The young man with the backpack was now standing, no longer seated. Behind the seemingly ordinary bag, his hand was gripping something beneath the hoodie — a metal baseball bat, tucked to his side.
He began to move quickly, lowering his shoulder like he was about to strike.
Alaric moved instantly.
He stepped two paces to the left, just as the bat swung toward the spot where he had stood seconds ago.
WHUUUSH!
Air split sharply. The metal bat struck nothing, only carving through his shadow.
People at the bus stop gasped.
"What was that?!"
"Hey, what's wrong with you?!"
But the man in the hoodie didn't respond. His face remained blank, his eyes sharp. He realized the target had dodged him, and now their eyes locked.
"So you're not just some rookie," the man muttered under his breath.
Alaric stood ready, right hand inside his jacket, fingers touching the compact defense tool he always carried. But he didn't draw it.
"Who are you?" Alaric asked firmly, voice low enough not to attract more attention.
The man didn't answer. He took one step back, then sprinted across the road, weaving between cars before disappearing into a narrow alley.
Alaric made a move to chase him, but the system pushed a new update.
[BioTrace Update]
[Fingerprint matched with Tier-2 target. User has direct access to 'Astra Noctem' server]
[Likely being remotely controlled by primary target: Tio Mahendra]
[High chance of civilian disguise. Avoid direct confrontation in public areas]
Alaric let out a long breath. His fingers were tense. The confirmation was real.
They didn't just know who he was anymore.
They had begun to move in the real world.
-
Meanwhile, in a dusty basement room, a middle-aged man dressed in black stood beside Tio Mahendra — the man with the worn cap. The computer on their desk had just been replaced. On the screen, IP traffic logs and a report of the failed attack played back.
"He was too fast. We failed," the man said.
Tio Mahendra remained silent. His eyes were cold, simmering with quiet rage.
"I told you. That kid isn't a beginner."
He crossed his arms.
"Switch to indirect surveillance. Deploy the drone team. No more dirty work in open spaces."
"And if he resists again?" the man asked.
"Let him. But make sure the people around him understand there is a price to pay for stepping into our world."
The bus finally arrived. Alaric stepped inside and took a seat in the middle row, by the window on the left. His fingers were still slightly shaking, but his mind was sharper than ever.
He opened his tablet and typed into his private log:
"Today, they made their move."
"Not just my system — they targeted my body."
"But one thing they need to know, I can fight them in the real world too."
Outside the window, the sky had gone dark.
But Alaric sat still, even as his fingers remembered the tremble.
-
Since the incident earlier this afternoon near the bus stop, Alaric's mind wouldn't stay still. It kept racing inside his head. Not because he was worried about his own life, which was starting to feel unsafe, but because he was thinking about the people who might also be affected, gradually.
He sat upright in his chair, the desk lamp casting light over his serious face. The large screen in front of him displayed the schematic of a new technological design.
No longer just for managing business, but now… to protect himself first before trying to secure others.
The attack at the bus stop wasn't just a physical threat—it was a harsh warning that the boundary between the digital and real worlds had completely collapsed. Alaric knew he couldn't rely on luck coming twice.
This time he survived, but maybe not tomorrow or the day after. He could pay someone to be his personal bodyguard, openly or as a shadow protector.
But living like that was deeply uncomfortable for him. Wherever he went, he would be followed like a baby.
Alaric scrolled through his design on the screen. There it was, the prototype: Smart defense layer, a wearable protection system that could be attached to the body, clothing, or bag. Small in size, and activated by detecting danger through sensors tracking heart rate, body position, and the intensity of surrounding sounds.
But just as he started writing the first algorithm, the screen suddenly glowed softly. It emitted a pale bluish light and formed a transparent notification above his coding window.
[SYSTEM NOTICE]
[Due to your high commitment to moral protection and humanity…]
[The system grants a special reward: no progress or points exchange required.]
[Rare Item: VIRELIA — Adaptive Pinblade Unit]
Alaric furrowed his brow, reading carefully. An animation appeared, showing the item's shape:
A small brooch in silver-black. Thin as a metal badge, shaped like a winged leaf with intricate geometric patterns on its surface. Almost like a regular accessory or fashion pin. Unobtrusive. Not strange-looking.
Then a more detailed description from the system appeared:
[Item: VIRELIA]
[Class: Technological Artifact – Hybrid Weapon]
[Default Form: Brooch/small emblem that can be attached to a bag, pocket, or collar.]
[Active Form: In emergencies, VIRELIA automatically transforms into a lightweight blade unit, 30 cm long. Light, flexible, and sharp.]
[Double Function: Besides being a weapon, VIRELIA can act as a deflector capable of blocking certain physical attacks using energy vibrations along the blade.]
[Auto-Retract Mode: After 60 seconds of inactivity, VIRELIA retracts automatically back into brooch form.]
[Linked Mind-Sync: Item responds only to its rightful owner. Cannot be used by others.]
[Note: Do not discard or sell this item. It will always return to its owner even if thrown or dropped.]
Alaric read it slowly, then opened a small drawer under his desk, following the system's light guidance.
And there… the item was already there.
Resting neatly inside a black velvet box, exactly as the system had described.
He touched it gently. The material felt cool, light, almost weightless. He picked it up and pinned it on the strap of his work bag—the part he carried most often.
"So small… but packed with defense mechanisms," he murmured in awe.
An hour later, Alaric was in his backyard. Dark, quiet, only the sounds of insects and leaves rustling. He stood alone in the middle, his bag slung over one shoulder.
"Alright, let's test this."
With a quick move, he pretended to step back while pulling his body as if about to be attacked from behind. His heartbeat rose slightly, and he added a bit of emotional pressure to his voice:
"Now or never…"
CLINK— SHHHRRRT!
In an instant, the small brooch detached and spread its wings wide like metal flower petals. The inner part extended into a thin blade glowing bluish-green.
A soft light ran along the surface, shaping a lightweight weapon that looked intimidating despite its small size.
Alaric held it steadily. The tip was sharp, and he felt a subtle vibration along the blade as he moved his hand left and right.
"Amazing…" he whispered.
When he swung it once through the air, VIRELIA produced a faint whoosh—signaling it was designed for speed and efficiency, not reckless violence.
And exactly 60 seconds after use, the blade began to retract, folding back into its original shape. It silently snapped back into place on the side of his bag.
No sound. No flashy effect. As if it had never changed at all.
Alaric stared at it.
In his mind, he understood that the world now demanded more than just digital skills. Out there, threats were real, moving, hunting him not only through the internet he mastered.
But capable of appearing at bus stops, cafés, even when he came home from campus.
And now, he could not only survive.
He could fight back.
That night, he sat back in his workspace. A new notification appeared on his system screen:
[Item successfully linked to main system]
[Personal Security Mode increased by +35%]
[Recommendation: activate dual-layer security schemes for close associates]
Alaric smiled faintly.
"Thank you, system," he said quietly.
"Seems like… you really know I need protection. Not just from others. But from the fear trying to creep into my heart."
He leaned back in his chair. Dimmed the room's light slightly. The small brooch on his bag now hung there, no longer just decoration.
The young man was no longer alone when danger approached.
The night was late, but Alaric's mind kept working. No rest this time. No warm coffee. No instrumental music to accompany his late-night sessions.
Alaric pursued his mission with total dedication, accompanied only by the soft hum of his laptop's fan and the steady rhythm of his breath.
Tabs were still open. Each tab held data: connection logs, access history, social interactions, and links that ever connected the people close to him. Family, friends, even business partners registered as personal contacts.
Alaric knew,
It wasn't just him who was the target. Those near him could be the next victims. Attacks could happen anytime, anywhere.
"I have to clean everything." His fingers typed line after line of commands on the main screen.