Cipher sat on his bed after freshening up, reading the Awakener Handbook.
His expression was serious.
He’d been reading about mana exhaustion. Turned out he’d been quite lucky. When someone hit zero mana, the resulting exhaustion effect could manifest in different ways depending on the person’s condition.
Mana Hypersensitivity - the one he had experienced - was relatively mild. Disorienting, painful, but temporary. Others like mana poisoning, mana burn, and mana coma were quite severe and could even lead to permanent damage.
Need to be more careful, he thought.
He closed the handbook and summoned his system.
[Name: Cipher]
[Level: 5 (2000/5000)]
[Species: Human]
[Class: Cheater]
[Health: 500/500]
[Strength: 10]
[Stamina: 5]
[Agility: 10]
[Intelligence: 10]
[Stat Points: 6]
[Cheat Points: 100]
[Skills (3/5): Assassinate (E), Mana Sense (E), Mana Recovery (E)]
[Cheats: Cheat Shop (Max Level)]
One hundred points. Twenty from the restroom cultist, forty from the D-rank mage, another forty from the two E-ranks in storage.
He guessed the pattern was 10 CP for F-rank, 20 for E-rank, 40 for D-rank, 80 for C-rank. Doubling with each higher tier.
He opened the Cheat Shop.
The listed items had changed. Leveling up seemed to reset the shop.
Cheat Shop:
Code Pack - 200 CP (pick 1 out of 3 code cards) Mega Mod Pack - 300 CP (pick 2 out of 5 mod cards) Seed Card - 100 CP Merge Card - 100 CP
There was also a reroll button costing a hundred points that allowed him to refresh the shop.
He had no interest in that at the moment though.
He examined the new cards.
Merge Card (Code Card): Combine two skills or two mod cards into one.
Seed Card (Mod Card): Applies "Rigged" edition - all probability becomes guaranteed. (ex: 10% chance → 100% chance)
Both were broken. But he could only afford one.
He weighed his options.
With the Merge Card, he could combine Mana Sense and Mana Recovery into a mana manipulation or mana econ ability. Useful, but wouldn’t directly increase his combat power right now.
The Seed Card on the other hand, had no immediate use as he didn’t have any probability-based skills. But when he got one...
After a moment of thought, he decided.
He purchased the Seed Card.
It appeared in an "Owned" section of the shop, ready to use whenever he needed it.
Cipher sighed. He was back to having zero points.
He looked at his bed. He’d be reporting to the Association tomorrow. Better get some rest.
He lay down, exhaustion finally catching up to him.
Within minutes, he was asleep.
...
The following day.
Cipher followed Selene through the Association building as she showed him around.
After the tour ended, she explained the job structure.
"There are two main divisions. Administrative work - handling paperwork, logistics, coordination. And enforcement - frontline combat against rogue awakeners like the Church of Eternal Brilliance."
She looked at him. "With your skills, I’d recommend enforcement."
Cipher nodded. Made sense.
"Actually," Selene continued, "after the success of yesterday’s mission, I was awarded authority to form my own squad. I’ll be captain."
She hesitated. "I know there are captains with way more experience than me. I just got promoted. But... I’d really like you to join my squad."
Cipher smiled. "Sure. I’ll join your squad, Captain."
Selene blinked. "You will?"
"Yeah. You saved me, brought me here. Besides, it’s easier to work with someone you know."
She seemed like an honest person. He didn’t mind being under her command.
His thoughts drifted to the future. Should he tell her about the apocalypse? Having others prepare would increase their chances.
No. Not yet. Even if she believed him, she was just a newly appointed captain. No authority to make real changes. He needed to climb the Association ladder first, gain enough influence to actually shift their direction.
"Great!" Selene’s face brightened. "I’ll ask someone to bring you your enforcer uniform. We also need to test your combat ability. Let’s meet up in two hours."
...
Griffith Park Branch, Three Hours Later.
Cipher arrived wearing his new Association enforcer uniform - black tactical gear with the shield insignia on the shoulder.
The Griffith Park branch sat at the edge of the Gate cluster.
Selene waited outside one of the Gates with three others.
"Everyone, this is Cipher. He’ll be joining our squad." She gestured to each person. "Cipher, meet your teammates."
Cipher observed his new teammates.
Maya - F-rank Healer. Early twenties, kind eyes, carried a medical kit at her side.
Dante - E-rank Tank. Built like a wall, friendly grin, massive shield strapped to his back.
Ryker - D-rank Magic Swordsman, Vice Captain. Mid-twenties, sharp features, sword at his hip. Arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Cipher recognized him immediately. In the future, Ryker had been famous. Magic Swordsman was a rare awakened class that gave a point to all stats per level, allowing for a balanced and powerful build.
Maya and Dante welcomed him warmly. Ryker just stared, saying nothing.
Cipher wondered if he’d offended him somehow.
Selene’s phone rang. She answered, expression shifting to shock.
"Sorry - emergency summons from the higher-ups. You four can handle the training Gate without me, right?" She looked at Ryker. "It’s just F-rank. You’ll be fine."
She left quickly.
Now just the four of them remained.
Cipher glanced at Ryker, still standing apart from the group.
"Don’t mind him," Maya said quietly. "He doesn’t hate you. He’s just always like that."
Dante nodded in agreement.
Cipher looked at the vice captain. They were about to enter a Gate together. If they didn’t get along, it could lead to disaster.
He walked over.
"Cipher, wait..." Maya tried to stop him, thinking he was about to start a fight.
He didn’t listen and walked up to Ryker. Standing directly in front of him.
They stared at each other.
"What do you want?" Ryker asked flatly.
"I’m not interested in the Captain," Cipher said.
"...What?"
"I thought you were jealous of me for being close to her. Just wanted you to know - I’m not interested in her like that."
Maya and Dante froze, shocked.
"What are you talking about?" Ryker’s expression twisted. "When did I say I was jealous?"
"You’re not?" Cipher looked genuinely confused. "Then why the attitude?"
"Hmph. Who wouldn’t dislike people who rise through the ranks using connections?"
"Connections?"
It seemed he had been misunderstood. Although he didn’t like narrow minded people like Ryker, he decided to be the bigger person for the sake of their squad.
Tears suddenly began flowing from Cipher’s eyes.
"Hey - why are you suddenly crying?" Ryker stepped back, alarmed.
"It’s just... when you said ’connections’... it triggered some trauma..."
Cipher’s voice broke. He covered his face.
"I’ve been a homeless orphan in the lawless South LA zone ever since I was a kid. Lived on the streets. Whenever I asked the other homeless adults how to escape, they’d always say the same thing - ’You need connections, boy. Without connections, you’re stuck here forever.’"
He sobbed harder.
"I’d see other kids with families, with people who cared about them, and I had no one. No connections. No one. Just endless streets and hunger and wondering if I’d survive another day. So when you say I got here through connections..."
Cipher cried even harder.
"Stop, stop!" Ryker grabbed his shoulders. "I get it now. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry for thinking that way about you!"
Tears were streaming down Ryker’s face now too.
"I can’t believe you went through so much." He wiped his tears, " To think that I treated such a nice person so badly because of my own bias... I’ll be your brother from now on, okay? You’re not alone anymore!"
He pulled Cipher into a hug.
"Yeah!" Maya rushed over, also tearing up. "We’re your family now!"
Dante joined in, wrapping his massive arms around all of them. "You’ve got us, brother!"
In the middle of the group hug, surrounded by his crying teammates, Cipher smiled.
It was a success. The Captain should thank him for this team building.
As for the story? Fake.
Well... most of it.