Dawn broke gray over the compound.
Jona woke with muscles screaming betrayal. Every movement sent fresh pain through old wounds. The stamina debuff from Tier 2 made even breathing feel like work.
Worth it.
He pushed upright, shadows curling stronger around his fingers. Tier 2 power humming deeper in his blood.
[Daily Quest Available: Survivor's Login]
[Claim reward: Free health potion + 10% regeneration (1 hour)]
He dressed and headed for the quartermaster. The compound buzzed awake. Sweat-stink mingled with steel clash in the training yard, yells echoing like thunder. Vendors setting up breakfast stalls. Smoke wisping from chimneys.
Almost home.
The quartermaster, grizzled woman with one eye and tree-trunk arms, handed him a vial. Red liquid glowing faint.
"Daily ration. Don't waste it."
Jona drank. Warmth spread through him, sharpening focus, sealing wounds.
[Health: 60% to 75%]
[Regen Buff Active: +10% healing (1 hour)]
[Daily Quest Complete: +10 XP]
Better.
Training yard. Time to test Shadow Bind.
He found an empty corner. Drew his sword. Focused on the new ability.
Shadows coiled from the ground around a training dummy. Wrapped like serpents. Tightened. Held for ten seconds. Dissipated.
He tried combining. Shadow Slip first. Phased through reality, reformed behind the dummy, activated Bind simultaneously.
Darkness erupted where he materialized. Caught the target instantly.
[Combo Detected: Slip into Bind - +15% restraint strength]
[Fusion Test: Proto-Shadow Chains]
[Result: Basic restraints enhanced - Duration +2 seconds]
[XP Gained: +15]
Perfect. The fusion worked. Teleport and lock down in one motion.
His stomach growled. Mess hall.
The smell hit him first. Rich stew. Fresh bread.
Then his Perception tingled.
[Perception Check: Success]
[Anomaly Detected: Chemical signature in food]
Jona stopped at the entrance. Something wrong. The stew pot on the serving table. Almost right. Almost. But underneath spices and meat, something bitter lurked.
[Perception: Anomaly Confirmed - Poison Detected]
A servant stood nearby. Thin. Unremarkable. Kitchen clothes. But when Jona met their eyes, he saw cold calculation.
The servant bolted.
"Stop!" Jona shouted.
Already gone. Sprinting through the compound toward back gates.
Jona ran.
Boots pounded slick stone.
Alleys blurred between buildings. The assassin was fast. Knew the layout. Vaulted over crates. Wood splintered under their weight. Dodged corners with practiced efficiency.
Not servant. Killer.
Jona's breath came ragged in narrow twists. Stamina debuff pulling at him.
The assassin glanced back. Pulled twin daggers mid-sprint. No more pretense.
"Priolo?" Jona called between breaths.
The assassin skidded to a stop in a dead-end alley. Turned. Smiled cold.
"Fifty thousand gold still stands. Plus extra for poisoning."
"How'd that work out?"
"Better luck next time."
They lunged.
Fast. Tier 1, trained. Right blade seeking throat, left seeking gut simultaneously.
Jona twisted. Steel whistled past his ear. He blocked the gut strike, sparks flying. The assassin followed through, spinning, both blades coming at his ribs from different angles.
He dove sideways. Rolled. Came up with sword ready.
The assassin pressed. Thrust high. Jona parried. Thrust low. He jumped back. The blade grazed his thigh, tearing leather.
[Health: 73%]
They circled. The assassin's eyes calculating. Looking for openings.
Jona feinted left. The assassin bit, blades moving to intercept. He used Shadow Slip.
Three heartbeats of darkness. Phased behind them. Reformed. Activated Shadow Bind.
Darkness erupted. Wrapped their legs. Tightened.
[Shadow Bind: Active]
[Target: Restrained]
The assassin fell, cursing, struggling hard. Muscles straining against shadows.
[Restraint Strain: 55%]
They twisted. Slashed at the shadows with their daggers. The darkness held but weakened.
[Restraint Strain: 70%]
Jona's sword pressed their throat. "Who sent you? Kiarra herself?"
The assassin spat. Blood flecked their lips. "Priolo gold buys silence."
They surged. Raw strength pushing against the restraints. Veins bulging in their neck.
[Restraint Strain: 85%]
The shadows stretched. Cracking. Wouldn't hold much longer.
The assassin's blade swept up toward Jona's face. He jerked back. The point grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
[Health: 71%]
[Restraint Strain: 95%]
Almost breaking. Seconds left.
"Spend it in hell," Jona said.
He drove his blade through their heart. Steel pierced leather, found flesh, drove deep.
The assassin's eyes went wide. Then empty.
The shadows dissipated.
[Combat Complete]
[XP Gained: +50]
[Shadow Grind: 5/5 Complete]
[Reward: Skill Point Unlocked]
Four kills now. Jin's arrogance. Krell's bloodlust. Hunter's greed. This assassin's Priolo gold.
How many before the count stops mattering? Before I stop being Jona and become just another killer grinding through bodies?
He wiped his blade. Dragged the corpse to a storage shed. Locked it inside.
[Skill Point Available: Choose Perk]
[Dark Evasion: +10% dodge chance in shadows]
[Shadow Sense: Detect hidden enemies within 30 feet]
Jona considered. The chase had nearly killed him. Speed and evasion saved him more than detection.
[Perk Selected: Dark Evasion]
[Bonus: +10% dodge in low light conditions]
Power settled into his muscles. Subtle. He felt lighter. Faster in darkness.
His stomach still growled. Street vendors. Safer than compromised kitchens.
The eastern gate opened onto slums.
Jona bought skewered meat. Bit into greasy, spiced heaven.
Shouting erupted ahead. Alley fight.
His hand moved to his sword.
Three gang members surrounded a fourth man. Big. Six-two, broad-shouldered, wild eyes. One swung a club. The big man caught it. Crushed it. Bones broke wet.
Then his eyes went red.
[Threat Analysis: Unknown - Bloodlust Mastery Detected]
[Status: Berserk - Uncontrolled]
Bloodlust mastery. Like Krell. But uncontrolled. Rage consuming everything.
The big man roared. Grabbed the gang member's throat. Started squeezing. Others fled screaming.
Already moving. He'd seen this before. Bloodlust addiction. Rage that consumed until only violence remained.
This man wasn't monster yet. Just desperate. Lost.
Jona activated Shadow Bind.
Darkness erupted around the big man's arms. Restrained him. The gang member dropped, gasping, crawling away into the street.
The big man turned on Jona. Eyes burning red. Veins bulging. He struggled, raw strength threatening to break shadows.
[Restraint Strain: 60%]
[Warning: Target extreme strength]
"Easy," Jona said. Voice calm. Steady. "You don't want to kill him. That's rage talking. Not you."
The big man snarled. Pulled harder. Muscles like cables straining.
[Restraint Strain: 75%]
Bind holds. Rage mirrors my shadows. Both dark. Both hungry. Both capable of consuming everything.
Mercy here weakness? Or bloodline strength? Affinity demands redemption, lest corruption claims whatever gold heart Mom saw in me.
Jin died because he was monster. Krell because he wouldn't yield. Hunter and assassin for gold. But this man? Just lost. Afraid of what he's becoming.
Mozzeri protected. Gave second chances. That's the House I rebuild. Not through cruelty. Through understanding darkness and choosing light anyway.
"Listen!" Jona stepped closer. Risky. "You're Bloodlust mastery. I see it. Rage controls you now. But you're stronger than it. You can fight back."
[Restraint Strain: 88%]
For one heartbeat, nothing changed. Red eyes burned. Shadows stretched to breaking.
Then something shifted. The man blinked. Red faded slightly. Confusion replacing pure rage.
"What..." Voice rough. Broken. "What's happening to me?"
"You're awakened. Bloodlust mastery. Makes you strong. But if you don't control it, it controls you." Jona's voice softened. "Train it, or it trains you. Turns you into a monster. I've seen it happen."
The shadows dissipated. The big man fell to his knees. Shaking. Tears streaming down his face.
"I can't stop it. Every time I get angry, rage takes over. I hurt people. Don't want to hurt people anymore."
Jona knelt beside him. "What's your name?"
"Tomas."
"I'm Jona. You're not alone. Houseless. Awakened. Trying to survive." He extended his hand. "House Fennec. They'll help you learn control. I'll help you."
Tomas stared at the hand. "Why? I almost killed someone. Could've killed you."
"Because I've been where you are. Out of control. Desperate. Someone gave me a chance when they didn't have to." Jona's chest tightened. "My House used to protect people like us. House Mozzeri. It fell. But I'm rebuilding. One person at a time. Starting with you."
Tomas took his hand. Grip strong. Desperate. Hopeful.
Jona pulled him up.
[Social Event: Ally Recruited]
[Tomas - Bloodlust Mastery, Tier 1]
[Role: Tank/Frontline Fighter]
[Loyalty: High (earned through mercy and understanding)]
[Bonus: Mercy Action - Loyalty boost applied]
[Note: Rage control training required]
First ally. First real recruit for the new Mozzeri. Not perfect. Not controlled. But willing to try. That's enough.
They returned to compound with Tomas.
Boss Ren waited at the gate. Arms crossed. Smoke wisping. He studied Tomas with calculating eyes.
"Found a stray?" Ren asked.
"Found an ally. Bloodlust mastery. Tier 1. Needs training. I vouch for him."
Ren's eyes narrowed. "Bloodlust addicts are liabilities. Lose control, hurt my people."
"So are untrained shadows. You took a chance on me. I'm taking one on him."
Ren stared. Then laughed. Sharp. Predatory.
"Already thinking like a House leader. Building your crew." He nodded slowly. "Ruthless and smart. I like it." His expression turned serious. "Fine. Your responsibility. He loses control, it's on you."
"Understood."
"Wits impress me, shadow-boy. Keep impressing." Ren's smile sharpened. "I have your first mission. Succeed, and I'll mentor you. Teach you to forge shadows into weapons that break Houses."
That promise. That path.
"What mission?"
"Priolo outpost. Eastern slums. They've got a mastery primer. Advanced Will techniques. Very valuable. Very protected." His eyes gleamed. "I want you to steal it."
[New Quest: Primer Heist]
[Objective: Infiltrate Priolo outpost, steal Will mastery primer]
[Difficulty: Extreme]
[Details: Stealth infiltration required - traps, mech-guards, Vex-style deceptions lurk]
[Reward: +500 XP, Fennec reputation, mastery insights]
[Time Limit: 3 days preparation]
Jona's stomach dropped. Priolo outpost. The House hunting him. Walk straight into their fortress.
"When?"
"Three days. Time to prepare. Scout. Build your team." Ren clapped his shoulder. "Use your shadows. Use your crew. Get in, get the primer, get out."
He walked away.
Priolo outpost. Heavily guarded. Mech-guards and awakened sentries. Multiple security layers.
Getting in hard. Getting out with primer nearly impossible.
But that's the point. Show them shadows don't just hide. They strike back.
Renna appeared from the training yard, crossbow slung across her back. She'd been watching.
"A Priolo outpost?" She shook her head. "That's suicide."
"Or opportunity," Jona countered.
"Or a trap."
"Then we spring it carefully." He met her eyes. "I need you. Silence and shadows. Your crossbow for range. We can do this."
She studied him. Then sighed. "Don't die, idiot. Grind's stronger together."
Warmth spread through his chest. Not just allies. Friends building something real.
Tomas stood uncertain. "I'll help. Whatever you need. I owe you."
First ally recruited. First real mission assigned. The climb continues.
Three days to plan. Scout. Prepare. Then strike Priolo where it hurts.
"Get settled," Jona told Tomas. "Three days to prepare. Whole lot of planning ahead."
Night fell.
Jona sat in barracks, mind churning. Priolo outpost. Routes. Tactics. Contingencies.
Stealth infiltration. Traps to avoid. Mech-guards to bypass. Vex-style deceptions per Ren's warning. Need perfect execution.
Marcus for silence. Tomas for muscle if things go loud. Me for shadows and strategy. Renna for overwatch.
The primer could hold advanced techniques. Maybe fusion insights for Shadow Chains research. Worth the risk.
One theft. One step closer to rebuilding Mozzeri. Proving Houseless can strike Great Houses and win.
Marcus appeared at his bunk. "You're really doing this."
"Yeah."
"Insane."
"Yeah."
Marcus smiled. Rare. Genuine. "Good. I'm in. Houseless survive together. If you're building something, I want part of it."
Warmth again. Not just ally. Friend.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. We might die in three days."
"Optimistic as always."
They reviewed details. Building foundation for impossible heist.
Jin's arrogance crushed. Kiarra's pursuit continues. Poison attempt failed. They want me dead.
Time to remind Priolo that shadows don't just hide. They devour.
Empire rises through audacity. One theft at a time.
Or crumbles poisoned from within.
Three days. Then we choose which.