The grind never stopped.
Another day. Another set of brutal exercises. Another reminder that this world didn't give handouts to the weak.
I wiped the sweat dripping down my face and glared at the pull-up bar as if it were the source of all my problems. It wasn't, of course. My problems were bigger, more systemic, and conveniently personified by a certain all-powerful AI called GAIA.
Still, the bar felt like a good stand-in for now.
"Endure this if you want to be strong," I muttered under my breath, gripping the metal like it owed me money. The words weren't inspirational—they were a reminder, one I'd branded into my brain since day one. Weakness was no longer an option.
The familiar burn flared in my arms as I hoisted myself up again, muscles screaming for mercy. Each pull-up was an act of rebellion—not against the laws of physics, but against the limits GAIA had stamped on my life. The world ran on strength and control. I had neither. Not yet.
But I would.
An hour later, I stumbled out of the gym, muscles trembling and skin slick with sweat. The ache in my body was unbearable in the best way—it reminded me I was still fighting. Still grinding.
My HUD chimed, drawing my attention.
[Rewards Tallied.]
+12 STR
6 Gacha Spins
1000 GED
I smirked, my lips curling into something between pride and defiance. It wasn't much. Hell, it barely scratched the surface of what I needed. But it was proof—tangible, irrefutable proof—that the grind was working.
Noah Adler
Class: Technomancer (Unique)
Rank: C Talent: Technical Specialist
DA: 65 EA: 70
STR: 73 INT: 77 WIL: 82 AGI: 62 END: 68 LCK: 10
I froze, staring at the screen.
Rank C.
Not D. Not provisional. Actual, legitimate, undeniable Rank C.
The reality sank in slowly, a quiet buzz of pride filling my chest. It wasn't just the number—it was what it represented. The grind was paying off. I wasn't just clawing my way forward; I was starting to leave a mark. I opened Codebreaker and checked my REAL stats.
Noah Adler
Class: Technomancer (Unique)
Rank: EX
Node: Level 2
Talent: Hacker
DA: MAX EA: MAX
STR: 85 INT: MAX WIL: MAX AGI: MAX END: MAX LCK: 10
The bump in my STR was expected, but something else caught my eye—something I hadn't noticed before. Beneath my rank, a new marker glimmered faintly in the corner of the HUD:
[Level 2 Node Active.]
I blinked, my mind racing. What the hell was a "Node"?
Then it clicked. My heart stuttered, the realization slotting into place piece by jagged piece. Of course. How had I overlooked something so obvious? The most crucial factor in determining rank wasn't just raw stats—it was the nodes. Those damn nodes.
Apex-level—EX rank—wasn't the singular upper limit I'd thought it was. It wasn't a static tier of godlike status—yet. No, it worked like every other rank. S, A, B… every one of them had levels. Nodes.
The thought churned in my mind, fracturing the assumptions I'd held about the system.
Of course. It made sense. Two people of the same rank could have wildly different combat power, their abilities determined not just by raw stats but by the number of nodes they'd unlocked within their rank.
GAIA's hierarchy wasn't just vertical—it was layered. Deep. Hidden in plain sight.
And if this system was anything like the rest of GAIA's meticulous framework, there was a max node cap. Probably 15. The higher the nodes, the stronger the power. The more influence. The more danger.
I stared at the flashing "Level 2 Node" notification, the implications settling like a lead weight in my chest. If my combat strength—my potential—depended on nodes, then Apex-level wasn't a finish line. It was the starting gate.
"Well, shit," I muttered, rubbing a hand over my face.
This wasn't just about surviving GAIA's game anymore. If I wanted to truly stand at the top—to defy GAIA, to protect Damian and Brixley—I'd need every node. Every single one.
I leaned against a lamppost, stretching my aching arms and letting out a slow breath. It wasn't just the physical strength—everything else had gone up too. Agility, endurance, even my pitiful luck stat had inched higher. Codebreaker wasn't just a system hack. It was rewriting me from the inside out.
And I wasn't complaining.
My gaze hardened, locked onto the glowing Node marker. "Alright, Codebreaker," I muttered, my voice laced with determination. "Let's see how far we can push this."
My gaze drifted back to the glowing Gacha Spins. A tempting promise of power, dangling just out of reach.
Should I save them? Be cautious?
I laughed under my breath, shaking my head. "Yeah, that's not happening."
With a flick of my fingers, I activated the Gacha system.
[Initiating Gacha Rewards...]
[Available Spins: 12]
The wheel spun, a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes blurring into a chaotic frenzy. My heart raced with every turn, anticipation coiling in my gut. The rewards weren't just about utility—they were symbols of possibility, of hope.
[You've Received:]
[Summon Drone Rogue: C Rank – Stealth reconnaissance drone. Cooldown: 15 minutes.]
[Summon EMP Grenade: B Rank – Disables electronic systems in a small area.]
[1 Free Pass: C Rank – Access to C Rank training facility for 2 hours.]
"Not bad," I muttered, my grin widening. The drone and EMP grenade were solid enough. Practical. But nothing life-changing.
I spun again.
[You've Received:
Mecha Suit Summon: B Rank – Mechanized combat suit for enhanced defense and offense. Cooldown: 30 minutes.]
[Electromagnetic Barrier (Passive): C Rank – Blocks minor attacks.]
[Electrostatic Pulse (Active): B Rank] – Disables nearby technology. Cooldown: 25 minutes.]
Now we were talking. A mech suit and a barrier? That was progress.
And then my HUD glitched.
[Codebreaker Initiating...]
[Upgrading Copied Skills and Items...]
Wait—what?
[Upgraded Rewards Received:
[Summon Drone Swarm: EX Rank] – Deploys multiple drones for attack and defense. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
[Summon EMP Barrage: EX Rank] – Disables entire systems. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
[Unlimited Free Pass: EX Rank] – Permanent access to Premium facilities.] [Mecha Suit Summon: EX Rank] – Enhanced combat and defense capabilities.]
[Electromagnetic Barrier (Passive): EX Rank] – Nearly impenetrable shield. No cooldown.]
[Electrostatic Pulse (Active): EX Rank] – High-impact disabling attack. Cooldown: 10 seconds.]
My breath caught as I read the screen. EX Rank. All of it.
This wasn't just an upgrade. It was a cheat code. A game-breaking, reality-altering cheat code.
I stared at the list, my mind racing with possibilities. This was power—real power. The kind GAIA tried to keep out of reach.
A ping from my comm device snapped me out of my thoughts. Damian's name flashed on the screen.
"Hey, little bro," his voice crackled, tinged with tension. "Got a minute?"
"What's going on?" I asked, instantly alert.
"Tower mission tomorrow. Guardian level. It's... bigger than expected."
My stomach tightened. Guardian level? That was practically a death sentence.
"Why the hell are they sending you?" I demanded. "You're barely B Rank."
"No one else will go," Damian said bitterly. "The money's good, Noah. We need it for you and Brix."
The words hit like a gut punch. Damian wasn't just risking his life—he was sacrificing it for us.
"Don't do it, Damian," I said, my voice low. "I got into GE Academy. I'll find a way to help with the bills—"
"Noah," he cut me off, his tone firm but weary. "This is my choice. Just... hold the fort, alright?"
The line went dead.
********
I stood there, staring at the city lights outside my window. The Towers loomed like unyielding sentinels, their peaks shrouded in mist. Somewhere out there, Damian was walking into hell.
A new notification pinged in my HUD.
[New Mission: Protect the Tower Guardian.]
Objective: Prevent tower breach.
Reward: 1 EX Skill.
Failure: Destruction of your world.]
[Do you accept? Y/N]
Guardian level. My chest tightened as Damian's name buzzed again on my comm.
Something was very, very wrong.