Chapter 14: Awakening?

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Awakening?

Daniel stared at the screen. At the words. At the two options.

[Yes / No]

He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even think about it. His hand moved, pressing the Yes option with a bloody finger.

Then he laughed. A weak, broken laugh that bubbled up from his chest.

"Hehehe," he wheezed, his face still pressed against the dirt. "Prick family."

The screen flickered. New text appeared.

[Bond formed with Lyra of the Prick family.]

[Class received: None]

[Skill received: None]

Daniel frowned. That didn’t seem right. But before he could think about it, the screen changed again.

[All stats x10]

A wave of energy crashed through Daniel’s body. It was like nothing he had ever felt before. It started in his chest, a warm, burning sensation that spread outward, filling every muscle, every bone, every cell. His vision sharpened. His hearing cleared. The pain in his ribs faded to a dull ache. The blood on his face felt warm, but it didn’t hurt anymore.

He felt... alive.

Then another notification appeared.

[Harem Member Illness Detected]

[Name: Blindness]

[Curing... Time until cure: 2 hours 23 minutes]

[Countdown: 2:23:26]

Daniel’s eyes widened. Blindness. It was curing her blindness. The bond was healing her. He didn’t know how. He didn’t know why. But he wasn’t going to question it.

The screen shifted one more time, displaying his updated status.

[Name: Daniel Black]

[Race: Human]

[Level: 1 (0%)]

[Class: Harem Overlord]

Strength: 71.0

Speed: 52.0

[Free Points: None]

[Skill: None]

[Quest: Defeat the Insulter (In Progress)]

Daniel stared at the numbers. His strength had been 7.1. Now it was 71. His speed had been 5.2. Now it was 52. Ten times. Everything was ten times.

He pushed himself to his feet.

The crowd went silent. The man who had been beating him took a step back, his eyes widening. Something had changed. The air around Daniel felt different. Heavier. The man could sense it, even if he didn’t understand it.

Daniel straightened up. He wiped the blood from his nose with the back of his hand. Then he looked at the man.

And he smiled.

The man’s face twisted with anger. "What are you smiling at?" He threw a punch, a wild, desperate swing aimed at Daniel’s face.

To Daniel, it looked slow. Painfully slow. Like the man was moving through water. He tilted his head, and the fist sailed past his ear, missing by inches.

The man stumbled forward, off balance. He caught himself and turned, his face red with rage and confusion.

"You dare insult Lyra," Daniel said, his voice calm and cold. "You’re the piss of trash."

The man’s mouth opened. The crowd gasped. Someone whispered, "Was he faking all this time?"

Daniel didn’t wait for an answer. He stepped forward and drove his fist into the man’s stomach.

The impact was thunderous. The man’s eyes bulged. His mouth opened, but no sound came out. He doubled over, gasping for air that wouldn’t come.

Daniel grabbed him by the collar and pulled him upright. "I can’t hear you," he said. "Do you give up or not?"

The man tried to speak. A wheeze. A whimper. Nothing coherent.

Daniel punched him again. And again. And again. Each blow landed with a sickening thud, driving the air from the man’s lungs, bruising his flesh, rattling his bones. The crowd watched in stunned silence. The man’s friend had disappeared, fled into the crowd. No one moved to help.

Daniel stopped. He lifted the man up, holding him by the collar with one hand. The man’s feet dangled above the ground. His face was a mess of blood and bruises. His eyes were wide with terror.

Daniel leaned in close. So close that his breath brushed against the man’s ear.

"Apologize," he said.

One word. Cold. Final.

****************

Author’s note:

Weakly goal

100 PS = 5 bonus Chapter’s

200 PS = 12 bonus Chapter’s

500 ps = 14 Chapter’s a wk

1000 PS = 21 Chapter’s a wk

for every 100+ power stone +2 bonus Chapter’s.