Gar arrived at the old warehouse, his heart pounding with anticipation. The system's notification had left him with a flood of questions. Who was this mysterious stranger, and what could they possibly want with him?
As he stepped inside, a figure emerged from the shadows. He was tall, with piercing green eyes and jet-black hair, dressed in a black leather jacket and dark jeans. His mere presence commanded attention, an aura of authority surrounding him.
"Who are you, and what do you want with me?" Garfield asked, his voice steady, but barely masking the tension he felt.
The stranger regarded him with a calm intensity before answering. "My name doesn't matter. The only thing that's important right now is the Synergy system."
Garfield's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "How do you know about the system?"
The stranger stepped closer, his gaze never wavering. "I know because I gave it to you. You wouldn't be standing here without it."
Garfield's mind raced, trying to make sense of the stranger's words. "You gave me the system? But why? And what about the accident? My wife told me that it was Skye's goons who attacked me."
The stranger's expression turned grim. "That's not entirely true. The story about Skye's goons? I'm the one who fed that information to the doctor. It was a cover, to keep you safe. The truth is, your accident was caused by the Catalyst. We were engaged in a battle, and you got caught in the crossfire."
Garfield shook his head, disbelief etched on his face. "So, everything Evelyn told me was a lie?"
The stranger's voice softened slightly, a hint of regret in his tone. "She wasn't lying, Gar. She believed what she was told. I needed her to believe it, so you could recover without any immediate danger hanging over you."
Garfield's thoughts churned with the implications of this new revelation. "Why would you do this? Why give me the system and feed her lies?"
The stranger sighed, as if burdened by the weight of his actions. "The Catalyst is a powerful entity, one that seeks to collect systems like yours. When you were near death, I had to make a choice—let you die, or give you a fighting chance. The system was your only hope, but it also put you on the Catalyst's radar."
Garfield took a step back, trying to process everything. "So, what now? What am I supposed to do?"
The stranger's expression hardened once more. "You need to complete the quests the system gives you. Grow stronger, unlock its potential. If you lose the system, your heart will stop. The only reason you're alive right now is because of the system."
Garfield felt a cold chill run down his spine. "Why is it tied to my life?"
"Because the system isn't just some tool—it's a lifeline. It kept you alive when you were on the brink of death, and it's the only thing keeping you going now. Lose it, and you lose everything."
Garfield nodded slowly, the gravity of his situation sinking in. "And the Catalyst?"
The stranger's eyes darkened. "He's an unknown entity with an insatiable thirst for power. He collects abilities, systems, and anything that can make him stronger. And now, he's after yours. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants."
Garfield's mind reeled as he tried to comprehend the danger he was in. "How do I stop him?"
The stranger shook his head. "Right now, you're not ready to face him. You need to focus on the system, on getting stronger. The quests will guide you, help you prepare. If the Catalyst is somehow stopped, I promise I'll find you and tell you everything you want to know."
Garfield felt a surge of determination. "I'll do whatever it takes."
The stranger nodded approvingly. "Good. Remember, the system is your greatest asset. Don't waste its potential."
As the stranger turned to leave, Garfield called out. "Wait! What about Evelyn? Does she know the truth?"
The stranger paused, looking back at Garfield. "No, she doesn't. And it's better that way. She's safer not knowing."
Garfield nodded, understanding. "And what about you? Who are you?"
The stranger smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "That's a story for another time, Garfield. Just know that I'm someone who's trying to make things right."
With that, the stranger disappeared into the shadows, leaving Garfield alone with his thoughts. He knew he had to take this seriously. The system was more than just a tool—it was his lifeline. And now, it was also his only defense against the Catalyst.
As the stranger disappeared into the shadows, Garfield couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. He made his way back to the delivery truck, his mind still reeling from the conversation.
The cool evening air did little to calm his racing thoughts. He couldn't believe what the stranger had told him - that he was the one who gave him the Synergy system, and that his accident was caused by the Catalyst.
Garfield's eyes scanned the surrounding area, his senses on high alert. He didn't know what to expect, but he knew he had to be ready.
As he approached the truck, he noticed a group of thugs trying to break into it. Garfield's instincts kicked in, and he knew he had to act fast.
Suddenly, the system notified him of a new quest:
_User Profile_
- Name: Garfield Heights
- Age: 28
- Level: Lv. 1
- Job: Delivery Person
- Title: None
_Quest: Protect the Delivery Truck_
_Rewards_
- +100 Synergy Points
- +1000 Gold Coins
_Penalty Warning_
Failure to complete the quest will result in a penalty:
- Lose your job
- Debt of $10,000
_Objective_: Defend the truck against the thugs
_Abilities_:
- STR: 5
- PER: 5
- INT: 5
- AGI: 5
- STA: 10
- FIN: 5
- MEN: 10
- LIN: 5
_Synergy Points_: 10
_Gold Coins_: 100
_Skill_: Basic First Aid Lv. 1
Garfield's eyes widened as he saw the quest details. He knew he had to act fast. He decided to invest 10 points in Strength, bringing it up to 15.
With his newfound strength, Garfield charged at the thugs, taking them down one by one. He fought with a ferocity he never knew he had, his fists flying and his feet kicking.
When the fight was over, Garfield called the police and reported the incident. As he waited for them to arrive, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. He had defended the truck, and he had defended himself.
The system notified him of his success:
"Quest Complete: Protect the Delivery Truck
Rewards: +100 SP, +100 Gold Coins"
The system updated his abilities:
"STR: 15
PER: 5
INT: 5
AGI: 5
STA: 10
FIN: 5
MEN: 10
LIN: 5
Synergy Points: 100
Gold Coins: 200
Garfield knew he still wasn't ready to face the Catalyst. He needed to get stronger, and he needed to unlock more skills. He was determined to do whatever it took to survive in this new world.
Garfield entered the truck, sat down in the driver's seat, and let out a sigh of relief. He had defended the truck, and he had defended himself. He took a moment to catch his breath and check out the system.
He wondered how expensive gold coins were in dollars, so he decided to do the conversion. He asked the system, "How much is 1 gold coin worth in dollars?"
The system responded, "1 gold coin is equivalent to $1.20."
Garfield's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected the conversion rate to be so high. He thought to himself, "No wonder the rewards are so generous. Gold coins are worth more than dollars!"
He continued to explore the system, checking out his abilities and skills. He noticed that his Strength ability had increased to 15, and he felt a sense of pride and accomplishment.
As he sat there, he heard a notification from the system. "You have earned 100 gold coins and 100 Synergy Points for completing the quest. Your new balance is 200 gold coins and 100 Synergy Points."
Garfield smiled to himself, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He was getting stronger, and he was earning rewards. He was determined to keep going, to see how far he could go in this new world.
He started the truck and began to drive, wondering what other quests and challenges lay ahead. He was ready for whatever came next, knowing that he had the Synergy system to guide him.
As he drove, Garfield's mind wandered to the stranger's words: "The Catalyst is an unknown entity with an insatiable thirst for power." He shuddered at the thought. What did it want with him? He pushed the thoughts aside, focusing on the road ahead. The system's notifications continued to stream in, guiding him through the night's deliveries. With each completed quest, his confidence grew. He was no longer just a delivery driver; he was a survivor in a world of unknown dangers. The night wore on, and Garfield's determination only strengthened. He was ready for whatever came next. I