Jack woke in the middle of the night, blinking against the glow of the small neon light leaking through the curtains of his motel room. For a moment, he had no sense of time. His body felt heavy, still weighed down by the day's long sleep. His mind stirred sluggishly until the memories hit him ; Lila. Her face, her smile, her touch. And her absence.
The emptiness in the bed beside him gnawed at him again, a reminder that she had slipped away without so much as a goodbye. No note, no explanation. Nothing but the faint scent of her perfume lingering on the pillow. Jack exhaled deeply, trying not to let the ache in his chest overwhelm him.
"All day in bed like a lovesick fool," he muttered, rubbing his face. He had slept through the afternoon and evening, almost as if exhaustion was his only escape from the truth. But now, wide awake in the silence of his room, he couldn't bear lying still any longer.
Jack pushed himself upright, swung his legs off the bed, and decided he needed air ,needed distraction. He Needed the city.
He pulled on a fresh shirt and slipped out of the motel room, heading down the narrow staircase and out into the streets.
Neon City after midnight was a spectacle that no amount of tiredness could dull. Skyscrapers sparkled like titans adorned with glowing tattoos. Massive billboards blared advertisements in colors too vibrant to be real, selling everything from android companions to miracle tonics to imported tech from beyond the border.
The streets pulsed with life, even at this hour. Cars with hovering engines whispered past, trails of blue light streaming behind them. The sidewalks buzzed with vendors selling late night noodles, illegal stimulating drinks, and knockoff gadgets. Street performers dazzled with neon-lit instruments, holograms dancing around them.
Jack walked slowly, drinking it all in. He had grown up in the shadow of this city, but it never failed to overwhelm him when he wandered its heart. The rain hadn't fallen tonight, and the streets gleamed with a rare dry brilliance, lights reflecting sharp instead of blurred.
"This city never sleeps," Jack murmured.
He moved further along the sidewalk, lost in the hum, until a figure detached from the shadows.
She was tall, legs wrapped in sleek stockings, her face painted with glowing makeup that shimmered faintly under the neon signs. She leaned against the wall with practiced ease, then stepped into Jack's path, her perfume faint but sharp.
"Hey, handsome," she purred, her voice smooth as silk. "You look like you could use some company."
Jack stiffened, blinking at her sudden approach. She smiled, biting her lip, her eyes gleaming with a mix of mischief and survival.
"Ten credits for a round," she whispered, stepping closer, brushing her hand against his arm. "Right here against the wall. Quick and good."
For a moment, Jack froze. Ten credits was nothing to him now. A pittance compared to what sat in his account. And he was lonely, aching, his body remembering Lila in ways his heart wished it could forget.
His lips parted, the word "yes" almost spilling out before reason clawed him back.
Jack shook his head violently. "No."
Her painted smile faltered. "Come on, baby. Don't play shy. You've got that look . I can make you forget whatever's eating you alive."
Jack pulled his arm back, breathing harder than he should've. "This… isn't what I need."
He turned and walked away quickly, not daring to look back. Behind him, the woman sighed, muttered something under her breath, and melted back into the alley, dejected.
Jack shoved his hands into his pockets, his heart pounding. "I almost.....damn it, no. I can't do this just to forget her."
The night air felt cooler now, sobering him. He needed something else. Something to distract him.
Jack's eyes caught on a brightly lit storefront up ahead. Sleek displays, polished glass, bold white letters: NEO-LUXE GADGETS.
His feet carried him forward before his mind could question. He stepped inside, greeted instantly by an ocean of glowing tech : holo phones, cyber lenses, personal drones. His eyes landed on a row of watches floating in a holographic case.
The cashier behind the counter, a young man with slicked hair and an arrogant smirk, eyed Jack with mild disdain. "Can I Help you?"
"Yeah," Jack said, pointing. "Best smart watch you've got."
The cashier raised a brow. "Best?" He chuckled. "Those aren't for browsing, kid. Those are premium imports. Out of your league."
Jack's jaw tightened. "Show me."
With a sigh, the man tapped the holo screen, and the display shifted to highlight a single model. Sleek, metallic Black, with a glowing blue rim around the face.
"This is the Aegis Chrono-X," the cashier began, voice dripping with showmanship. "It integrates holo projection, biometric encryption, automated banking, a perfect GPS system, wonderful access to a wide area of database containing a vast amount of knowledge and information and a direct uplink to any personal system you're running. Water-resistant, shock-proof, and…" He leaned closer with a smirk. "…priced at 1,000 credits. Can you even afford it?"
Jack didn't blink. He pulled out his holo-card and authorized the transfer instantly. The cashier's smirk vanished as the screen blinked. Transaction approved.
Jack strapped the watch onto his wrist, and the device hummed to life. A smooth holographic interface bloomed above his wrist : glowing blue digits, icons for banking, communication, navigation, even automated credit storage.
"Not bad," Jack muttered, flexing his wrist. The device adjusted perfectly, syncing seamlessly to his skin.The cashier suddenly spoke up,"Can I help you with anything else Sir".
"No,thank you.I will no longer be needing your services".
He turned, leaving the shop; pondering on how good it felt to say that. Behind him, the cashier stood frozen, still staring after him in disbelief.
Jack stepped into the night air, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Next door, a clothing store's glass window caught his attention. His reflection stared back : tired eyes, rumpled clothes, nothing like the man he wanted to be.
He went inside. Fifteen minutes later, he stepped out transformed. A sharp blazer, fitted slacks, clean shoes. He carried a small package under one arm , his old clothes bundled away.
And in his hand, he carried a black umbrella, sleek and foldable, a subtle silver trim along its edges. He chuckled as he twirled it once.
"Neon City rains whenever it feels like it. Not catching me unprepared again."
Between the watch, the clothes, and the umbrella, Jack finally felt… different. For the first time, he looked less like a survivor and more like someone who belonged here.
The system chimed in, playful as ever.
"Look at you, Jack. Rich man's swagger. Careful next thing you'll buying is a large,big bag of aura and steeze,that is if you haven't gotten it already."
"Shut up," Jack muttered, though he smirked despite himself.
The smell of grilled meat and simmering broth hit him next. A lavish restaurant glowed across the street, customers laughing, waiters carrying trays piled high with steaming plates.
Jack's stomach twisted with hunger. He hadn't realized how empty he was until now. Without thinking twice, he stepped in and ordered boldly: steak, soup, wine, pastry ,pasta dessert. More food than he had ever dared order in his life.
When the plates arrived, he dug in with a hunger that startled him. Every bite was a revelation, rich flavors exploding on his tongue.
"This…" he whispered between bites, "…is the best meal I've ever had."
By the time he left, his stomach was full, his body warm, and his account lighter by 500 credits. He now had 3,000 left. Still plenty , but the spending was a reminder of how fast it could vanish.
On the way back, Jack turned into a quieter street and froze.
Up ahead, a thug with a scarred face had cornered a boy, no older than twelve, pushing him against a wall. "Hand it over, brat. All of the money.Now!"
Jack's first instinct was to walk away. No quest notification. No system urging him. No guarantee of reward. Just a problem that wasn't his.
But as he turned, his chest tightened. Is this who I'm going to be? Someone who only helps when there's a reward?
"No," he muttered, fists clenching. "That's not me."
He stepped forward. "Hey!"
The thug turned, sneering. "What, you wanna be a hero, pretty boy?"
Jack didn't answer. He lunged. His new clothes restricted him slightly, but he adapted quickly. He ducked under the thugs wild swing, drove a fist into his stomach, and slammed his elbow across his jaw.He used his umbrella to beat the man senseless.First across the head then right on the knee cap.The thug staggered, spat blood, and fled into the shadows.
The boy stared at Jack, wide eyed. "T.....thank you!"
Jack nodded. "Stay safe,kid."
As he turned to leave, the system chimed unexpectedly:
"+50 EXP awarded."
Jack froze, stunned. "Wait… even without a quest?"
"Sometimes," the system replied, voice almost casual, "the world rewards those who do the right thing,and besides you don't have to get a quest to receive EXP,when you defeat opponents you can get EXP depending on the level ,at a certain level you might not get any EXP at all when defeating villains which are weaker than you.
"Nice to know."Jack muttered.
Jack stared down the street, heart hammering. Maybe… maybe he didn't need quests to make a difference.
As he walked back toward the motel, Jack whispered to himself: "I'm not going to abuse this power. Not going to turn into some tyrant. I'll use it to help people. To be better."
The system chuckled darkly.
"Power corrupts even the most innocent, Jack. Remember that."
Jack ignored it. For once, he felt clear.
He returned to the motel, umbrella in hand, watch glowing faintly on his wrist. His new clothes made him feel sharper, stronger. But as he stepped into his room, the emptiness hit him again. Lila's absence still hung like a shadow.
He sat on the edge of the bed, sighing. "Can't keep living here. Can't keep hiding in a motel."
He checked the system timer — 5 days left until payment was due again. 3,000 credits left. Enough to survive, but not forever. He needed a plan. A job. Something worthy of the system he carried.
"I can't be a delivery boy nor a scrap collector. Not with this power."
He stepped outside again, wandering, thinking. His eyes fell on a glowing holo-poster plastered across a wall.
WANTED: Zane the Viper.
Dangerous criminal. Reward: 5,000 credits.
Jack stared at it for a long moment.
A slow grin tugged at his lips.
"I think I have a wonderful idea."
"Careful,Zane I'm coming for you".