36 Mall Date

Travis was bamboozled by the information he had just received. All this time, he thought he was the main character, but it turns out he's just a part of an even bigger story. He sat down, pondering what he had just found out. After some time, he asked the system, "What do you mean by that?"

"It's pretty simple, honestly. There are other people who have systems. These people have powers similar to yours. There aren't that many though. Probably about 3 in the whole world excluding you, meaning there are 4 of you," the system replied.

"Do you know what powers they have?" Travis inquired.

"No, I don't even know who they are, but I can detect when they're in close proximity to you, though I can't identify who it is," the system explained.

He sat back, contemplating what to do now. Travis was very worried that maybe someone had an even more powerful system. Though his did grant him strength, it wouldn't be able to compare to someone who had a system specifically designed to make the user gain strength.

"I should move more carefully from now on," he said. "He said around the world, so the chances of them being in this city are very low," he thought to himself.

"Hey, Travis, have you heard about the Phantom Group?" Katie suddenly brought him back to reality.

"Huh? No, who are they? Some kind of music group?" Travis asked.

"No, they're kind of like a group that steals from the rich and gives back to the poor, like Robin Hood in a way. But the weird thing is, all of the members have insane strength from what I've seen. Look at this video," she explained, showing Travis a video of a bunch of people running at insane speed, with the person recording matching their pace. They suddenly all leaped and landed on a building.

Travis was very shocked; that was clearly not possible for anyone who was normal.

"Is it not edited?" he questioned.

"No, there are even videos coming from civilians all over the internet. How do you not know these people? Have you been living under a rock?" she asked.

"I was busy with you to care about all that," he said.

Katie's whole face turned red, rendering her speechless, which made Travis smile.

"They must have a system. But my system said only 4, and there are about 5 of these dudes. So there should be one person who has a system. That person probably has an enhanced system or something, like Shazam. Fuck! They're in my city as well," Travis realized.

His day was semi-ruined. The only thing that could make him happy now was what he was going to do to Emma, which he couldn't wait for. He texted her, suggesting they meet at the mall, though it was quite risky for him to even go there now that he knew about this, but he knew it would be worth it.

Emma was currently in her room, staring at the text from Travis. She smiled and answered that she'd be there as fast as possible. She honestly kind of missed Travis, something she never thought would be possible.

Her roommate and friend Susan had noticed that since the day before yesterday, Emma had been calmer. Normally she'd be pissed like crazy and unreasonable, but now it was as if she was an entirely different person.

Emma got up from her bed and went into the bathroom. Susan hurriedly took Emma's phone, knowing she never locked it. She opened her recent texts since the name was quite peculiar.

"She's into that now? Look at how respectfully she's responding to him. This is not the Emma I know, that's for sure. I really need to investigate this 'Master' fellow," she thought.

Susan took his number and went back to her bed, acting like nothing happened. Emma came back and took her phone to play music while she bathed.

"I wonder what he'll make me do this time," Emma thought.

After some time, Katie went back to her dorm, allowing Travis to prepare for what he was going to do that day. He had the things he was going to need, so he got dressed and left the dorm.

He told Emma that they'd meet up there, so he took a taxi and sat back as it took him to the mall.

When it arrived, he saw her waiting by the gate. She was dressed up very cutely, which made him happy.

The mall they had gone to was the biggest in the city, called Soliel Mall. This mall was a bustling hub of activity, where modernity and commerce intertwined to create an inviting and vibrant atmosphere. Its architecture combined sleek, contemporary design with inviting aesthetics. Large glass windows allowed natural light to flood in, illuminating the wide corridors and the colorful storefronts.

The polished marble floors echoed with the footsteps of shoppers, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted from the various cafes and eateries. Shoppers of all ages roamed through the mall, carrying shopping bags and enjoying their time.

Numerous stores offered a wide range of products, from high-end fashion boutiques to popular retail chains, electronics shops, and specialty stores. The mall was adorned with vibrant posters advertising upcoming events, concerts, and sales, adding to the lively ambiance.

In the center, a bustling food court beckoned with the delicious aroma of various cuisines. Tables with colorful seating options provided a place to rest and refuel, while live music playing in the background added to the overall sensory experience.

Throughout the mall, lush potted plants and art installations added a touch of greenery and culture. The combination of modern design, a wide variety of shops, and a pleasant, inviting atmosphere made the mall an ideal place for shopping, entertainment, and socializing.

"I've never really been here before. It looks like a nice place to chill and maybe have a fight," he thought.

When Emma saw Travis, she hurriedly walked towards him and smiled, getting ready to hug him. He opened his arms, accepting her embrace, but he whispered something in her ear that made her whole face turn red.

"You'll do that, right?" she asked as he stepped back and smiled warmly. Emma nodded. Travis's smile grew wider as he hugged her again.

"Thanks, you're really the best," she said.

Internally, he thought, "This is gonna be a nice day at the mall."