Nate realized he couldn't move a muscle, however, his mind was very awake and he could feel and hear things around him. He felt he was trapped in a cage and something in his head, or someone unknown was trying to mess with him.
What was this robotic voice in his head?
[You have five seconds left. Do you want to die or fulfill your last wish to punish your enemies?]
"Of course, I want to punish them!" He could feel the dull ache in his chest, a reminder of the pain that was starting to fade away, replaced by a burning fury. "If at all I am going to die, I need just one chance to make them bow to me."
[Then, it is settled. The system will be activated in two seconds.]
"Wait, who are you—"
His eyes flashed, a bright and blinding light shining on his face. He was forced to witness the sheer power of this light, as he couldn't move his body and a few seconds later, the light shimmered, turning into a small pearl.
In the next second, the pearl descended straight into his body, becoming one with him.
[The second you lose the System Pearl, Nate Williams, then you will cease to exist.]
Confusion set in as his breath hitched. All Nate could think was that he was going nuts and the beatings Rick's friends had dealt him probably gave him mental illness too. However, he realized he could now move his fingers, scratching them on the hard floor.
Next, he raised his body slightly, holding onto the broken wall beside him. He then witnessed the amount of bruises on his body, the pain rushing in like a mighty flood. His stomach dipped, his back aching to suppress the pain but he couldn't.
"I...should get to a hospital..." He struggled to stand to his feet, however, his back kept caving as he walked down the deserted streets, straight to a busy road with blood dripping down his body, following his trail.
He waved, trying to get a cab but cars swerved past him with the speed of light. He looked like a zombie fresh out of an apocalypse movie, none of the cab drivers wanted to risk their lives.
But time was ticking, as Nate was losing blood by the second. He continued to drag himself down the road and fortunately, he found a police station nearby.
"Thank goodness..." He whispered as he beckoned to one of the police men. "Please, help me."
"What happened?" The officer asked, quickly escorting Nate inside to rest a bit. The police station was deserted as it was nighttime already, safe for a few burly-looking men. Their eyes shone with coldness but Nate decided to trust them.
"I was attacked..." He narrated everything to them and by the time he was done, his back was against the wall, his breathing had turned shallow.
"Did you say Rick West attacked you?" The policeman's brows creased.
"Yes...Do you know him?" Nate asked.
"Of..course, not." The police stuttered. "Wait here, I will get an ambulance for you."
As the policeman walked away, he signaled his other colleagues and they huddled urgently in the corner, "That boy must be crazy to report Rick West. I can't afford to lose my job because of a flimsy fight between boys."
"We should send him away, quickly."
Their hushed whispers quickly reached Nate and even though his consciousness was slowly slipping away, he knew something felt wrong. However, he stayed back for a few more minutes, expecting help but no one came.
A second later, two burly policemen started to approach him, their gaze heavy and sinister and he just knew he needed to get out of there.
"Fuck it!" He cursed, a rush of adrenaline in his body. His mind screamed danger and his strength burst out from within his core. Before the police could reach him, he was already bursting through the door, not caring if he was going to ram into a car head-on.
But then...bang!
He hit a hard body and his frail body was sent a few meters back. Once again, his body trembled and unlike a second ago, he was barely able to hold his weight. He felt danger looming again, as four men crowded over him. Not the policemen but familiar faces which he detested.
"Going somewhere, pauper?" Rick bent over him, his lips curled with scorn dripping.
Nate froze, his eyes bulging almost out of their sockets.
"Happy to see me?" Rick's smile widened, as he drew in, his hand reaching for Nate.
However, Nate quickly dragged his butt on the floor, trying to get away from Rick's disgusting close-up face, "How...how did you all get here?"
"Us?" Rick chuckled. "The police alerted us. What did you think you were going to get here? Protection? Justice? Don't be silly."
"Don't you know, the West family controls more than half of this city and my name..." He stood upright, raising his shoulder, "My name brings terror to whoever hears it."
"And do you think you are above all because of that?" Nate seethed. "I will make sure you rot in hell!"
"Oh, really?" Rick sneered as he waved his hands at his friends. "Get him. You guys didn't teach him enough lessons."
Nate scooted backward as the men approached him, "Get away from me!" His back hit the wall and he struggled to his feet, his hands fisted. "No matter what, I am going to fight you all!"
Even though his eyes were closing, his brain got fuggy, he still stood on his feet. But then, that robotic voice came again.
[Your fighting skills are lacking, Nate Williams. Buy the level one combat skills and defeat your enemies in one breath!]
"Shit!" Nate cursed in his mind, knowing this wasn't the time to have any sort of delusional thoughts. Combat skills? Would they fall from heaven?
He shook his head, shaking off the delusion. He advanced forward, waving his fists in the air, but he didn't land a single hit.
"Aww..." The men laughed mockingly. "Look at the poor little thing."
"Finish him." Rick waved his hand and turned around to leave but Nate wasn't going to let him leave just yet. He gathered the last bit of his strength, taking a deep breath before evading the men advancing toward him.
"You fucker!" He jumped on Rick's back, their bodies plunging to the floor. "You are going down with me."
Bang!
This time, Nate managed to land a hit on Rick's face. It was hard, and jarring, and a red patch spread on Rick's face. His hands quivered in fear seeing Nate growling in his face.
"Get..get him away from me." He cried.
His cry delighted Nate so much and he raised his fist, ready to deal another blow but then...bang!
His head was hit from behind and he rolled to the floor, cold.