Rollin paused. So, registering an Anomaly Target requires their genuine validation?
For a friend, it meant heartfelt trust. But what about an enemy? Did he have to turn swords into plowshares and sing Kumbaya?
Rollin sneered internally. Compared to making friends with his enemies, he much preferred making them... permanently painless.
He turned to the driver's seat. "Madison. What about you? Am I your best friend?"
Madison rolled her eyes so hard they nearly stuck. "Obviously. Who else would it be? I don't drive for just any smelly man."
[System Alert: Anomaly Target 'Madison Montgomery' Registered.]
[Reward: +500 Anomaly Points.]
[Current Anomaly Points: 500/600.]
Excellent.
Rollin was satisfied. He wondered if coercing an enemy into saying the words would count. Something to test later.
He turned his attention to the newly unlocked Version 1.5 features.
"Visual Effects (VFX)? I can change how my skills look? What's the point of that?"
"Wait. Actually... that's incredibly useful."
Rollin imagined casting Flamestrike, but disguising it as a harmless smokescreen. While the enemy thought they were just losing vision, invisible "water" would boil them alive.
Changing a Water spell to look like Fire.
Disguising a thunderbolt as a gentle breeze.
Masking the lethal "Finger of Death" as a holy, healing light.
Surprise, motherf—
In short, the VFX function was high-tier illusion magic. But better. No one could "see through" it with detection spells because the spell itself hadn't changed—only its skin. The core mechanics remained absolute.
"Activate Friend-or-Foe Identification."
The 3D map in his mind lit up like a Christmas tree. Green dots. Yellow dots. White dots. Red dots.
White Dot: Rollin (Self).
Green Dots: Only two. Maria and Madison.
Yellow Dots: The vast majority. Passersby, neutral parties.
Red Dots: A handful.
Rollin focused on the red signals. He traced them to an alleyway where three homeless men were eyeing his car with predatory intent.
Rollin dismissed them immediately. Homeless addicts were a local specialty; nothing surprising there.
"So, Red means hostility. Green means absolute trust—or maybe just System-verified allies."
Rollin grinned. This was a game-changer. No more backstabbing. No more surprise attacks.
I can spot a traitor instantly.
The car fell into a comfortable silence until they pulled up to a curb.
"We're here," Maria whispered.
It was a villa with a manicured garden. Luxurious. Expensive.
Madison raised an eyebrow. From Maria's ragged behavior and worn-out vibe, she hadn't pegged her as a rich kid. Public high school wasn't exactly a haven for the elite, but usually, money bought protection from the kind of relentless bullying Maria suffered.
Bullying? With this kind of money, you could hire bodyguards.
Sensing Madison's confusion, Maria lowered her head in embarrassment and opened the door.
"Thank you for the ride. See you... next week."
She mustered all her courage to look at Rollin, trying to sound casual, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
Rollin raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Maria. Interested in joining us tomorrow? We're going to Camp Crystal Lake. It's my birthday."
"Huh? Oh! I... I didn't know."
Maria panicked. Her best friend's birthday, and she had no gift!
She wanted to say yes. God, she wanted to say yes. But then the image of her strict, perfectionist father—and her mother, who loved her but feared him more—flashed in her mind. Her courage evaporated.
"I... I'm sorry. Tomorrow might be..."
Rollin shook his phone gently. "It's fine. If you change your mind, text me."
"Okay... goodbye!"
Rollin got back in, and Madison drove off.
Maria stood on the sidewalk, watching the taillights fade. The disappointment in her chest was crushing. She hated her cowardice. She hated that she couldn't just defy her father.
Numbly, she walked into the house, ignoring her mother's greeting, and locked herself in the bathroom.
She stared into the vanity mirror.
Her vision blurred for a split second.
The reflection didn't move when she did. The girl in the mirror looked identical to Maria, but her expression was darker, sharper, and radiating a wicked confidence.
Airam.
Airam smirked, her voice echoing in Maria's mind. "Congratulations, Maria. You made a real friend. He's handsome. He's strong. Isn't he?"
Maria recalled the collision—the sensation of hitting Rollin's chest. It had felt like hitting a wall of solid muscle. Her cheeks flushed.
Airam didn't get jealous. Instead, she leaned closer to the glass.
"You like him. I like him too. I think... we should take this further."
Maria instinctively shook her head. "No! We're friends! He only sees me as a friend!"
Airam's voice dropped to a sultry, seductive whisper. "It doesn't matter. He treats you as a friend? Fine. You can have his babies. Use the baby to maintain the friendship."
Maria blinked, her brain short-circuiting. "That... that's a thing?"
Then she shook her head again. "No! I can't. He has a girlfriend. Madison is perfect..."
"Look at me, Maria."
Maria locked eyes with her reflection. Those dark, mesmerizing eyes were everything she wished she could be. Confident. Dominant.
"Maria, my other half..."
"Look at this beautiful girl. Sculpted like a masterpiece by the Creator. She is stunning. She is... irresistible."
"Rollin said your name is beautiful. He said you are great. So lift your head. Be confident. Don't disappoint him."
"Remember: You. Are. Excellent."
"Besides..."
Airam let the word hang in the air, hooking Maria's curiosity. "Besides what?"
Airam's smile turned predatory.
"He is so strong. Like steel. Madison is just one girl. She can't handle him alone."
"Imagine it. She'll be broken like a doll."
"As her friend... their only friend..."
"In that critical moment, shouldn't you step up? Help your friend Madison? Satisfy your friend Rollin?"
"We're all friends here. No need to be polite. Good for you, good for me, good for her, good for him."
"Is... is that how it works?"
Maria listened, entranced. It sounded... logical?
Hello, World. Hello, Happiness.
If Madison really couldn't handle it... as a friend, Maria could help shoulder the burden.
At the very least... I could give them a little push?