Eli had exactly three seconds to live.
He didn't need a clock to tell him that.
The man standing in front of him made it very clear.
"Any last words?"
The voice was calm. Too calm. Like this wasn't even worth his attention.
Eli slowly raised his hands.
His brain was still trying to catch up with reality.
Five minutes ago, he had been walking home.
Normal street.
Normal life.
Then—
A flash.
A tearing sensation.
And suddenly…
This.
"…Yeah," Eli said carefully, forcing a weak smile. "I think you've got the wrong guy."
The man didn't react.
Didn't blink.
Didn't even look confused.
That alone was terrifying.
He stood there in black armor that seemed to absorb light instead of reflect it. Dark energy curled around him like smoke, twisting and shifting with every breath he took.
Behind him—
The city was burning.
Not metaphorically.
Actually burning.
Cars were flipped. Buildings were collapsing. Fires spread across the streets like they were alive.
People screamed in the distance.
Some ran.
Some didn't make it.
Eli swallowed.
"Look," he continued, trying again, "I just got here, alright? Like—literally just got here. I don't know what's going on, I don't know who you are, and I definitely didn't do anything to you."
The man tilted his head slightly.
"Lying won't save you."
"I'm not lying!" Eli snapped, panic creeping into his voice. "I don't even know your name!"
Silence.
Then—
The man took a step forward.
And the world changed.
The air grew heavy.
Not just heavy—crushing.
Eli's knees buckled instantly as invisible pressure slammed into him, forcing him down.
"Everyone knows my name," the man said.
Eli hit the ground hard.
"…Okay," he gasped, struggling to breathe, "that sounds important—should I—should I know it?"
The man looked down at him.
Cold.
Empty.
"I am Dreadlord Veyr."
Eli blinked.
"…That sounds made up."
The pressure doubled.
The ground cracked beneath him.
"OKAY—YEAH—REAL NAME—VERY REAL—SORRY—!"
Veyr raised his hand.
Dark energy gathered instantly, swirling into a dense, violent sphere.
Eli's heart stopped.
No exaggeration.
Stopped.
"Die."
Eli squeezed his eyes shut.
This is it.
I just got here.
I don't even understand what's happening.
Worst luck ever.
[SYSTEM ERROR]
[UNAUTHORIZED HOST DETECTED]
[FORCED LINK INITIATED]
"…What?"
Eli's eyes snapped open.
A glowing blue screen appeared in front of him.
Completely out of place.
[YOU HAVE STOLEN A FRACTION OF THE TARGET'S POWER]
Eli blinked.
"…I did what?"
The crushing pressure vanished.
Completely.
Eli gasped, sucking in air like he'd been drowning.
Veyr froze.
Actually froze.
For the first time since Eli had seen him—
His expression changed.
"What did you do?" Veyr demanded.
"I didn't do anything!" Eli said quickly.
[SKILL ACQUIRED: SHADOW FRACTURE (1%)]
"…One percent?"
That sounded… incredibly underwhelming.
But—
Something had clearly changed.
Veyr's eyes narrowed.
"…Impossible."
Before Eli could respond—
BOOM.
A blast of dark energy hit the ground beside him, sending him flying.
"GAH—!"
He slammed into a broken wall, pain exploding through his back.
"Okay—nope—still dying!"
[SKILL ACTIVATION AVAILABLE]
[SHADOW FRACTURE]
Eli pushed himself up just in time to see another attack coming straight at him.
"HOW DO I USE IT?!" he shouted.
[INTENT REQUIRED]
"THAT DOESN'T HELP!"
The blast came.
Eli barely rolled out of the way.
The ground where he had been exploded.
His heart pounded violently.
Think!
Intent… what does that even mean?!
Another attack.
Closer this time.
What do I want?
His eyes locked onto Veyr.
Standing there.
Unstoppable.
Untouchable.
I want him to stop.
Something inside Eli snapped into focus.
Not panic.
Not fear.
Something sharper.
He raised his hand.
"Just—STOP!"
A ripple of dark energy burst from his palm.
Faster than anything he had seen before.
It struck Veyr directly.
And for a fraction of a second—
Everything froze.
The energy around Veyr flickered.
His body staggered.
"What—"
Eli didn't wait.
He ran.
"NOPE! I'M NOT STAYING FOR THAT!"
Behind him, silence lasted exactly one second.
Then—
"You cannot escape."
Eli ran faster.
"I CAN TRY!"
Five Minutes Later
Eli collapsed into an alleyway, gasping for breath.
"I'm dead," he muttered. "I'm so dead."
[CORRECTION: 87% SURVIVAL PROBABILITY]
Eli blinked.
"…Wait, what?"
[CONDITION: CONTINUE STEALING POWER]
He stared at the message.
Then slowly looked down at his hand.
"…Oh."
A realization hit him.
"…Oh no."
Footsteps echoed nearby.
Slow.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Veyr.
Eli immediately stood up.
"…Okay," he whispered to himself. "Think, Eli. Think."
His eyes hardened slightly.
"If I can steal his power…"
He clenched his fist.
"…then I don't have to keep running."
The footsteps stopped.
Right outside the alley.
A shadow stretched across the ground.
"You're learning," Veyr said.
Eli smirked weakly.
"Yeah," he said. "Fast learner."
Veyr stepped into view.
The energy around him had changed.
Stronger.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
"Then show me," Veyr said.
Eli took a deep breath.
Raised his hand again.
This time—
He focused.
No panic.
No hesitation.
Take it.
Take his power.
The air trembled.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: SHADOW FRACTURE]
Veyr's eyes widened slightly.
"…Again?"
Eli grinned.
"Yeah," he said. "Again."
The ground beneath them cracked.
Energy collided.
And for the first time—
Eli didn't feel like prey.
The fight had begun.