Chapter 2

• |ECHO PROTOCOL: SYSTEM ACTIVATE
• |[Host Detected]
• |[Initialize Echo Protocol?]
• |[Yes] [No]
• Jace found himself in a void covered with darkness. He was the only one there, staring at a system like notification.
• Was he really dead? He wondered as he stared at the notification.
• Suddenly, it began a countdown from ten and Jace began to panic. What was he supposed to do? He did not understand what was before him.
• 8
• 7
• 6
• It ticked, and with each second, Jace's heart thudded in his chest. Was it yes or no?
• Then he closed his eyes slowly and took a breath in.
• 3…….2……..
• “Yes, yes!” he exclaimed loudly.
• Suddenly, the ticking stopped, and Jace gently opened his eyes. He was still in the dark void but the notification had changed.
• |[Initializing]
• |[Echo Protocol Activated]
• What the he–
• The darkness suddenly engulfed him, and he awoke, struggling to breathe.
• Jace suddenly opened his eyes. The bright light instantly blinded his sight.
• Where was he? Was this heaven? he thought.
• Then he saw the blurry silhouette of a lady standing beside him.
• “Vira?” he muttered.
• “You’re awake! Oh my God, how is this even–” the lady asked with a confused expression.
• “Where am I?” Jace asked after realizing it wasn't his ex-wife.
• “You are at the hospital. You were pulled out of the water. You should be glad you're alive, we almost proclaimed you dead.” she explained.
• Jace immediately sat up and looked around before turning to face the lady. She was a pretty petite red haired lady dressed in a white gown and had a clipboard in hand.
• He looked to his side and noticed the machine beeping and the tubes running through his arms, dripping liquids into his bloodstream.
• How is this even possible? he asked himself.
• One moment he was in the ocean, engulfed by the darkness and the next he was lying in the hospital ward with tubes piercing through his skin.
• When he tried to sit up properly, he felt a pain in his chest.
• “Ouch!” he exclaimed.
• “Hold on, I will go get the doctor.” she said and hurried out.
• Then another notification flashed quickly before him.
• |[Host Condition: Critical]
• |[Relieving pain]
• Those words appeared to him and instantly, he felt strong. Not even a single pain.
• “What the hell?!” Jace mumbled as he examined his body. He threw some punches into the air and felt no pain anywhere.
• This was weird. First he had been saved by the strange Echo Protocol System and now his health status was stabilized.
• “What other surprises awaits? I wonder.” he said to himself as he disconnected the tubes and stood up.
• “What?!” he heard the lady scream.
• He spun around to see her approaching him with a young man who appeared to be a doctor, except he had a strange aura.
• “I mean–doctor, he was just sprawling on the bed a few seconds ago. How come?” she said looking back at the doctor who also looked confused.
• “Are you sure you're okay sir? You might want to lay back and continue your treatment for proper recovery.” the doctor said as he urged him to the bed.
• “I don't think I would need that. I am already well as you can see.” Jace said as took a spin once more.
• “But sir–”
• “How much do I owe you for the medical fee?” Jace blurted out inquisitively even though he knew he had no money left.
• “It had already been paid for, sir.” the nurse said with a slight smile, “we received the payment earlier today in your name.”
• Jace stood stunned, but then decided to act normal.
• “Oh, right.” he said and began to walk towards the door. He was having a strange feeling and wanted to get out quickly.
• The lady and doctor watched him exit with a shocked expression. They had never experienced this before. When they thought he was already dead, he woke up and now he was out like nothing happened!
• “Must have been a miracle.” the lady blurted out to the doctor.
• “Not a miracle nurse, that was something more than a miracle.” the doctor said, as he stared oddly at the door before exiting the room.
• ***
• Jace walked out of the hospital feeling elated. Things were finally turning out for him. He crossed the road and sat on the roadside bench.
• He needed to understand this system. Why had it brought him back and why had it helped him? This question lingered on his mind but he had no way of answering it.
• “Only if it can answer me,” he said to himself.
• Suddenly the screen flashed before him and he sat up quickly.
• He began reading what was written, “|ECHO PROTOCOL is a system designed to keep you safe and provide you with your needs. To activate your system you can do so by talking.”
• Then he took a pause and continued, “The following protocols would be designated to you at all time:
• Firstly, Tasks: Tasks would be given to you at all times so endeavor to complete them. Completing them would increase your overall status. Refusal to attempt the task could lead to greater penalties.”
• He gulped hard and continued reading, "Second, Status: The status bar will keep track of everything, including your body, health, and wealth, but in order to keep it from dropping, you must complete the tasks."
• When he reached the last part, he heaved a heavy sigh and read, “Penalties: This would result from lack of attempting tasks which could place a defect on your life.”
• “What the hell?” Jace exclaimed when he was done.
• Suddenly he heard voices and looked up to see passerbys staring weirdly at him. They must have thought he had mental issues. He quickly mumbled an apology and abruptly realized that one one could see the notification except him.
• When he was done reading, another phase popped up and immediately his eyes shone widely.
• What was he actually seeing? Was he dreaming?
• |[First task: Spend 100 billion Zyn cash in 24 hours. Wasteful spending would bring about penalties.]
• All of a sudden, an alert dropped. His account had been credited with 100 billion Zyn!
• Before he could click it open, a call came in from his boss, Mr. Vale. Jace stared at it for a moment before slipping the phone into his pocket.
• He did not need his job anymore. He already had enough money to get whatever he wanted.