Nightfall draped the city in a heavy curtain of stillness, broken only by the soft whir of Ethan's custom-built fan. His room was dark save for the blue glow of his monitor. The decrypted message still blinked on the screen—a gateway to something vast, secret, and dangerous. There were no instructions, no mentors. Just a sense that each decision mattered.
For the first time in either life, Ethan didn't feel like an observer. He was becoming a player.
The USB's contents hinted at a society rooted in history, predating the university itself. Protocol wasn't a tool—it was a path, walked by those willing to sacrifice everything. Ethan dove into the folders: architectural scans, transcripts, black-and-white photos, and profiles of former "Candidates"—many marked "MIA" or "Deceased."
Every file had metadata embedded with a unique code. After hours cross-referencing the oldest documents, Ethan realized they weren't just storing information. They were storing paths—decision trees layered in symbols and numerical formulas, like an old game engine waiting for input.
He tested a theory.
Using the cipher he decrypted from the book in the Archives, Ethan fed in a single phrase: Initiate Candidate 213.
The screen blinked.
> [Candidate Recognized: Ethan Cross - Rank: Unverified]
[Initiation Challenge Uploaded – Location: Campus Boiler Room]
[Time Limit: 72 Hours]
[Warning: Failure to report will result in revocation of Candidate status.]
It wasn't a game anymore.
It was real.
---
He visited the Boiler Room at dawn.
Most students didn't know the building even had one. Tucked beneath the Engineering Hall, the iron door bore no sign, only rust and a padlock. Ethan picked it using a hairpin, a skill he learned in his past life when prison was a real possibility.
The room smelled of dust and oil. Massive pipes stretched across the ceiling like dormant serpents. In the far corner, a black tablet sat on a pedestal.
He approached.
It powered on as he neared.
> [Candidate 213 - Trial One: Adaptive Cognition]
[Rules: Solve the circuit. No instructions. No retries.]
[Reward: Core Protocol Access - Class 1]
A screen displayed a mess of wiring diagrams, foreign components, and a list of voltages. Ethan studied the puzzle. It wasn't about electronics—it was about logic, deduction, and pattern recognition.
He knelt. Calculated.
Wires crossed. Voltages reversed.
Every failure would blow a capacitor. Three visible. One burnt.
Time passed. Sweat beaded.
Then—click.
The tablet flashed green.
> [Trial One Complete]
The pedestal sank into the ground, revealing a keycard.
> [Clearance Upgraded: Archives Level 2]
No applause. No voice of validation.
Only the grind of shifting gears underground.
He felt it in his bones.
---
Back in his dorm, Ethan spent the next day combing through the updated USB. More documents. New folders. "Observation Logs," "Financial Systems," "Legacy Families."
He opened the first log.
> "Candidate 213 shows high adaptability. Predictive index 93. Probability of inner-circle transition: 27%."
He wasn't just being watched.
He was being ranked.
---
Vincent called him that evening.
"I don't suppose you've heard of the Ferro Conglomerate?"
Ethan leaned back. "Only that they bankroll half the university's events."
"They're holding a closed invitation gala next weekend. I want you to go."
"Why me?"
"You'll figure that out once you're inside."
Ethan arrived at the gala in a thrifted suit and borrowed confidence. The Ferro estate was marble, chandeliers, and money.
He wasn't here to mingle. He was here to observe.
He noticed a strange pattern—each family member wore a pin shaped like an eye. Protocol.
They weren't just sponsors.
They were stakeholders.
A woman approached. Mid-forties. Pale eyes, silver hair.
"You're not one of them," she said.
"No," Ethan replied, "but I might be better."
She smiled faintly. "Then prove it."
She handed him a sealed envelope.
> [Initiation Challenge II: Influence Mapping]
[Target: Identify the mole in the Ferro family circle]
[Reward: Partial Identity Unlocked - System Calibration Begins]
This was the second test.
---
Ethan used social engineering, observational skills, and subtle misdirection. Over four days, he traced phone patterns, wine preferences, even shoe brands. He noticed inconsistencies in speech, false names used at check-ins, and cross-checked financial entries.
The mole was the family accountant—Mr. Talbot.
He was selling student data.
When Ethan confronted him, he didn't threaten.
He offered a deal.
"I don't want money. I want a name."
Talbot panicked. Gave a single word: Orion.
The system pinged that night.
> [Initiation Challenge II Complete]
[Reward Unlocked: System Function - Passive Observation Tier 1]
[Skill Tree Activated - Select Path Below]
Three options:
1. Observer – Track emotions, body language, and patterns.
2. Manipulator – Subtly guide decisions, implant thoughts.
3
. Architect – Predict scenarios, simulate outcomes.
Ethan chose Observer.
No power-ups. No cheats.
Just data. Earned and owned.
And with it, his climb began.