As Joe and Spiritfang walked toward the shelter, Spiritfang separated from him to scout ahead.
"Joe, be careful and stay alert. I'll just scout real quick," Spiritfang said.
"Got it. I can handle myself," Joe replied, gripping his dual karambits, ready in case of any upcoming battle.
As he continued walking, a thought crossed Joe's mind—to try calling the System by the nickname he gave it.
"Hey, G!"
Joe called out excitedly, curious to test its features. The flame-shaped sword etched on his chest lit up, and the System Interface emerged.
TING!
> [ SYSTEM: ] Awakening…
> [ Initializing preferred interface designation… 'G' acknowledged.]
> [ SYSTEM: ] Interface sync complete.
> [ Current user emotional state: ] Amped and ready for action.
> [ Hello, Joe. System G reporting. ]
"Hahaha… Wow! That's so cool!" Joe grinned, hopping and dancing around like a kid discovering a new toy for the first time.
"Got damn, I can finally call it out. Yeah... Yeah... Yeah!" He looked like a lunatic, punching the air in pure excitement.
Spiritfang returned and saw Joe all hyped up about unlocking his System. "Hey, chill out. Don't go full hyper-mode," Spiritfang said, shaking his head.
"Oh hey, Fang!" Joe beamed.
Spiritfang couldn't even figure out what expression to make. Even he was getting weirded out by Joe's antics. He just smiled as they continued walking.
Joe stepped closer to the floating system interface to try something new.
"Hold on, let me test a command…" He quickly thought about what to ask.
Joe turned back to the interface. "Alright G, show me what you got. How far are we from the shelter?"
> [ System Location Update ]
> [ Distance to shelter: ] 6 kilometers.
> [ Warning: ] Proceed with caution.
Joe's eyes widened as if he just saw a pretty girl walking by. "Whooo... this is awesome," he said in awe.
> [ Is there anything I can help you with?n] G asked.
"Wait, G, this has been bugging me for a while… I thought Inkstone was currency?Why did I use this as a bomb?"
> [ Query acknowledged.]
Inkstone is indeed used as currency in Spiritbound territories.
> [ However, under specific conditions—like rapid aura compression and unstable rune activation—it can function as a makeshift explosive.] G reply to Joe.
"So basically, I blew them up… with my own money?" Joe's puzzled response to G.
> [ Affirmative. That's one way to pay your enemies back—with interest.] G reply.
"Whoa, that's actually kinda badass. But wait—why didn't my currency decrease then? What gives?"Joe puzzled.
> [ Simple. Because you are the Bearer of the Red Aura Flame.]
"Oh, that's how it is?"
> [ Exactly.] G response.
"Alright, thanks G i have a lot of questions. But hey—what's the current time and date?"
> [ Processing query…]
> [ Accessing internal clock…]
> [ Error: ] TIME & DATE functions are currently disabled.
> [ Suggestion: ] Please enable Chrono Permissions via System Settings.
"Huh? So… you don't even have a clock?" Joe blinked and scratched his head. "High-tech but no time function? Is this a budget model or what?"
> [ Affirmative. G does have a clock. First, you need to enable the time and date in the settings. G is a highly advanced support system—with attitude.]
"Joe, why don't you just tell it to enable the Time and Date?" Spiritfang suggested.
"Oh yeah, forgot I could do that. HAHAHA." Joe laughed sheepishly.
"Alright G, enable Time and Date!"
> [ Opening: ] System Settings…
> [ Sub-menu located: ] Interface > Time & Date Settings
> [ Accessing…]
Joe pressed the floating [Y] button. "Alright G, show me everything. I want the full package!"
TING!
> [ Activating Compass Interface…]
> [ Calibrating spatial awareness using user position…]
> [ Syncing with local terrain map: Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve.]
Suddenly, a semi-transparent compass dial appeared in front of him—with cardinal directions and glowing path markers.
> [ North is currently that way— ]
The whole interface rotated 23 degrees to the left, and an arrow lit up pointing North.
> [ Compass HUD activated. You may now track: ]
> Quest markers
> Safe zones
> Known shelter coordinates
> Spiritfang (because he gets lost too sometimes)]
"Hey!" Spiritfang bumped Joe with his head, laughing.
"I don't get lost—I scout strategically."
Joe chuckled. "Feels like an AR game, but with actual life-or-death stakes!"
> [ G knows. G delivers.]
> [ System Tip: ] When compass glows red, danger is near. When it flickers blue, mystery awaits.
"So G, what's the time and date now?" Joe asked.
> [ Current Date: ] April 24, Year 2025 – Spiritbound Calendar
> [ Also known as: ] Day 114 of Cycle 2, Moon of Emberlight]
> [ A beautiful day to not die, by the way.]
Joe's eyes sparkled. "Okay, now this feels legit. I'm starting to feel like a main character."
> [ Correction: ] You are the main character, Joe. Now act like it.
Joe and Spiritfang exchanged looks and said in unison, "Let's move. Shelter's still 6 kilometers away."
[ After a few kilometers of banter, scouting, and random compass twitches…]
They finally reached the shelter. Joe was slightly out of breath—not from exhaustion, but from dancing while walking.
It stood in the middle of a dense forest, surrounded by a fence of enchanted wood and a semi-transparent barrier that shimmered whenever the wind brushed against it.
TING!
> [ Location Update: ] Safe Zone reached – Shelter
> [ Initiating Area Scan…]
> [ No immediate threats detected.]
"Finally," Joe said as he opened the small gate. "Time to rest—or maybe there's a side quest waiting?"
Spiritfang chuckled. "Let's hope it's not a combat one. I'm hungry." He transformed into his human form.
While Joe relaxed on a wooden bench inside the shelter, he suddenly felt a strange presence. It didn't show up on G's radar, but his compass flickered with static.
> [ Warning: ] Temporary interference detected… recalibrating…
Joe frowned. "G, what's going on? I thought you said it was clear?"
> [ Possible stealth-type presence nearby. Caution advised.]
Joe and Spiritfang circled the shelter, inspecting the area. Joe couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
He ordered another scan.
"Hey G, scan the entire area again," Joe said, gripping his karambits, alert even inside the shelter.
> [ System Command Accepted ]
> [ Initiating Full Area Scan…]
> [ Pulse Signal: ] Emitting...
The air around him vibrated faintly. A nearly invisible wave of energy spread from his position, barely noticeable—but Spiritfang sensed it.
> [ Analyzing terrain, ambient aura, movement signatures...]
> [...Processing...]
> [...Analyzing further...]
> [ RESULT: ] No threats detected within a 500-meter radius.
> [ Caution: ] Anomalous silence detected. Aura activity abnormally low.
> [ Advisory: ] Maintain alert status. System G suspects passive concealment barriers or cloaking spells may be in use.
Joe frowned deeper. "So no one's here… but something still feels wrong?"
Spiritfang's ears twitched. "Too quiet. This is exactly how it feels before a predator strikes..."
> [ System Tip: ] Always trust your beast companion's instincts. They react faster than your reflexes.
Joe tightened his grip. "Alright. We stay ready. G, alert me the second anything changes."
> [ Understood. System G is on full active scan mode.]
> [ Threat Detection Sensitivity: ] Max
Then Spiritfang heard something—a soft crack of a branch, not far away.
Joe instantly turned. "G?"
> [ Sound anomaly detected: ] East quadrant, 37 meters. Source unknown.
Before they could move to check, three shadowy figures flashed by overhead—so fast they barely registered—followed by a burst of powder in the air.
BOOMF!
> [ System Alert: ] Visual distortion field active!]
> [ Warning: ] Incoming threat—
Joe immediately leapt backward, karambits in hand. Spiritfang shifted into half-beast form, roaring and striking one shadow.
But they were too many. Too fast. Too organized.
Within minutes, a chaotic battle broke out. Joe and Spiritfang fought back-to-back, surrounded by ghost-like figures.
> [ System Alert: ]
> [Enemy Detected: ] Dark 3 Royal Musketeer
> [ Skills: ]
> Clone
> Transculent shields
> [ Threat Level: ] High | Combat Formation: Bermuda Triangle
"G, mark targets!" Joe shouted.
> [ Target markers deployed.]
Three red outlines lit up on the right, two on the left, and two above—in the trees!
Joe didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, spinning in the air and slashing one of the shadow attackers. Blood spilled—but it vanished in a puff of smoke.
"A clone?!"
On the other side, Spiritfang slashed and howled, shaking the forest and flinging two enemies back—but they quickly recovered.
> [ Enemy resistance: ] Enhanced. Possible aura reinforcement detected.
"Joe! Watch your left!"
A sudden arrow flew toward Joe, but he blocked it with a quick spin-parry. Spiritfang followed up by leaping into full beast mode—a white wolf with crimson markings, the size of a motorcycle.
RAAAHHHH!!
He unleashed a burst of crimson energy, hitting three enemies—but they activated translucent shields, auto-countering the hit.
> [ Enemy squad leader detected.]
> [ Name: ] Unknown
> [ Age: ] Unknown
> [ Skills: ] Unknown
> [ Presence: ] Dark Aura Flame
> [ Warning: ] Take care Master.
> [ Advisory: ] If you'll fight, I'll beside you.
One enemy stayed back, watching silently from afar, not engaging.
Joe continued blinking and dashing across the battlefield, slicing with precision.
> [ Combo Chain: ] 3 hits landed.
> [ Critical Strike x2.]
But it wasn't enough. The enemy was too coordinated—like they had trained for this exact scenario.
"Joe, we need to retreat!" Spiritfang shouted, bleeding slightly.
Joe never got the chance to respond.
WHRRRRR–CHAK!
A blue pulse grenade exploded beneath him—an energy net spread out and locked his feet in place.
> [ Movement restricted. System override engaged.]
> [ Attempting escape protocol… Failed.]
"Gah—!"
"JOE!!"
Spiritfang charged forward, but he was caught too—an energy tether brought him down as the enemies closed in.
> [ System Alert: ] Combat abilities disabled. Capture protocol in progress.
From the shadows, a man emerged. Dark armor. A dagger-with-wings insignia on his shoulder. He pulled back his hood, revealing sharp eyes and dark-streaked hair.
He stood over Joe. "You fought well," he said coldly.
He knelt and placed a finger over the flaming mark on Joe's chest.
"But it ends here."
He paused, then smirked slightly.
"You're coming with us—willing or not.
The Chosen One?"
Joe got punched.
And then—
Blackout.