Elias wasted no time.
The moment he accepted the Skill Elixir from the watch, a translucent bottle materialized in his palm, glowing faintly with a deep blue light.
Without hesitation, he drank it.
A strange coolness coursed through his veins, sharper and cleaner than anything he'd ever felt.
On his watch screen, the choice appeared:
---
Skill Integration:
Combat Mastery (Recommended)
Negotiation Arts (Optional)
Countdown: 30 seconds to choose.
---
Elias's mind worked fast.
If other Watch Bearers were out there... they wouldn't come to Hollow Creek to shake hands.
He needed to fight. To survive.
"Combat Mastery," he selected mentally.
The change was immediate.
Suddenly, every part of his body seemed to remember moves he never learned — dodging, countering, attacking, disarming — as if a lifetime of fighting experience had been poured directly into him.
He clenched his fists. His stance shifted automatically, like a seasoned warrior ready for any ambush.
---
Skill Acquired: Combat Mastery (Lv.1).
Hand-to-hand combat proficiency: Intermediate.
Weapon handling: Basic.
Reaction time increased by 20%.
Weak point detection: Active.
---
The sun dipped lower on the horizon.
Nightfall was near.
Elias pulled his hoodie tighter and headed toward the bus terminal. He needed transportation — but not public.
As he walked, a sleek black motorcycle caught his eye, parked loosely against the sidewalk. No chain. No alarm.
The watch buzzed lightly:
---
Micro Task Available:
Steal a vehicle within 10 minutes undetected.
Reward: Underground Map of Hollow Creek + "Shadow Step" (Temporary Stealth Boost).
Accept?
[YES] [NO]
---
A grin spread across Elias's face.
Yes.
He casually approached the motorcycle, his new instincts kicking in.
One twist, one wire pulled — within seconds, the bike roared to life under his control, just as a woman in a red jacket yelled from across the street:
"Hey! That's mine—!"
Too late.
Elias sped off, the wind slapping his face as the city lights blurred past.
In his mind, one name echoed:
Hollow Creek.
---
Hours later, Elias crouched at the edge of the abandoned grounds.
Rusting metal structures loomed like dead skeletons.
The air smelled of oil, dust, and something darker... the scent of danger.
Before he could move further in, someone stepped from the shadows.
A young man, maybe a year older than Elias, wearing a cracked silver watch identical in design — but not in glow — approached.
His smile was sharp. His eyes gleamed with cunning.
"You finally made it," the man said, his voice cold but amused.
"I'm Zephyr. Welcome to the real game."
The ground seemed to vibrate lightly, as if the very earth knew something monumental was about to happen.
Behind Zephyr, more figures appeared, emerging from the darkness — each one wearing a different version of the Watch.
Some smirking.
Some dead-eyed.
Some already cracking their knuckles.
And above them, in the silent, dead sky, the stars blinked like cruel spectators.
The War of Bearers had begun.
And Elias... was now one of them.
---