I'm going to die here, he thought. Not even as a person. As a 'potion base.'
"Wait," Ostein wheezed, pushing himself up on one elbow. "I... I have something better than money."
The Boss paused, his heavy boot inches from Ostein's face. "Oh? And what does a rat have to offer?"
"I can... I can show you where the Academy keeps the spirit-stones," Ostein lied, his mind racing. He needed them to touch him. He needed a connection.
The leaner man laughed, stepping closer. "He's stalling. Let me just open his throat and get it over with." He reached down, grabbing Ostein by the collar of his uniform to pull him up for the kill.
[Link Established.]
[Target: 'Skinny' Jack]
[Analyzing Ability: 'Viper's Reflex' (Rank F+)]
[Comparison: User Level 2 | Target Level 3]
[Success Rate: 85%]
Do it! Ostein screamed internally. Take it before he cuts me!
[Acquiring Ability...]
[Warning: Physical contact must be maintained for 5 seconds.]
"What are you staring at, rat?" Jack growled, raising the knife.
Ostein didn't pull away. Instead, he grabbed Jack's wrist with both hands, clinging to him like a drowning man.
"One... two..." Ostein counted under his breath.
"Get off me!" Jack snarled, trying to shake him loose. He punched Ostein in the face, but Ostein held on, teeth gritted, blood spraying from his nose.
"Three... four..."
"Kill him, Jack! What are you waiting for?" the Boss shouted.
Jack lunged with the knife—but just as the blade grazed Ostein's neck, a violet spark erupted between their palms.
[Ability Acquired: 'Viper's Reflex' (Rank F+ - Level 1)]
[Slot 1/2 Filled.]
[Effect: Increases reaction speed by 20%. Your nerves are now hardwired for survival.]
Jack suddenly went limp, his eyes glazing over as his "spark" was ripped out. He stumbled back, dropping the knife. "My... my hands... they feel heavy. I can't move them right!"
Ostein didn't waste a second. The new ability kicked in—his brain felt like it had been overclocked. He saw the Boss moving toward him, but the movement felt slow.
He scrambled toward the Boss, not running away, but diving straight for the man's leg.
"You brat!" The Boss roared, swinging a massive fist.
Ostein ducked—a move he never could have made a minute ago—and wrapped his arms around the Boss's ankle.
[Target: The Boss]
[Analyzing Ability: 'Stone Skin' (Rank E-)]
[Comparison: User Level 2 | Target Level 5]
[Success Rate: 40% - DANGEROUS]
[System Warning: If the 'Stone Skin' extraction fails, your mana-veins will shatter.]
Ostein looked at the timer: [21:03:44]. He looked at the Boss's fist descending like a hammer.
"Better a shattered soul than a potion base," Ostein hissed. "ACTIVATE!"
The warehouse was filled with a blinding violet light and the sound of grinding rock.
[Current Status:]
[Level: 2]
[Ability 1: Viper's Reflex (F+)]
[Ability 2: Extraction in Progress...]
[Time Remaining: 21:03:40]
The violet light filling the warehouse intensified until it reached a fever pitch, the sound of grinding stone crescendoing into a sharp crack.
[Extraction Successful!]
[Ability Acquired: 'Stone Skin' (Rank E- — Level 1)]
[Slot 2/2 Filled.]
As the Boss's ability was ripped from his soul, his skin—which had been as hard as granite—turned pale and doughy. He let out a strangled cry of shock, his massive fist hitting Ostein's shoulder with the force of an ordinary man rather than a monster.
Suddenly, a cascade of notifications flooded Ostein's vision, glowing with a golden hue that cut through the warehouse grime.
[Mission 1: The First Harvest — COMPLETED]
[Rewards: 500 XP, 1x Minor Essence Shard]
[Level Up! Level 2 -> Level 3]
[Level Up! Level 3 -> Level 4]
Ostein felt a surge of warmth knit his broken ribs back together. He stood up, his eyes glowing with a faint, predatory violet. The 'Viper's Reflex' made his movements fluid, while the 'Stone Skin' made his forearms feel heavy and indestructible. He raised his fists, a wild, vengeful smile breaking through the blood on his face. He was ready to turn the scavengers into the "terrain."
"My turn," Ostein rasped.
But before he could strike, the warehouse doors didn't just open—they disintegrated.
A flash of white light, blinding and clinical, filled the room. High-ranking City Officers in silver-and-blue plate armor stormed in, led by a captain whose presence alone made the air feel pressurized.
"City Guard! Drop your weapons!" the Captain roared.
The scavengers, now powerless and terrified, hit the dirt immediately. Ostein, his body finally crashing from the massive adrenaline spike and the rapid-fire leveling, felt his knees buckle. The violet screens in his eyes flickered and faded.
"Hey, kid! Stay with us," a muffled voice called out as an officer caught him before his head hit the stones.
Ostein tried to speak, to tell them he wasn't just a victim anymore, but the darkness was too heavy. As his eyes closed, one final, quiet notification drifted across his mind.Then, everything went black.
[Status Update:]
[Name: Ostein]
[Level: 4]
[Ability 1: Viper's Reflex (F+)]
[Ability 2: Stone Skin (E-)]
[Condition: Unconscious / Stabilizing]
Chapter ended...