The chime faded, but something else took its place—a whisper in the corner of my mind. A hum beneath the stillness. Words, unread, etched into the darkness behind my eyes.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
New Job Acquired: Journalist (B-Rank)
Skills Gained:
Conflict Zone Reporting (Lv. 5) – Increases awareness, adaptability, and survival when covering stories in dangerous areas.
Investigative Instinct (Lv. 4) – Enhances ability to uncover hidden truths, patterns, and leads through sharp intuition and research.
Rapid Note-Taking (Lv. 5) – Allows for accurate and efficient recording of events, quotes, and observations in real time.
Public Perception Management (Lv. 5) – Enhances skill in presenting stories to shape reader opinion and emotional response.
It lingered in front of me like an afterimage. The words burned bright, then dissolved like fog in morning light.
Journalist.
How poetic.
How cruel.
My stomach turned. A sickly numbness crept up my left arm.
I raised it.
It didn't move.
