Sliding the virtual reality headset off, Azreal sits up and looks out the window, slightly disgusted with the neon lighting shining into his bedroom window, even though it is still the middle of the day.

'What a shitty life to return to...I wonder how long I was in VR. The manual didn't mention a time ratio or anything, so I assumed it was one to one,' Azreal thinks as he blinks a few times to readjust to the real world. 'It seems to be the same time as when I logged off in Heaven's Universe. So the time inside Heaven's Universe is the same as earth; the time is the same inside of VR as it is outside,' Azreal shifts himself and sits on the side of the bed and reaches out to his phone, only to discover it has died.

"FUCK!" He screams and throws his phone across the room before a wave of regret washes over him. 'It seems to be the same time here as it was in the Heavenly Root Sect. Does that mean the time is one to one? I stayed in the VR world for a day and a half; why am I not hungry?' Azreal thinks to himself before realising he has thrown away his phone.

"Don't be broken, don't be broken, don't be broken, don't be broken," Azreal mutters to himself repeatedly while he walks over to check his phone. Bending down and picking the phone up, Azreal can immediately tell that the screen is broken, due to the glass currently on the floor, as he lifts the phone.

"Well, aren't I a fucking idiot!" Azreal says in a depressed tone as he stares at the cracked screen. 'I don't think I can afford a new one,' Azreal thinks as he pockets the broken phone and makes his way to his wallet. Opening his wallet, his low expectations are confirmed as not even dust has collected inside. Azreal takes a deep breath in and holds it before releasing everything he can.

'Alright, Azreal, you promised to stop being such a sad sack of shit, and this is not how we do that. Let's head down to the store and pray there is enough money on my card,' Azreal begins to calm down after repeating this to himself a few times.

Azreal quickly fixes himself two-minute noodles before he jumps in the shower and washes himself. After the shower, he dresses in black track pants, a black undershirt, and an oversized grey trench coat. Leaving his apartment, Azreal walks with a quick pace through the rundown and dimly lit hallway. With a quick yet measured stride, Azreal avoids most of the litter on the floor.

A loud scream resounds through the hallway, causing Azreal to flinch and look towards the direction of the noise, where a twenty-year-old man is leaning against the wall, next to a wooden door, standing guard with his arms crossed. Azreal knows he is part of the local gang the Blood Tigers by the tattoo of a large tiger on the man's neck. 'He must be making sure no one interrupts his boss hurting her again...' Azreal feels anger well up in his chest.

'If I were stronger, I would do something about it. The last time I reported it to the police, all that got me was a beating from the local gang controlling this building.' Azreal gives a small nod and stiff smile to the man as he walks past. "Keep walking, freak!" the young man says and pretends to punch the air. Azreal doesn't respond and continues to move down the hallway until he enters the elevator, letting out a heavy sigh as he selects floor 15.

A few seconds later, Azreal walks out of the elevator and quickly across the lobby of the 15th floor. He steps onto a skyway, a bridge between high-rise buildings designed as a way for residents to get fresh air since the air at ground level is incredibly polluted.

As Azreal walks across the sky bridge, he notices there are far fewer people than usual and wonders why. A couple more seconds pass before a foul smell assaults his nose. The stench is unmistakable and grows stronger with each step he takes. It's the kind of odour that seeps into the senses, leaving a taste of decay in the mouth.

Following the source of the smell, his heart pounds with a sense of dread as he has smelled this specific odour before. "Ugh, fuck," Azreal spits these words out as he approaches a body slumped over on a bench next to one of the few trees on this bridge.

Just like the body before him, the tree is also dead; however, unlike this body, that is nothing new. This part of the city has been essentially abandoned due to crime and poverty. Azreal covers his mouth and nose with his undershirt and looks at the body's face, 'by the state of decay, she has been dead for less than a day.'

Azreal's thoughts drift towards seeking help. 'I'll call Kerian. Didn't she mention joining the local police force after leaving the orphanage?' With that thought anchoring his resolve, he instinctively reaches for his phone, only to halt mid-motion as the reality of his situation sinks in. A flash of frustration crosses his mind as he remembers his phone is broken.

Another large sigh leaves Azreal's mouth before he speaks, only loud enough for himself and the body to hear, "Don't go anywhere. I'll get a new phone and get someone to collect your body."

Deciding to return after his phone is repaired, Azreal heads to the electronics store, where he has spent most of his meagre amount of money for the last few years.

Walking through the shopping complex, Azreal keeps his head down, avoids any large crowds, and makes a beeline for the tech desk at the back of the electronics store. Once he hears the familiar whirring, he lifts his head, and a small amount of confidence fills Azreal's heart.

'This is the only place I feel semi-normal, like I'm part of something and not shunned by anyone for how I look,' Azreal thinks while walking to the tech desk where a familiar face, Franklyn Alost, is arguing with someone Azreal doesn't recognise. A tall woman with long straight jet-black hair is wearing a business suit and has her suitcase on the countertop.

"Azreal! Been a while, my man! I thought you died!" Franklyn cuts off the woman and shouts his way. "I'll be with you in a few, grab a seat, and I'll come over," he motions to the other end of the counter.

Azreal smiles and nods towards Franklyn, enduring the daggers the woman is staring into his soul. Finding his usual seat free, Azreal sits down, brings his phone out, and places it on the table in front of him.

Another ten minutes pass while waiting for Franklyn, before he comes over and leans against the countertop, "Sorry for the extra wait, that bitch wouldn't leave me alone. Can you believe it? They want to buy my store! I told them to shove it to the first guy who came to buy it, so they sent a sexy older woman, like that would work on me!" Franklyn practically shouts inside the store, drawing the attention of shoppers and other staff.

"That would totally work on you!" Azreal laughs before pointing to his phone. "You know I don't like being out of my room for longer than I need to. Can you see if you can fix my phone?" Azreal looks into the eyes of Franklyn with a pleading gaze.

Franklyn picks the phone up, has a quick look, before moving back and grabbing a few tools from his small toolbox under the counter. "Looks like you really wanted to break this phone. What did you even do?" asks Franklyn while removing the glass screen from the phone.

"I forgot to charge it and threw it at the wall in anger," says Azreal. "Stupid fucking move," Franklyn snorts at Azreal. Azreal nods his head and looks down at the countertop.

"This thing is completely broken. How hard did you throw this at the wall? I'm honestly impressed; the whole frame of the phone is bent, and there is weird denting on either side of the frame as well," says Franklyn.

Azreal looks up and shrugs in response, "So you can't fix it then?" "No, I can't. It's completely busted. You will need to buy a new one," Franklyn replies while returning to Azreal and handing the damaged phone back to him.

"That's going to be a problem. I am dead broke and won't receive any money from the orphanage till the end of next week," says Azreal. "What am I going to do with you, Azreal? What am I going to do?" Franklyn jests before walking around the countertop, "Follow me, you bloody idiot," Franklyn continues as he makes his way to where the phones are.

Azreal looks at Franklyn with a dazed expression before forcing himself off his seat and following him. Both Franklyn and Azreal are now in the aisle where the phones are on display, "Pick a cheap one. I'll get it this time, and when things get better, you can pay me back, okay?" Franklyn smiles and gives Azreal a small nudge with his arm. "No, Franklyn, not again..." Azreal replies with a despondent look on his face.

"Yes, again. It's not a huge amount of money, and it will help you greatly! Let me help, okay?" says Franklyn in a stern manner of speaking. Azreal nods with a guilty smile appearing on his face. "Thank you, seriously Franklyn, I owe you." Franklyn leads Azreal up to the counter and processes the sale, "Cash or Card?" Franklyn begins to laugh while reaching for his own wallet to pay.

Azreal's smile grows bigger and more genuine, revealing a few broken and discoloured teeth, "I'll take both if you have it," he jests back. Once payment is taken, Franklyn bags up the phone and hands it to Azreal. "I've got to get back to work now, come back soon, okay? I don't want you recusing into your room like usual," says Franklyn.

Azreal nods and thanks him one more time before finding a free table to sit at. Over the next few minutes, Azreal transfers his sim and sets up his new phone. Only a few seconds after, he receives a text message.

From: Your #1 Servant

Message: Hey, Master! I can't believe my plan worked! I know my Master so well! I knew you would smash your phone if you didn't charge it last night. Now, I know you're going to freak out, but just stay calm and try to inject some of your Qi into your new phone. It will allow me to bring the system to you in this world as well!

Azreal almost drops his phone before realising that if he were to break another phone, Franklyn might really kill him. 'I just have to inject my Qi into this device? I don't have any fucking Qi! I'm not in the Heavenly Universe anymore,' Azreal thinks while he stares at the text message.

Azreal stands up and begins walking back to the sky bridge, 'I'll get home and try this, but first, I need to go and give Kerian a call to clean up this body on the sky bridge' Azreal forms his plan while moving. He gets within a few metres of the body, and the stench returns, 'Alright, time to call Kerian,' he thinks while bringing his phone out and punching in the number.

A few moments later, a happy yet chirpy voice comes through the phone, "Azreal! Where have you been?!? Every time I called or messaged you, you ignored me! I haven't heard from you in years! I missed you! Why didn't you answer my calls or texts!" the voice barrages Azreal with a million questions and queries. "I'm sorry Kerian, I truly am. I have been dealing with some stuff... We can catch up later. Do you still work with the police, out in the Western Key?" Azreal asks.

"Of course, I do! Do you know who you're talking to? I am the Western Key's newest detective!" The chirpy voice states. "That's great! I'm so proud of you, Kerian. Can you please come to the Sky Bridge on the 15th floor? I want to report a dead body, and by the looks of it, a pretty gruesome murder," says Azreal.

"What!?! You found a body! Azreal, are you okay? Don't worry, I am on the way now. It will be about twenty minutes. Can you make sure no one goes close to the body?" The chirpy voice asks with concern laced throughout the tone. "I can try, Kerian. You know I am not very strong, but I will do my best," Azreal responds with clear nervousness in his tone.

"I know you do, Azreal. Thank you. See you shortly," the voice replies and ends the call. Azreal sighs once again before moving a few feet away from the smell and starts his watch over the body until Kerian will arrive.