Upgrades

Lin's heart raced with a mix of confusion and excitement as he heard Zen's voice calling out to him.

Lin's consciousness awoke.

Lin saw himself standing by the edge of a cliff looking into the horizon. The horizon was covered in midst and he strained his eyes to see what's beyond.

Suddenly, the mist began clearing and he could hear growls emanating from the midst.

"They are beginning to wake up Lin, and we are responsible for this," a familiar voice said.

Lin turned around to see his late father looking worried as he stared over the horizon.

Then Lin could hear heavy, rapid thumps on the ground heading towards him.

Lin turned around to see hounds of hellhounds running towards the cliff, gnarling as if they were excited to finally go hunting.

"Dad!," Lin exclaimed, the reality of his father standing next to him dawned on him.

"We should run to safety Lin," Lin shouted wanting to get away from the hounds heading towards them," we can get a proper reunion when we are safe."

The cliff began to crumble as the hellhound grew closer.

Lin blinked and his eyes opened. He looking around trying to make sense of his surroundings. He was back in his dorm room, lying on his bed, and covered in cold sweat. But the memory of the events in the hidden lab lingered in his mind, making him question the reality of it all.

Lin whispering to himself,"How did I end up here? Was it all just a dream?

He glanced at Feng, still peacefully asleep in his bed. Lin pondered whether to wake him up and share his confusion or let him continue his rest. But before he could decide, Zen's voice echoed in his mind once again.

Zen voice broke through his thought calmly, "Lin, congratulations. The maximum upgrade that your body can presently handle has been attained. You are now capable of accessing heightened abilities and unlocking new potentials."

Lin's eyes widened in astonishment and disbelief. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. If the upgrades were real, then what happened in the hidden lab couldn't have been a dream. But how did he end up back in the dorm? Why was his memory hazy and fragmented?

Lin tried remembering to himself, with a mix of curiosity and concern, "What happened after the crystal's energy surged? How did I get back here? And why can't I remember it clearly?"

His mind drifted off to the dream him had just woken up from.

Lin wiped his forehead, "that was some dream," he thought.

His mind buzzed with questions, his thoughts racing to make sense of the situation. Seeking answers, he tapped his wristband and pulled up the holographic display only he could see—a personalized interface powered by Zen—revealing his upgraded stats and abilities.

[HP: 60/60]

[ Speed: 30]

[ Strength: 18]

[ Stamina: 20]

[Skills level: 5]

[Level up x: 1.5]

[Exp: 50/200]

[You can now increase your stats by eight. Defeating an opponent earns you 50 exp and losing deducts 80exp. Winning a revenge match grants 150 exp. Time dilution now unlocked with chronostasis. ]

The display showcased an array of new enhancements, from increased strength and speed to heightened mental. Lin marveled at the depth of the upgrades and their potential implications.

"This is real. The upgrades are real. But if that's the case, why can't I remember the details of what happened? What am I missing?" Lin whispered in awe.

As his mind churned with uncertainty, Lin's determination grew. He knew he needed answers, and the best course of action was to confront Feng and May about the situation. If anyone could shed light on what transpired in the hidden lab and the events that followed, it would be them.

Gently nudging Feng awake, Lin hoped his friend would share the same confusion and curiosity that consumed him.

"Feng, wake up. We need to talk." Lin softly shaking Feng's shoulder.

Feng stirred, slowly opening his eyes and rubbing the sleep from them. Confusion clouded his expression as he registered Lin's urgency.

Feng yawning , "What's going on, Lin? Why do you look so intense?"

Lin whispered trying to keep yis voice low so not to disturb Draco who was still asleep, "Feng, something strange happened. We were in the hidden lab, and I touched the crystal, and then... I can't remember what happened next. But Zen just announced my upgrades and they are insane. It's all real, Feng. But I need to know what happened after the surge of energy."

Feng's eyes widened, mirroring Lin's mixture of confusion and curiosity. He sat up, fully awake now, ready to discuss the mysterious turn of events.

Feng with a sense of urgency as his memories were also hazy, "Lin, I was hoping you could shed some light on what happened after we touched the crystal. I remember a bright light and being thrown against the wall, but my memory is foggy after that. We need to find May. She might have answers."

With their minds racing and their determination solidifying, Lin and Feng quickly made their way to May's dorm room, hoping she could fill in the missing pieces of their shared experience.

As they reached May's door, anticipation and apprehension gripped them. They exchanged a brief nod, silently acknowledging their shared quest for answers. Lin raised his hand to knock, but before his knuckles could make contact with the door, it swung open.

May stood before them, her eyes filled with the same mixture of confusion and curiosity. She had been pondering the events of the previous night, just as Lin and Feng had.

"Lin, Feng! Something incredible happened! I was just about to come find you guys. I couldn't stop thinking about the hidden lab and the crystal. I think I've uncovered something important", May sounded excited as she opened the door to see her two friends.

Lin and Feng exchanged a surprised glance, their curiosity piqued by May's words. They stepped into her room, eager to hear her discoveries and hoping to find the missing puzzle pieces to their shared memory lapse.

May began, "I've been researching ancient texts and prophecies, trying to make sense of what we experienced. And I think I've found something. A mention of a powerful crystal in the hidden records. This crystal was discovered at the site of explosion that took down the hounds. According to the record, a fragment of this crystal powers the Shing district and is the academy power source. An unverifiedsource also claimed the biocore is a product of this crystal."

Lin and Feng's eyes widened, a mix of awe and trepidation washing over them. The pieces were slowly falling into place, aligning with the ancient prophesy and the surge of energy they had witnessed in the hidden lab.

Lin barely able to comprehend," So, you mean Zen is a product of the war my father tried putting an end to, and i was destined to cross paths and unlock this power? But what does it mean for us, May? What are we meant to do with this newfound ability? I can barely wrap my head around anything. All I have gotten since getting into the academy is beating upon beating"

May continued thoughtfully, "According to the texts, those who possess the crystal's power hold the key to ushering in a new era. I suppose that was the Tech also used to create the Faire. They have the potential to reshape the world as we know it. But with great power comes great responsibility. We must be cautious for it can bring both harmony and chaos. With such power, you can tip the scale for or against humanity. "

Feng interrupted, " You mean, that crystal contains such magnitude of energy? Why is not locked up in a government restricted area instead of a small lab beneath the library. It quite doesn't make sense to me".

"Hey Zen, can you shed some light on the crystal," Lin muttered, getting more comfortable using Zen around his friends now that they discovered what he had burdened himself to hide.

The trio stood in silence, absorbing the weight of their newfound destiny. The mysteries of the hidden lab, the upgrades, and the prophetic words began to intertwine, painting a picture of a grander purpose they were meant to fulfill.

"The energy from the crystal was overwhelming. Energy enough to bring about the birth of a new life or the destruction of an existing one. Professor Gerald an expert in phantom science who I think is also the invented this wristband, called it a fragments of the life branch"

Lin feeling a new found determination, "We may not have all the answers yet, but we have each other. Together, we can navigate this path and uncover the truth. We'll embrace our abilities and use them to make a difference."

Feng and May nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with determination and resolve. The trio had embarked on a journey far beyond their imaginations, and they were ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

Little did they know that their actions had set in motion a chain of events that would shape not only their own destinies but also the fate of the world itself. The mystery of the hidden lab was just the beginning, and the trio would soon discover that their shared path would lead them to confront ancient forces, unveil long-lost secrets, and ultimately determine the course of humanity's future.