"Look, Mr. Dale, you are a bright and talented individual, but your employment history is concerning. I hope you understand why we have to look for a more stable candidate."

[End of Audio message from the Head of Human Resources at ROG Digital Works]

"It seems you have not been employed for over a year. For a twenty-five-year-old, this is highly concerning. We have to look at other options."

[End of Audio message from the GK-HR Consulting]

"Kid, your pops and I go way back, but I will not let you leech off me as you did with him till he passed. Be grateful that I let you keep his apartment cuz that place could have easily been sold to recover the company losses."

[End of Audio message from the CEO of KUNDA Constructions]

[Does User Dale like to hear the rest of the audio messages?]

"How many are still left, Lina?"

[Twelve]

"Any of them good news?"

[I am afraid not]

"Then delete them all."

[Understood! User Dale has several unread emails related to outstanding bills]

"How much is left in the Bank?"

[Fifty-three dollars]

"Looks like I will have to sell my game console. How much is it currently worth?"

[Five hundred and Sixty Three Dollars]

"Didn't Dad spend over a thousand dollars on it as a birthday present?"

[That was the value four years ago]

"Whatever, just sell it to the highest bidder online."

Dale lets out a tired sigh as he stares at his reflection in the bedroom mirror. He has a Mediterranean skin tone and thick black hair pulled back into a man-bun. His figure is heavy on the chubby side, and the buttons on his clothes are straining to keep the flesh from popping out. After washing his hands, Dale then walks over to the dining room and then digs into a plate of lasagna, which had been prepared by the artificial intelligence who had control over the apartment's food printer.

Though he was almost broke, the apartment he inherited from his father was luxurious. It had every kind of advanced technology you could want in 2099. Moreover, he didn't have to worry about the water and electricity bills as there were dedicated renewable energy and resource collectors on the roof of his apartment that supplied it for free. The view from the living room overlooked a sprawling metropolis known as Baltimore. After the Cold War with China ended, the city became one of the best places to live in the US.

Though he lived in luxury, Dale had shut himself off from those who he cared about and lost interest in trying to stay in shape, as getting into a relationship wasn't on his list of priorities. He has spent several months wasting away in his apartment while looking for a company to hire him.

[Does User Dale wish to listen to the daily news?]

"Sure, I got nothing else to do."

[Article 1: Tensions are still rising among the five great powers, namely the US, Russia, China, India, and the EUF, who have mobilized their armed forces for several military exercises with their regional allies. Experts say that a war will eventually break out if this trend continues, but some say that is. The victor of the coming conflict will lead the world as the sole superpower.

Article 2: We are one month away from welcoming the new century, and countries around the world are pouring everything they have to celebrate this New year like none that came before. Movie Stars from Hollywood and Bollywood are holding a joint event to raise money for the Island nations whose countries have been erased by the rising sea levels.

Article 3: Ever since PETA introduced the synthetic meat labs, which replaced the old slaughterhouses, the world has had to say goodbye to many Human-bred animals. PETA has created a new VR Zoo in the META market where children can have the chance to see these extinct species and have an opportunity to understand why they had to die.

Article 4: Breaking News! A mysterious app has appeared in every ultra smartphone with a personal AI Butler. The app is believed to be created by hackers. Governments have warned their citizens that the app might be used to steal private data. Unfortunately, tech companies have yet to find a way to delete it]

"Hold on! Is there one on my phone as well?"

[Running emergency systems diagnostics...Found a malicious app. Source unknown... placing the app in quarantine]

"Wait, I want to check out this app."

[Governments have warned that private data is at risk!]

"Fuck the Government! I have no data worth stealing other than my browsing history. Open the damn app!"

[Warning! The User of this phone forsakes all insurance and protection of the law if this action is taken]

"I doubt I can continue to pay the insurance. If an app cannot be deleted by the best tech companies, it has to be worth looking."

[Launching the App... It requires the User's DNA code to activate]

"DNA codes? Weird, but go ahead and provide the app with that info."

[Processing...User Dale has been successfully registered in the Monster App database]

"Is it a game?"

[User Dale has received an email generated from the Monster App]

"Read it out for me, Lina."

[Humans! Your world will end on the first day of the new year. If you wish to survive the apocalypse, receive my egg, fertilize, hatch, and evolve the creature within. Unimaginable horrors await those who fail at this simple task. Know that what is coming is for my amusement. Everyone will soon fear the name, The Majestic Pink Fluffals the Third!]

An awkward silence follows the message as Dale visibly struggles to stop laughing.

"Damn! This troll has gone above and beyond to grab people's attention."

[Does User Dale consider the message a joke?]

"The new year begins in thirty days, so we will find out if this Fluffals the Third is trolling or not."

[Is User Dale not worried about the damage the app could inflict on this device]

"Since it was part of my inheritance, I get to decide what to do with it."

Lina launches the Monster app. First, a main menu with the logo appears in an interactive projection above the device. Next, Dale uses the air touch feature to press the 'Enter' button on the title screen. A white egg materializes over the phone before a system pop-up appears in front of it.

Egg - Unfertilized

To fertilize the egg, the User must complete the following stages in any order. Stages 6-10 will unlock if you clear stages 1-5.

Stage 1 - Walk/Run 5 Kilometers daily (0/5)

Stage 2 - 50 consecutive Push-ups daily (0/5)

Stage 3 - 50 consecutive Surya Namaskar/Greet the sun Yoga daily (0/5)

Stage 4 - 50 consecutive squats daily (0/5)

Stage 5 - 50 consecutive Leg Lifts daily (0/5)

Stage 6 - Locked

Stage 7 - Locked

Stage 8 - Locked

Stage 9 - Locked

Stage 10 - Locked

"Hmmm, these all look like tasks you find on a fitness app."

[As User Dale suggested, the creator of the app might be a troll]

"Most of these tasks I can do at home, but doing fifty times consecutively is daunting since I am not as fit as I used to be."

[User Dale has gained a lot of weight by stress-eating, so exercise will be good for the body]

"Lina, find me some suitable jogging routes near the apartment. I will start with warming up my body with a simple walk."

[Five routes have been mapped out for User Dale to choose]

Dale looked at the list presented in the projection and selected one that passed by a luxury suburban area.

[Does User Dale wish to meet Mash Royce?]

"I feel bad for avoiding him all this time. Might as well drop by and see what he thinks about this app."