Alex woke early the next morning, the events of the past days swirling in his thoughts. The system lingered in his mind like an uninvited guest.
He lay in bed, staring at the cracked ceiling of his apartment. Where had it come from? Why him? These questions had nagged at him since that first headache.
He needed answers. Blindly following its quests felt risky. What if it vanished as suddenly as it appeared? Or worse, demanded something he couldn't give?
He rolled out of bed and padded to the kitchen. The coffee from yesterday was cold, but he reheated it anyway.
Sipping the lukewarm brew, he summoned the system interface.
It appeared crisp and blue, floating before his eyes. Balance still at $1,000. The stamina perk listed. No new notifications.
He probed mentally: Help? Nothing. Origins? Silence.
It was like talking to a wall. Frustrated, he dismissed it.
Work called, but Alex called in sick. A rare day off. He needed time to think. Dressed in casual jeans and a hoodie, he grabbed his laptop and headed out. The local library seemed a good start. Evergreen Heights had a modest one, tucked between a park and a strip mall. The air inside smelled of old books and polished wood. He found a quiet corner table, away from the few patrons browsing shelves.
Opening his laptop, Alex searched online.
"Sudden headaches and hallucinations." Results flooded in: migraines, stress, even tumors. He winced at that.
But this wasn't a hallucination—the money proved it.
He refined his query: "Mysterious systems in real life."
Mostly game forums and conspiracy sites. Stories of people claiming supernatural powers, but nothing concrete.
One thread on a obscure forum caught his eye. Users discussed "awakening" to abilities, like in novels. Coincidence? Or clue?
He dove deeper. Webnovels often featured systems—gods granting them, alien tech, curses. Alex read summaries of popular ones. Protagonists got them after near-death experiences or random events. His own onset? Just a rainy walk home. No accident, no lightning strike. He jotted notes in a notebook: Possible sources—divine, technological, psychological?
Mid-morning, his phone buzzed.
Sophia's text: "Coffee at 10? My place."
He hesitated. Part of him wanted to dive back into that passion, but focus won out.
"Rain check? Busy today."
Her reply was quick: "Tease. Tomorrow then."
He smiled, pocketing the phone.
Back to research. He tried "reward systems for specific behaviors." Psychology articles on conditioning.
Not helpful. Then, "supernatural seduction powers." Mythology popped up: incubi, succubi, gods like Eros. Alex leaned back, rubbing his eyes. Was he some modern-day chosen one? It sounded ridiculous. Yet the rewards were tailored—money for milfs and gilfs. His preferences? The system knew them somehow.
Hunger interrupted. He stepped out for lunch at a nearby cafe. Sandwich in hand, he sat outside, people-watching. An older woman walked by, elegant in her fifties. The system pinged faintly: Potential target detected. He ignored it. Not now. Finishing his meal, he returned to the library. Time for books. He browsed the occult section. Titles on ESP, alternate dimensions, ancient artifacts.
One book stood out: "The Hidden Mechanisms of Fate." An old tome, dusty. He flipped through pages. Chapters on "cosmic interfaces"—entities granting boons to mortals. Legends of artifacts imprinting on hosts, evolving with them. Alex's pulse quickened. It described symptoms: headaches, visions. Origins varied—fallen stars, forgotten gods, even advanced AI from lost civilizations.
He photographed key pages with his phone. Could the system be an artifact? Or AI? Tech angle intrigued him. Back at his laptop, he searched "neural implants gone wrong." Conspiracy theories about government experiments. Microchips controlling minds. Unsettling. But no implant—he'd know.
Recent doctor visits? None.
Afternoon waned. Alex felt overwhelmed. Too many theories, no proof. He packed up and walked to the park. The same one from yesterday. Evelyn's bench was empty. He sat there, breathing deep. Nature calmed him. Birds chirped, leaves whispered.
He summoned the system again.
Status details? This time, a submenu appeared:
[Host Compatibility: 87%].
[Origin: Classified].
[Upgrades Available: Locked].
Classified? Teasing. Compatibility? Why him? He pondered his life. Average guy, hidden kinks for older women. Maybe it sought hosts with untapped desires. Or random selection. Frustration built. He needed more interaction.
Mentally, he commanded: Reveal origin. A red flash: [Access Denied. Complete more quests to unlock lore.]
Lore? Like a game backstory. So progression was key. Complete quests, gain info. Risky, but perhaps the only way.
He sighed, standing. Evening approached. Homeward bound, he stopped at a grocery store. Picked up essentials: bread, milk, a frozen pizza. Mundane tasks grounded him.
Back in his apartment, Alex cooked the pizza. Aroma filled the space. He ate at the table, reviewing his notes. Divine? Unlikely—he wasn't religious. Tech? Possible, but how implanted? Psychological? Maybe delusion, but money said otherwise. The book mentioned testing: push boundaries, see responses.
Idea struck. He focused: Give bonus. Nothing. Change reward. Silence. Deactivate. A warning: [Deactivation not recommended. Penalties apply.] Chilling. What penalties? Loss of earnings? Worse?
Night fell.
Alex showered, hot water easing tension.
In bed, he texted Sophia: "Tomorrow sounds good."
Then, thoughts turned to Evelyn. Park tomorrow? Build that connection. Quests aside, he enjoyed her company. But system's influence loomed.
As sleep claimed him, a dream stirred. Flashes of code, ancient runes, a voice whispering: "Chosen for desire's path."
He woke briefly, heart racing. Clue or imagination? Morning would tell. For now, the mystery deepened, pulling him further into this seductive web.