The glow of the System hadn't fully faded. Numbers still scrolled across Jack's vision as he paced Helena's darkened apartment, the faint click of his boots against marble louder than the city outside.
Helena sat curled on the bed, silk sheets drawn around her bare body. She looked small, fragile, though her eyes never left him. Fear and hunger, both fighting for dominance.
The System's hum grew louder until it crystallized into a chime:
[Perk Roll Completed]
[Result: Shadow Leverage (Unique — Control Tier)]
Effect: Exploit Rival's Weakness. When Rival Marcus is forced to witness or hear rejection, his Control drops an additional 15% for 12h.]
Jack's grin stretched slow, feral. "Perfect."
He turned back to Helena, crouching low so she couldn't look away. "You felt that, didn't you? The way he pulled at you. Tried to make you break."
Her lips parted. "It was like… like drowning. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think—" She trembled, clutching the sheet tighter. "But then you—"
Jack caught her wrist, pulling the sheet away from her chest. "But then I stopped it. Because you're mine."
Her body arched instinctively into his touch. A broken sound slipped out, somewhere between relief and surrender.
The System purred:
[Asset Helena Cross — Bond Strength 78%]
[Note: Rival Marcus influence suppressed — Duration: 12h]
Jack pressed his lips to her ear, whispering dark. "Every time you look at me instead of him, I get stronger. Every time you say no to him—even without words—you cut him open for me. Understand?"
Her nod was quick, desperate. "Yes… Jack."
[Micro-Quest Complete: Affirm Allegiance]
[Reward: +200 XP | Bond Strengthened]
Jack pulled back, satisfied. He stood, dragging on his shirt. "Get some rest. You'll need it."
She bit her lip. "Why?"
"Because the next time he comes, I won't just defend you." Jack's grin sharpened. "I'll use you to break him."
The System hummed in dark agreement.
Marcus leaned against a bar across town, neon dripping across his face like blood. His reflection in the empty glass glared back at him. He wasn't used to losing.
The System burned across his sightline, mocking him:
[Warning: Rival Suppression Active]
[Control Reduced to 30% | Weakness Exploited: Envy]
[Status: Forced Withdrawal Cooldown — 11h 23m]
He slammed the glass down hard enough to crack it. The bartender glanced over, then looked away just as quickly. Predators carried a weight.
Marcus muttered under his breath. "Envy." The word tasted like rust. "That bastard made her scream his name and it cut through me like a knife."
The System offered no comfort.
[Note: Rival Jack's new perk amplifies your weakness]
[Countermeasure: Increase Corruption or Strike Rival Asset Directly]
Marcus smirked bitterly. "Fine. If I can't break her, I'll break the weak one."
He tapped into his HUD, flipping through the icons until he found the secretary's tag. She glowed faint red—shaky, torn, not fully reclaimed by Jack even after the last encounter.
"Perfect." Marcus's grin twisted. "I'll make her turn on him herself. And when she does, Helena will see it. And envy will cut him."
The System chimed approvingly:
[Side Quest Created: Invert the Asset]
[Objective: Manipulate Secretary into betraying Jack]
[Reward: +500 XP | Rival Suppression Reversed]
Marcus drained the cracked glass, blood on his knuckles from squeezing too tight. "Let's play, Jack. Let's see if you can protect both your toys."
Back in Helena's apartment, Jack sketched lines across her landlord's calendar on the kitchen counter. Helena hovered near him, robe loose, eyes darting between the clock and his pen strokes.
"You're planning already," she whispered.
Jack didn't look up. "Always."
"You really think he'll come back tonight?"
Jack's smirk curved dark. "He doesn't need tonight. He'll wait. He'll pick a soft point. Which means I just have to make sure the only soft point is him."
The System pulsed suddenly, intrusive:
[Hidden Message Unlocked — Rival Marcus Transmission]
Words scrawled across his HUD in burning red:
"Enjoy your win. I'll enjoy hers when she's begging to betray you."
Jack froze for half a second, then laughed out loud. Helena blinked. "What?"
"Nothing," Jack said, eyes glinting. "Just my rival showing his hand."
[Micro-Quest: Counter the Inversion]
[Objective: Fortify Secretary's loyalty before Marcus can invert her]
[Reward: +600 XP | Rival Suppression Extended]
Jack clicked the pen shut and stood. "Helena. Dress. You're coming with me."
She startled. "Now?"
"Yes. If Marcus wants to make you jealous, I'll feed him exactly what he wants." His grin sharpened. "But I'll make sure it destroys him instead."
The System approved:
[Quest Path Unlocked: Shadow Theater]
[Objective: Weaponize Rival Weakness — Stage rejection publicly]
[Reward: +1000 XP | Rival Envy Damage Multiplied]
Helena swallowed, then nodded.
The secretary's apartment was smaller, cheaper, filled with warm lamplight and cluttered books. She answered the door with wide eyes, still pale from Marcus's earlier touch.
Jack stepped in without asking. Helena followed, silent shadow at his back.
The secretary's voice wavered. "Jack, I—I don't understand. He was here, he said—"
Jack cut her off with a sharp gesture. "I don't care what he said. Look at me."
Her gaze snapped up instantly, shaky breath catching.
The System chimed:
[Influence Drain Activated — Rival Hold Reduced to 20%]
Jack's eyes glittered. "Good. You still know where you belong."
Helena shifted behind him, arms crossed, watching with cold detachment. The secretary's cheeks burned at the sight.
Jack leaned in close, thumb brushing her lip the way he had the first night. "Marcus thought he owned you. But tell me—when you picture someone bending you over this couch, whose face do you see?"
Her knees nearly gave. "Y-yours," she gasped.
The System roared approval:
[Micro-Quest Complete: Counter the Inversion]
[Reward: +600 XP | Bond Restored — Secretary 90%]
Helena's voice slid in, smooth and dangerous. "She's pathetic, Jack. Look at her."
The secretary flushed darker, shame twisting into something hotter.
Jack glanced back at Helena, then smirked. "No. She's mine. Which means Marcus doesn't touch her again."
Helena's eyes sparked at the word mine. She turned away, but her hands trembled at her sides.
The System purred in his skull:
[Rival Weakness Weaponized: Envy]
[Condition Met: Rival will take damage when observing Helena's jealousy]
Jack looked between the two women—one ruined, one seething—and laughed under his breath. "Let him watch. Let him break."
Across the city, Marcus jolted, a sudden crack of pain through his HUD as if something inside him had splintered.
The System flashed cruelly:
[Rival Weakness Exploited]
[Control −15% | Rage Status Heightened]
Marcus gritted his teeth, fury boiling hot. "Jack… you bastard."
He slammed his hand against the bar, glass shattering, blood dripping freely this time. His grin returned, sharp through the red. "Fine. You want war in the open? Then I'll burn your ladder out from under you."
The System responded instantly:
[Major Counter-Quest Created: Sabotage Jack's Rise]
[Objective: Ruin Jack's reputation and destroy his assets before they solidify]
[Reward: +2000 XP | Control Reclaim Bonus]
Marcus stood, aura flaring around him like a stormfront. The bar lights flickered and went out, patrons scattering. He was already gone.
Back in the secretary's apartment, Jack pocketed her phone after making sure the forwarded messages still pinged his inbox first. Helena leaned against the wall, watching him like he was something dangerous she couldn't look away from.
"You're playing with fire," she whispered.
Jack smirked, pulling her close enough to make her breath catch. "Good. Fire's the only thing that leaves marks."
The System glowed cold:
[Quest Progress: Rivalry 55%]
Jack's grin didn't falter. "Checkmate's coming."