Chapter 3
1492 Words
Ethan stood in the cold alley, his breath misting in the night air as adrenaline slowly faded from his system. His body ached, every bruise and cut screaming for attention now that the battle was over. But despite the pain, a small, victorious smirk tugged at his lips.
He had won.
> [Mission Complete: Defeat Scarface.]
[Rewards Applied.]
A notification blinked in his vision.
> [System Token Acquired: 1]
[Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Instinct (Lv. 1)]
[Status Increased: Strength +3, Agility +2]
The enhancements were already working. He could feel it. His movements felt sharper, his body a fraction stronger than before. The system wasn't just some hallucination or desperate fantasy—it was real.
And it had given him a way to fight back against this cruel world.
But his stomach twisted painfully, reminding him of his immediate problem. He was still starving.
The First Purchase
Ethan wrapped his jacket tighter around himself and made his way down the wet streets. The neon glow of a 24-hour convenience store reflected off the puddles, its warm lights promising temporary refuge.
The cashier barely glanced at him as he stepped inside, likely used to seeing people like him—worn, desperate, barely scraping by. But tonight, Ethan wasn’t just another homeless guy struggling to survive.
He was something more.
He grabbed a protein bar, a bottle of water, and a cup of instant noodles before heading to the counter. His fingers trembled slightly as he counted out the crumpled bills he had managed to scavenge earlier.
The cashier gave him a tired look but didn’t say anything as he bagged the items.
Ethan took his food and settled into the corner of the store, ripping open the protein bar and devouring it in seconds. The dry, slightly chalky taste didn’t matter—it was the first real food he’d had in days.
As he ate, he pulled up his system interface.
> [System Store Available]
His one System Token could be used for a variety of upgrades.
Basic Healing Elixir – 1 Token
Stat Boost (+1 Strength, Agility, or Endurance) – 1 Token
Skill Upgrade (Choose a Skill) – 2 Tokens
He hesitated. The healing elixir was tempting—his body was still wrecked from the fight. But increasing his strength or agility permanently would be the smarter long-term choice.
After a moment of thought, he selected +1 Strength.
> [Strength +1 Applied.]
A wave of warmth spread through his limbs, dulling the worst of his aches. It wasn’t an instant recovery, but it was enough to make moving easier.
He exhaled, leaning back against the wall.
For the first time in a long while, he felt like he was making progress.
But this was only the beginning.
A Shadow Watches
As Ethan finished his meal, an unseen pair of eyes observed him from the darkness outside the store.
A man in a tailored black suit leaned against a sleek, unmarked car, watching the security feed on his phone. The footage showed Ethan’s fight with Scarface, his sudden skill improvement, his impossible survival against the odds.
The man smirked.
“This one’s different.”
He took a slow drag from his cigarette before turning to the figure beside him—a hooded individual whose presence seemed to blend seamlessly with the night.
“Follow him. I want to see how far he can go.”
The hooded figure nodded once before vanishing into the shadows.
Ethan had no idea.
But he wasn’t fighting alone anymore.
The cold night air wrapped around Ethan like an unwelcome embrace as he stepped out of the convenience store. His stomach wasn’t empty anymore, but the hunger for survival had only grown stronger. He had strength. He had the system. But power alone wasn’t enough—he needed a purpose, a direction.
His boots splashed against the wet pavement as he walked through the quiet streets. Something felt… off. A nagging sensation prickled at the back of his mind, setting his nerves on edge.
He was being followed.
The realization hit him like a spark to dry kindling. His body tensed, his pulse quickening. This wasn’t paranoia. His newly enhanced senses, boosted by the system, screamed at him that danger was near.
Ethan kept walking, keeping his pace steady. If whoever was tailing him thought he hadn’t noticed, he could use that to his advantage.
As he turned a corner, he suddenly pivoted, stepping into the shadows and pressing his back against the cold brick wall. His breath was controlled, his body coiled like a spring.
Then, just as he expected, a shadow passed by.
A hooded figure. Silent. Calculated. Deadly.
Ethan struck.
He lunged, locking his arm around the figure’s throat in a tight chokehold. But his opponent was fast—too fast. A dagger gleamed in the dim light, slashing toward his ribs.
He twisted, but the blade still bit into his side. Pain flared, hot and sharp, but he gritted his teeth and held firm. He tightened his grip, muscles burning as he fought to subdue the attacker.
Then—unexpectedly—the figure let out a soft chuckle.
“Not bad,” a smooth, female voice murmured.
Ethan hesitated, and that was all she needed.
With a sharp movement, she slammed the back of her head into his nose. Pain exploded across his face, forcing him to loosen his grip. She spun out of his hold and raised her dagger, pressing it lightly against his throat.
Ethan froze.
She smirked. “You’re stronger than you should be. That system of yours is already working.”
His eyes widened.
“How do you—”
A new voice cut through the night.
“That’s enough.”
A tall man in a black suit stepped out from the darkness. He looked out of place—too polished, too composed for this part of the city. But his presence carried weight.
The girl stepped back, lowering her blade but not sheathing it.
“Ethan Carter,” the man said, his tone measured. “You’ve caught our attention.”
They led him to an abandoned parking garage nearby. The girl, now introduced as Lena, leaned casually against a pillar while the suited man, Gabriel Voss, studied Ethan with a sharp gaze.
Gabriel was the first to speak.
“We represent an organization that studies and recruits individuals with access to the Abyss System.”
Ethan frowned. “So I’m not the only one?”
Gabriel’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Far from it.”
Lena crossed her arms. “Most who awaken to the system die before they figure out how to use it properly. Either they attract the wrong kind of attention, or they waste their potential.”
Ethan clenched his fists. He had barely survived his first real fight. If Scarface had been any stronger…
Gabriel stepped closer. “You’ve proven yourself capable, but raw talent isn’t enough. We can offer knowledge, training, and resources. In return, we want to see how far you can go.”
Ethan narrowed his eyes. “And what do you get out of this?”
Gabriel chuckled. “For now? A chance to observe. Later? That depends on you.”
Lena smirked. “We’re giving you a job, rookie. A real one. If you survive, we’ll talk.”
She handed him a phone with a single message.
> Target: Marcus ‘The Butcher’ Vale.
Status: Hostile. Eliminate or incapacitate.
Location: The Docks, Warehouse 17.
Time Limit: 24 Hours.
Ethan’s stomach tightened.
“You want me to kill someone?”
Gabriel remained silent for a moment before speaking. “Marcus Vale is a human trafficker. A monster. The world won’t miss him.”
Ethan looked at the message again. If he accepted, there was no turning back.
A test. A challenge.
Or a death sentence.
He exhaled sharply. “…Fine. I’ll do it.”
Gabriel handed him a sleek, black case. “Consider this a gift. You’ll need it.”
Inside, Ethan found a combat knife and a vial of dark red liquid.
> [Item Acquired: Combat Knife (Rare)]
[Item Acquired: Lesser Regeneration Elixir]
Gabriel turned to leave. “We’ll be watching.”
Lena flashed a grin. “Try not to die, rookie.”
The First Hunt
The docks loomed ahead, shrouded in mist and silence. Warehouse 17 stood near the water, its rusted exterior blending with the decay of forgotten industry.
Ethan crouched behind a stack of crates, scanning the area. Armed guards patrolled in pairs, their faces hard and unreadable.
> [Mission Active: Eliminate Marcus Vale]
His heartbeat was steady. He gripped the combat knife, its weight comforting.
Time to move.
Silently, he crept toward the first guard. With precise timing, he wrapped his arm around the man’s neck and drove the blade into his side. A muffled gasp. A struggle. Then stillness.
> [Stealth Kill Executed]
Ethan dragged the body behind a crate and exhaled.
One down.
- Writer
