The hustling and bustling streets of Gatlibaran City echoed outside as I finally placed the last of my belongings in my room. My parents helped me settle into this small apartment, thankfully owned by my aunt and uncle the landlords. We got a decent discount; otherwise, most places would've been either too expensive or required double occupancy.
Dad called from the door. I walked over, only for Mom to pull me into a tight hug.
"Felix, you've really grown... from that kid who couldn't go to the restroom without holding my hand," she said, voice half-laughing, half-nostalgic.
"Mom..." I groaned, face heating up.
Dad pulled out his wallet and handed me some bills. "This should last the month. Don't blow it on snacks. And call us, okay?"
Mom added with a half-smile, half-worry, "And come home at least once a month. Don't make us worry, anak."
"I will," I said softly. "I promise I'll study hard."
They left after our goodbyes. As the door clicked shut, I took a breath. Silence. For the first time, I was alone.
Boarding school was a thing, sure but you always had roommates. This? This was real solitude. For better or worse.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the sleek black tablet that Forest had left me after training. The Eden Corp interface lit up: Profile, Missions, Psytonoid Encyclopedia, and Map.
Curious, I opened Profile. Basic info, mission stats, and a few achievements from training. There was even a record of my duo missions with Forest.
Missions: "Waiting for Orders."
Encyclopedia: A ranking system from E to S-class. I searched "Raring Rage" the C-class rhino I helped take down.
"Woah. That thing was just C-class?"
Finally, I opened the Map tab. The interface displayed a simplified layout of the city with a pulsing blue arrow that marked my current location.
"Guess that's me," I muttered.
The map wasn't just for navigation it was a real-time scanner for detecting anomalies. Any unusual activity, especially Psytonoid-related, would show up as red markers.
For now, the screen was calm.
"I doubt there'll be any action tonight," I said to myself, already feeling the exhaustion from moving in. "I could use some rest."
Just as I set the tablet down, a red dot suddenly blinked onto the screen.
"Of course..."
A notification alert followed immediately, sliding in smoothly from the top:
New Mission Available
Mission Class: D
Target: Psytonoid - Mantis Arts
Time Limit: 3 Hours
Reward: 3,000 Besos
Location: Intersection of Yoob Street and 11/7 Avenue
Reward retrieval instructions will be given upon mission completion.
My first solo mission.
I sprinted across rooftops toward the mission site, clad in the standard-issue combat gear from Eden Corp—a sleek black and red suit that adapted perfectly to my body the moment my Bia synced with it. The design was minimalist but durable, crafted to endure high-impact battles and extreme movement.
A lightweight mask covered my face, automatically deploying when Bia activates. It filtered the air, concealed my identity, and offered a tactical HUD that synced directly with my Eden tablet. The suit wasn't just for looks it was a battle-ready uniform that fused with the user's energy.
"Man, this thing makes me feel like a superhero," I muttered under my breath, eyes scanning the skyline.
Roof-hopping through the cool night air felt strangely peaceful until I reached the 11/7 intersection in Yoob. I looked around. Nothing.
Then—metallic screech.
I whipped around just in time to dodge a razor-sharp strike. The force knocked me from the rooftop, but I generated a cushion with Bia just before I hit the ground.
The creature landed.
It resembled a praying mantis, but with glistening chrome arms and unsettling precision.
"So you're the target. A D-class Psytonoid? That ambush was almost pro-level…"
Before I could finish, it charged with blinding speed.
I summoned a sword to defend. Its strikes were fast, methodical—too sharp for something this low-ranked.
'This isn't a D-class. No way.'
One well-placed kick slammed into me, sending me flying into a nearby wall. My suit rang with an incoming call.
[CONNECTED TO CALL]
"Hello? This is your Eden Operator for Psytonoid Control," came a calm female voice.
"This suit has a call function?"
"Yes, only for Eden communication. More importantly—that's not a D-Class. We just confirmed it's a high C-Class. And it's... tactical. Like it thinks."
"I noticed. It caught me off guard with that ambush. Should've trusted my gut."
"I recommend immediate withdrawal. You're not required to finish this alone."
I gritted my teeth, wiping blood from my lip.
"No. I'm not backing out."
"Why?"
"Because I've trained for this. I don't win with brute force—I win with strategy."
I activated my unique Bia ability: This Is Your Fight.
This Is Your Fight allows me to write tactical utilities in real-time. Not full-scale magic. Not raw power. Just exactly what I need, when I need it if I can think clearly enough.
I drew a smoke decoy sequence mid-air with my quill. My weapon of choice.
With a light shield in hand, I charged. The mantis met me halfway, its arms swinging in devastating arcs.
I blocked and deflected as best I could, searching for a flaw.
Then, the moment came—its kick.
I parried upward and swapped to a warhammer, building torque mid-spin.
But the mantis twisted. A bladed leg soared down toward me—until the decoy triggered.
BOOM. Smoke burst from my body.
"You overcommitted," I whispered, now behind it.
With a single crushing slam, I shattered its core. Its body exploded into shards.
I stumbled back, panting.
The operator called in again. "That… was impressive. Are you okay?"
"Barely. But yeah. It's down."
"Good. Reward location unlocked. It's… right next to you."
I looked up. The 11/7 store.
"You've got to be kidding me."
I walked in and flashed my Eden ID. The cashier didn't even flinch—must've seen a lot. He guided me to the break room where a hidden elevator opened below.
It took me to an underground Eden base.
People in suits, typing at terminals. It was like a control center straight out of a movie.
At the far end, a girl with twin buns waved at me.
"Oiii! You're the rookie, right? Over here!"
I approached. "Felix Torregosa. I completed the Yoob mission."
She tapped rapidly on her screen. "Right, right—Felix. I'm Terra Iglesias, but call me 'Pico.' Everyone does."
"Pico? Like the cat word?"
"Hey!" she pouted, cheeks pink.
"No, no—I mean it suits you. It's… cute."
"Ack—!" She spun in her chair, flustered.
I couldn't help but grin.
Back to business. "Pico, that mantis it felt… smarter. Like it knew how to fight."
"You're not wrong," she said, regaining composure. "It's been happening more lately. Low-tier Psytonoids showing enhanced behavior. The Corp is worried."
She handed me the reward. "Here's 4,000 Besos. The posted rate was low because the mantis was misclassified."
I pocketed the cash, but the question still gnawed at me.
Why did it wait for me? Why was it ready to fight like that?
"Thanks for everything, Pico. I hope we meet again."
She waved, eyes still a little pink. "Yeah… just stay alive, rookie."
I made it home and collapsed into bed.
School starts tomorrow. Psytonoids and classes.
Wish me luck.
Good night, Felix.
-End-