You ever just… wake up on the floor and immediately regret trying to be a decent person?
Yeah. That's me right now.
I was lying in the alley behind my dorm building, face-down in something sticky. My ribs felt like someone used them as a trampoline. My glasses were gone. My mouth tasted like blood and dirt.
A voice above me went, "Still breathing, Vire?"
Great. They're still here.
I didn't even look up. No energy for it. These guys were seniors from the combat track — tall, buff, and full of ego. Apparently, me reporting them for harassing a girl in the cafeteria was enough reason for them to drag me out back and beat the soul out of me.
"I literally didn't even touch any of you," I muttered.
Wrong move. Someone kicked me in the side again.
"Next time, mind your business, smartass."
They left after that, probably bored. I guess watching someone die slowly isn't as fun when they're not crying or begging.
I laid there, staring at the flickering streetlight overhead.
So this is how I go out? Not fighting demons, not some grand battle — just got jumped behind a garbage bin.
And then...
[DING!]
BLOOD PACT SYSTEM INITIALIZING...
The hell?
This red holographic screen popped up in front of my face like I was in a VR game. I blinked, thinking I must've hit my head way too hard.
Vital Status: Critical
Eligible for emergency power loan.
Do you want to survive?
Warning: Power must be repaid in blood, memory, or time.
[ACCEPT CONTRACT]
[DECLINE AND DIE PEACEFULLY]
"Okay, what in the actual hell…" I croaked.
I thought maybe I was hallucinating. Or already dead. Or both.
But the countdown started.
[10 seconds remaining… 9… 8…]
"Oh, screw it," I muttered. "Yeah, sure. I accept. Save me, weird demon pop-up."
Blood Pact Accepted.
Borrowed Power: Tier II – Shadow Reflex Protocol
Debt: 5,000 Blood Coins
Payment due: 3 days
Suddenly, it felt like someone injected hot battery acid into my bones. My whole body jerked. Bones cracked, but like... backwards. I could feel everything realigning like some cursed chiropractic session.
I screamed — or maybe just wheezed.
Then I stood up.
Not on purpose. My legs just moved.
I looked down at my hands. They weren't shaking anymore. My body felt... wired. Like I could dodge lightning or punch through a fridge.
Then I heard footsteps.
Great. The goons came back.
"Wait... he's up?"
They froze. I turned toward them, slowly.
I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. One of them actually stepped back.
The rest? Not so lucky.
I don't even remember moving. I just blinked — and the first guy was down, holding his face and screaming. Another flew into a dumpster. One tried to run and got swept off his feet with a kick I didn't even know I could do.
I stood over the last guy.
"Still breathing?" I asked. Then I walked away before I said something edgy and cringed at myself later.
I made it out of the alley and collapsed near the back door of the mess hall, panting. My body was shaking, even with whatever freaky buff I just got.
And then, like an annoying notification after ordering food online:
Debt Remains: 5,000 Blood Coins
Payment due in 3 days.
Choose your method: Blood, Memory, or Time.
Failure to repay will result in Collector visitation.
Have a powerful day.
I stared at the message.
"Cool. So I basically took out a murder loan."