[ System Synchronization Activated ]


    [ Unlocking... ]


    August was blissfully unaware as these cryptic notifications flickered across his consciousness. Deep in theforting embrace of sleep, he had no idea that changes were unfolding within him.


    His mind drifted through vivid dreams, unperturbed by the faint chiming of the system interface that hovered unseen in his subconscious.


    ---


    The next morning, sunlight poured through the cracks in the curtains, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. August stirred, letting out a long yawn as he stretched. His eyes fluttered open, and his vision was immediately greeted by an unexpected sight.


    [ Partial Synchronization Complete ]


    The glowing notification hovered before him, pulsating faintly as if waiting for his attention. August blinked, still groggy, trying to make sense of what he was seeing.


    "What the hell?" he muttered while sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "Synchronization? With what?"


    He stared at the message, racking his brain for answers. It was unlike any notification he had ever seen, either in Enders Light or real life.


    No matter how much he tried to make sense of it, he just couldn''t.


    He suddenly recalled the fruit of sin and threw this synchronization to the back of his mind.


    Without hesitation, he made the inventory interface appear. His fingers moved instinctively to navigate the virtual screen.


    -------


    System Notification:


    [Inventory essed]


    - Leather Jacket


    - Basic Armor


    - Enhanced Dagger


    - Cloak of Echoes (Bound)


    - Shadow Cloak


    - Minor Health Amulet


    - Mana Potion ×5


    - Health Potion ×4


    - Phantom Boots


    - Devil Fang Daggers


    - Mana Crystals


    - Enchanted Mirror


    - Merchant''s que


    - Wind-Swept Cloak Fragment


    - Shadow Core ×2


    - Fruit of Sin [Extracted]


    ...(see more)


    ------


    Sure enough, the Fruit of Sin was there.


    "Still here..." he whispered to himself, still surprised that he could keep things in his inventory even after they had been extracted.


    It was really a game changer.


    He swiped his hand through the air, and the fruit materialized in his palm.


    Its dark, almost menacing surface shimmered with faint, reddish hues. The mythical glow radiating from it as if it were alive. Holding it sent a strange sensation coursing through him, like cold fire licking at his skin. It was simultaneously alluring and intimidating.


    August stared at the fruit with a look of apprehension flickering in his eyes. "I still can''t believe I managed to snatch this before he destroyed it," he murmured with a smirk.


    He turned the fruit over in his hands, marveling at its beauty and ominous energy.


    He let out a deep sigh and leaned back against the headboard. "Now, what the hell do I do with you?" he said aloud, as if the fruit could answer him.


    On one hand, consuming it would grant him ess to the *dark interface*—a separate set of abilities that would not only make him stronger in Enders Light but also in real life. Abilities like manipting shadows, summoning dark entities, and even wielding curses were rumored toe with the fruit''s power.


    On the other hand, selling it would rake in an astronomical amount of money. Tens, if not hundreds, of millions.


    Enough topletely change his and Sophia''s lives. The allure of such wealth was hard to ignore, but so was the promise of power—power that could protect him and Sophia in a world growing increasingly dangerous with the rise of supernatural yers.


    "Money or power..." he muttered as his fingers tightened around the fruit.


    This was yet another hard decision to make like the time he extracted the fruit of corruption.


    As much as he wanted to cash in on the fruit''s value, a part of him feared he wouldn''t survive long enough to enjoy the money if he didn''t be stronger.


    His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. He jolted slightly, quickly hiding the fruit under his nket. "Uh, yeah? Who is it?"


    "It''s me," Sophia''s voice called from the other side.


    August breathed a small sigh of relief. "Come in."


    The door creaked open, and Sophia stepped inside, catching the morning light with her beautiful green hair. She had a curious look on her face, her brows furrowed slightly. "You okay, big bro? You''ve been up here all morning. I was starting to think you''d gone back into the game already."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    August chuckled nervously, sitting up straighter and making sure the fruit waspletely concealed. "Nah, just... thinking. Needed some time to unwind after everything."


    Sophia walked over and plopped down on the edge of his bed.


    "You know, I really missed you but I''m starting to ept that you might get less and less avable in the future," she muttered with a slightly dejected tone.


    "Listen, while that may be true, I will always be avable for you," August answered with aforting tone.


    "Really?" Sophia eyes lit up.


    August immediately grabbed her hands and patted them affectionate look; "Trust me... There will never be a time when I won''t be avable to you."


    "Is that a promise?" Sophia eyes shimmered faintly.


    "I promise."


    "Pinky swear."


    They both locked pinky and chuckled for a bit, lightening the room up.


    She crossed her arms before ring at him. "You have tons of missed calls. Like, your phone''s been blowing up... I had no idea you''ve be famous big bro Aleman."


    August froze for a moment as a wave of realization hit him. "Oh crap… Ipletely forgot."


    Sophia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, clearly. People have been trying to reach you non-stop for the past two weeks. It''s been driving me nuts."


    August quickly darted past her and down the stairs, heading straight for the living room where he had left his phone before diving into Enders Light for what felt like forever. He grabbed it off the table, turned the screen on, and winced.


    "Fifty-two missed calls?" he muttered while scrolling through the list. "Most of these are from numbers I don''t even recognize."


    Sophia stood in the doorway with a smirk. "And some are from people you do recognize. Look at Remi''s name right there."


    August pped his forehead. "Damn it. The agent for the space I wanted to rent also called… and Remi''s cousin''s apartment. I was supposed to meet both of themst week."


    "Well," Sophia said while leaning against the doorway, "you better start calling people back before they think you ghosted them."


    August sighed and hit the call button on Remi''s name first. It rang twice before her familiar, bubbly voice came through. "August! Oh my gosh, you''re alive! I was starting to think you''d fallen off the face of the Earth."


    He chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah… sorry about that. I got caught up with some urgent stuff. Really sorry if I worried you."


    "You did, you idiot!" she scolded lightly, though her tone was more teasing than angry. "I''ve been waiting to hear from you. I thought maybe you decided to ditch me after all our lovely chats."


    Augustughed. "Not a chance. So, uh, about your cousin''s apartment… Is it still avable?"


    Remi''s tone shifted, sounding genuinely relieved. "I was just about to ask him if he still wanted to meet you! He came backst Saturday and has been busy moving his stuff out. He''s finishing up today, so you''re in luck."