"Accept."
The word had barely left Harold's mouth before the world seemed to pause for half a second.
Not literally.
The wind was still moving outside.
People were still screaming.
But inside Harold's head, everything felt strangely quiet.
Then the system responded swiftly.
BORROW REQUEST ACCEPTED
ANALYZING TARGET
COMPATIBLE ABILITY FOUND
A sharp pressure spread through Harold's chest.
He grabbed the edge of the window frame as a strange warmth surged through his arms and shoulders.
He groaned under his breath, this feeling was overwhelming but… why did it feel awesome?
Outside, the creature landed heavily on the street below their apartment window.
Up close, Harold could see it clearly now.
It kinda… looked like a wolf.
But not a normal one.
Its body was larger than any dog. Harold had ever seen, easily nearly the size of a small car. Dark fur bristled along its back, and its eyes glowed faintly in the darkness. Long claws scraped across the pavement as it prowled forward.
Another man tried to run past it.
The creature moved faster than Harold's eyes could follow.
The man screamed loudly.
Then the street fell almost silent again as people were trying to be quiet so as not to attract the animal or whatever it was.
Emily covered her mouth behind him.
"Oh my God… it… killed him…"
David stepped forward, gripping the kitchen knife tighter.
"We're locking the door," he said firmly.
But Harold barely even heard him.
Because the system continued speaking.
ABILITY IDENTIFIED
FERAL STRENGTH
DEBT GENERATED: MINOR
Harold gasped.
It felt like something had suddenly ignited inside his muscles.
His arms tightened involuntarily.
Every muscle in his body felt heavier.
Stronger. The feeling continued to spread through him. What was causing this?
He blinked in shock.
"What just happened…"
Another message appeared suddenly.
DEBT MISSION PENDING
DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED SOON
Before Harold could process that, the monster outside lifted its head.
Slowly.
Its glowing eyes turned toward their building.
Toward their window Infact.
Harold's stomach dropped.
"I think it saw us," Emily whispered.
The creature crouched before lunging itself.
The entire apartment building shook as the monster slammed into the side of it.
Emily screamed.
Dust fell from the ceiling showing how great the impact was.
"Everyone away from the window!" David shouted.
Harold pulled Emily back just as something heavy began scraping across the outside wall.
Claws.
The monster was climbing.
Another message appeared in front of Harold.
HOSTILE ENTITY APPROACHING
WARNING: USER IS UNARMED
Harold clenched his fists.
Unarmed, maybe. But his arms still buzzed with that strange strength.
"Dad," Harold said quietly. David looked at him.
"We need to get Emily to safety, what do we do?"
"And you?" David asked with worry. He could let anything happen to his kids, they were his world.
Harold hesitated.
Good question actually.
What was he supposed to do? It's not like he wasn't terrified for his life.
I mean… He was just seventeen.
Not a soldier.
Not even a fighter.
Just a guy who helped his sister with math homework and a damn student.
But another loud scrape echoed from the wall outside giving them little time to even think.
This monster was getting closer and closer with each wasted minute.
Emily grabbed Harold's arm.
"Don't go near it Harold, please. I can't lose you."
"I'm not planning to," he said, trying to sound calmer than he felt.
Another slam shook the building.
This time the sound came from above.
David cursed under his breath.
"It's on the roof."
The apartment suddenly felt very small and fragile, that thing could easily rip the roof it wanted to.
Harold glanced back at the system window floating in front of him.
BORROWED ABILITY ACTIVE
FERAL STRENGTH
DEBT LEVEL: MINOR
His fingers curled slowly into fists.
The power was pulsing through him like crazy. He could feel it. Every movement felt kind of lighter, Faster and Stronger.
But the system had warned him, nothing was free, it was literally a debt system. He wanted to complain and question the system as to why he had to be the only one that would be suffering a debt but he had no time for that.
A deep growl echoed from somewhere above the ceiling.
Emily's voice trembled.
"Is it going to come inside?"
Harold didn't answer her because even he had no idea.
At that exact moment, something crashed against the hallway outside their apartment door.
A neighbor screamed in terror and The monster roared in response, free food I guess.
David stepped in front of both of them instantly.
"Bedroom. Now!"
Emily ran toward the small bedroom down the hall.
But Harold didn't move.
Another scream tore through the hallway.
Closer this time.
Harold looked toward the apartment door.
Then toward his father.
"Dad…"
David's jaw tightened.
"You stay with your sister, please… you two are my life. We don't know what the hell this thing is so we can't be too reckless but I have to try everything possible to keep you two safe."
Harold knew that tone all too well. The tone that meant this is my responsibility.
But the monster outside roared again.
And suddenly Harold realized something terrifying.
His father had been given the Warrior class.
Emily had been given Healer.
But they had no idea how to use those powers yet.
No training Nor experience.
They were just normal people like him.
And that thing out there was killing people already.
Harold's gaze drifted back to the system screen.
FERAL STRENGTH
Borrowed power.
A dangerous thought crossed his mind.
What if he was the only one in this apartment who could actually fight right now?
The hallway outside had exploded with noise.
A door shattering.
Someone shouted for help as he cried in pain.
Emily's voice came from the bedroom.
"Harold!"
David turned toward him again.
"Go Harry!"
But Harold stood rigid, His heartbeat thundering in his ears.
Fear clawed violently at his chest.
But underneath that fear…
There was something by far greater, Determination.
If the monster broke into their apartment…
There would be nowhere to run.
Harold inhaled slowly.
"Dad."
David looked at him.
"I think I can help."
David frowned.
"What do you mean you can help? That system thing gave you nothing and I was given something but I don't even know how to use this shit."
"I think the system gave me something too and trust me that, it's very strong, I can feel it in my muscles." He told his dad.
Another crash echoed from the hallway.
The monster roared again.
Closer than ever.
David stared at him for a long second.
Then he nodded once.
"Alright, I'm going to trust you on this because I know no matter how much I persuade you, you won't listen."
He handed Harold the kitchen knife and picked up another.
"Then stay behind me." Harold said but his dad looked at him defiantly, he was scared, but he so wanted to trust his boy, so he nodded.
Harold gripped the knife.
And realized something strange.
The metal handle felt lighter than it normally did.
The borrowed strength was already changing his body and strength, it lowkey fascinated him.
Another message appeared in front of him.
DEBT MISSION GENERATED
OBJECTIVE: SURVIVE INITIAL HOSTILE ENCOUNTER
TIME LIMIT: 30 MINUTES
REWARD: DEBT REDUCTION
PENALTY FOR FAILURE: COLLECTION
Harold swallowed slowly.
Collection. Collection of what?!
The system didn't explain what that meant.
But somehow he was sure he didn't want to find out.
Suddenly the hallway outside went dead silent.
Harold and his father stood still near the apartment door.
Neither of them moved an inch, they braced them selves.
Neither of them spoke.
Emily watched nervously from the bedroom doorway.
"Is it gone?" She whispered as tears streaked her cheeks.
Ten seconds passed in silence before heavy footsteps stopped directly outside their door.
A low growl rumbled through the wooden door. Harold tightened his grip on the knife. His heart thudding loudly as hell. The monster was on the other side… and was at the verge of coming in.