Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System!

By the time he reached his classroom, it was completely empty. His bag was gone too—not that it mattered. Most students were off doing their own thing: hanging out in the field, shooting hoops, or messing around in the music hall like earlier. He knew where to find Tessa and Naomi, but honestly? He wasn't in the mood for more drama today.@@novelbin@@

His brain was fried, and the last thing he needed was more chaos to untangle.

A soft ping interrupted his thoughts.

Elena: Boss, I'm here.

Parker sighed in relief, his shoulders relaxing. At least someone was on top of things.

Parker: I'll be there in five.

Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Parker made his way toward the school's parking lot. Sure enough, the sleek, black Rolls was parked in its earlier morning spot. He slid into the backseat, greeted by Elena's professional smile.

"Afternoon, boss," she said, glancing at him through the rearview mirror. "Are we heading out now?"

"Not yet," Parker replied, leaning back in the plush leather seat. "We're waiting for a couple of others."

Elena raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Others? I thought it was just Naomi."

"Yeah, change of plans," Parker said casually, pulling out his phone. "Looks like we'll be adding a new member to the crew."

Before Elena could ask more, Parker shot a quick text to Naomi.

Parker: Find the girl named Tessa. It won't be hard—just say my name and she will understand. Bring her with you when you're done.

With that handled, Parker leaned his head back against the seat, staring out the window as the faint chatter of students echoed in the distance.

"New member, huh?" Elena asked, breaking the silence. "Should I be worried?"

"Nah," Parker said, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "It's not like... Tessa's... different."

Elena smiled, shaking her head. "I understand , boss."

And in his mind, he couldn't help but think about the bigger game he was playing. Atalanta, Cassandra—they weren't just allies or pawns. They were pieces of a puzzle he was slowly putting together. A puzzle that, once complete, would give him the edge he needed to stay ten steps ahead of everyone else.

Because in Parker's world, being underestimated was the best weapon he had and what he wanted to keep gods with—so they won't figure him out easily.

While sitting in the back seat of the Rolls, Parker let out a small sigh, tossing his phone onto the seat beside him. Atalanta and Cassandra. One was refreshingly honest, straightforward even. The other? Well, Cassandra had been doing the most trying to keep a low profile. Too bad that didn't work on him.

Not when he could literally feel her presence the moment she walked in.

He leaned back, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "System," he said aloud, his tone casual, like he was chatting with an old friend. "Tell me something about Atalanta. Not the usual myth stuff. Like, give me something even the gods don't know... like some kind of secret?"

He half-expected the System to hit him with its usual, Information not available, but instead, there was that familiar ding in his mind.

[Ding! Hidden Past - The Huntress' Pact]

Parker straightened in his seat as the System began unraveling a truth that, apparently, even Olympus had been kept off the record from.

[Unknown to most, Atalanta's skills as a huntress didn't just come from her mortal talent or Artemis's blessings. In her original life, she made a secret pact with a forgotten primordial spirit tied to the wilderness—a force known as Kynthia. Neither Olympian nor Titan, Kynthia represented the pure, untamed freedom of nature, existing outside the gods' domain.]

Parker's brows shot up. "A primordial spirit? Seriously? And nobody found out?"

The System continued, [Yes host! Kynthia's power gave Atalanta more than just speed or precision. Their bond was symbiotic, tying her to the natural world itself. Trees would shield her from sight, rivers slowed to guide her, animals went silent, and the winds whispered warnings. But this pact wasn't free. Kynthia demanded blood—not in conquest, but as a tribute to maintain balance. Atalanta accepted, viewing Kynthia as an ally and protector, not a master.]

"Holy shit," Parker muttered, his mind racing. He could already picture it—arrows flying like they had minds of their own, the forest coming alive to protect her. "So she wasn't just blessed by Artemis? She had this Kynthia backing her too? That's wild."

[Yes, Host. Atalanta kept her connection to Kynthia hidden, even from Artemis. She feared what the gods would do if they learned she had drawn power from something outside their control. In her reborn form as a champion, traces of her bond with Kynthia are like that they still linger in her soul. When Atalanta faces moments of desperation or danger, subtle manifestations of Kynthia's influence may appear. Think—leaves rustling unnaturally, winds shifting in her favor, or arrows curving mid-air as if alive.]

Parker leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "So, let me get this straight—Kynthia's still in there somewhere, snoozing away, just waiting for the right moment to wake up? And if that happens, Atalanta could basically break the game?"

[Correct, Host. If she reconnects with Kynthia, her abilities could surpass even the strongest Olympian champions. But it would also put her at odds with the gods once more.]

"Odds with the gods, huh?" Parker smirked, shaking his head. "Sounds like my kind of chaos. I mean, she's literally playing with fire, and I kind of respect that. But let's be real for a second—if Artemis found out about Kynthia, would she ditch Atalanta? Like, could she just pull the plug on her blessings?"

[It is possible, Host, but unlikely. Atalanta's bond with Artemis is strong, and the goddess values loyalty. However, the Olympians are not known for tolerating perceived betrayals.]

Parker snorted. "Yeah, I figured. Gods are petty as hell like me. And this pact with Kynthia explain the superpower in her ability; Teether Of Nature and Freedom! She's a walking cheat code too!"

For a moment, he just sat there, piecing everything together. Atalanta wasn't just skilled—she was layered, complicated, and, honestly, dangerous in the best way.

"So, System," he said after a beat, his voice lighter, almost playful. "What's the deal with these primordial spirits? Kynthia's just the tip of the iceberg, right? Tell me more about them. Like, how many are out there, and should I be worried they'll come knocking on my door?"

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He cracked a small grin, knowing full well the System would probably drop another bombshell on him. But hey, if there were secrets to be uncovered, Parker was damn well going to uncover them.

This was his world now, and he had every intention of mastering it—one mystery at a time.