Austin sat in the back of a black Mercedes, clutching a set of keys. Only a few days ago, he was sleeping on a thin mat, worried about his next meal. Now, he was driving toward the quiet, upscale neighborhood where his Aunt and Brother lived in a cramped, leaking apartment.
"Auntie! Chidi! Come outside!" Austin called out as the car pulled up.
His Aunt ran out, wiping her hands on her apron, her eyes wide with fear. "Austin? What is this? Did you steal this car? I told you to stay out of trouble!"
Austin laughed, a sound full of pure joy. He stepped out and hugged her. "No, Auntie. I didn't steal anything. I'm a businessman now. And this isn't just a car."
He handed her the keys. "We're moving. Today."
He drove them to a beautiful white mansion with a gated compound and a garden full of hibiscus flowers. As Chidi ran through the large living room, shouting in excitement, Austin felt a deep sense of peace.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: FAMILY QUEST COMPLETE.]
[REWARD: 300 EXP, 'HAPPINESS' BUFF (Increases System Energy recovery by 10%).]
"Austin," his Aunt whispered, tears streaming down her face. "How did you do this?"
"I'm a doctor now, Auntie. A real one."
But as he walked back to the car to get their bags, the air suddenly turned cold. A man in a long, grey coat was leaning against the gate. He didn't look like a businessman or a trader. He looked like... a predator.
Austin's Eyes of Truth flared to life, but for the first time, they flickered with static.
[WARNING: HIGH-LEVEL ENERGY DETECTED.]
[TARGET: UNKNOWN.]
"You have a very interesting 'gift,' young man," the stranger said. His voice sounded like dry leaves scraping together. "Most people need decades of study to heal a heart attack with their fingers. You did it in seconds."
Austin stiffened. "Who are you?"
"My name is Dr. Vane. I belong to a circle of people who have been watching the 'Divine' for a long time. You're making too much noise, Austin. A global empire attracts more than just customers—it attracts hunters."
The man reached into his coat and pulled out a small, black coin with a skull engraved on it. He tossed it at Austin's feet. "Keep that. You'll need it when your 'System' starts to fail you."
In a blink, the man was gone.
Austin picked up the coin. The System gave a red warning: [ERROR: UNIDENTIFIED ARTIFACT. SOURCE: ANCIENT.]
Austin looked at the beautiful house where his family was laughing. He realized the battle with Mr. Benson was just a game. The real war was only just beginning.