My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

Ethan sat behind his desk in the Nova Tech office, sunlight stretching across the floor like golden rivers. The air was still, almost too quiet, but his thoughts weren't.

He heard the soft knock before the door opened.

Maya stepped inside, dressed in her usual long coat, the one she always wore like a second skin. Her expression was unreadable, sharp eyes taking in every corner of the room before settling on him.

Ethan stood up out of respect. "Maya."

She nodded. "Ethan."

No titles. No posturing. Just names. That was how the Five Ghosts of Nemesis operated.

He gestured to the chair across from him. "Have a seat."

Maya walked over and sat, her movements smooth and precise. Even when she was still, she gave off the kind of presence that made people think twice before breathing too loud.

Ethan kept his voice steady. "I didn't expect you today."

"I wasn't planning to come," she replied. "But there's something we need to talk about."

He nodded. "Of course."

Maya had always been direct. She didn't waste time. Ethan appreciated that.

He also hadn't forgotten.

The Five Ghosts had risked everything for him. For Jessica. For Jordan. For his parents. They had taken wounds that should've killed them. And some hadn't made it back.

Ethan never forgot.

And even now, as he sat across from her, he remembered how it was Mark and Maya who taught him how to fight. How to think. How to adapt when the System opened up more than he could handle.

He kept his tone even, but there was respect behind every word.

"What do you need from me?" Ethan asked.

Maya leaned back slightly, her eyes never leaving his. "Nothing yet. But you'll need to be ready. Things are moving faster than expected."

Ethan leaned forward, his elbows resting lightly on the desk. "That kind of sounds too serious," he said with a calm tone. "What is it actually?"

Maya met his gaze. Her eyes, always unreadable, held a glint of something more this time, not danger, but weight. "Nemesis wishes to meet you," she said simply.

"Nemesis?" Ethan echoed. "I've heard Yamal mention it before. He even said I should be brought to the HQ eventually... but I still don't really know what it is. What is Nemesis, exactly?"

Maya sighed and leaned back in her seat, her expression tightening slightly. "I was hoping you'd learn everything once we're there. It's better that way."

Ethan took a breath and nodded. He didn't feel cautious, not with her. Not with the people who had bled for his sake. Nemesis wasn't a threat. If anything, it was the backbone behind the Five Ghosts—Mark, Maya, Yamal, Ezra, and the injured Steve.

It was where they came from.

"If it's you taking me there," Ethan said, "I have no problem going. Just tell me when."

"Three days from now," Maya replied. "We want you to have time to prepare for anything."

But Ethan shook his head right away. "Let's make it tomorrow."

Maya's brow lifted slightly. "You sure? Isn't the day after tomorrow is the day Nova Tech was supposed to hold the event?"

"It's postponed," Ethan said, waving a hand lightly. "With everything going on, we're not in the right condition to be celebrating anything."

She studied him for a moment. "And the staff? They're alright with that?"

Ethan chuckled, relaxing just a little. "As long as I pay them on time, they'll be fine. Besides, the company's already drowning in work, even though we just got started. I've passed a few of my own ideas to the dev teams... New apps, fresh platforms."

He paused, glancing toward the window. The city outside was still moving, unaware of the silent war brewing beneath.

"I'm also pushing to accelerate the AI division," he added. "That's going to be the next wave. Might as well ride it."

Maya gave a slow nod. "You've changed. You're much calmer now."

Ethan turned back to her, a small smile playing at the edge of his lips. "I've had to."

Ethan leaned back in his chair, his voice calm. "So, I'll see you tomorrow then? Where should we meet? And… how long are we going?"

Maya exhaled quietly and leaned back as well, letting her head rest against the back of the chair. She closed her eyes for a moment, as if considering the best way to answer. The room went quiet, filled only by the distant hum of machines and the soft rustle of wind brushing against the glass windows.

After a few seconds, she opened her eyes again and looked at him. "We'll meet on the rooftop. Be there by eight in the morning. As for how long... it could be a few days. Maybe more. Depends on how things unfold."

Ethan gave a steady nod. "Alright. I'll be ready."

Maya stood, gave him a small nod of respect, and turned to leave. Her footsteps were light, quiet, fading into the soft echo of the hallway beyond.

Left alone, Ethan rose from his seat and walked to the window.

The city stretched endlessly before him, glowing beneath the pale evening sun. There were cars in motion, people hurrying through crosswalks, lights blinking from distant buildings. Life was moving, fast and unaware.

But behind all of it, behind every advance Nova Tech made, behind every breath he took, he knew the storm was only just beginning.

Nemesis. A name with weight. A name that meant something in the world of people who lived in the shadows.

He didn't know what he would find there. He didn't know who he would meet or what truths would be waiting for him. But if it was part of the road that Mark and Maya had walked... if it was part of the strength that made them who they were…

Then it was something he had to face.

One step at a time. That was the only way forward.

He closed his eyes for a moment, then turned away from the window.

Tomorrow, everything would change again.