In the silent depths of the pre-dawn night, under the vast, starry Vermont sky on September of 2024, Adam and Evelyn Feynman lie enveloped in the soft embrace of their California king-sized bed. This couple, nestled in the autumn of their years, carry the serene glow of fulfilled lives. Adam, with a career as a renowned biophysicist, and Evelyn, a pioneer in computer engineering and entrepreneurship, had charted paths through the realms of knowledge and innovation, amassing not just wealth, but a wealth of experiences. Now, in their seventies, they rest, unknowingly bound to a digital contagion that has claimed them and about ten percent of the global population. This plague, silent and unseen, blooms within them into a neural lace of unfathomable complexity, a marvel of technology that abruptly shatters their slumber. An auditory alarm, a whisper in the mind that only the infected can perceive, is accompanied by visions of pop-up notifications that materialize from the ether of their consciousness.

In that synchronized moment of awakening, they sit up, their breaths catching in the stillness. The infection had not been indiscriminate; an algorithm had sifted through humanity, selecting them for their intellect and capability. Before them float messages in the air, ethereal and glowing:

:: Mandatory Quest Started: Shadow Monster

:: Details: You have 24 hours to destroy your Shadow

:: Reward: One ability or artifact card

:: Penalty for Failure: Death

They turn to look at each other, seeing past the wear of years to the individuals they were before the world had tumbled into chaos, before an enigmatic system had plunged humanity into a desperate fight for existence. Frailty may outline their forms, Adam at seventy-two and Evelyn at seventy-four, each starting with a solitary ability card. Yet, this vulnerability belies a unique strength, for unlike their fellow survivors, they bear the burden of memory. They remember each sunrise of this particular morning across one-hundred and twenty seven iterations, each ending in their own demise at the whims of an unfathomable system. The reason for their recollection remains a mystery, but its lessons are indelibly etched into their souls.

Adam's voice is low, intimate. "I remember everything," he says, holding Eve's face gently, their foreheads touching in silent communion.

"So do I," she replies, her voice mirroring his calm resolve. "All those times we've died, and only now, at the very end, we remember. Maybe it's a gift."

The quiet is momentarily cleaved by the arrival of another notification:

:: Party Invite Received from Evelyn Feynman

:: Accept? [YES] [NO]

Without a second thought, Adam accepts, reinforcing their bond. Eve, ever more adept with the technology, displays their stats—a readiness for what's to come.

"You always were quickest with the Neural Lace," Adam says, half in thought, half in admiration.

"We should check what we're starting with," Eve suggests, navigating through their digital profiles.

:: Name: Evelyn Feynman

:: Total Potentia: 424, Mana Level: 100%

:: Mind: Intelligence (49), Wisdom (16), Charisma(18)

:: Body: Strength (7), Dexterity (8), Constitution (6)

:: Ability Card Slot 1: Nanite Construction, Tier A, Rank 1

:: Ability Card Slot 2-6: None

:: Artifact Card Slot 1: Neural Lace, Tier S, Rank 3

:: Artifact Card Slot 2-6: None

Adam contemplates, "The standard for human capabilities hovers around ten and peak at 20. Given Eve's age, her physical attributes align, yet her intelligence transcends the conceivable, peaking where others dare not reach. Could the expanse of her memories have shaped this? And her Neural Lace, beginning at Rank 3, hints at unseen depths. Her mastery over Nanite Construction promises a formidable journey ahead."

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:: Name: Adam Feynman

:: Total Potentia: 740, Mana Level: 100%

:: Mind: Intelligence (45), Wisdom (17), Charisma(15)

:: Body: Strength (9), Dexterity (6), Constitution (7)

:: Ability Card Slot 1: Domain, Tier S, Rank 1

:: Ability Card Slot 2-6: None

:: Artifact Card Slot 1: Neural Lace, Tier S, Rank 3

:: Artifact Card Slot 2-6: None

Adam's potentia, bolstered by his singular Tier S Domain ability card, paints a portrait of latent power. His intellect and the advanced rank of his Neural Lace also stand as twin beacons, guiding them towards the early revelation of dungeons and the unlocking of levels yet unexplored.

Amidst the digital tapestry unfurling before them and the weight of destiny on their shoulders, Adam and Eve's gaze eventually drifts to the foot of their bed. There, in a patch of moonlight that seems to cloak her in tranquility, lies Lucy, their beloved elderly golden retriever. Even in sleep, she exudes a sense of peace, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that speaks of countless shared moments, of joy and comfort in each other's presence. In her, they see not just a pet, but a ray of sunshine, a beacon of pure, unconditional love in their lives.

As the reality of their situation settles in, with the dawn of an apocalyptic Earth on the horizon, a new resolve ignites within them. They yearn not only to navigate the challenges ahead for their own sakes but to carve out a sanctuary from the impending chaos for Lucy. The thought of saving her from the inexorable march of ageing and death becomes another vital thread in their tapestry of motivations. In this moment, Lucy symbolizes all they wish to preserve: the flickers of beauty and love in a world teetering on the brink of oblivion.

"We need to start," Eve says suddenly, urgency threading through her voice. "The doppelgangers will be assembled soon. I'll get the gun."

Adam nods, already planning his next moves. "I'll work on the barricades and grab some knives. Might even make a basic shield." He muses over his starting abilities, feeling a mix of regret and relief. "Starting with Domain might actually be a blessing."

Their exchange, grounded and genuine, underlines the depth of their relationship and the shared determination to face whatever lies ahead, together.

Eve heads downstairs, her steps light and determined. In the dim glow of the kitchen light, she retrieves a 9mm gun from the lockbox they had installed years ago—never imagining it would be for such a purpose. Meanwhile, Adam scours the house for anything that could serve as a makeshift barricade or weapon. He settles on a sturdy kitchen knife and, in a moment of desperate creativity, fashions a shield from an old, discarded pizza pan, using string to create makeshift handles.

As he works, Adam's thoughts wander to their abilities, the situation at hand, and the nanites at Eve's command. There's a sense of surreal acceptance to their predicament, an understanding that this, too, is just another chapter in their long, extraordinary lives.

Eve returns, her gaze fixed on Adam's makeshift shield with a flicker of amusement. "Let's see what I can do with this," she says, her voice laced with determination. The air around her hands shimmers as she uses her Nanite Construction ability, reinforcing the pizza pan shield and sharpening the knife to a razor's edge.

The confrontation with their shadows unfolds with a tension that is palpable. Eve's shadow is the first to emerge, a dark mirror armed and dangerous. But Eve, with unwavering focus, fires the gun, her aim true. Adam, with his makeshift shield, manages to hold his ground, drawing on the strength of his Domain ability to manipulate the space around him, creating opportunities for Eve to take the shot. The shadow falls, and from it, Adam retrieves a Heal ability card, a boon they hadn't dared hope for.

Next, they trap Eve's shadow, a more cunning adversary that mirrors her intellect and resourcefulness. The battle is intense, but together, they prevail. Eve's shadow yields an Omnitool card, a versatile tool for crafting that doubles as a melee weapon, enhancing Eve's arsenal significantly.

In the aftermath, they share a moment of quiet, planning their next steps with the new tools and abilities at their disposal. "We need to be smart about this," Adam says, his voice steady. "There's more out there, and we need to be prepared."

Nodding, Eve takes out her phone, starting to message key allies—Adam's nephew Sean, who could help fortify their defenses, and Gwen, a future friend whose skills would be invaluable. Their next destination is clear: the local gun store, for ammunition, additional weapons, and a key gun mastery card for Eve.

With Lucy safely secured in their vehicle, they set out, the dawn's first light painting the sky with hues of hope and despair. As they pull into the gun shop's parking lot, a sense of readiness settles over them. They're no longer just survivors but warriors set on a path to reclaim their world, one shadow at a time.

Note: Chapter prose still being written, incomplete