time in weeks, he felt a reason to keep going.

[ First Steps ]

Hours passed slowly as Ethan scavenged the streets, hunting for anything to help him survive. Every step, every pang of hunger, reminded him of how far he'd fallen, yet he felt a strange new sense of purpose. Each time his stomach grumbled or he shivered from the cold, he reminded himself: this wasn't just about surviving. It was about gaining power, about earning the strength to change his life.

The sky turned orange as dawn approached, casting a pale glow over the empty streets. Exhausted, Ethan slipped through a broken fence into the backyard of an abandoned house. Weeds and tall grass grew wildly, and the windows were boarded up, making it look as forgotten as he felt. But it was shelter, and for now, that was enough.

He checked the yard, making sure he was alone, then crouched in a corner, curling up to rest with the orb clutched tightly in his hand. His body was sore, his mind drifting in and out of sleep, but each time he closed his eyes, he remembered her.

[ Flashback to Betrayal ]

He could still see her smile, the way her eyes sparkled when they'd laugh together. Sophia had been everything to him—kind, warm, and supportive. Or so he'd thought. Until the night he'd gone to surprise her at Carter's place. He remembered standing outside the door, heart pounding with excitement. He was planning to take her out, do something special, just the two of them. But as he'd raised his hand to knock, he'd heard her laugh—soft, familiar, and full of warmth.

Peeking through a small gap in the curtains, he saw them together, his best friend and his girlfriend, talking in whispers, leaning close. He watched in horror as Carter placed a hand on her shoulder, and she didn't pull away. She just smiled, resting her head against him.

Ethan wanted to barge in, to shout and demand answers. But he'd felt frozen, unable to move. It was like he was outside of his own body, watching a nightmare unfold. And that night, standing in the rain, he'd lost everything he cared about.

 [ An Unexpected Encounter ]

A loud noise pulled Ethan from his memories, jolting him back to reality. The sky was darker now, and he heard voices—low, angry voices coming from the front of the house. He froze, heart pounding. Someone was out there, and they didn't sound friendly.

He crept to the edge of the backyard, pressing himself into the overgrown bushes. Peering around the corner, he spotted two men standing at the front door, one holding a flashlight, the other gripping a crowbar.

"Let's grab what we came for and get out," one of them muttered, glancing over his shoulder.

"Relax," the other one replied, prying the door open. "This place has been empty for years."

Ethan's mind raced. If they found him here, he was done for. Clutching the orb, he hoped it would help him. Then, just as before, a screen appeared with a new message:

"Side Quest: Avoid detection. Reward: Stealth Skill."

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stay calm. This was his chance. He just had to move quietly, to get away without being seen. Keeping low to the ground, he crawled through the bushes, each step careful and measured. The flashlight beam danced around him, and he felt his heart race, but he pushed forward, inch by inch.

Just as he reached the fence, he heard one of the men shout, "Did you hear that?"

Ethan froze, his entire body tense. The men's flashlight swung wildly in his direction, and he ducked behind a rusted barrel, holding his breath, praying they wouldn't come closer. Seconds felt like hours as he waited.

"Must've been a rat," one of the men muttered finally. "Come on, let's get inside."

Ethan didn't move until he heard the door shut behind them. Only then did he allow himself to breathe again. A notification appeared on his screen:

"Quest Complete: Stealth Skill Unlocked. Complete the next chapter to earn $45,000,000."

Ethan's eyes widened. One moment, the system felt merciless; the next, it offered a life-changing reward. With that money, he could do more than survive—he could rise. It would be enough to cover his needs, his tuition, even a place to live. As he looked at the glowing screen, he felt the stir of hope. This was just the beginning.