BRYAN HAYES LV 2 50/200 EXP CODEX: VIRUSX (BASIC) The cold wind blew life on the burnt cigarette in Bryan's hand. He stared at the ethereal blue screen with a solemn look, his bare body even colder from the dried sweat.

The system is utter shit. Why doesn't it jam information into my head like last time? Also, why do I get old, dusty books to read? On top of that, I have to pay the system to get the knowledge I need. To be honest, it makes no difference if I had this thing or not.

Bryan cursed the system for its uselessness. The first skill he got from the Codex came in the form of a dusty old book he had to read for a week. The pace at which he was learning was a bit too slow for his satisfaction. Yet, he couldn't do anything about it; the system forbade him from getting knowledge from anywhere else. He had a love-hate relationship. He hated the system for its restrictiveness, but liked the many possibilities with it. Likewise, he could completely ignore it, but he knew his resurrection had something to do with the system. The answers he was looking for were right in front of him, but he needed more time to uncover the truth.

Why hacking though?

Bryan's plethora of doubts about the system always led him to this question. He never had any interactions with technology before, but now he had a whole system about it. He thought about what the being behind the system wanted to achieve. Although he had a rough guess, he wasn't certain.

Even so, his thirst for knowledge was unquenchable. He was eager to learn about different technology and what were the limits to his powers. Fighting was what he was best at, although it was all he was good for. He was an adrenaline junkie. The acts others deemed as dangerous and irrational were boring and repetitive to Bryan. When he hacked Mr. Rogers' accounts, he felt an unprecedented thrill. The excitement of knowing anyone's secrets with a couple pushes of a button was incomparable. Especially these days when people's lives are digital. Thus, sitting behind a computer was far more appealing than beating people up like a brute. His eagerness was what would lead him to become a major figurehead in The Dark Net, but it would be far in the future…

Whatever, tomorrow is a big day.

Bryan flicked his cig off the balcony before heading inside his room. What he didn't know was his door had a slight crack, showing deep ocean eyes constricted in shock. The door then creaked shut, the sharp teenager didn't notice at all.

…

It was the next morning. The sun hadn't risen up yet, so it was still dark. Bryan packed all his camping gear he bought before and was about to head to the warehouse. When he was about to leave, a mature blonde woman with gorgeous curves walked down, swaying side to side in a stupor. Her disheveled hair and night gown created a unique charm which didn't detract from her beauty at all. In fact, it gave her a sexy charm which could arouse any man.

Her sleepy eyes shot up when she saw Bryan about to leave with camping equipment. Her beautiful face filled deep with anxiousness as she stared at him. Bryan saw this and sighed in defeat. He wanted to leave before they woke up, but it seemed he was too late.

“I'm going out for a few days. Don't worry, I'm not moving out.” He said in a helpless tone.

Lily's knitted eyebrows eased, yet not completely. She had always thought Bryan as unfathomable after his recent 'change'. She never knew what he was up to, therefore to counteract, her guard was always up. She stood on the stairway; her body partially lit up from the rising sun. Bryan could now see Lily in her entirety. Her left strap of her black night gown fell off her shoulders, revealing the inner curve of her tear-drop shaped breast. Along with her disheveled hair and rosy cheeks, assumptions were inevitable. Bryan could feel a rising tent in his lower half. Although he found girls at his age, like Emily, a bit childish, mature women were a different story. He found her attractive, simple as that. He was her step-son, but at the same time, he wasn't.

The complicated situation aroused Bryan even more as he gazed at her body in secret. Internally he wanted to pounce her, yet he kept a calm expression, pointing at her night gown. Confused, she looked down and realized the issue. Turning beet red, she turned around and fixed up her night gown and hair. By the time she turned around, Bryan shut the door. She blushed thinking how her 'son' saw her half naked. Yet, she smiled, knowing he was not leaving for good, and headed back to sleep. Yet again, no one noticed the piercing blue eyes staring down the staircase. The door closed without a sound, as if it was never open.

Bryan headed to his warehouse, packing all his equipment for Great Colows. Hailing a taxi, he then headed to the train station. Bryan lived in an urban city called Celeste. After checking the map previously, he realized he lived in the capital of Zain, in the middle-class district. Great Colows was in the far outskirts, in the poor class district. Bryan had to take two trains. Then he had to walk forty minutes before arriving in the town.

The heart of the city was where the high-class district was. The district you lived in determined your financial status. Wealthy families often boasted how close they lived to the heart of the city, gaining prestige. Obviously, Bryan thought it was stupid to compete on such a trivial matter. Although he thought it was, others would get angry at his mocking remark. Job opportunities, wealth, authority, and respect were all linked to the distance from the heart of the city. Zenith made the heart of the city a desirable place to live in. Who can say they lived to the largest database in the whole world? Being near Zenith could one get all they ever need. It was now common sense among the people of Zain and the whole world, if there was any at all. BRYAN HAYES LV 2 50/200 EXP CODEX: VIRUSX (BASIC) After three hours of travel, he had arrived at a desolate train station. There was only a small wooden shack in front of the railway. Bryan jumped off with his luggage before heading to the hut. It was dark. In the desert-like climate, the nights were dead cold. Wearing a gray muffler, he walked to the wooden hut. He knocked on the door twice before standing still like a stone statue. Half a minute later, the door opened, a grisly voice spoke as if it was his last. “Hello, who are you?” An old man popped through the door. He had a hunched back which he supported with one of his hands, making his stature small and feeble. His wrinkled face seemed to age with every passing second. He was bald on the top and had white hair from the sides. He wore a tattered yellow cardigan with worn out slacks. His creased toes poked through his torn shoes, shivering in the cold. “I'm a reporter who arrived tonight. I'm here to do a story.” It didn't even take a second for Bryan to come up with a story on why he was here. He was a natural-born liar, even making the wisest of elders believe his words without a doubt. He put an eager expression on his face when he said this to show his enthusiasm. What he didn't expect was the old man to look at him with pity. “Aiya, another one! Isn't it the third one this week? These people never give up. If it is about the recent gang war, my son won't speak another word. Go back before he puts your head on a pike in front of the town.” The old man looked at the eager Bryan with some pity and sorrow. You already have one foot in the grave, don't look at me with pity! Bryan shouted in his mind before putting a confused expression. “Your son? I'm not here for that. I came to ask for any available place to stay for the night. It's something else, so you don't need to worry.” “Haha, I see. The nearest lodging is in the town, which is around fifty minutes away. Let's see… Well you can stay here for tonight. I can bring you the town. You'll find more lodging there. How does that sound?” The old man gave a feeble laugh before stepping aside for Bryan to enter. “Don't mind if I do.” Bryan gave a firm nod before walking in with his luggage. The house was small, but quaint. There was a desk, chair, bed, and a sofa, filling the entire house to the brim. The fireplace in the corner burned brightly, lighting up the surroundings. The wood of the house started to smell because of the prolonged exposure to the sun. Bryan inhaled as he felt nostalgic. “Ah, this smell, I'll never forget it.” Bryan hated this smell for the longest time. It reminded him of his helplessness. Smelling it once again reminded him why he needed to do what he needed to get past his trauma. He knew he was being selfish to kill all the residents there just to heal his wounded heart. Yet, he knew it was the only option to set his soul free from pain and suffering. He would stop at nothing to get what he needed. “I'll take the couch, you don't have to mind me.” Bryan put on a face of gratitude before setting his bags to the side. The old man smiled in response. “Not a problem. Would you like dinner, or have you already eaten?” “No I haven't. I would be my pleasure.” Bryan smiled casually, hearing the old man's offer. Bryan could analyze the old man at a glance. He was humble and respectful. Ironically, the old man reminded Bryan of his younger self. He had to lick the feet of anyone more powerful than him to survive, then when he could overwhelm them, he would make them do the exact same. It was the law of the poor district, which everyone kept in their minds at all times. It was a jungle, and only the strongest could survive. Knowing his respectfulness was fake, he didn't call him out for it and let it be. They ate a bland fish soup and stale bread. The old man thought the urban reporter would complain and nag him to give him something better. To his surprise, the so-called 'reporter' didn't say a word about the food, and only asked about the town and the people. In a friendly tone, he began to describe the recent happenings in the town, starting with what changed since Bryan's 'death'. “Do you know anyone called Sylvia?” Bryan asked with a blank expression. “Hm. Do you know her?” The old man put on a strange expression as he looked at the young man before him. “You could say that.” He was vague with his answer and didn't elaborate any further. The old man didn't ask either, arriving at a tacit understanding. “Well, I can tell you.” The old man put a sorrowful smile as he started to recount what had happened. The more he explained, the more Bryan's face morphed into shock. In the end, he didn't know what expression to make anymore.