CHAPTER 41: CH-41

"That was exhausting, even for me," I mumbled, slumping onto the bed.

We been at for hours, only stopping when the clock was dangerously close to 8:00 p.m.

Luckily, Daniel and Ethan were still tied up in their business meeting—completely unaware that the two most important women in their lives now belonged to me.

Obviously, money was way more important to them. I guess knowing how to actually balance work and life was just too much to ask.

Everything was moving according to plan.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t let my guard down. Pulling something this bold inside the mansion meant it was only a matter of time before someone on their payroll started getting suspicious.

Good thing I now had access to items that could raise my strength by multiple levels.

"Let’s see." I raised my hand and hovered on the new Acting Card first.

This card’s design was far more elaborate than the last — its edges glimmered with a silver tone. The instant I clicked it, the world around me dissolved.

When my vision cleared, I found myself sitting inside what looked like a military vehicle.

The air was filled with the scent of oil and gun powder, and the hum of the engine vibrated through the metal floor beneath my boots.

Outside the reinforced window, a barren landscape stretched endlessly — gray skies, crumbling buildings, and distant plumes of smoke that hinted at war.

The people sitting beside me all had serious expressions, their eyes fixed ahead like they already knew what was coming.

I glanced down and noticed I was wearing combat clothing in a dark camouflage pattern, with a rank patch on the sleeve and a sidearm strapped to my thigh

Information flashed through my mind, and in an instant, I understood my new persona.

His name was F. Castle— a Reconnaissance Marine sent to the front lines of an ongoing war.

This setup was perfect. I been severely lacking in actual combat experience, and that gap kept me from utilizing my Qi to it’s full potential.

[DING!]

[Host, due to the quality of this card, you are granted access to manual mode from the beginning. Additionally, you can unlock an enhanced version of Resonance without requiring a Card Upgrader if you opted for this choice.]

[Would you like to activate manual feature now?]

’I already have a Card Upgrader from the pervious mission. So what exactly does this one do?’

[Host, the Card Upgrader is a high-tier item, significantly rarer than the Acting Card.]

[If an Acting Card lets you achieve 100% completion to unlock Resonance, a Card Upgrader enhances that card’s grade — allowing you to exceed the limits of the simulated character and access power far beyond what they were capable of.]

So, in short, it worked like those MMORPG systems where you could upgrade gear or abilities — adding a "+1" or "+2" that could completely change the outcome of a fight.

’Manual Mode.’

It was a no-brainer — I decided to save my existing card. Besides, there was a synchronization meter, so I could easily track whether I was heading in the right direction.

But what made me even more confident were the memories I received. I realized they weren’t just for background information; they were hints.

By internalizing them, I could make choices based on the instincts and experiences of the character I was playing.

It took me a few simulations to figure it out — not that I’m embarrassed or anything. I was never exactly the genius protagonist type, even in my past life.

If I were, I wouldn’t have gotten the Degenerate System, probably something cooler, like the Unlimited Skill System, or maybe I would just gain attributes by breathing air.

A faint static came through the radio.

"Lieutenant Castle, do you copy?"

The voice was deep and urgent, and for a moment, I just stared at the device, processing what I heard. So this was the Acting Card’s next simulation — a battlefield scenario.

"Copy. What’s the situation?"

"Hostile forces spotted two clicks east of your position. Orders are to hold the line until reinforcements arrive."

I exhaled slowly and reached for the rifle beside me. The weight was real — solid, heavy, deadly. So this was what it felt like to be in a war.

BOOOOM!

An explosion echoed through the air. I turned to the window just in time to see the vehicles ahead erupt in flames — a land mine.

Our own car screeched to a halt, and instinct kicked in. Me and the others kicked the doors open and leapt out.

A split second later, a rocket slammed into our vehicle, setting it ablaze.

Fortunately, I managed to dive behind cover just in time — a second slower, and I would’ve been nothing but ash.

Gunfire erupted a heartbeat later. Bullets tore through the sand and metal, forcing everyone to dive for cover.

"CONTACT! TAKE COVER!" a voice roared.

Believe it or not,

I didn’t need to be reminded of something that obvious — a hail fire of bullets tend to be a pretty good indicator on their own.

Glancing toward the sound, I spotted a man with a captain’s insignia crouched behind a burnt-out jeep, barking orders.

"Form a perimeter! Castle, get that flank covered!" he shouted, pointing toward the left ridge.

I stayed low, rifle tight in my grip, and followed his orders, letting this body’s instincts take over.

Faintly, I could feel the weight of the gun in my hands, and instinctively knew how to use it.

Scanning the rooftops, I spotted an enemy moving across one of the buildings. My eyes tracked him easily, and without hesitation, I aimed.

BANG!

One shot. One kill.

No hesitation. No guilt. In my mind, this was just a simulation—a game where lives existed only as pixels and numbers. The detachment made it easier to focus, to refine my aim, and to push my body’s abilities to their limits.

I didn’t pause to celebrate.

Another target popped up—this one sprinting between two partially collapsed buildings. My hand moved on its own, adjusting for distance, wind, and trajectory.

BANG!

Another life removed.

The simulation gave me feedback right away—tiny vibrations in my fingers and quick flashes in my vision, like my body was learning from every shot.

I could already feel my reflexes getting faster and my aim becoming incredibly accurate. But there were just too many enemies, and they had the high ground.

Every time I peeked out, it was risky. One wrong move, and I’m dead.

"Castle, we’ll cover you! Go to the building and take out the enemy!" the captain barked.

Like it had a mind of its own, my body moved. Every cell seemed to remember all the training I had undergone, instinctively following the orders of my superiors.

I sprinted toward the building, keeping low and using the debris for cover. Bullets whizzed past, pinging off metal and concrete.

As soon as I stepped inside, I was confronted by a terrorist hiding in the corner.

I kicked the gun out of his hands, then drew my dagger and sliced across his neck. In the same motion, I swung my gun and fired at another enemy who was hiding behind a broken table.

Shit. Just had a threesome, and now this. Sometimes, I think this system actually hates me.