The timer hit zero without ceremony.
The room did not shake.
No warning lights.
No dramatic shift.
Instead, something appeared.
A transparent interface unfolded in layers, hovering at chest level for everyone.
[Resource Allocation Event Initiated]
Resource Type: Time Credits
Distribution Method: Competitive Claim
A soft chime followed.
In the center of the room, a vertical column of light descended from nowhere, solidifying into floating shards—clear, crystalline, each one etched with faint numerals.
Ethan's breath slowed.
He didn't need the system to explain.
He already understood.
Time, extracted.
Time, stored.
Time, transferable.
A clarification panel appeared.
[Time Credits]
– Redeemable to offset penalties
– Usable for delayed execution
– Tradable under system-approved conditions
At the bottom, in smaller text:
[Credits do not extend natural lifespan. They alter enforcement timing.]
Liam laughed quietly.
"So you don't live longer," he said. "You just… die later."
"No," Mara corrected. "You buy flexibility."
The shards drifted apart, spreading through the room.
Above them, a counter appeared.
Available Credits: 12
Below it:
Participants: 7
The math was immediate.
Not everyone would get one.
[Claim Window: 90 seconds]
The room changed instantly.
No one moved—at first.
Then Liam stepped forward.
Not fast.
Not aggressive.
Just confident.
A shard responded, drifting toward him as if recognizing intent.
Ethan saw it clearly now.
This wasn't about speed.
It was about priority.
Ranking.
Behavioral flags.
System favor.
Liam reached out.
The shard snapped into his palm and dissolved.
[Time Credit Acquired]
The counter dropped to 11.
Chaos followed.
Two people lunged at the same shard. One hesitated—and lost it. Another froze, calculating too long.
Ethan didn't move.
He was watching the pattern.
Who the system favored.
Who it ignored.
Who it subtly pushed aside.
A shard drifted near him.
Close enough to touch.
He waited.
A warning flickered at the edge of his vision.
[Delayed Action Detected]
So waiting was a risk too.
Ethan stepped forward—but not toward the nearest shard.
He moved toward one no one else was watching.
It hesitated.
Then aligned.
Pain flared briefly in his chest.
A familiar sensation.
[Acquisition Cost Applied]
Cost: 4 months
The shard dissolved into his hand.
[Time Credit Acquired]
The counter dropped to 6.
Half gone.
The punished man failed to claim one.
So did two others.
When the timer hit zero, the remaining shards vanished.
The interface updated.
[Allocation Complete]
A final notice appeared, cold and absolute.
[Non-Recipients: Increased Exposure Applied]
The punished man exhaled slowly.
"They're marking us," he said.
"Yes," Mara replied. "For future balance."
Liam glanced at Ethan, eyes sharp.
"You hesitated," he said. "But not enough."
Ethan met his gaze.
"I learned," he replied. "That's cheaper than guessing."
Liam smiled—but this time, it didn't reach his eyes.
A private notification bloomed in Ethan's vision.
[Resource Interaction Logged]
Trait Reinforced: Deferred Optimization
Another line followed.
[Volatility Increased]
The system wasn't done with him.
Not even close.
Time Credits were not rewards.
They were leverage.
And now that leverage existed, people would start using each other to get more.