Chapter 2: Echoes of the Unknown

Chapter 2: Echoes of the Unknown

The house was silent, but Jack could feel something watching him. A weight lingered in the air, pressing against his skin like static before a storm. The glowing interface had faded, leaving behind only uncertainty and a racing heart.

He inhaled deeply, pushing down the fear clawing at his throat. He needed to think. If he really had seven days before whatever catastrophe awaited, he had to be ready.

"Alright," he muttered. "First step: understanding these abilities."

Jack focused on the **Spatial Storage**, reaching out with his mind. An invisible pocket of space opened, a sensation like dipping his hand into a still pond. Experimentally, he placed his duffel bag inside. The weight vanished instantly.

A grin spread across his face. "That's… incredible."

Next was **Fusion Wielding**. He grabbed his lighter and a rusted crowbar from the old tool shelf. The glow returned as he concentrated, merging the objects. When the light faded, he held a modified weapon: a reinforced crowbar with a built-in ignition system. The edge flickered with a controlled flame.

**[Item Created: Emberfang Crowbar]**

- **Properties:** Reinforced for durability. Flame-enhanced edge for heated strikes.

Shadow sniffed the weapon, then sneezed at the residual heat.

Jack chuckled. "Yeah, probably not the best idea to test this indoors."

Before he could continue experimenting, a creaking noise echoed through the house. Jack froze. The door leading to the hallway was slightly ajar.

Shadow's ears perked, his body tense. Jack gripped the crowbar, stepping forward cautiously.

A whisper brushed against his ear. **"You are running out of time."**

His blood turned to ice.

He spun around, expecting to see someone—something—but the hallway was empty. His pulse pounded. If there was any doubt before, it was gone now.

He wasn't alone in this.

And whatever was out there… was waiting.

Jack inhaled sharply and forced himself to think logically. If he was running out of time, he needed to act fast. The question was: Who or what was behind this? Why him? And what would happen at the end of these seven days?

He sat on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair. Shadow whined and pressed against his leg. "I know, buddy. This is crazy."

Jack stood up and grabbed a small notebook from his desk. He needed a plan.

**Priorities:**

1. **Test abilities further** – Fusion Wielding might be stronger than he thought.

2. **Figure out the source of the warning** – Who or what was talking to him?

3. **Prepare for the unknown** – If something big was coming, he needed to be ready.

He tapped the pen against the page, thinking. The first step was finding out how far he could push **Fusion Wielding**.

He scanned his room for useful objects. His mind raced with possibilities. Could he fuse his sneakers for extra speed? What about his old baseball bat and metal rods from the garage?

Jack grabbed his bat and the metal rods, focusing. The glow returned, merging them into something stronger. When the light faded, he held a sleek, silver-reinforced bat with glowing blue streaks running along the handle.

**[Item Created: Titanstrike Bat]**

- **Properties:** Enhanced durability. Impact force increased by 200%.

Jack tested its weight. Lighter, but stronger. "Oh, this is insane."

His pulse quickened with excitement. With this power, he wasn't just surviving—he could fight back.

A knock at the front door made him jump.

Shadow barked, his fur bristling. Jack grabbed the crowbar and moved cautiously. Who would visit this late?

He peeked through the peephole. No one was there.

A cold shiver ran down his spine. He reached for the doorknob but hesitated. Something felt wrong.

He took a step back. Then, from the other side of the door, came a slow, deliberate knock.

Three times.

Shadow growled low. Jack clenched his jaw. Whatever was on the other side… wasn't human.

And he had seven days to find out what it wanted.

**To be continued...**