The morning sun barely pierced the haze over the city.
Kalyan sat on the balcony of his small apartment, tallying points in his head. 165 points. Barely enough to buy a minor skill, but enough to test the system's mechanics.
Ledger:
"Points available: 165. Skill purchase possible: minimal. Risk of permanent cost: present. Are you ready to pay?"
He clenched his fists. Every point had been earned through pain, observation, and near-death calculation. There was no luck here—just survival and debt.
Kalyan:
"Show me the shop."
The System Shop
The apartment flickered as translucent shelves and floating icons materialized. Skills, weapons, artifacts, even body parts—everything shimmered with a cold, otherworldly light.
Ledger:
"Welcome. All available items are priced according to rarity, power, and potential harm to the user. Nothing is free. Everything is a contract."
Kalyan's eyes were drawn to a skill labeled:
"Kinetic Fist — F-tier"
Aura-imbued unarmed combat skill
Price: 150 points
Activation cost: temporary micro-damage to muscles and aura instability
He hesitated. The Ledger reminded him:
"Every skill applied incurs debt. Reuse without proper payment will permanently injure or kill you."
Purchase and Activation
Kalyan clicked to purchase. A sharp, burning sensation shot through his arm and chest—the Ledger was collecting the cost instantly.
Ledger:
"Micro-damage applied. Aura recalibrated. Skill acquired: permanent. Points deducted: 150. Remaining: 15."
His fist glowed faintly. Every strike, every block, every movement now had measurable, enhanced precision and speed. But the pain lingered—the Ledger never let him forget.
Kalyan whispered, teeth gritted:
"Worth it."
Ledger Teaches Ruthlessness
Ledger:
"Do not forget, debtor. Every skill you acquire makes the next purchase more expensive. Every desire accrues interest. Strength is never free. Survival is never free."
Kalyan flexed, testing his new ability. Punching a stack of bricks left a clean split. Even the simplest skill carried weight, cost, and consequence.
Ledger:
"Do you feel it? The first taste of true debt? Remember it well. All rewards are contracts. And some contracts require blood."
Foreshadowing the Higher Tiers
Outside the apartment, faint shadows moved along the rooftops. They were not monsters—human observers, calculating, measuring, noting anomalies.
Ledger:
"The Association and beyond are watching. SS-rank humans, multiversal entities, those who have survived countless Rafts. They notice you, F-rank. Your potential is dangerous. Interest will be collected… eventually."
Kalyan's aura flickered, a small flame against the fading city lights.
Kalyan:
"Then I'll survive. And I'll make the world pay attention to me."
Closing Hook
Ledger's voice whispered, almost amused:
"Points are small. Risk is great. This is only the beginning. You will learn that survival is never free… and ambition always comes at a cost."
And as he looked at the system shop's floating shelves, Kalyan knew one truth: every skill, every artifact, every heartbeat of power had a price—and he would pay it, one way or another.