Ethan's radar pulsed again, the golden signals swirling across his mind like a constellation of untold promises. The closest one tugged at his focus—so close he could almost reach for it.
But time pressed against him. Chloe had insisted she needed to head home by nightfall, and Ethan had given his word he'd return to the Internet café before nine. He wasn't about to break a promise, not to her.
"Alright, just one more," he muttered, tightening his grip on the electric bike's handles.
He scanned through the signals, locked onto a promising one, and kicked the motor into gear. The night wind slapped against his cheeks as he rode through neon-lit streets, his nerves buzzing with anticipation.
Fifteen minutes later, Ethan pulled up at the foot of polished steel gates. Golden letters gleamed across the arch overhead: Silvercrest Heights.
The sight made his eyebrows shoot up. "Well, this is… different."
The place practically oozed money. Elegant landscaping sprawled on either side of the main drive—trimmed hedges, imported marble fountains, even uniformed guards pacing along the perimeter fence. These weren't modest apartments or creaky old buildings; this was luxury living. Every unit here had sprawling floor plans, the smallest stretching three hundred square meters. The residents were all high-ranking executives, social elites, or celebrities who could throw money around like confetti.
And the radar said the next treasure was hiding inside.
"Guess I'm about to rob the rich," Ethan whispered with a crooked smile. "Only without the stealing part."
Of course, walking in wasn't an option. Silvercrest Heights had tighter security than an airport. Residents used electronic access cards, and the gates locked the moment they closed.
But Ethan wasn't about to let that stop him. He leaned casually against his bike, waiting. Minutes later, a middle-aged woman came up the walk, arms weighed down with grocery bags. She swiped her card, pushed the gate, and in that tiny gap before it clicked shut, Ethan slipped in behind her.
He exhaled, grinning. "Still got it."
Inside, the environment changed instantly. The noise of traffic outside vanished, replaced by the quiet hum of neatly arranged streetlights. The pathways were lined with trees, their leaves shimmering in the glow. Expensive cars rested in driveways, each worth more than Ethan's entire apartment building.
The radar throbbed louder in his mind, guiding him deeper in. He followed the signal to Building 18. His pulse quickened—the treasure was close.
Then the beeping hit a peak. The signal zeroed in on… a gray distribution box mounted on the wall near the building entrance.
"A distribution box?" Ethan squinted. "You've got to be kidding me."
Still, he pried the cover open. The familiar beeping echoed in his skull. Sparks of hope flared—only to collapse when all he saw inside were tangled wires and circuit breakers.
"Don't tell me the system's broken already." He tapped the box, frustration bubbling.
The signal pulsed harder, almost urgent. Ethan closed his eyes, inhaled, and centered himself on the radar's pull. Then he crouched, flashlight in hand, and scanned the shadows. Finally, he spotted something glinting—a tiny metallic object jammed deep in the crack at the bottom.
It took effort—scraping his knuckles, stretching his fingers—but he managed to fish it out.
A slim rectangular device landed in his palm.
The system's voice chimed, monotone but firm:"Congratulations. You have found a Level 1 treasure—Wingedas brand USB flash drive. Classified as tool. Abbreviation: USB drive."
Ethan stared at it in disbelief. A beat of silence passed. Then he groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"A USB drive? That's it?" He almost laughed. "What next, a pack of batteries?"
He shoved it into his wallet anyway, muttering under his breath. Between a stolen phone, drugs he couldn't touch, and now this glorified thumb drive, the so-called treasure-hunting system was starting to feel like a practical joke.
But the tracker bar flashed: 4/5. One more, and the mission was done.
"Fine," he sighed. "One more. You better make this worth it, system."
He mounted his bike, followed the radar, and for once felt relief. The last signal was conveniently on his route back to the café. Perfect—he'd grab it and still make it back to Chloe on time.
At least, that was the plan.
Ten minutes later, Ethan braked hard, eyes widening.
The signal pulsed from behind a wrought-iron gate marked with weathered stone: a cemetery.
The place stretched into shadow, gravestones jutting from the earth like crooked teeth. The wind cut colder here, carrying the faint rustle of dead leaves and something sharper—an old, unsettling chill that prickled his skin.
"Really?" Ethan muttered, throat dry. "This system wants me digging up graves now?"
He swallowed, nerves crawling up his spine. But the signal didn't waver. It flared, insistent, as if calling him in.
For a long moment, Ethan just stood there, frozen between fear and determination. He could almost hear Chloe's voice in his head, teasing him for hesitating. "You're the one who wanted adventure, Ethan. Don't back out now."
He clenched his jaw. She was right—even if only in his imagination.
Gripping his flashlight tighter, he pushed the gate open and stepped into the graveyard. Gravel crunched beneath his shoes. The beam of light wavered over headstones, some leaning, some cracked, names half-worn by time.
Every instinct screamed at him to leave. But the radar's pull kept him steady. The treasure wasn't buried deep—it was close, almost at the surface.
Soon, he spotted it. A fresh mound of soil, still soft, as if someone had recently buried something. The signal blazed.
Ethan crouched, fingers sinking into the dirt. He dug quickly, heart hammering in his chest, until his hand hit leather. He tugged free a wallet.
The system chimed at once:"Congratulations. You have found a Level 1 property item—currency. Current mission complete."
Fireworks burst across the radar in his head, colorful sparks exploding against the darkness of his mind. Ethan blinked in awe, momentarily forgetting the eerie setting around him.
Then he flipped the wallet open. Inside lay a stack of crisp bills. No ID, no credit cards—just cash.
He chuckled in disbelief. "Well… I'll take it. Finally, something useful."
Before he could count the money, the system's voice cut in again:"Congratulations. First treasure-hunting mission complete. Preparing for system update. New feature: Points system added. Treasures can be redeemed in store. Mission completion grants 5 points, plus 10 bonus points. Total: 15."
Ethan listened carefully. Unlike before, he wasn't about to miss the fine print.
"Additionally, treasure-hunting space unlocked. Future missions may span across different worlds."
His heart skipped a beat. Different worlds? Was that even possible? The thought of stepping beyond his city, beyond his reality, sent a wild thrill coursing through his veins.
But the system wasn't finished."Please collect completion rewards. Three treasures of varying levels granted. Note: rewards cannot be exchanged for points."
Three glowing gift boxes materialized on his radar. Ethan's pulse spiked. "Now we're talking."
The first box opened:"Reward: Level 4 treasure—Light Armor. Sci-fi weapon. Crafted from Simic-planet silicone. Resists all attacks below Level 4. Essential defensive equipment for interstellar adventurers."
A sleek white vest appeared in front of him, as light as silk but radiating strength. Ethan slipped his hands over it, marveling. "Now this… this I can use."
The second box cracked open:"Reward: Level 1 treasure—Double Star Sneakers. Entertainment item. Stylish footwear, customized to your size."
A spotless pair of white sneakers appeared at his feet. He smirked. "Not exactly treasure, but hey—beats my old pair."
Then the third box glowed brighter than both combined. Ethan's breath caught.
"Reward: Level 9 treasure—Martial Arts Manual: Nine Talons of the Abyss."
His chest tightened, his pulse roaring in his ears. Level 9. That was the kind of treasure people would kill for. The name itself radiated menace and power, conjuring visions of claws tearing through steel, shadows curling around his hands.
Ethan stood frozen, clutching his new prizes, every nerve alive with adrenaline. The USB drive had been laughable, the drugs had terrified him, but this… this was destiny.
He whispered, almost trembling, "This system… might just make me unstoppable."
And for the first time, he truly believed it.
(End of this chapter)