The city hummed with life, but for Alex, it was nothing more than a game board. Each street, each alley, each passerby was a moving target — an opportunity for XP, a chance to level up.
He walked silently, his white eyes scanning everything. A group of teenagers were crowded around a holographic billboard, bragging about the latest mobile game. XP potential: moderate. Threat level: low. He didn't hesitate.
The first strike was precise. One of the boys didn't even have time to scream before the cold edge of Alex's blade touched him. The second fell a heartbeat later, clutching at nothing, his laughter frozen in his throat.
> +600 XP
LEVEL 2 – ASSASSIN
Alex didn't pause. His mind was calm, calculating. The third boy ran, but the Shadow Step skill activated instinctively, closing the distance in a blink. A single strike ended the chase. Another notification popped up:
> QUEST COMPLETE: Minor Threat Eliminated
He wiped the blade clean and stored it again beneath his coat. No remorse. No hesitation. Only progress.
By noon, Alex's path led him to the old game arcade at the edge of the city. Rumors spoke of a player who had reached Level 10 without ever being seen. Such a challenge could bring massive XP.
Inside, neon lights flickered and digital machines hummed. NPCs and real players alike crowded the space, unaware of the predator in their midst. Alex's eyes scanned, analyzing patterns, detecting weaknesses, identifying the highest-value targets.
Three players, confident and loud, were boasting about their scores. XP potential: high. Alex's lips curved — not a smile, just recognition. The hunt had begun.
The first attack was invisible, instantaneous. A scream echoed through the arcade, causing panic. Players tried to fight back, but his new skill, Shadow Step, allowed him to disappear and reappear at will, striking from angles no one could anticipate.
By the time the authorities arrived — or what passed for them in this broken city — Alex was already gone. A few bodies lay scattered across the arcade floor, XP floating invisibly in his mind.
> LEVEL 3 – HUNTER
Skill unlocked: Cold Gaze
Sitting on the rooftop later that night, overlooking the neon map of the city, Alex checked his XP meter. Every kill, every quest, every calculated move brought him closer to the ultimate goal: becoming the Governor of Video Games.
A notification blinked:
> MAJOR QUEST UNLOCKED: Survive and Dominate the City. Reward: Unknown.
Alex's pale eyes glinted. Cold, sharp, unfeeling. Progress awaited, and he would not stop until he reached the top.