Capítulo 18: Chapter 18: Shadows of Morality
The next few days passed in a blur for Alex. The high of earning points from his indirect manipulation of events had worn off, replaced by an increasing sense of unease. He had successfully protected Foggy Nelson without being noticed, but something about the whole ordeal bothered him.
Alex couldn't quite put his finger on it at first. After all, he had done everything right, hadn't he? He had stayed hidden, kept his involvement to a minimum, and earned points without drawing attention to himself. But every time he thought about Foggy walking away without ever knowing the danger he was in, a strange, hollow feeling settled in his chest.
Was this what he wanted? To be a ghost in this world, pulling strings from behind the curtain while others lived their lives oblivious to his interference? He knew he needed power to survive, but at what cost?
These questions weighed on Alex's mind as he sat in his cramped apartment, staring blankly at the glowing numbers on his system panel.
Points: 85/1,000.
The Platinum Wheel felt so far away. At this pace, it could take months, maybe years, to reach the threshold. He had hoped for a faster progression, but reality was sinking in—accumulating points without exposing himself was going to take time, effort, and a whole lot of patience.
But that was fine. Alex could handle patience. What he couldn't handle was this gnawing feeling of detachment, like he was becoming more of a spectator in this world than a participant. It wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about something deeper.
He needed to feel like he belonged here, that he wasn't just an outsider manipulating lives like pieces on a chessboard. He needed to connect with this world in a real, human way.
But how?
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Later that evening, Alex found himself wandering the streets of Hell's Kitchen, the air thick with the usual mix of urban noise and the low hum of distant conversations. It had been a long time since he had just walked through the city without a specific mission or goal in mind. It felt strange, almost aimless.
As he strolled through the dimly lit streets, his Spider-Sense tingled faintly—a reminder that danger was never far away in this part of town. He kept his senses sharp, but tonight wasn't about chasing points or manipulating events. Tonight, he just needed to think.
The city had a way of reminding you that you were just one small part of a much larger puzzle. The skyscrapers loomed overhead like silent sentinels, watching as people hurried past each other, caught up in their own lives, their own struggles. It was easy to forget, sometimes, that this world was real, that the people here had lives and stories of their own.
Alex's thoughts drifted back to Foggy Nelson. The man had no idea how close he had come to being kidnapped—or worse—and that bothered Alex. He had saved Foggy, sure, but Foggy didn't even know it. What was the point of helping people if they never knew you existed? Was it enough to influence things from the shadows, or did he need something more?
As Alex rounded a corner, he spotted a small bar tucked away between two larger buildings. The flickering neon sign above the door read Josie's, and he remembered seeing the name in a few Daredevil comics. It was one of Matt Murdock's haunts, a place where he and Foggy would grab a drink after a long day of defending the defenseless.
Without really thinking about it, Alex crossed the street and pushed open the door. The interior was dimly lit, with the low murmur of conversation filling the space. The air smelled of stale beer and old wood, and the bartender—a middle-aged woman with tired eyes—barely glanced up as Alex walked in.
He found a seat at the bar and ordered a beer, even though he wasn't much of a drinker. He needed something to occupy his hands, something to make him feel like he belonged here, even if only for a moment.
As he sipped his drink, his mind continued to wander. The system had given him incredible power, and with that power came the responsibility to use it wisely. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that power wasn't enough. He needed purpose. He needed a reason to care about this world beyond just accumulating points and surviving.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door to the bar swung open, and a familiar face stepped inside.
Foggy Nelson.
Alex's heart skipped a beat as he watched Foggy walk in, his expression tired but determined. He looked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Foggy took a seat at the end of the bar, ordering a drink without even glancing around the room.
For a moment, Alex considered leaving. He didn't want to risk being noticed, didn't want to complicate things by interacting with the very people he was trying to manipulate from a distance. But something kept him rooted to his seat.
This was his chance. A chance to see Foggy not as a target or a pawn in some grand scheme, but as a person. A real, flawed human being with his own struggles and doubts.
Alex watched as Foggy nursed his drink, his shoulders slumping slightly as the weight of the day settled in. It was a quiet moment, one of those rare glimpses into the life of a man who, despite his flaws, was trying to do the right thing in a world that often made it impossible.
Before he could stop himself, Alex stood up and walked over to Foggy's end of the bar. He hesitated for a second, then slid into the seat next to him.
"Long day?" Alex asked, his voice casual but sincere.
Foggy glanced at him, clearly surprised that a stranger had struck up a conversation. He looked exhausted, but there was still a flicker of kindness in his eyes.
"Yeah," Foggy replied with a tired chuckle. "You could say that."
They sat in silence for a moment, the noise of the bar fading into the background.
"I'm Alex," he offered, extending a hand. "New in town."
Foggy shook his hand, though he seemed too tired to muster much enthusiasm. "Foggy. Nelson, actually. But most people just call me Foggy."
They shared a few more pleasantries, the conversation staying light and surface-level. But as they talked, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this was the connection he had been missing. Foggy wasn't a superhero, wasn't part of some grand cosmic plan. He was just a guy trying to do his best in a world full of corruption and danger.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, Alex felt like he wasn't alone.
As the night wore on, their conversation drifted to the struggles of living in New York, the grind of daily life, and the small victories that made it all worth it. Foggy opened up, even if just a little, about the pressure of working for a small law firm, the weight of defending people who couldn't defend themselves.
Alex listened, really listened, and something shifted inside him. This wasn't just about points or survival anymore. It was about finding his place in this world, about making a real difference—not just in the big battles, but in the small moments that defined people's lives.
By the time Foggy finished his drink and stood to leave, Alex knew he had found his answer. He didn't need to be a puppet master in the shadows, manipulating events for the sake of accumulating points. He could be more. He could be someone who truly cared about the people in this world, someone who used his power not just to survive, but to help others in a way that mattered.
As Foggy left the bar, giving Alex a nod of thanks, Alex smiled to himself.
He had a long road ahead of him, and plenty of challenges to face, but for the first time, he didn't feel like a stranger in this world. He felt like he belonged.
And that, more than any number of points or power-ups, was worth fighting for.
Status de energia semanal
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Poder 
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Poder