I Got a Notification on my Laptop and Got Legendary Powers

The three of them stood in the dimly lit room of Yumi's rented system chamber, the artifact glowing faintly on the table between them. The pulsing energy illuminated their faces as Arjun paced back and forth, recounting what he had discovered over the past months.

Eli leaned back in his chair, his signature smirk masking his curiosity, while Yumi sat perfectly upright, her pen scratching furiously in her notebook as she tried to keep up with Arjun's revelations.

"The artifacts aren't just random objects scattered by the system," Arjun explained, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "They're keys. Each one is tied to an energy node within this world—points that hold the fabric of this realm together."

Eli raised an eyebrow, chewing idly on a piece of jerky. "So, what you're saying is... this place is like a house of cards, and these artifacts are the corners holding it up?"

Arjun nodded, his expression grim. "Exactly. And someone—or something—is trying to destabilize it. The more these artifacts are used or destroyed, the weaker the entire system becomes."

Yumi's hand froze mid-sentence, her sharp gaze snapping to Arjun. "Wait, if the system collapses, what happens to us? To everyone who's connected to it?"

Arjun hesitated, his eyes flickering toward the glowing artifact. "I don't know for sure. But if my theory is correct, it's not just this world that's affected. The ripple could reach our own world. The system's synchronization connects to something much bigger than we realized."

Eli let out a low whistle, leaning forward. "So Azrael's playing with some serious fire. And I'm guessing he didn't exactly leave a user manual for this."

Arjun smirked faintly. "No, but I found something close. There's a hidden nexus—a central hub where all the energy lines converge. If we can access it, we might find the answers we need. Maybe even figure out how to stop Azrael's plans."

Yumi frowned, her brow furrowing as she processed the information. "If this nexus is so important, why hasn't Azrael mentioned it? And why hasn't the system guided us there?"

"Because he doesn't want us to find it," Arjun replied, his tone hardening. "The system isn't just a tool—it's a filter. It shows us what Azrael wants us to see and hides everything else. But I've been tracking the energy patterns for weeks, and I think I've found the location."

Eli's smirk faded, replaced by a rare seriousness. "Let me guess—this place isn't exactly a walk in the park."

"Not even close," Arjun confirmed. "The nexus is hidden deep in the Obsidian Wastes. The system has classified it as a Level 10 restricted zone. Anyone who's tried to reach it hasn't made it back."

Yumi's jaw tightened, her determination hardening. "Then we'll be the first. If this nexus holds the key to understanding Azrael's plan, we have to reach it—no matter the cost."

Eli stretched lazily, his casual demeanor returning. "You two really know how to make a guy's life interesting. Alright, count me in. But if we're going into some nightmare zone, we're gonna need more than just guts and good intentions."

Arjun reached into his satchel and pulled out a rolled map, laying it on the table. "I've already started preparing. The path to the nexus is dangerous, but with the right strategy, we might have a chance. We'll need supplies, better gear, and... one more thing."

Yumi tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. "What's that?"

"A distraction," Arjun said, his voice low. "If Azrael gets wind of what we're doing, he'll send everything he has to stop us. We need to misdirect him, make him think we're chasing something else."

Eli grinned, his mischievous side surfacing. "Now that's something I can get behind. Leave the chaos to me."

Yumi rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Despite his infuriating personality, Eli had a knack for causing trouble in ways that often worked in their favor.

Arjun straightened, his expression resolute. "We leave at dawn. This is our best shot at uncovering the truth. If we fail..."

"We won't," Yumi interrupted, her voice firm. "We can't afford to."

The three of them exchanged a glance, the weight of their mission settling over them. The road ahead was uncertain, fraught with danger and deception, but they had come too far to turn back now.

As the artifact pulsed faintly on the table, its glow seemed to intensify, as if responding to their resolve. Somewhere in the distance, a faint rumble echoed through the system world, like the growl of a storm gathering strength.

The countdown to the nexus had begun.