Chapter 1

Keagan stood amidst the dimly lit records office, lost in a daydream as he mechanically cleaned the shelves that housed countless paper files. It was a monotonous task, one that gave him plenty of time to retreat into his thoughts and escape the harsh realities of his life.

As he wiped away the dust, the sound of approaching footsteps jolted him back to reality. His heart sank as he recognized the familiar voices of his tormentors – Marcus, the arrogant supervisor, and his lackeys, Todd and Kyle. These individuals took every opportunity to make Keagan's life miserable within the confines of the company walls

.

They sauntered into the room, their presence suffocating, their laughter dripping with malice. Marcus, a tall and imposing figure with a sneering expression, directed his gaze toward Keagan and said, "Looks like we've found our little janitor slacking off again. Maybe he needs a reminder of his place."Todd and Kyle snickered, joining in the mockery. Todd, a stocky guy with a crew cut, nudged Kyle, a lanky figure with a permanent smirk etched on his face.

Keagan's pulse quickened, and a sense of dread washed over him. They closed in, encircling him like vultures closing in on their prey. Marcus, the self-appointed ringleader, looked down at Keagan with disdain. "Seems like the janitor forgot his place in our prestigious company. Maybe he needs a reminder of his worthlessness."

Todd and Kyle snickered, their eyes gleaming with malice. Keagan forced himself to meet their gaze, his eyes filled with a mix of defiance and resignation. But just as Marcus prepared to unleash his next barb, the shrill sound of an alarm reverberated through the office. Startled, the bullies glanced around, confusion replacing their smug expressions. The intercom crackled to life, and the voice of the company CEO filled the room, demanding immediate attention in the main lobby.

“We’ll be back for you, trash, don’t think you can hide from us in these walls,” Marcus retorted.

Relieved, Keagan watched as Marcus, Todd, and Kyle hastily retreated, leaving him alone in the suffocating silence. The lingering tension hung in the air, but for the moment, he was spared their torment.

As he took a moment to collect himself, Keagan couldn't help but wonder why he had become the target of their cruelty. Perhaps it was his unassuming nature, his introverted tendencies that made him easy prey. Or maybe it was just the sadistic pleasure they derived from seeing others suffer.

Lunchtime arrived, and Keagan made his way to his usual spot beside the bench at the train station, glad that he was away from his tormentors for a short while. It was a small sanctuary amidst the chaos of his daily life. He unpacked his modest lunch, a simple sandwich and an apple, his meager meal prepared with what little he could afford.

As he ate, the rumble of an approaching train grew louder. The rhythmic clattering of wheels against tracks became the soundtrack of his solitary moments. Keagan sat alone on the bench, his lunchbox resting on his lap. He took a bite of his sandwich, the taste of the cheap bread and processed meat filling his mouth. As he chewed slowly, his mind drifted to the memories he often tried to suppress.

The echoes of his past resurfaced, a collage of painful moments and shattered dreams. He recalled his childhood, growing up alongside his adopted brother, Josh, in a home plagued by abuse and turmoil. Their parents, always at odds with each other, unleashed their anger and frustration on the two innocent children. It was a life filled with fear, pain, and shattered hopes.

Keagan remembered the sleepless nights, hiding beneath his thin blanket, praying for the chaos to end. The sound of their parents' screams and the sting of their hands haunted his every thought. The scars, both physical and emotional, marked his existence.

Keagan's gaze shifted to the bustling crowd at the train station, a sea of people lost in their own lives. He envied their apparent normalcy, their carefree existence. He wondered what it would be like to have a loving family, a supportive network of friends, and a life free from the shackles of his past.

Keagan swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew that life wouldn't magically become easy, but he was ready to face whatever challenges came his way. He finished his meal and stood up, ready to continue his day's work. But just as he moved closer to the edge of the platform, a sudden force pushed him with brutal strength.

Keagan stumbled backward, his foot slipping through the gap between the tracks. Panic surged through his veins as he stumbled, his foot wedging between the unforgiving rails. He felt the searing pain shoot up his leg as his ankle twisted at an unnatural angle. As he looked back he could see the familiar faces, faces he knew all too well staring back at him as he panicked, reaching for help. Marcus and his crew realized what they had done, Keagan was not able to get up in time to evade the oncoming train. They cleared the scene fast.

As the train thundered towards him, a terrifying realization gripped his mind. Fear surged within him, not just for his own life but for the one person who relied on him the most—his younger brother, Josh. How could he leave him alone in this cruel world? The weight of responsibility pressed upon him fueled his desperate desire to survive.

But just as his vision blurred, and the screeching sound of the incoming train filled his ears, a presence emerged, an ethereal power awakening within his being.

The world around him seemed to shift, the air crackling with otherworldly energy. A voice, deep and resonant, reverberated within his mind.

"System booting... A new host identified."

"Binding to the host...."

"Binding complete!"

"Welcome, Keagan, to the Veilwalker system. Choose your path,"

-Hero

-Anti-Hero

-Villain

Keagan's mind whirled, a cascade of questions flooding his thoughts. What was happening to him? Was this a dream or a nightmare? The voice echoed again, compelling him to make a choice.

“Please choose a path before we proceed: Hero, Anti-Hero, or Villain?”

With a mix of uncertainty and determination, he found his voice and uttered the word that resonated within him the most. "Hero."

In that instant, a surge of power coursing through his veins, and his senses heightened as if a dormant potential had been unlocked. The pain in his ankle faded into the background, overshadowed by the mysteries that lay before him. He glanced at his surroundings, now seemingly bathed in a surreal glow. The train, moments away from colliding with him, now appeared distorted, flickering like a mirage. Confusion and awe mingled within Keagan's eyes as he surveyed the altered scene. The voice of the system fell silent, leaving him with more questions than answers. Keagan found himself suspended in a liminal space.

"What the hell is happening?" he muttered, his voice barely audible amidst the surreal silence.

A surge of energy coursed through him, and his attributes were revealed to him.

"Strength: 50. Agility: 42. Intelligence: 60. Charm: 38. Vitality: 45," the voice intoned.

"Choose your alias, Hero," the voice prompted, offering him a chance to craft his identity.

Before him appeared a transparent screen that seemed to float in the air. The display was augmented in reality as he tried to touch it, noticing how his hand phased through the displayed characters as if they weren't even there. Before him was a list of names etched across the display

Spectral Guardian

Blaze Striker

Shadow Sentinel

Lightning Bolt

Crimson Viper

Frost Nova

Solaris Knight

Midnight Storm

Phoenix Fury

Nebula Serpent

Note: Names can be altered once after you reach B- Class

After a moment's reflection, Keagan replied, "S… Spectral Guardian."

As the echoes of his chosen alias reverberated, the holographic display that had materialized before him, showcased a skill tree, branching with untapped potential. The voice explained the path to growth.

"To advance through the ranks, you must acquire experience points and meet certain requirements," the voice narrated. "Each rank unlocks new skills, granting you greater power and influence."

The map of the city and the wider world unfolded before Keagan's eyes, highlighting key locations, hidden enclaves, and territories held by various factions. It was a tapestry of secrets and challenges.

"Your daily tasks await, Spectral Guardian," the voice informed him. "By completing these tasks, you will gain experience, acquire resources, and contribute to the balance within the system."

With a flicker of light, the holographic interface branched into another window of the display, presenting a list of diverse and engaging missions for Keagan to undertake.

"But heed the rules of the system," the voice cautioned. "Use your powers responsibly, respect the boundaries, and remember that the choices you make will have consequences,”

"Your account balance for account xxxxx xxxxxxx xx3437 is 100,000,000," the voice announced,

"The funds allocated in this account can be used in the real world to fund your hero activities. Remember to use this money wisely, as your rank increases so will your weekly earnings, is that understood?"

The voice paused, waiting for a response from Keagan. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the enormity of the amount displayed in his account. It felt like a surreal stroke of luck, almost too good to be true.

"I cannot proceed with further instructions unless you give a definitive yes or no," the voice pressed.

Keagan's emotions surged with a mixture of excitement and disbelief. It was as if he had stumbled upon a windfall of unimaginable wealth. He gathered his thoughts and replied.

"Yes! Yes, I understand," Keagan answered eagerly, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. The reality was sinking in, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. The voice acknowledged his response.

“Your first daily task, you are to be partnered with Emberlyn, another C-Class hero, for a night-time patrol along the down street of Hollowbrook.”

The voice provided a specific meeting location at the central hub and mentioned that the task would begin at 2000 hours, continuing until 1200 hours the next morning. It emphasized that completing this novice task would earn him 2 skill points, a valuable resource for advancing in the skill tree. It paused briefly, allowing the significance of the task to settle in before continuing. It reinforced the importance of using the skill points wisely to further Keagan's growth as a hero.

"Is that understood?" the voice inquired once again, its voice steady and purposeful.

As the voice’s words settled within him, Keagan felt a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. He had been chosen, awakened to a reality beyond his wildest dreams, and entrusted with the power to make a difference. It was a responsibility he embraced wholeheartedly.

“I am here if you have any questions. If not, have a great day… Spectral Guardian,”