The cold night wind cut through Ryan's jacket as he stood frozen on the docks, the police chief's menacing whisper echoing in his ears. The text message on his phone burned like a brand—"The game has just begun... The boss is coming for you—and he's not like Victor. He's worse. Much worse." He fumbled with his phone, dialing Sophia's number with shaking fingers.
The call went through on the first ring. "Ryan? Are you okay? The police just called—they said the sting worked, that Victor's in custody," Sophia's voice came, warm and relieved, but laced with concern.
"Sophia, we have a problem. A big one," Ryan said, his voice tight. "The police chief—he's with The Serpent's Hand. He whispered to me after the raid. Said I 'passed the test,' that the boss is impressed and will be in touch. And he mentioned your father's debt. Said it's about to come due."
There was a long, stunned silence on the other end. "What... what are you talking about?" Sophia stammered. "My father? A debt to The Serpent's Hand? That can't be true. He's never mentioned anything like that."
"I wish it wasn't," Ryan said. "But he was serious. And there's more—I got a text from a new unknown number. Said the game has just begun, and the boss is worse than Victor."
"I'll be right there," Sophia said, urgency in her voice. "Stay where you are. Don't talk to anyone else."
Ten minutes later, Sophia's Mercedes skidded to a stop beside Ryan. She jumped out, her face pale, and grabbed his arm. "Take me to where he said that. Show me exactly what happened."
Ryan led her to the spot where he'd spoken to the police chief, pointing to the empty dock. "He was right here. After shaking my hand, he leaned in and whispered it. I didn't realize what was happening until he walked away."
Sophia stared at the dock, her jaw tight. "My father would never owe money to a group like The Serpent's Hand. He's a legitimate businessman. There must be a mistake." But her voice wavered—she knew her father had kept some parts of his business life private.
"We need to ask him," Ryan said. "Now. Before something happens."
Sophia nodded, and they climbed back into her car. She drove fast, the Mercedes weaving through the empty city streets toward her family's mansion. Ryan watched her as she drove, her hands white-knuckling the steering wheel. He could see the fear in her eyes, and it made his own anger rise. The Serpent's Hand had crossed a line—threatening Sophia and her family was unforgivable.
When they arrived at the mansion, the gates were still open, and Marcus's car was parked in the driveway. Sophia ran up to the front door, Ryan right behind her. She pushed the door open, calling out, "Dad? Dad, are you here?"
Marcus stepped out of the study, his face serious. He'd clearly been waiting for them. "I heard from the police. They said the sting was a success, but Ryan, you look like you've seen a ghost. What's wrong?"
"It wasn't a success," Ryan said, stepping forward. "The police chief is with The Serpent's Hand. He told me you have a debt to them, and it's about to come due. He said the boss is impressed with me and will be in touch."
Marcus's face paled, the color draining from his cheeks. He staggered back, sitting down heavily in a nearby chair. Sophia gasped, rushing to his side. "Dad? Is it true? Do you owe them money?"
Marcus closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping. "It's not money," he said, his voice hoarse. "It's a favor. Twenty years ago, when I first took over the family business, we were on the verge of bankruptcy. A man came to me—said he could help. He invested enough money to save the restaurant and expand it. But he said it was a 'favor,' not a loan. He told me I'd have to repay it someday, when he needed it."
"That man was the boss of The Serpent's Hand," Ryan said, already knowing the answer.
Marcus nodded, opening his eyes. "Yes. His name is Damien Voss. He's the leader of The Serpent's Hand—ruthless, powerful, with connections all over the world. I thought he'd forgotten about the favor. It's been twenty years. But... he's coming for it now."
"What does he want?" Sophia asked, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," Marcus said. "But if it's tied to Ryan, then it's the system. Damien collects supernatural artifacts and abilities. He must have heard about Ryan's power, and he's using my debt to get to him."
Ryan's jaw tightened. So Damien Voss was the boss. The man who'd sent Victor Kane, who'd had the police chief in his pocket. This was bigger than he'd imagined.
Just then, Ryan's phone buzzed. It was a text message from the same new unknown number as before:
"Marcus knows what I want. Tell him to meet me at the old factory on the edge of the city at 8 PM tomorrow. No police, no tricks. Just Marcus and Ryan. If you bring anyone else, Sophia dies. And Marcus's little restaurant empire burns to the ground."
Ryan showed the text to Marcus and Sophia. Marcus's face hardened. "I have to go. I can't let him hurt Sophia or the restaurants."
"No," Ryan said. "It's a trap. He wants both of us. If you go alone, he'll kill you. If we both go, he'll take the system and kill us anyway."
"What other choice do we have?" Marcus asked. "He has us over a barrel. He knows where Sophia lives, where the restaurants are. He can destroy everything I've built in a day."
Ryan thought for a moment, his mind racing. He needed a plan. And he needed more power. He closed his eyes, focusing on the system. "System, is there any way to get a stronger ability? Something that can help us against Damien Voss?"
The system's mechanical voice sounded in his head:
"Ding! Host is facing a high-level threat. Special upgrade available: Unlock 'System Overdrive' mode. This mode temporarily boosts all system functions by 500%, including cashback rate (up to 1000%), defensive force field strength, and grants temporary superhuman speed and strength. Upgrade cost: $50,000. Would you like to purchase the upgrade?"
Ryan's eyes widened. System Overdrive mode. That could be the key. But $50,000 was a lot of money. But with his current cashback rate of 400%, spending $50,000 would get him $200,000 back. It was a no-brainer.
"Yes," Ryan said aloud. "Purchase the upgrade."
"Ding! Upgrade purchased. $50,000 deducted from host's bank account. System Overdrive mode unlocked. Activation time: 10 minutes per use. Cool-down period: 24 hours. Current cashback rate: 400% (temporary boost still active)."
"Ding! $200,000 cashback credited to host's bank account. Please check!"
Ryan checked his phone—his balance was now $24,302.50 - $50,000 + $200,000 = $174,302.50. He'd just spent $50,000 and made $150,000 profit, plus unlocked a powerful new ability.
"I have a plan," Ryan said, turning to Marcus and Sophia. "We'll go to the factory tomorrow night, but we'll be prepared. I've unlocked a new ability that can help us fight back. And we'll bring Jake—the private investigator. He's not police, so Damien can't use his connections to stop him. Jake can hide nearby, ready to call for backup if things go wrong."
Marcus nodded. "It's risky, but it's the best plan we have. I'll call Jake right away."
He picked up his phone, dialing Jake's number. After a brief conversation, he hung up. "Jake's on board. He'll meet us at the factory at 7 PM to scout the area and set up surveillance."
Sophia sighed, looking relieved. "Thank you, Ryan. For not letting my dad go alone."
"I'm not going to let The Serpent's Hand hurt anyone else," Ryan said. "Not you, not your dad, not anyone."
That night, Ryan stayed at the mansion in a guest room. He couldn't sleep, his mind focused on the upcoming meeting with Damien Voss. He practiced activating System Overdrive mode, feeling the surge of power course through his body—his senses sharpened, his muscles tensed with superhuman strength, and a faint blue glow surrounded him. It only lasted ten minutes, but it was enough to give him a fighting chance.
The next morning, Ryan woke up early, feeling more prepared than he had in days. He met Marcus and Sophia in the kitchen for breakfast, where a chef had prepared a lavish spread of pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fresh fruit.
"I have some good news," Marcus said, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "Jake found out more about Damien Voss. He's not just the leader of The Serpent's Hand—he's also a wealthy businessman, with holdings in real estate, tech, and even a few restaurants. He uses his legitimate businesses to launder money for The Serpent's Hand."
"That means he has a lot to lose," Ryan said. "If we can expose his illegal activities, we can take him down for good."
"Jake is working on that," Marcus said. "He's digging up financial records, trying to find evidence of money laundering. But it'll take time—time we might not have."
Ryan nodded. "Then we'll have to get the evidence ourselves. Tomorrow night, when we meet Damien, I'll try to get him to admit to his crimes. I'll be wearing a wire, just like before."
After breakfast, Ryan decided to check on Burger Haven. He'd been so focused on The Serpent's Hand that he'd barely had time to think about his new business. He hailed a taxi to the restaurant, arriving to find it busier than ever.
Mia, the cashier, waved him over. "Boss! You're here! Sarah—my cousin—came for the interview this morning. She's perfect! She already started working, and she's got everything under control."
Ryan smiled, looking over to see a woman in her mid-thirties, with short brown hair and a friendly smile, directing the employees. She noticed Ryan and walked over, holding out her hand.
"You must be Ryan," she said. "I'm Sarah. Mia told me all about you—how you saved this place and gave everyone a raise. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
"Thank you for taking the job," Ryan said, shaking her hand. "How's everything going so far?"
"Great," Sarah said. "The employees are awesome—hardworking and eager to learn. I've already started ordering the new equipment, and the renovation crew will be here next week. With a few changes to the menu and some marketing, we can double our sales in no time."
"Perfect," Ryan said. "I'll transfer another $10,000 to the restaurant's account for marketing. Do whatever you think is best—social media ads, flyers, whatever works."
Sarah's eyes widened. "$10,000? That's more than enough. I'll get right on it."
Ryan walked around the restaurant, greeting the employees and checking on the customers. Everyone seemed happy—employees were laughing, customers were raving about the food. It was a far cry from the miserable place it had been under Carter's management.
As he was leaving, his phone buzzed. It was a text message from Sarah: "Boss, just wanted to let you know—we had a surprise inspection from the health department this morning. We passed with flying colors! Thanks for investing in the renovations—they noticed the clean equipment right away."
Ryan smiled, texting back: "Great job, Sarah. Keep up the good work."
He walked out of Burger Haven, feeling a sense of pride. This restaurant was more than just a business—it was proof that he could change his life, and the lives of others. He wasn't just the poor kid from the slums anymore. He was a successful businessman, and he was going to take down The Serpent's Hand.
Ryan decided to do some shopping before the meeting with Damien. He needed new clothes—something more professional, something that would make Damien take him seriously. He hailed a taxi to Central Mall, the same place he'd bought his new phone.
He went to a high-end clothing store, where a salesperson helped him pick out a tailored black suit, a white dress shirt, and a pair of leather shoes. The total cost was $3,500, but with his 400% cashback rate, he'd get $14,000 back. He paid with his phone, smiling as the system's prompt sounded:
"Ding! Host spent $3,500 on clothing. 400% cashback triggered. $14,000 credited to your bank account. Please check!"
His balance was now $174,302.50 + $14,000 = $188,302.50. He tried on the suit, looking at himself in the mirror. He barely recognized the man staring back at him—confident, powerful, ready to take on anything.
After buying the suit, Ryan went to a gun shop. He knew he might need more than just System Overdrive mode to take on Damien's men. He bought a legal handgun, a box of bullets, and a concealed carry permit. The total cost was $1,200, and he got $4,800 back in cashback.
By the time he was done shopping, it was 5 PM. He hailed a taxi back to the mansion, where Marcus and Sophia were waiting for him. Jake was also there, setting up surveillance equipment on a table.
"Everything's ready," Jake said, pointing to the equipment. "I have a hidden camera and a wire for both of you. I'll be parked a block away from the factory, monitoring the feed. If things go south, I'll call the SWAT team—they're on standby, but they'll stay out of sight until I give the signal."
"Good," Ryan said. He put on the tailored suit, then attached the wire to his shirt and the hidden camera to his lapel. Marcus did the same, looking nervous but determined.
"It's almost time," Sophia said, her voice tight. She hugged her father, then turned to Ryan. "Be careful. Both of you."
"We will," Ryan said. He hugged her back, whispering, "I'll bring him back. I promise."
Marcus and Ryan left the mansion at 6:30 PM, driving to the old factory in Marcus's car. The factory was located on the edge of the city, surrounded by abandoned buildings and overgrown weeds. It looked even more desolate than the warehouse, the windows broken, the walls covered in graffiti.
Jake was already there, parked a block away in an unmarked van. He waved at them as they drove by, giving them a thumbs-up.
Marcus parked the car a few meters from the factory's entrance, and they got out. The air was cold, the wind howling through the empty streets. Ryan activated the system's defensive force field, a faint blue glow surrounding him and Marcus—just in case.
"Ready?" Ryan asked.
Marcus nodded, taking a deep breath. "Let's do this."
They walked up to the factory's entrance, pushing open the rusted metal door. Inside, it was dark and quiet, the only sound the wind blowing through the broken windows. Ryan turned on the flashlight on his phone, scanning the area.
"Damien? We're here," Marcus called out.
Suddenly, the lights turned on, blinding them. When their eyes adjusted, they saw Damien Voss standing in the middle of the factory, surrounded by at least fifteen masked men. Damien was a tall, imposing man with black hair and cold, gray eyes. He wore a tailored black suit, a snake pendant identical to the one Ryan had found around his neck.
"Marcus," Damien said, smiling coldly. "It's been twenty years. You've done well for yourself—built an empire. But you always knew this day would come. You owed me a favor."
"What do you want?" Marcus asked, his voice steady.
"I want the boy," Damien said, pointing to Ryan. "His system. I've been watching him—how he went from a poor kid in the slums to a millionaire overnight. That power belongs to me."
"You'll never get it," Ryan said, stepping forward. "The system is bound to me. You can't take it."
"We'll see," Damien said. He snapped his fingers, and two masked men lunged at Ryan and Marcus. Ryan activated System Overdrive mode, feeling the surge of power course through his body. He dodged the man's attack, punching him in the face—sending him flying across the factory.
Marcus, meanwhile, struggled to fight off his attacker. The man pulled out a knife, slashing at Marcus's arm. Marcus winced, blood dripping from his wound.
"Dad!" Ryan shouted. He ran over, kicking the masked man in the chest. The man fell to the ground, and Ryan punched him, knocking him out.
Damien's eyes widened. "Interesting. So the system gives you superhuman strength. Even better."
He snapped his fingers again, and the remaining masked men lunged at Ryan and Marcus. Ryan fought them off easily, his superhuman speed and strength making him unstoppable. He punched, kicked, and dodged, taking down five men in less than a minute.
But there were too many of them. One man snuck up behind Ryan, hitting him in the back of the head with a pipe. Ryan stumbled forward, his vision blurring. System Overdrive mode deactivated—ten minutes was up.
"Ryan!" Marcus shouted. He tried to help, but another masked man grabbed him, holding a gun to his head.
"Stop!" Damien shouted. Ryan froze. "Drop your weapon, or I'll have him killed."
Ryan looked at Marcus, who nodded. "Do it. Save yourself."
Ryan dropped the handgun he'd been carrying, raising his hands. The masked men grabbed him, tying his hands behind his back.
"Good boy," Damien said, walking over to Ryan. He grabbed Ryan's chin, forcing him to look up. "Now, tell me how to get the system. Or I'll make you suffer. Slowly."
Ryan spat in his face. "Go to hell."
Damien laughed, wiping the spit off his face. "Feisty. I like that. But you'll talk. Eventually." He turned to the masked man holding Marcus. "Take him. We'll use him as leverage. The boy will talk if he thinks his friend's father is going to die."
"No!" Ryan shouted. "Leave him alone! It's me you want—take me instead."
"I'm taking both of you," Damien said. "The boy for the system, Marcus to repay his debt. It's a win-win."
The masked men dragged Ryan and Marcus out of the factory, shoving them into the back of a black van. The van drove away, the tires screeching on the pavement.
Jake watched from his van, his heart sinking. He quickly called the SWAT team. "They've got them! The van is heading north on Main Street. I'm following them—hurry!"
Inside the van, Ryan struggled against his bonds, but they were too tight. Marcus sat next to him, his arm still bleeding. "I'm sorry, Ryan. This is my fault. I should have told you about the debt sooner."
"It's not your fault," Ryan said. "It's Damien's. He's the one who's forcing you to repay a favor from twenty years ago. We'll get out of this. I promise."
But as the van drove further away from the city, Ryan's hope faded. He had no idea where they were going, and without System Overdrive mode, he was helpless. The system's defensive force field was still active, but it wouldn't protect him forever.
The van stopped an hour later, pulling into a remote warehouse in the middle of nowhere. The masked men dragged Ryan and Marcus out, shoving them inside.
Inside the warehouse, there was a metal table, a few chairs, and a large machine in the corner—something Ryan had never seen before. It looked like a cross between a lie detector and a torture device.
"This is where you'll talk," Damien said, pointing to the machine. "That's the Neural Extractor. It can read your thoughts, Ryan. Even if you don't want it to. It'll pull the secret of the system right out of your head. And it's going to hurt. A lot."
Ryan's blood ran cold. A Neural Extractor? He'd never heard of such a thing. But Damien looked serious—he wasn't bluffing.
"Leave him alone!" Marcus shouted. He tried to break free, but the masked men held him back.
"Quiet," Damien said. He nodded to the masked men, who dragged Ryan to the machine. They strapped him to the table, attaching electrodes to his head.
Damien walked over to the machine, flipping a switch. The machine hummed to life, a bright light flashing in Ryan's eyes.
"Ready to talk?" Damien asked.
Ryan closed his eyes, refusing to answer. He focused on the system, trying to activate it. But nothing happened—System Overdrive mode was still on cool-down, and the defensive force field was weakening.
Suddenly, the warehouse door crashed open. SWAT team members poured in, firing their guns. The masked men scattered, firing back. Damien cursed, grabbing a gun from one of the masked men.
"Get the boy!" he shouted. "Don't let them take him!"
Chaos erupted. Ryan struggled against his bonds, trying to break free. A SWAT team member ran over, cutting the ropes with a knife.
"Are you okay?" the SWAT member asked.
"Yes," Ryan said. "Marcus—he's over there!"
The SWAT member nodded, running over to free Marcus. Ryan grabbed his handgun from the floor, firing at the masked men.
Damien saw that he was losing. He grabbed a grenade from his pocket, pulling the pin. "If I can't have the system, no one can!"
He threw the grenade toward Ryan and Marcus. Ryan's eyes widened. He grabbed Marcus, diving behind a metal crate.
The grenade exploded, sending debris flying everywhere. Ryan felt a sharp pain in his arm, but he ignored it. He looked up, seeing Damien running out of the warehouse.
"Stop him!" Ryan shouted.
Two SWAT team members chased after Damien, but he got into a waiting car and drove away, disappearing into the night.
The shooting stopped. The masked men were either dead or in custody. Ryan and Marcus stood up, both injured but alive.
"You're hurt," Marcus said, pointing to Ryan's arm.
"It's nothing," Ryan said. "Just a scratch."
Jake ran into the warehouse, looking relieved. "Are you guys okay? I'm sorry it took so long—I lost the van for a minute."
"We're okay," Ryan said. "But Damien got away. And he has the Neural Extractor—he'll build another one, and he'll come back for the system."
Just then, Ryan's phone buzzed. It was a text message from Damien:
"You got lucky this time, Ryan. But I'll be back. I always get what I want. And next time, I won't be so nice. I've got a surprise for you—something that will make you beg to give me the system. Ask Marcus about the 'Serpent's Egg.' He'll tell you what it means. And when you find it, you'll realize that the system is just a small part of something much bigger. Something ancient. Something evil."
Ryan showed the text to Marcus. Marcus's face turned pale, his body shaking. "The Serpent's Egg," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "It's real. I thought it was just a myth."
"What is it?" Ryan asked.
"It's a powerful artifact," Marcus said. "According to legend, it's the source of The Serpent's Hand's power. It's said to grant immortality to whoever possesses it, and control over supernatural forces. Damien has been searching for it for years. But... it's not just an artifact. It's alive. And it's hungry."
Ryan's heart sank. An ancient, evil artifact? Immortality? This was way beyond anything he'd imagined. The system was just a small part of something bigger—something that could destroy everything.
As the SWAT team tended to their injuries, Ryan stared at the text message. Damien was gone, but he'd left a new threat. The Serpent's Egg. He had to find it before Damien did. But how?
Just then, he felt a strange energy surge through his body. The system's voice sounded in his head, urgent and worried:
"Ding! Critical warning: The Serpent's Egg has detected the system's energy. It is awakening. Host must find the Serpent's Egg within 7 days. If Damien obtains it, the world will be plunged into darkness. The system will be destroyed, and host will die. Emergency task unlocked: Locate the Serpent's Egg. Reward: System evolution (permanent 500% cashback rate, unlimited System Overdrive mode). Failure penalty: Death and global destruction."
Ryan's eyes widened. 7 days. To find an ancient artifact. To stop Damien from plunging the world into darkness. It seemed impossible. But he had no choice.
He looked at Marcus, who was still shaking. "We need to find the Serpent's Egg. And we need to find it fast."
Marcus nodded, taking a deep breath. "I know where to start. My grandfather's journal. He wrote about the Serpent's Egg. It's hidden somewhere in the city—in a place only the Laurent family knows about."
Ryan felt a glimmer of hope. "Then let's go. We don't have much time."
They left the warehouse, heading back to the mansion to find Marcus's grandfather's journal. But as they drove, Ryan couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Damien was out there, and he was already looking for the Serpent's Egg. And somewhere, in the dark, the egg was awakening—hungry, evil, and ready to change the world forever.
When they arrived at the mansion, Sophia ran out to greet them, relief flooding her face when she saw they were alive. "Thank God you're okay! I was so worried."
"We're okay, but we have to find my grandfather's journal," Marcus said, rushing inside. "It's the only way to find the Serpent's Egg."
They ran to the study, where Marcus pulled out a dusty old box from the back of a bookshelf. He opened it, revealing a leather-bound journal with the Laurent family crest on the cover.
"Here it is," Marcus said, opening the journal. He flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the text. "There's a map... a map to the Serpent's Egg. It's hidden in the old catacombs beneath the city."
Ryan leaned in, looking at the map. It was hand-drawn, with a red X marking the location. "When do we go?"
"Now," Marcus said. "We don't have a minute to waste."
They grabbed flashlights, water, and food, heading out to the car. Sophia insisted on coming, but Marcus refused.
"It's too dangerous," he said. "Stay here. Lock the doors. We'll be back as soon as we can."
Sophia nodded, tears in her eyes. "Be careful. Both of you."
Ryan and Marcus drove to the entrance of the old catacombs, located beneath an abandoned church on the edge of the city. They parked the car, grabbed their supplies, and walked into the church.
The church was dark and dusty, the pews broken, the stained-glass windows shattered. At the back of the church, there was a trapdoor leading down to the catacombs.
Marcus lifted the trapdoor, revealing a dark staircase. "Ready?"
Ryan nodded, turning on his flashlight. "Let's go."
They descended the staircase, entering the catacombs. The air was cold and damp, the walls lined with ancient bones. Ryan's flashlight beam bounced off the walls, illuminating the dark, winding tunnels.
They followed the map, turning left and right through the tunnels. It was easy to get lost—every tunnel looked the same. But Marcus's grandfather's journal had detailed instructions, and they stayed on track.
After walking for an hour, they reached a dead end. There was a stone wall in front of them, with a small indentation shaped like a snake.
"This is it," Marcus said. He pulled the snake pendant from his neck—it was a family heirloom, identical to the one Damien wore. He inserted it into the indentation.
The stone wall rumbled, sliding open to reveal a small chamber. Inside the chamber, on a stone pedestal, was a small, black egg—covered in strange, glowing symbols. The Serpent's Egg.
Ryan's eyes widened. The egg was pulsing, as if it was alive. He could feel a strange energy coming from it—evil, powerful, and hungry.
"We found it," Marcus said, his voice trembling.
Just then, the chamber door slammed shut. Damien's voice echoed through the tunnels:
"Well done, boys. You found the egg for me. Now, hand it over."
Ryan spun around, pointing his gun. Damien was standing at the entrance to the chamber, surrounded by masked men. He had a smile on his face—cold, evil, and victorious.
"You followed us," Ryan said.
"Of course I did," Damien said. "I knew Marcus would lead me to the egg. The Laurent family has been guarding it for generations. But now, it's mine."
He snapped his fingers, and the masked men lunged at Ryan and Marcus. Ryan fired his gun, hitting one of the men in the shoulder. But there were too many of them.
Damien walked toward the stone pedestal, reaching for the Serpent's Egg. Ryan tried to stop him, but a masked man grabbed him, holding him back.
"No!" Ryan shouted.
Damien picked up the Serpent's Egg, holding it in his hand. The egg pulsed brighter, the glowing symbols spreading up Damien's arm. Damien laughed, a maniacal sound.
"It's mine! Finally, it's mine!" he shouted. "With this, I'll be immortal! I'll rule the world!"
Suddenly, the egg exploded in a burst of black light. Damien screamed, falling to the ground. The black light spread through the chamber, wrapping around Ryan and Marcus.
Ryan felt a strange energy surge through his body—different from the system's energy. It was dark, powerful, and it was merging with the system.
The system's voice sounded in his head, loud and urgent:
"Ding! The Serpent's Egg has merged with the system. System evolution initiated. Warning: Evolution is unstable. Host may lose control. Emergency override—"
The voice cut off. Ryan felt his body changing, his mind filling with dark thoughts. He looked at his hands—they were glowing black, the same color as the Serpent's Egg's light.
Damien stood up, his eyes glowing black. "What have you done? The egg was mine!"
He lunged at Ryan, but Ryan dodged, punching him in the face. Damien flew across the chamber, hitting the wall with a crash.
Ryan looked at his hand, shocked. He'd never been that strong before. The system had evolved—but it had merged with the Serpent's Egg's dark energy. Was he still in control?
Just then, the chamber started to shake. The walls crumbled, rocks falling from the ceiling. The catacombs were collapsing.
"We have to get out of here!" Marcus shouted.
Ryan nodded, grabbing Marcus's arm. He ran toward the entrance, pushing through the masked men. Damien chased after them, his eyes still glowing black.
"You can't run from me!" Damien shouted. "The egg's energy is in you now! You're one of us!"
Ryan and Marcus ran through the collapsing tunnels, rocks falling around them. They reached the staircase, climbing as fast as they could.
When they emerged from the church, they collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. The church collapsed behind them, burying Damien and the masked men inside.
Ryan looked at his hands—they were back to normal, the black glow gone. But he could still feel the dark energy inside him, merging with the system.
The system's voice sounded in his head, weak but steady:
"Ding! System evolution complete. New abilities unlocked: Dark Energy Manipulation, Superhuman Regeneration, and Telekinesis. Cashback rate permanently increased to 500%. System Overdrive mode: Unlimited use. Warning: Dark Energy is unstable. Host must learn to control it, or it will consume you."
Ryan closed his eyes, trying to control the dark energy. It was powerful, but he could feel the system keeping it in check—for now.
Marcus stood up, looking at Ryan. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," Ryan said. "But the system merged with the Serpent's Egg's energy. I have new abilities, but they're dark. I have to learn to control them."
Just then, Ryan's phone buzzed. It was a text message from an unknown number—different from all the previous ones:
"The Serpent's Egg was just the beginning, Ryan. Damien was a pawn. I am the true leader of The Serpent's Hand. And I want the system—with the egg's energy. Come to the top of the Central Tower at midnight. Come alone. If you don't, I'll kill Sophia. And this time, there's no escape. I know everything about you. Every secret. Every fear. The dark energy inside you will be your undoing. And I will be the one to watch you fall."
Ryan stared at the text message, his blood running cold. The true leader of The Serpent's Hand. Damien was just a pawn. And he was coming for him—for the system, for the dark energy, and for Sophia.
He looked at Marcus, who had seen the text. "I have to go. I have to save Sophia."
"I'm coming with you," Marcus said.
"No," Ryan said. "He said come alone. If I bring anyone else, he'll kill Sophia. I have to do this alone."
He stood up, walking to the car. He had to face the true leader of The Serpent's Hand. He had to control the dark energy inside him. And he had to save Sophia.
As he drove toward Central Tower, Ryan knew this was the biggest fight of his life. The true leader of The Serpent's Hand was waiting for him, and he was more powerful than Damien could ever be. And the dark energy inside him was threatening to consume him.
He arrived at Central Tower, the tallest building in the city. He parked the car, walking into the lobby. The security guard looked at him, but didn't stop him—he must have been paid off.
Ryan took the elevator to the top floor, his heart pounding. When the elevator door opened, he stepped out onto the rooftop. The true leader of The Serpent's Hand was standing there, his back to Ryan, staring at the city lights.
The man turned around. Ryan's eyes widened, his blood freezing in his veins. He knew this man. It was someone he'd never expected—someone he'd trusted.
"Surprised, Ryan?" the man said, smiling coldly. "Did you really think Damien was the leader? I've been pulling the strings all along. And now, the system—and the dark energy—is mine."