Victor didn't sleep much that night. Every time his eyes closed, the holographic menu from the Infinite Dimensional System appeared behind his eyelids. Dimensional unlocks, minor tasks, Core Tasks, simulations… all glowing softly, reminding him that he was no longer just a man scraping by. He was a participant in something far bigger, something he barely understood.
Morning came with an angry drizzle. Water dripped steadily from the ceiling, but Victor didn't care. He was already dressed, shoes laced tightly, heart hammering as he stared at the system interface hovering above his cracked desk.
New Core Task Available:
"Overcome a Real-World Challenge without Failing."
Victor frowned. Real-world challenge? That's… vague. But below the Core Task, a list of options appeared:
Negotiate your way out of a confrontation with someone bigger or stronger.
Rescue someone from an immediate danger.
Make a morally difficult choice under pressure.
He hesitated. His stomach churned. He could feel his muscles tightening, his mind spinning. This was no simulation. These were real choices, and failure carried consequences.
Before he could decide, the doorbell rang. Shivering from the rain, he walked to the door. Standing there, under the dim streetlight, was the girl from last night—the one the system had marked as "Potential Ally."
Her expression was unreadable, eyes sharp, calculating. "You really are Victor Hale," she said flatly. "I warned you… trouble finds those who ignore it."
Victor's mind raced. Trouble? Who is she? How does she know about me… or the system? He took a cautious step back.
"I… uh… who are you?" he asked.
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, she looked past him, scanning the empty hallway, then back to his eyes. "I'm someone who knows the rules of your new life better than you do," she said. "And if you want to survive, you'll listen."
Victor felt a flicker of curiosity and fear. The system chimed. A notification appeared above her head again:
Ally Detected. Potential Collaboration: 75%.
Collaboration? Victor swallowed hard. "Alright… I'll listen," he said, unsure if he really meant it.
She nodded once, sharply. "Good. Then we start with your first real-world test. You'll need to make a choice—one that will affect not just you, but the people around you. Step outside."
Victor's feet hesitated on the wet floor. The drizzle had turned into a steady rain, and the street looked empty and uninviting. But the system pulsed at his wrist, nudging him forward.
Core Task: Active. Begin now.
The streets smelled of wet asphalt and decay. Neon signs flickered, advertising late-night food, pawn shops, and VR arcades. It was the same city he had always known—harsh, unforgiving—but now it felt different. Every shadow seemed longer, every sound sharper.
The girl led him down a side street, stopping before a small alley. Victor squinted. Two men stood there, arguing violently. One shoved the other against the wall. Victor instinctively took a step back.
The system blinked:
Minor Task Opportunity:
Observe without interference. Reward: +1 Mental Resilience, +1 Situational Awareness.
Victor hesitated. He could stay hidden and complete a minor task… or intervene and attempt the Core Task.
The girl nudged him. "You won't grow hiding behind walls," she said.
Victor swallowed. His chest tightened. He could feel the system's interface vibrating slightly, urging him toward the Core Task. He stepped forward.
"Hey!" he shouted, voice cracking. "Stop it!"
The men turned, startled. The taller one sneered. "And who's gonna make me?"
Victor's hands trembled. The system's text floated before his eyes:
Core Task In Progress. Risk Level: High.
He had no weapons, no backup. Only his mind, his body, and… whatever strange skills he had already picked up from the minor tasks.
The girl stayed behind him, calm, watching. She didn't intervene—she was testing him.
Victor clenched his fists. He could feel the weight of every decision pressing on him. Then, in a flash of intuition, he noticed something the taller man hadn't: the smaller man's stance was awkward, off-balance. A simple push in the right direction could topple him.
Victor acted. He stepped forward, intercepted the smaller man's arm, and twisted him just enough to destabilize him. The taller man lunged—but Victor dodged, ducking instinctively. He pushed the smaller man to safety and stared at the taller one, panting.
A red notification flashed:
Core Task Complete. Reward: +2 Confidence, +2 Physical Reflexes, Unlock: Cognitive Dimension Pending.
Victor staggered back, heart racing. The taller man cursed, backing off, then ran into the night. The girl exhaled softly.
"You didn't fail," she said. "Barely, but you didn't fail. That's the start."
Victor shook his head, trying to make sense of it all. "That… that just happened? It was real? And I… I actually…"
The system interface flickered above him. A small message blinked:
Simulation Complete. Reality Transfer Successful. Minor Trauma Detected: +1 Mental Fatigue.
Victor groaned. His body felt heavy, adrenaline still coursing. But beneath the exhaustion, a spark of exhilaration flickered. He had survived. He had acted. He had grown.
Back in his apartment, drenched and shaking, Victor collapsed onto his bed. The girl had left, leaving only a faint note on the desk:
"Don't underestimate what's coming. Be ready."
Victor stared at the ceiling. He felt every ache in his body, every twitch of his nerves, every racing heartbeat. But he also felt something else—an ember of possibility, a glimmer of purpose that had been absent his entire life.
The system pulsed softly at his wrist. Another notification appeared:
Core Task: Next challenge will require emotional and cognitive skill. Prepare accordingly.
Victor rubbed his eyes. He had survived the first night, the first challenge. But he knew this was only the beginning. The Infinite Dimensional System had already changed his life—and there was no turning back.
And somewhere, in the shadows of the city, the girl watched. Patient, calculating, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. She would guide him—but only just enough for him to find out if he was capable of becoming more than just another lost soul in the city.
Victor took a deep breath. He clenched his fists.
Let's see what I'm made of.