Jacob rolled into the rundown house just as the evening sun cast its dying light over the horizon. The siblings were nowhere to be seen, their herbal satchels left carelessly on the table from earlier. Jacob positioned himself in a shadowed corner, watching the door. He felt a strange sense of unease, an unfamiliar tension in his core.

System: "Something's wrong."

Jacob: "What do you mean? The kids were fine when I left them."

System: "Three figures are approaching from the forest. Two have weak magical signatures—barely worth mentioning—but the third..." The system hesitated.

Jacob (nervously): "What about the third?"

System: "Its energy doesn't feel like magic. It's something else—raw, primal, and dangerous. I'd rate it stronger than Eldrin. Be cautious, Jacob. If you're not careful, this could be the end."

Jacob felt an icy knot form in his core. He glanced at the door, dread pooling within him. "Fantastic. I just started liking this life, and now you're telling me I might not survive the night."

System (softly): "It's not about surviving, Jacob. It's about overcoming."

Jacob gritted his metaphorical teeth but said nothing. Minutes later, the siblings returned, their faces flushed with excitement from their day in the woods. The boy carried a bundle of herbs, while the girl held a small pouch. They chattered softly, their voices warming the cold air.

Jacob watched silently, unsure of how to process the strange fondness he felt for these fragile creatures.

System: "They're being followed."

Jacob's core pulsed sharply. "What?"

System: "The three figures are closing in. The weaker ones are about as dangerous as a boar, but the stronger one... Jacob, I don't think you can fight it head-on. Stay wary."

Jacob tensed. "Who are they?"

System: "Debt collectors. I've scanned their intentions. They work for Count Tarmin, a feudal lord known for his cruelty and greed. His men are here to collect on a debt—one the siblings took to buy medicine for their mother. The collectors won't leave without payment... or blood."

Jacob's core pulsed erratically, anger bubbling to the surface. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

The system hesitated again before replying. "Because this situation... it triggered something in me. Memories. From your past life."

Jacob froze. "What are you talking about?"

System (hesitant): "A moment from your childhood... debt collectors, like these men, harassed your mother. You tried to fight back, but they hurt you—left you with a head injury that..." The system trailed off, unable to finish.

Jacob felt something stir deep within him, a fragment of a memory—his mother crying, the taste of helplessness, the blinding rage. It was fleeting but enough to reignite the embers of his buried fury.

The system quickly changed the subject. "They're here."

The Collectors Arrive

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

The door burst open, and three men stormed in. Two were thuggish brutes with brutish grins, their muscles barely contained by their tattered clothes. The third, however, was different.

Islar, as he later introduced himself, was tall and wiry, his face a canvas of scars. His aura was suffocating, exuding a raw ferocity that made Jacob's core tremble. He carried no weapon, only a simple knife at his side, but his presence alone was enough to make the room feel smaller.

Islar: "You owe five gold coins," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "Five coins you don't have, do you?"

The boy stepped forward, trembling. "We... we just need more time! Please! Our mother is sick—"

Islar's eyes narrowed. "Time? You think Count Tarmin cares about your time? No. He cares about his money."

He nodded to one of the henchmen, who grabbed the boy and threw him against the wall. The girl screamed and tried to help her brother, but the second henchman shoved her down, causing her to cry out in pain. Their mother stirred weakly from her bed, trying to rise despite her frail state.

Jacob's core vibrated violently. A wave of bloodlust surged through him, so intense it made the collectors pause.

Henchman 1 (nervously): "What was that?"

Islar: "It's nothing. Get back to work."

The second henchman, emboldened, smirked and backhanded the girl, sending her sprawling. That was the breaking point. Jacob's rage exploded.

Jacob (shouting): "Enough!"

The collectors froze, unable to comprehend the deep, resonant voice seemingly coming from nowhere. The girl crawled away, clutching her bruised face, while Jacob's core glowed with a crimson hue.

Islar (frowning): "What in the—"

Jacob didn't wait. Activating Weight, he hurled himself at the second henchman, aiming for his head. The impact was catastrophic. The man's skull shattered with a sickening crunch, blood and brain matter splattering across the room. The lifeless body crumpled to the floor, leaving the others in stunned silence.

Henchman 1 (panicking): "What the hell is this thing?!"

Jacob turned to him, his voice a growl. "You're next."

The henchman stumbled backward, fumbling for a weapon, but Jacob was faster. He fired a Kinetic Shot, the force ripping through the man's chest and pinning him to the wall. The room fell silent save for the ragged breathing of the siblings and their mother.

Islar, however, remained calm. He stepped forward, wiping the blood splatter from his face with a slow, deliberate motion.

Islar: "Impressive. But it'll take more than that to kill me."

He drew his knife and lunged at Jacob with inhuman speed. Jacob barely managed to roll out of the way, the blade grazing his surface and leaving a deep scratch.

The Fight

Islar pressed the attack, his movements precise and brutal. He slashed and stabbed, each strike forcing Jacob to retreat. Despite his best efforts, Jacob couldn't keep up. Islar was faster, stronger, and relentless.

System (urgently): "Jacob! Use Weight to slow him down! Fire another shot—anything!"

Jacob growled. "I'm trying!" He activated Weight and rolled toward Islar, hoping to crush him, but the man sidestepped effortlessly and delivered a powerful kick that sent Jacob crashing into the wall.

Islar (mocking): "You're not so tough, are you? Just a glorified pebble."

Jacob felt a surge of fury. He fired another Kinetic Shot, but Islar dodged it with ease, closing the distance in a heartbeat. The knife came down, carving another deep gouge into Jacob's surface. Sparks flew as the blade scraped against his core, sending shockwaves of pain through him.

System (desperately): "Jacob, focus! If you don't end this now, you're done for!"

Jacob grit his metaphorical teeth, summoning every ounce of strength he had left. When Islar lunged again, Jacob activated Weight at maximum force and hurled himself forward. The sudden increase in mass caught Islar off guard, and Jacob collided with his chest, the impact driving the man to the ground.

Jacob didn't stop. He adjusted his trajectory and launched himself straight into Islar's torso, his sharpened edge piercing the man's heart. Blood sprayed across the room as Islar's body convulsed, his eyes wide with shock.

Islar (gurgling): "Damn... rock..."

He collapsed, lifeless. Jacob rolled back, his surface slick with blood, his core pulsating with exhaustion. The siblings stared in stunned silence, their expressions a mix of terror and awe.

System (softly): "It's over, Jacob. You did it."

Jacob didn't respond, his core heavy with the weight of what he had done. The siblings slowly approached, their mother clutching her chest as tears streamed down her face.

Boy (whispering): "You... you saved us."

Authors notes:

I changed the systems writing style so instead of it being in BOLD like that it'll be in italic like this

Thank you for understanding.