Rain… pouring. Hard. Cold.
Greyvale smells like… rot. Stone. Death.
I'm crouched in a corner. Wet. Shivering. Empty-handed.
Nineteen years old. Nothing.
Nothing at all.
No coins.
No friends.
No hope.
"Please… just one coin…" I whisper.
My voice cracks.
Nobody stops.
Nobody cares.
Only shadows move faster than the rain.
Then… that voice.
Low. Cruel.
"You still owe, Kael."
I freeze.
I know that voice.
Shadows peel off the alley walls.
Scarred men.
Teeth broken.
Hungry.
Debt collectors.
"You know the rules.
Pay… or…"
The grin.
I can feel it in my bones.
Hunger.
Malice.
"I… I have nothing!" I choke out.
They laugh.
Cold. Sharp.
I want to disappear.
Then… something lands at my feet.
A small black book.
"Take it.
Gift… or curse.
The system chooses."
I pick it up.
Feels… alive.
My hands shake.
I open it.
Letters burn into my eyes:
"I will give you what you need.
Money.
Power.
Respect.
Every gain… has a price.
Choose wisely… or die."
My chest tightens.
The alley… it twists.
The rain gets heavier.
Streetlights bend.
And then… a voice.
Inside my head.
Whispering.
"Welcome, Kael.
Your debt begins.
You have three choices…
Steal from the rich tonight
Gamble your life for money
Serve the system… until your soul is mine"
Hunger bites.
Fear bites harder.
But… anger.
Fire.
I pick the first.
Survival.
The world… shifts.
A mansion appears.
Gold.
Candlelight.
Wealth.
Too much.
The system whispers:
"Mission: Infiltrate.
Take at least 100 coins worth.
Fail… and die."
I swallow.
Every failure before…
They would have killed me.
But now…
I'm alive.
For a spark of something.
Hunger.
Fear.
Thrill.
I step forward.
Door groans.
Inside… servants move.
Quiet.
Blind.
Every step is thunder.
Heart hammering.
The study.
Chest.
Coins.
Rings.
Jewels.
Fingers itch.
Then…
A servant.
Behind me.
Freeze.
System whispers:
"Do you flee…
Fight…
Or deceive?"
Time slows.
Mind races.
Instinct screams.
I grab a velvet cloth.
Toss it over the jewels.
"Just… dusting."
The servant frowns…
Leaves.
I exhale.
Alive.
For now.
Outside, rain pounds harder.
I don't care.
Coins.
My first.
Taste of power.
System hums:
"100 coins acquired.
Level up.
Rewards:
Stealth +5
Dexterity +3
Hunger +10
Next mission: survive the night.
Fail…
And your debt grows."
Fists clench.
Hunger.
Fear.
Anger.
Fuel.
Fire.
I will never be powerless again.
The book shimmers.
Words slice in:
"The poor die easy…
But the clever… rise.
Your debt is only beginning."
I smile.
Cold.
Sharp.
Hungry.
Desperate.
Ambition.
I will…
Eat the world alive.