This Is Not the Life That I Imagined

The tablet vibrated once again, but this time, instead of a notification, a new icon appeared—a basket labeled (Shop.) Curiosity piqued, John tapped on the icon, revealing a limited set of options:

(SHOP:

 -- DAILY NEEDS.

 -- Weapon.

 -- ARMOR.

 -- TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS.)

The shop interface looks clear and to the point, The other options were grayed out, leaving only daily needs accessible. John tapped it, revealing another list:

(SHOP:

 -- FOOD.

 -- DAILY WEAR.

 -- ESSENTIAL.)

"Ohhhh, thank God. Food is what I need right now" His stomach grumbled in agreement. He quickly selected the "Food" option. The list displayed various items, from eggs and chicken to exotic meats and vegetables.

However, considering his circumstances and lack of culinary skills, he focused on two specific choices:

(SHOP:

-- Nutritious meal—3 POINTS.

-- Luxury meal—10 POINTS.)

'Well, I've got 10 points. I can either buy a lot of food and cook it myself or get this nutritious meal… I'm bone-tired, and cooking is out of the question. Besides, I need to save some points for other essentials,' John thought as he selected the nutritious meal.

The portal device flickered with a spectral glow, a silent prelude to the imminent delivery. An almost imperceptible shift in the room's aura accompanied the soft hum that emanated from the device before it plunged back into silence.

In less than 10 seconds a meal was in front of him. John, couldn't help but marvel at the weird nature of this experience. "Did I travel to the future or something, what the hack was that?" Amazement painted John's face.

However, lingering in the back of his mind was a growing sense of unease. If this organization could use some sort of teleportation, what else can they do? A chill ran down his spine at the thought.

After a deep breath, he picked up the meal, sat on the ground, and began eating. The simple but satisfying meal—basmati rice, grilled chicken, salad, apple juice, and rice pudding—temporarily pushed aside his concerns.

"Using a portal to deliver a meal? Seriously? What a luxury," John grumbled before diving back into the food.

After eating, he tended to his needs, took a quick shower, and settled into bed. As sleep took hold, a peculiar memory surfaced in his dream…

It was after John's arduous shift at the factory. He stepped out breathing the cool breeze at dusk. Two police officers clad in somber uniforms approached him. "John Howard?" one of them asked. "Could we have a moment of your time?

John blinked, surprised. "Sure, is there anything I can do for you, officers?"

The officer introduced himself. "I'm Officer Mike, and this is Officer Randall. Do you know this man?" Mike handed John a photo.

John, taken aback, responded, "Yes, he is Luke Houle, a colleague of mine, I saw him this morning"

"Are you sure?!" Officer Mike exclaimed, clearly surprised. "His family reported him missing. You're certain he was at work today?"

"Positive," John replied. "He's just inside.

"Would you mind taking us to him?" Randall asked.

John then guided them to the worker's rest area. Upon spotting the police, Luke bolted, moving faster than anyone John had ever seen. The two officers were bewildered of Luke action" Hey! Stop!" their voices echoing through expanse as they sprinted after him.

Minutes dragged by before Officer Mike returned, panting and red-faced. "Did—did Luke leave any of his belongings?" he asked one of the workers.

"Yes, his car keys." a worker responded.

Mike nodded, catching his breath. "I'll take these to the station," he said, leaving John baffled and full of questions.

"Why did he run? Where's Luke now?" John asked, but Mike's reply was brief. "No idea. We're investigating. His family will be informed if there's any news." With that, the officers left.

A week later, John called Luke's family. They told him the police had reported that Luke, suffering from depression, had left home and taken his own life in a motel. Something about it felt off, but John had no choice but to move on.

But the oddness didn't end there. After the incident, all the workers, including John, were subjected to full body scans, blood tests and psychological evaluations. Strange questions were asked, probing into areas that seemed unrelated to Luke and his death. Everyone was eventually released without further explanation.

John brushed the incident aside after a while, but now, In the eerie calm of the safe house, the memory felt more peculiar than ever.

Within a room adorned with monitors, a man named Quinn, one of the mentors in the bureau of metaphysical investigation, attentively observed John's sleeping form. He sipped his tea while looking at the readings, evaluating not just John's physical state but delving into the intricate details of his mental and emotional well-being.

The door to the monitoring room creaked open, and a man in formal attire—Director Noah— entered with a purposeful stride. "How is your evaluation of him until now, Quinn?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on the screens.

Quinn, standing up with the grace of someone accustomed to authority, placed his tea on the table. "Director Noah, if you want my honest assessment, John is crude, cowardly, and uninteresting."

The director raised an eyebrow demanded clarification. "Crude and cowardly, I understand. But what do you mean by uninteresting?"

Leaning against the desk, Quinn spoke his tone carrying a blend of indifference and pragmatism. "His skills are intriguing, but if given a choice, nobody would opt for his particular set. There are individuals with far more potent abilities – control over elements, superhuman strength, incredible speed, and heightened intellect. His skills, while unique, are not as useful. And if he can level up, there are others who can do better than him. So, he is an uninteresting individual."

Director Noah nodded, considering Quinn's words. "Let the future unfold as it may. For now, address the issue of his cowardice. Issue a new mission once he leaves the safe house. Push him to his limits. We'll extract whatever value we can. He might not be the first or the last with an unremarkable skill set, but the Bureau needs new blood."

Acknowledging the directive, Quinn replied, "Yes, sir."

As Director Noah exited the room, Quinn returned to his seat amidst the monitors enjoying his tea.

"Well, well, well… I wonder how many Wild-Furys can you take on in a day," Quinn amused himself.

In the safe house, where silence reigned, John awoke from his restless sleep. Stretching and yawning, he pondered the strange events that had unfolded— from his kidnapping and his fight against the wild-fury to the unsettling memory of Luke's disappearance.

The safe house, though providing a sense of security, couldn't shield him from the enigma of the organization and its inexplicable abilities. He turned on the tablet and a timer appeared:

(Time remaining in safe house: 1 hours 9 minutes).

"Oh Lord, did I sleep for 10 hours?!" ?!" John's chest tightened as he realized he'd be back in the jungle in just one hour.

"Calm down, John… You can get through anything if you put your mind to it. don't panic, yet—you can panic once you are outside." John was encouraging himself while tending to his needs.

With less than an hour left before venturing back into the jungle, John's mind raced. 'Will I have to fight that thing again? How long will I have to stay in this jungle?' The weight of the impending challenges distressed him.

'OK, it's time for buying something. Now I have 7 points left. Let's see what I can buy.' John thought as he jumped on the bed and leaned his back against the bed frame while holding the tablet.

He quickly browsed back to "daily needs" option. This time, he clicked on (Essential) and found:

(SHOP:

 -- First Aid Kit—3 points: A compact medical kit containing essential supplies for treating injuries and ailments.

 -- Energy Bars–2 points: Convenient and nutritious, these energy bars would help sustain strength.

 -- Multi-Tool—4 points: A versatile tool that combines various functions like cutting, opening bottles, and more.

 -- Glowstick Pack—1 point: A pack of glowsticks providing a temporary light source in the dark.

 -- Compact Sleeping Bag –5 points: A lightweight and easy-to-carry sleeping bag for a more comfortable rest during outdoor stays.

-- Fire Starter Kit—2 points: Essential for igniting a fire in challenging conditions.

More options—)

"Let's see," John mused, "I definitely need a first aid kit. Safety first." He tapped on the (first Aid Kit—3 points.) option, leaving him with 4 points.

"I'll need some sustenance, so energy bars make sense," he said to himself, adding the (Energy Bars—2 points.) to his cart. Now down to 2 points.

"Glowing pack? Nah, I don't want to be a moving target". He scrolled further and found a sword hanger for one point.

"Finally, I don't have to hold the sword all the time." Pleased with his purchase, he went to the food option and spent his last point on a bottle of water.

After confirming his purchase, the small portal device hummed to live, 15 second later the room returned to silence with new items appearing in front of the device.

John got up and took a moment to inspect each one. Then he placed everything in his backpack and fastened the sword hanger to his waist.

Time ticked quickly as the tablet vibrated again, showing a new message:

(WARNING: less than a minute remaining.

 WARNING: less than a minute remaining.

You must exit the safe house within the remaining time or face the consequences.)

John's hand closed around the hilt of his sword. He slid it into the hanger's embrace, hoisted the backpack onto his back, and moved toward the door.

The tablet buzzed as the door opened, leading to stairs. The rock above moved, revealing the clearing outside. Once he felt the damp ground again, another notification appeared:

(New mission being issued…)

(Mission 2: Kill 2 Wild-Furys.

Time limit: 3 hours.

Penalty for failing: electric shock for 10 minutes. Repeating the mission.

Reward: 2 points for every Wild-Fury killed.)

The words (Kill 2 Wild-Furys) flashed on the tablet, and John's heart skipped a beat. 'Two? In three hours? The hell…'