Level Up: The Crack Opens

Abhay took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the group of five boys harassing the girl. His jaw clenched with rage, but before doing anything, he glanced down at the metallic gauntlets strapped around his wrists. A strange calm washed over him.

He quietly sat down on the grass, removed the gauntlets, and placed them beside him.

"System," he muttered.

The holographic screen blinked into existence in the air before him. Without hesitation, Abhay picked up the gauntlet and hurled it through the glowing projection.

"Do you want me to kill them!?" he yelled, his voice shaking with emotion.

The System replied instantly, its tone casual and mocking:

SYSTEM: WHY GO SOFT? JUST KILL THEM. AT LEAST ENTERTAIN EVERYONE, Mr. BROKE PLAYER.

That was enough.

Abhay swatted the screen away and rose to his feet. With his fists clenched and heart pounding, he walked straight toward the boys.

The five boys turned as Abhay approached, their expressions smug and unbothered.

"Look who's here," one of them sneered. "Run along, hero."

Abhay didn't answer. He closed the gap between them and struck first—his right fist landed square on the leader's jaw, snapping his head to the side. The boy staggered back, dazed.

"What the hell?!" another shouted, charging at Abhay.

Abhay ducked under the wild punch and delivered a punishing elbow to the gut, then swept the boy's legs from under him with a clean kick. The second attacker hit the ground hard.

Two more rushed him together. Abhay sidestepped one and grabbed the collar of the other, using his momentum to slam him against the park bench. The metal frame groaned under the impact.

The fourth boy circled behind Abhay and jumped on his back. For a second, Abhay stumbled—but then he bent forward, flipped the attacker over his shoulder, and delivered a punch to the chest that knocked the air out of him.

The last boy tried to run. Big mistake.

Abhay sprinted after him and tackled him to the ground with a flying kick, pinning him down before raising his fist one last time.

"Leave her alone," he growled.

The fight ended as quickly as it had begun.

The girl stood frozen, then stepped forward, her face filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly, before turning and running away into the night.

Still catching his breath, Abhay whispered, "System."

The screen reappeared with a triumphant chime.

LEVEL UP! Current Level: 5

Skill 'Crack in Fabric' – Now Usable

He smiled faintly. Finally.

On his way home, another notification popped up:

QUEST COMPLETED: LONELY LION WITH NO BITCHES

REWARD UNLOCKED: GARE SHIFT

Abhay's eyes welled up again—not with pain this time, but joy. "I got it back," he whispered, wiping his face. The power he'd thought he'd lost forever had returned.

Just to test it, he activated Gare Shift and used it on a fly buzzing in his room. A surge of power flared through his arm as the insect disintegrated midair.

But then came the pain.

His hand seared with heat, and he screamed, dashing to the bathroom. Turning on the tap, he cooled the burn as best he could. His hand was slightly scorched, glowing faintly red.

"This always hurts… so much," he muttered, tears still rolling down his cheeks, "but I don't care."

Wincing, Abhay opened the System once again. He summoned the gauntlets, which now gleamed with a vibrant green energy. The once dull metal shimmered with life.

He didn't activate the skill right away. Not yet. He needed more answers—more control.

Later that night, he informed his uncle that he'd be staying at a friend's house. After receiving a nod of approval, he packed up and left for the small apartment he had rented privately.

Inside, he stood before the crack in space—his newly gained skill. He summoned it, and the air split open, revealing a swirling void. He took a breath and stepped inside.

The world went black.

When he opened his eyes again, he was in a dense forest. The wind whispered through the trees, and the smell of earth and moss filled his lungs. Directly ahead stood a shadowed cave entrance, guarded by three short, ugly goblins wielding jagged knives—and one much larger goblin grunt, his eyes burning with hate.

A screen flashed before him.

SYSTEM: CLEAR THE GOBLIN CAVE.

Abhay's lips curved into a quiet grin. "Let's see what level five can really do.