The poisoned dagger sliced through the rain, aiming directly for Ethan's throat.
Having a 'Pathetic' Strength stat and 'Below Average' Agility meant Ethan's body couldn't react fast enough to block or counter. But his mind, sharpened by years of high-stress corporate crisis management, was already moving.
Instead of trying to dodge backward, Ethan threw his entire weight forward, collapsing his knees and dropping into the filthy puddles of the alleyway.
The blade whistled mere inches over his head, slicing off a few strands of his wet hair.
The assassin, clearly not expecting their target to simply collapse like a sack of potatoes, overextended. Their momentum carried them forward, their boot catching on the uneven cobblestone.
Ethan scrambled backward like a crab, his heart hammering against his ribs. "Whoa, hey! Let's talk about this!"
The assassin recovered with terrifying grace, spinning around in a fluid crouch. But the sudden movement had dislodged their dark hood. It fell back, revealing the face of Ethan's would-be killer.
Ethan froze.
She was breathtaking. Pale, flawless skin contrasted sharply with midnight-black hair that cascaded down her shoulders. Her eyes were a striking, luminous violet, currently narrowed in lethal concentration. She wore a form-fitting leather combat suit beneath her cloak, designed for stealth and mobility.
Despite the deadly poison dripping from her blade, Ethan couldn't help but stare. His 'Charm' stat might have been his highest attribute, but his appreciation for beauty was entirely his own.
Suddenly, the blue System interface flared to life, overlaying her figure.
[Potential Bond Identified!]
Name: Selene Nightveil
Age: 20
Rank: Master (Level 42)
Class: Shadow Assassin
Affiliation: Shadow Guild
Current Bond Level: Hostile (Intent to Kill)
"Master," Aria's voice chimed urgently in his mind. "The disparity in your power levels is absolute. Physical resistance has a 0% chance of success. I highly recommend utilizing your highest attribute: Charm."
"Charm her?" Ethan thought frantically. "She's trying to stab me!"
"The System responds to emotional resonance, Master. Surprise, intrigue, and amusement are the first steps to Interest."
Selene stepped forward, her violet eyes locked onto his chest where the fatal wound had been just minutes prior. "What kind of dark magic is this, Vale? I felt my blade pierce your heart. I watched the venom enter your veins. You should be a corpse."
Ethan swallowed hard. He had to bluff. He had to be interesting. If he acted like a terrified victim, she would just finish the job.
He forced a smirk onto his face, leaning back against the brick wall and crossing his arms, trying to look entirely unbothered by the fact that he was sitting in a puddle of garbage.
"You know, for a professional assassin, your bedside manner is terrible," Ethan said, his voice remarkably steady. "And your poison? A bit bitter for my taste. I'd give it a three out of ten."
Selene paused, the tip of her dagger lowering a fraction of an inch. Confusion flickered across her beautiful features. "You're mocking me. You are the disgraced bastard of the Vale family. A weakling. A coward. Why aren't you begging for your life?"
"Because I already died once tonight, and frankly, it was exhausting," Ethan replied, locking eyes with her. He let his gaze wander over her, allowing a genuine smile to touch his lips. "Besides, if I knew the Shadow Guild was sending someone this gorgeous to kill me, I would have dressed up."
Selene's eyes widened slightly. The sheer audacity of the comment, coming from a boy who was supposed to be dead, threw her completely off balance. Assassins were used to fear, anger, and bargaining. They were not used to being flirted with by their resurrected targets.
[System Notification: Target 'Selene Nightveil' is experiencing confusion and intrigue.]
[Bond Level Shift: Hostile -> Neutral]
"You are insane," Selene whispered, her grip tightening on her dagger. But she didn't lunge. "Or you are possessed by a demon."
"Neither. Just a guy who got a second chance and doesn't plan on wasting it," Ethan said, slowly pushing himself to his feet. He kept his hands visible, showing he was unarmed. "Whoever hired you, Selene, they didn't pay you enough to deal with an immortal."
She flinched at the sound of her name. "How do you know my name?"
"I know a lot of things," Ethan bluffed smoothly, thanking the System silently. "I also know that if you kill me now, you'll never find out how I survived. You'll go back to your Guild Master with a half-finished job and a mystery you can't solve. Is that the kind of reputation the great Selene Nightveil wants?"
Selene stared at him, her violet eyes searching his face for any sign of deception. The rain continued to pour, washing the last of the blood from Ethan's torn shirt.
For a long, tense moment, the alley was silent except for the storm.
Then, slowly, Selene twirled the dagger in her hand, making it vanish into a hidden sheath at her waist.
"You are different, Ethan Vale," she said, her voice losing its harsh edge, replaced by a dangerous curiosity. "The boy I stabbed was a sniveling rat. You... you are something else entirely."
[System Notification: Target 'Selene Nightveil' has developed an interest in the Host.]
[Bond Established: Selene Nightveil]
[Current Bond Level: Interest (Level 1)]
[Bond Reward Unlocked!]
[Stat Boost: +5 Agility]
[Skill Acquired: Shadow Step (Basic) - Allows the host to dash up to 10 feet instantly through shadows. Cooldown: 5 minutes.]
Ethan felt a sudden, exhilarating rush of energy course through his veins. His legs felt lighter, the sluggishness of his 'Below Average' agility vanishing in an instant. The System wasn't lying—he literally grew stronger just by making her curious.
Selene pulled her hood back up, cloaking her beautiful face in darkness once more.
"I will tell my employers that the target fell into the river and washed away," Selene said softly, stepping backward into the deeper shadows of the alley. "But do not think this makes us allies, Vale. I am sparing you because you are a puzzle I wish to solve. When I figure out what you are... I may just kill you anyway."
"I look forward to our next date," Ethan called out.
Selene let out a soft, breathy scoff that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. "Arrogant fool."
She stepped back, and the shadows seemed to swallow her whole. In the blink of an eye, she was gone, leaving Ethan alone in the rain.
Ethan let out a massive breath he didn't realize he was holding, his knees buckling slightly. He leaned against the wall, wiping the rain from his face.
"Holy crap," he muttered. "That actually worked."
"Excellent work, Master," Aria chimed in, her voice warm with approval. "You have successfully established your first bond and survived the encounter."
[Emergency Quest Completed: Survive the Night]
[Rewards Distributed: 100 System Points, [Starter Pack]]
A glowing golden gift box materialized in the air next to his status screen.
Ethan looked at the box, then down at his hands. He could feel the new agility humming in his muscles. He was in a dangerous, magical world, hunted by assassins and despised by his noble family.
But he had the System. And he had a plan.
"Aria," Ethan said, a determined grin spreading across his face. "Open the Starter Pack. Let's see what we have to work with."