Henry woke to the now-familiar sight of his crystalline ceiling, sunlight filtering through the massive windows and casting rainbow patterns across the walls. He stretched, feeling the residual soreness from yesterday's exercises—a good kind of pain that reminded him he was getting stronger.
[Good morning, Host] Miley's voice chimed in. [Ready for day two?]
"I was born ready," Henry said, sitting up. Then he got off the bed and got to work.
The pushups came easier this time—his increased Strength and Durability making a noticeable difference. The sit-ups still burned, but not quite as badly as before.
DING!
[Objective 3 Complete: Ten pushups and twenty sit-ups]
[Reward: 10 EXP, +5 Durability, +2.5 Stamina]
[Exp: 30/100]
After a quick shower, Henry changed into his running clothes and headed downstairs. The mansion was quiet this early—Felicity was already at her guild, and Emily was presumably still asleep.
He grabbed a quick breakfast and headed outside.
The morning air was crisp and cold, perfect for running. Henry took his usual route around the estate perimeter, pushing himself harder than yesterday.
[Speed Rate: 80 km/hr]
[….90 km/hr]
[….100 km/hr]
The world blurred around him, the familiar rush of speed making him grin.
[Speed Rate: 110 km/hr]
[….120 km/hr]
[….130 km/hr]
Henry was hitting his top speed now, and it felt good.
DING!
[Objective 1 Complete: Run 1 kilometer without stopping]
[Reward: 5 EXP, +10 km/h to Top Speed]
[Current Top Speed: 140 km/h]
[Exp: 35/100]
Henry finished his run and headed to the park for the lifting portion. Same stone bench, same routine. But this time, his improved Strength made the forty-kilogram bench feel lighter.
DING!
[Objective 2 Complete: Lift a total of 100 kilograms]
[Reward: 5 EXP, +2 Strength, +2.5 Stamina]
[Exp: 40/100]
[Daily Quest Complete]
Henry wiped the sweat from his forehead, satisfied. "Almost halfway to level two."
[Indeed] Miley agreed. [At this rate, you'll level up within the week]
"Good." Henry started walking back toward the estate, but as he approached the gate, he heard a soft, feminine voice drift into his ears.
"Henry?"
He turned to see an incredibly beautiful girl standing near the park entrance, her expression a mix of surprise and delight.
She was putting on glasses and looked about his age, with long red hair and bright hazel eyes. She wore casual clothes: jeans, a fitted jacket, and a stylish scarf.
But there was something about the way she carried herself that suggested she was more than just a typical teenager.
Henry's predecessor's memories clicked into place and he recognized her immediately.
This was Alicia Carter. Jane's daughter.
She was a fun, smart and compassionate person. And she was his only friend. The one person the original Henry had allowed into his isolated world. And over the years, she was the only one he often spoke to, played with, and gave the privilege to really know him.
They were very close.
"Hi," Henry said carefully, "Um… do I know you?" he asked, keeping up his lost memory act.
Alicia's eyes widened, and she rushed forward, pulling him into a hug before he could react. "Oh my God, Henry! It's me, Alicia. Your best friend in the whole world," she chuckled, but her voice was laced with concern. "Mom told me what happened… about your memory loss, but I had to see you myself."
Henry stood there awkwardly for a moment before responding. "Yeah, uh… sorry. I don't remember… well, much of anything."
Alicia pulled back, her expression concerned but warm. "That's okay. We'll just have to make new memories." She smiled. "Come on, let's go do something fun. It'll help jog your memory, right?"
Henry hesitated. On one hand, spending time with Alicia was risky—she knew the original Henry better than anyone. On the other hand, refusing would be suspicious.
"Sure," Henry finally agreed. "What did you have in mind?"
Alicia's grin widened. "Leave it to me."
They walked back to the Glacier Palace together, where Alicia had Henry freshen up and change into an outfit more suitable for an outing.
She was planning on taking him out to the city.
After dressing, Henry left the mansion with Alicia and they both ventured into the bustling city of Arcadia.
They went to an arcade first.
Alicia dragged Henry through the entrance of Velocity Zone, one of Arcadia City's most popular arcades. The place was packed with teenagers and young adults, holographic displays flickering everywhere, the air filled with electronic music and the sounds of simulated explosions.
"Come on!" Alicia said, pulling him toward a racing game. "You used to destroy me at this one. Let's see if your muscle memory survived the amnesia."
Henry settled into the racing pod, gripping the holographic steering wheel. The game loaded—a high-speed hover car race through a futuristic cityscape.
The race started, and Henry's enhanced reflexes kicked in immediately. His hands moved with precision, his reaction time far faster than it should be. He weaved through traffic, drifted around corners, and crossed the finish line in first place by a significant margin.
Alicia stared at the scoreboard, then at him. "Okay, so your reflexes are definitely intact," she chuckled.
Henry smiled sheepishly. "Guess some things stick with you."
They moved through the arcade—shooting games, puzzle challenges, a VR combat simulator. Henry noticed that his enhanced Agility and Perception made everything feel… easier. Almost too easy.
However, to maintain his cover, he deliberately missed a few shots in the next game, allowing Alicia to win.
"Ha! Finally!" Alicia pumped her fist. "I was starting to think amnesia turned you into some kind of super-gamer."
Henry laughed. He found himself enjoying her company. Alicia was easy to talk to, quick to laugh, and didn't press him too hard about his memory loss. She just seemed happy to have him there.
After leaving the arcade, they grabbed lunch at a small café overlooking one of Arcadia's frozen gardens—crystalline trees sparkling in the sunlight, people walking along frost-covered paths. The food was good, the conversation easy. Alicia told stories about their past friendship, trying to jog his memories, and Henry did his best to seem interested and nostalgic.
"You know," Alicia said, sipping her drink, "you're different now. In a good way."
Henry raised a brow. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," Alicia chuckled. "You smile more. And you actually talk." She leaned back in her chair. "The old you was like… a ghost. You were there, but not really there, you know? Always acting like you were batman or something." She giggled, but then her voice dipped low. "And then you ran away… making me and everybody else worried."
Henry could see the pain in her eyes. She was genuinely hurt. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "For running away… and making you worry."
"Don't be." Alicia's expression softened. "Everyone's got problems of their own… and we all have coping mechanisms we use to deal with these problems. Yours was running away. And I can't blame you for trying to cope," then she smiled. "I'm just glad I have my friend back. Even if you don't remember being my friend."
Henry smiled. "Well, I'm happy to start fresh," he said, causing Alicia to also smile.
After lunch, they headed to a nearby amusement park. Alicia insisted they ride the fastest roller coaster three times in a row. Henry's enhanced Durability meant the G-forces barely affected him, which only made Alicia more determined to find a ride that would make him scream.
They didn't find one.
By late afternoon, they were walking through the central shopping district—a bustling area filled with high-end stores, street vendors, and hover cars zipping overhead. Holographic advertisements flickered on every building, and crowds of people moved between shops.
"This has been fun," Henry said genuinely.
Alicia's face brightened. "Right? See, told you getting out would help." Then she pointed at a storefront ahead. "Ooh, we should get ice cream. You used to love this place."
Henry blinked. "I did?"
"Okay, 'love' is a strong word. You simply tolerated it." Alicia laughed. "But I loved it, and you'd always come with me."
Henry chuckled. "Alright, then. Let's—"
BOOM!
An explosion suddenly occurred in a nearby building, interrupting him mid-sentence.
The ground shook violently, the force of the explosion throwing people off their feet.
Henry's instincts kicked in immediately. He grabbed Alicia's arm, pulling her against a building wall as people around them stumbled and screamed.
"What was that?!" someone shouted.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two more explosions occurred in the area. The shockwaves rattled windows, and several hover cars overhead swerved wildly, one crashing into a building with a deafening crunch.
Alicia's face went pale, having already figured out what was happening. "Oh, no."
"What's wrong?" Henry asked, his heart pounding.
"It's a beast outbreak," Alicia whispered, her voice tight with barely controlled fear.
[Henry, I'm detecting multiple high-energy signatures] Miley said urgently. [Beasts. C-rank and below. They're converging on this location]
Henry's blood ran cold. "How is that possible? I thought the city had defenses—"
CRASH!
A building two blocks away exploded outward in a shower of glass and twisted metal. The structure groaned, tilted, and partially collapsed, sending debris cascading into the street.
And from the smoke and rubble emerged something that made Henry's stomach drop.
A creature.
It was massive—easily four stories tall, with thick, armored plating covering its entire body like natural tank armor. Its hide was a mottled gray-brown, scarred and battle-worn. Four powerful legs ended in claws that gouged deep trenches into the street with every step. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, and when it opened its mouth to roar, rows of sword-sized teeth glinted in the light.
Henry's breath hitched. This beast was even more terrifying than the lion he encountered in the forest. It was like coming face to face with a real life Godzilla.
[Alert!]
The system screen suddenly popped up with an urgent information.
[C-Rank Beast Detected: Ironhide Behemoth. Threat Level: Extreme. Recommend immediate evacuation]
GRAAAAAHH—!!
The Behemoth's roar was deafening—a sound so deep and primal that Henry felt it vibrate through his entire body. People screamed, scattering in every direction.
And then, as if summoned by the Behemoth's call, more beasts poured into the district.
Wolf-like creatures—smaller than the Behemoth but no less terrifying. Their fur had a metallic sheen, gleaming like polished steel, and their fangs dripped with corrosive saliva that hissed and smoked where it hit the pavement.
[D-Rank Beasts: Steelwolves. Count: Eight. Threat Level: Moderate]
Henry's mind raced. "We need to get out of here. Find someplace safe to hide…"
Just then, one of the Steelwolves separated from the pack, prowling through the panicked crowd. Its yellow eyes scanned methodically, predator searching for prey.
And then it locked onto a target.
A family—mother, father, and two young children, trapped behind an overturned hover car. The vehicle had crashed during the initial explosions, pinning them against a storefront.
The Steelwolf's lips peeled back, revealing rows of gleaming fangs. It lowered into a predatory crouch, muscles coiling.
The mother saw it. Her scream cut through the chaos. She pulled her children close, the father stepping in front of them in a futile, desperate attempt to protect his family.
Henry's breath caught. They're going to die. He had to do something. But what could he do? He was also terrified, his mind racing.
"Run. You're too weak. You'll die if you try to help." he said to himself.
The Steelwolf lunged.
Time seemed to stretch.
Henry saw everything in perfect clarity—the beast's trajectory, the family's terror, the exact moment those fangs would tear into flesh.
Just then, a sharp, stabbing pain exploded through his skull, like someone had driven an ice pick through his brain.
"Ahhh—!" His hands flew to his head, and he stumbled against the wall.
"Henry?!" Alicia's eyes widened. But her voice sounded distant, muffled, like she was underwater.
Henry's vision began to get distorted. The world tilted. Colors bled together, reality fracturing at the edges. His consciousness felt like it was being shoved, forcibly pushed aside by something cold and merciless.
Henry tried to fight it. Tried to hold on. But whatever it was—it was stronger.
And then… his vision went dark. He lost consciousness… while still standing.
Alicia noticed that Henry had suddenly stopped moving. "Henry?" she called out to him. "Are you okay?"
And then, almost impossibly…
Henry's body straightened. He was suddenly conscious again.
His hands dropped from his head, the pain suddenly irrelevant. His eyes opened—but they looked more sharp, focused, devoid of the panic that had been there a minute before. His posture shifted, becoming more grounded, more controlled. His breathing steadied to a calm, measured rhythm.
And then he moved.
Whooosh!
His body exploded forward like a coiled spring released, heading towards the family about to be attacked by a beast.
The world blurred.
He closed the thirty-meter distance in less than two seconds.
The Steelwolf was mid-lunge, jaws wide, claws extended toward the family's huddled forms.
At the last possible instant, Henry's body dropped into a slide. Pavement scraped against his pants as he shot between the beast and the family with surgical precision.
Both his hand snapped out, grabbing the mother's jacket and the father's shirt. And then, he yanked hard.
The force sent all four family members tumbling backward, and out of the Steelwolf's trajectory.
The beast's jaws snapped shut on empty air with a sickening clack. Its momentum carried it forward, crashing into the overturned hover car with enough force to dent the reinforced metal.
Henry's body rolled smoothly to its feet, positioning itself directly between the family and the recovering beast.
His expression was blank. Cold. Not a trace of fear.
The Steelwolf shook itself, dazed but recovering quickly. It turned toward Henry, yellow eyes narrowing. A low growl rumbled from its throat.
"Run," Henry's voice said—but the tone was flat. Emotionless. Not the normal tone of Henry's voice at all, even though the words came from his mouth.
The father didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his wife and children, and they fled.
The Steelwolf watched them go for a moment before snapping its attention back to Henry. It circled slowly, warily, recognizing something dangerous in the human standing before it.
Henry's body shifted into a loose, efficient stance. Not a formal martial arts pose—something more practical, more brutal. Born from experience rather than training.
The Steelwolf feinted left.
Henry didn't react. His eyes tracked the beast's center mass, reading body language, muscle tension, weight distribution.
The beast lunged right—aiming for Henry's head.
Henry stood still for a moment. And then, he whispered:
"Activate Accelerated Perception,"
The system responded instantly.
[-3 Ep]
[Accelerated Perception activated]
And almost immediately , the world slowed to a crawl. The Steelwolf's movement became sluggish, every detail crystallizing with perfect clarity. Henry could see individual hairs in its metallic fur, the flex of each muscle fiber, the exact trajectory of its claws.
Without wasting any time, he sidestepped with surgical precision, his body twisting just enough to evade. The beast's claws whistled past his chest—close enough to feel the air displacement, not close enough to connect.
As the Steelwolf sailed past, Henry's hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of its fur. Then using the beast's own momentum, he pivoted sharply and swung.
BAM!!
The Steelwolf's trajectory changed violently and It crashed into a nearby streetlight, the metal pole bending under the impact with a metallic shriek.
Henry quickly deactivated the accelerated perception so as to save his Ep. But his senses were still sharp.
The Steelwolf staggered to its feet, shaking its head, clearly dazed. But it wasn't done. It snarled—louder this time, more aggressive—and lowered into an attack stance again.
This time it charged straight on. No feints. No tricks. Just raw, bestial fury.
Henry's eyes narrowed fractionally. His mind calculated—angles, trajectories, weak points.
The beast skull was too thick. Its ribcage was protected. And its claws were too fast to grab.
But the underbelly… it was exposed during charge.
Henry saw this as an advantage.
As the beast closed the distance, Henry dropped low, sliding under the charging beast like a baseball player stealing home. And as the Steelwolf's underbelly passed overhead, he drove his fist upward with everything he had.
CRACK!
The impact resonated up his arm. Pain flared in his knuckles—the metallic hide was harder than he expected. But the Steelwolf's legs buckled mid-stride.
It crashed to the ground hard, momentum carrying it forward in an uncontrolled tumble. It skidded across the pavement, leaving gouges in the concrete.
Henry rolled to his feet, shaking out his hand. Blood dripped from his knuckles where the skin had split.
[-5 Hp]
[Hp: 95/100]
The Steelwolf struggled to rise, whimpering now, its aggression replaced with confusion and pain.
Henry took a step forward—and froze.
His body swayed violently. His hand flew to his head as if struck by an invisible hammer.
For a moment, he stood there, trembling.
And then—His consciousness slammed back like a tidal wave.
Gasp!
Henry gasped, stumbling backward. His vision swam, the world spinning. He looked down at his bleeding knuckles, then at the injured Steelwolf struggling to its feet ten meters away.
"What… what just happened?!" Panic flooded his voice. "Did I—? How did I—?"
[Henry?] Miley said urgently. [What happened back there? I didn't know you could fight. And more importantly, what the hell were you thinking? Putting yourself in danger like that?!]
Henry blinked, genuinely confused. He had no idea what Miley was going on about. "Fight? I can't fight. What are you talking about?"
Miley scoffed in amusement. [Is that supposed to be some kind of joke. You just fought that thing and managed to injure it]
Henry was stunned. "I fought it? But I don't remember—"
RAAAAAGH!
The Steelwolf snarled, cutting him off. It had recovered enough to be dangerous again.
"Shit!" Henry raised his fists instinctively, but his hands were shaking. His mind was in chaos. "How did I fight that thing?! What do I do?!"
The beast lunged.
Henry tried to dodge—but he was too slow, too clumsy, too panicked. The Steelwolf's claw caught his shoulder, tearing through fabric and flesh.
White-hot pain exploded through him. He cried out, stumbling backwards, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
[-10 Hp]
[HP: 85/100]
The Steelwolf advanced, sensing Henry's weakness now. It moved in for the kill.
Henry's eyes widened. "Oh, shit! I'm going to die," he panicked like a child, his current behavior a stark contrast to how he was just a minute ago. "I'm going to die. I'm going to die!"
But just as the beast reached him….
WHACK!
A massive metal dumpster flew through the air and slammed into the Steelwolf with a devastating force. The beast was launched sideways, crashing into a building wall hard enough to crack the concrete.
Henry blinked, trying to process what just happened. And standing between him and the beast was Alicia. She had arrived just in time.
But she wasn't the smiling Alicia from minutes ago. Her posture had changed completely—feet planted, shoulders square, arms extended. Her eyes were sharp, focused, calculating. Around her, pieces of metal debris—street signs, car parts, chunks of rebar—floated in the air, orbiting her like satellites.
The air around her shimmered faintly, and Henry could hear a strange mechanical hum emanating from her direction.
"Stay down, Henry," Alicia said, her voice steady and commanding. "I've got this."