The first hint that the world had changed forever came not from the portal's twisted glow or the monsters' snarls echoing through the streets—but from a simple notification.
James was crouched behind the remains of a rusted car, its once-bright paint flaked and dull beneath layers of ash and grime. His cybernetic eye had been offline for most of the day—there was no point in using it when every shadow might hide a predator, and every noise could mean death.
Then, his vision flickered.
A soft pulse of blue light washed over his eyelids, and when he blinked, an interface appeared before him, translucent but vivid—an overlay etched into the very fabric of his sight.
[SYSTEM BOOTING…]
[NEW APPLICATION DETECTED: "CLASS INTERFACE"]
[INITIALIZING…]
A moment later, the screen exploded with data.
The New Reality
James's eye scanned the information rapidly.
At the top was a large circle, labeled "CLASS: UNKNOWN" — because, of course, James hadn't revealed anything yet. Underneath, a column of categories and icons scrolled slowly:
CLASS NAME: CYBORG (LEGENDARY) [HIDDEN]
RANK: S
HEALTH: 100%
STAMINA: 87%
ENERGY: 90%
A second panel caught his attention: MONSTER DATABASE
A holographic scroll of images and names flashed past—creatures he'd seen in the city, each with classifications and threat levels.
Ripper — Rank C — Common Predator
Shredder — Rank B — Aggressive Predator
Wraith — Rank A — Stealth Predator
Colossus — Rank S — Heavy Threat
At the bottom was a curious new entry.
MYTHIC RANK — UNKNOWN STATUS — EVOLVABLE
James blinked, confused but intrigued. A rank beyond S? Mythic? Evolution? What did this mean?
The App's Origin
A voice crackled into his ear—not through his cybernetic implant but the app itself.
"Welcome to the new world, survivor."
The voice was neutral but cold, almost mechanical.
"You have been granted access to the Class Interface. This application will track your evolution, monitor your health and abilities, and provide information on monsters and the current state of survival. It is the key to understanding your role."
James's jaw clenched.
"Your role."
The app continued.
"The Class system organizes humanity's new reality. All living survivors will receive a class designation based on latent abilities unlocked by the portal's energy. Classes come with ranks, indicating power and skill. Progression through ranks and evolution toward the Mythic rank is possible through battle experience, survival, and unlocking potential."
The interface pulsed again.
"Monsters are classified according to threat level. Beware. Survival depends on understanding."
Alone, Not for Long
James closed his eyes briefly, the cold blue glow fading.
The world he'd known—the one where he could remain hidden—was gone.
Now, survival meant adaptation.
He tapped a command on the interface to conceal the display, letting it fade to a soft dot on the side of his vision.
Moving forward, the app would be both a tool and a tether.
A Meeting in Ruins
Later, as dusk bled into night, James slipped through the broken streets, haunted by the app's implications.
His arm flexed with quiet hums beneath his jacket.
A sudden noise stopped him—a soft metallic clang from a nearby alley.
He crouched low, eye scanning.
A figure stumbled out—another survivor, her breath ragged, eyes wide and fearful.
She noticed him immediately.
"Are you… a Class user?" she asked, voice shaking.
James's eye flicked on for just a moment, casting her silhouette in harsh digital clarity.
He shook his head. "Maybe. Why?"
"Because I have the app," she said, pulling a cracked phone from her jacket. The screen glowed with the same Class Interface.
"My name's Alina. I'm a Scout, Rank C. I've been trying to find others like me."
James studied her carefully.
"Scout, Rank C," he repeated. "Not bad."
She smiled weakly. "It's better than nothing."
The Mythic Rank: Legend or Truth?
Alina's phone glowed softly as she navigated the interface.
"See that?" she said, pointing. "The Mythic Rank. Nobody's reached it yet. But the system says it's possible—if you evolve, get stronger, unlock hidden potential."
James's mechanical fingers twitched. The idea of evolution wasn't new to him—it was the cold logic behind his transformation.
"Evolution… what exactly does it mean?"
"According to the app, it's more than just fighting. It's about unlocking abilities, mastering your class, and adapting to this new world. The portal's energy is still changing us. Some say Mythic rank users will become almost gods."
James was silent. Gods? He didn't believe in gods. He believed in control, in cold efficiency.
Still, the thought intrigued him.
Government Chaos
The two moved through shattered streets, keeping low. Alina explained what little she knew.
"The government is falling apart. No real Class units, no leadership. Militias and volunteers trying to hold what they can, but it's chaos."
James nodded grimly.
"They're scrambling to organize recruitment through the app—sending messages to Class users. But it's all fragmented."
Alina glanced around nervously.
"We're lucky to survive."
The Hunter's Code
They paused near a broken intersection, where the air vibrated with distant roars.
James's cybernetic eye flicked on automatically.
Heat signatures flared—four Rippers moving quickly through the ruins.
"Monsters hunting again," Alina whispered.
James checked the app's monster data.
Rippers — Rank C — Pack Hunters. Fast. Deadly.
He activated his mechanical arm, fingers extending with a series of soft clicks.
"We can't avoid every fight," James said coldly.
Alina nodded, gripping her rifle tighter.
The Fight
The Rippers spotted them.
A blur of motion, claws slashing through the air.
James moved like a machine—fast, precise.
His mechanical arm fired pulses of energy, cutting through the beasts with surgical efficiency.
Alina covered his back, shots ringing out.
The fight was brutal but brief.
As the last Ripper fell, James's app chimed.
[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 120 XP][RANK PROGRESS: 57%]
Alina smiled, panting.
"That's how you survive."
James said nothing.
The Path Forward
After the fight, James sat on a crumbled wall, the glow of his app pulsing faintly.
The interface blinked a new notification.
[EVOLUTION AVAILABLE]
A cold calculation took over him.
Evolve or die.
In this new world, power was survival, and survival meant change.
James flexed his mechanical fingers.
He was ready.
ames sat perched on a fractured concrete ledge overlooking the ruin-strewn street, the glow from his hidden Class Interface app dimmed to a soft flicker in the corner of his vision. The night's chill crept through his jacket, but the cold he felt ran deeper — a calculated distance he maintained from the world, from people, and especially from connections that meant weakness.
Alina crouched nearby, her breath visible in the cool air. Her Scout Class app still glowed clearly on her cracked phone, displaying her stats proudly. She was young, maybe a few years younger than James, but her eyes held a determination that cut through the darkness.
"So," she began, breaking the silence, "you still won't tell me your class?"
James's mechanical arm twitched under his sleeve. He didn't answer immediately, eyes scanning the ruins. "I don't owe you anything."
Alina smiled faintly, unfazed. "That's fair. But you're one of the strongest people I've seen out here. You took down that Shredder like it was nothing."
James shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching with what might have been a smirk. "It was a calculation. Nothing more."
"Still," she pressed, "you're not like the others. You're not just some brawler or a Scout like me. You have... upgrades. Enhancements. That arm—"
James's gaze sharpened.
"I don't reveal my class. It's safer that way."
Alina nodded, respecting the boundary but not deterred.
"Alright, then let me guess."
The Guessing Game
Alina tapped through her app's monster database and class list, voice dropping low to avoid attracting attention.
"Legendary Classes are rare. Cyborgs are supposed to have mechanical augmentations, right? Your arm fits. But maybe you're an Engineer or a Technomancer, someone who can manipulate machines."
James shook his head.
"Not interested in playing their game," he said flatly.
"Okay, what about a Hunter? You seem precise, efficient—like someone who strikes fast and hard."
James's eyes narrowed. "Close, but no."
She grinned. "Then maybe a Silent Assassin? Someone who hides their true power until the right moment."
For the first time, James's smirk grew into something genuine.
"Now you're warming up."
"But," Alina continued, "whatever you are, you're holding back. Maybe because you don't trust anyone. Or maybe because you want to stay free."
James's jaw tightened.
"Freedom is a myth."
Alina looked at him, her gaze softening. "Maybe. But sometimes, freedom is about choosing your own battles. Not running from them."
Reluctance and Reason
James turned away, voice low and cold.
"Joining any group—government, militias, even groups like yours—means chains. They want to control Class users, use us as weapons or shields."
Alina nodded, understanding.
"The app sends messages to all Class users, recruiting, organizing... But it's chaos. No one's in charge. No one really knows what's going on."
James's eye glowed faintly.
"Chaos suits me better."
Alina's smile faded into a serious expression.
"Then what's your plan?"
James looked up at the violet rift bleeding through the night sky.
"To survive. Alone."
A Flicker of Humanity
Alina was silent for a moment, then spoke softly.
"Surviving alone means living on the edge of death every day."
James met her gaze.
"And what do you want, Alina?"
"To find others like me. To protect those who can't protect themselves."
James studied her.
"Naive."
"Maybe," she said with a shrug. "But if everyone gave up on hope, this world would already be dead."
For a beat, James considered her words.
Then he said, "Hope is a luxury I can't afford."
A Pact in the Ruins
Despite himself, James felt a flicker of something warm—a spark long dormant.
He didn't trust easily. He didn't open doors for anyone.
But for the first time since the portal opened, the idea of not being completely alone felt… tolerable.
"Fine," he said finally, voice low. "For now, I'll walk with you."
Alina's face lit up.
"That's all I can ask."
The app pulsed softly in James's vision, reminding him that the fight, the evolution, was just beginning.
Together, they vanished into the ruins, shadows among shadows, two survivors navigating a world reborn in fire.