The rain never stopped in Neon City. It poured like the city itself was trying to wash its sins away. To Jack West, it felt like the sky was mocking him,drenching him, freezing him, dragging him lower with every drop.
He stumbled through the empty street, hair plastered to his forehead, knuckles white around the broken chain of Maya's necklace. Her laughter still rang in his ears. Not the warm laugh he once lived for, but the cruel one she shared with Marcus.
Jack stopped at the curb. A hover truck's lights cut through the rain, its engines humming like a funeral dirge.
"One step," he whispered, voice raw. "No more pain. No more trash."
He closed his eyes.
[System initialization complete.]
[Hello, Jack West. Would you like to live?]
His eyes shot open. "What the"
The voice echoed in his skull. A pale interface appeared before him, hovering against the curtain of rain.
[Option 1: Die here ].
[Option 2:Accept me and live].
Jack clutched his head, sliding against the wall. "I've finally cracked. I'm hearing voices…"
[Correction: You're hearing me.]
The words pulsed, solid and undeniable.
Jack wanted to scream. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to step forward and end it. But Maya's betrayal burned hotter than despair. He wanted to prove her wrong, to live if only to spite her.
"…Fine," he hissed. "I don't want to die."
The interface brightened.
—— STATUS ——
Name:Jack West
Level:1
Condition: Malnourished, Exhausted
Strength:2
Endurance:3
Speed:1
Agility:2
Intelligence:4
Willpower:5
Skills:None
Titles:"Trash of Neon city"
Jack stared. "…Pathetic."
[Observation: Accurate.]
Before he could respond, laughter echoed through the rain.
Three figures stepped from the shadows. Ken led them, pipe swinging in his hand.
"Well, well. If it isn't the city's trash. Out here crying in the rain?"
Jack's stomach dropped.
[Quest Generated: Survive the Night.]
[Skill Unlocked: Teleportation (Short Range), Warning: Nausea,vomitting,dizziness and blurred images expected.]
Ken swung. Jack blinked—then reappeared ten feet away, collapsing to his knees and vomiting.
"What the hell?" Ken snarled.
Jack coughed, shaking. "What did you do to me?"
[Correction: You teleported, Efficiency: poor.]
The chain thug lunged first, his weapon whipping through the air. Jack blinked again, appearing behind him. He swung wildly, fist connecting with the back of the man's head. The thug crumpled to the wet pavement with a grunt.
The second thug charged with a roar, tackling Jack into a puddle. Jack struggled beneath him, fists pounding against his ribs. Desperation surged,he blinked, reappearing half a meter away, scrambling to his feet. The thug staggered up, confused. Jack didn't think,he just kicked clumsily, his boot smashing into the man's shin. A sharp crack echoed, and the thug howled, collapsing to the ground clutching his leg.
Ken snarled. "Useless idiots!" He charged, pipe swinging. Jack barely blinked out of the way, reappearing at Ken's side. He swung his fist in panic, the blow clipping Ken's jaw. Ken stumbled, then rammed into Jack with raw strength, sending both crashing down.
Jack's vision blurred. Blood filled his mouth. He blinked again, appearing just behind Ken, and grabbed the fallen pipe. Rage boiled. He brought it down with a roar, smashing into Ken's back. Ken crumpled to the ground, blood mixing with rain.
Jack stood over him, chest heaving, the pipe raised high for a killing blow.
"This is what you deserve," he hissed. His whole body screamed to end years of torment in one savage strike.
Ken groaned, dazed and broken.
Jack's arms trembled. In the puddle at his feet, he saw his reflection, wild-eyed, monstrous.
"This… this isn't me," he whispered.with a dazed expression,his grip faltered. The pipe clattered to the ground.
"Go," he spat. "Before I change my mind."
The thugs scrambled, dragging Ken to his feet. The one with the broken shin limped, the other half-carried Ken, blood trailing behind them. Ken's swollen face twisted into a hateful glare as they retreated into the shadows.
Jack stood alone in the rain, every muscle screaming in pain, but still standing.
[Quest Progress: 67%,Survival Probability: increased.]
He laughed bitterly, falling to his knees. His whole body hurt, but beneath it burned something new.
Not despair. Not numbness.
Hope.
And something else.
Resolve