Night fell, and exhaustion finally overcame Marcus's enthusiasm for testing his new abilities. He transferred himself to his bed, the process noticeably easier with the assistance of his Wind skill, and lay staring at the ceiling. The interface had been minimized to a small icon in the corner of his vision, accessible but not intrusive.
Sleep eluded him, his mind too busy processing everything that had happened. The Terra System. The Lord of Contracts Origin skill. The harvesting of Existence Points from death. It all felt simultaneously miraculous and sinister.
Yet Marcus couldn't deny the thrill that had coursed through him as his power grew. Even from something as insignificant as killing pests, he had gained tangible benefits. What might he obtain with more significant sources of EP?
The thought led inevitably to the creature that had killed Mrs. Abernathy—the translucent entity with burning coal eyes. How many points would destroying such a being yield? Enough to transform his Wind skill into something truly powerful? Enough to contract additional skills and abilities?
His musings were interrupted by movement in the corner of the room, a faint skittering sound that indicated he had missed at least one cockroach in his extermination efforts. With a flick of his attention, he expanded the system interface.
"Show my current status."
He commanded.
[USER STATUS: MARCUS THORNE]
[ORIGIN SKILL: LORD OF CONTRACTS (LEVEL 1)]
[CONTRACTED ALLIES: WIND SKILL (LEVEL 3, 49% PROFICIENCY)]
[EXISTENCE POINTS: 0]
[TRANSCENDENT RANK: UNREGISTERED]
Transcendent Rank. Another aspect of the new world order that had emerged after The Awakening. Everyone with abilities, whether natural or crystal-derived, was classified according to their power level and potential threat assessment. The scale ran from F-Rank (barely above ordinary human capabilities) to S-Rank (capable of citywide destruction). There were rumors that other ranks existed above S-Ranks, but nobody truly knows for certain.
Registration was technically mandatory for all skill users, though enforcement was lax for those at the lowest ranks. Most basic crystal users registered as F-Rank and were largely ignored by the authorities. They were considered too weak to pose any significant threat or provide any meaningful service.
Marcus had avoided registration thus far, seeing no benefit in alerting the governmental system to his existence. But if he intended to hunt the creature that killed Mrs. Abernathy, he would eventually need to operate more openly. Registration would provide legal protection for skill use in public spaces and access to resources that might help track his quarry.
"What would my current rank be if I registered?" He asked, looking at the interface.
[BASED ON CURRENT ABILITIES: F-RANK]
[WIND SKILL (LEVEL 3) IS INSUFFICIENT FOR E-RANK QUALIFICATION]
[RECOMMENDATION: INCREASE WIND SKILL TO LEVEL 5 (100% PROFICIENCY) OR CONTRACT ADDITIONAL SKILLS]
F-Rank, as expected. At this level, he would barely register on the Transcendent Authority's radar. Perfect for now, but insufficient for his ultimate goals.
Marcus closed the interface with a gesture and returned to his thoughts. Tomorrow, he would need to find more skill crystals. Wind alone wouldn't be enough to confront otherworldly entities. He needed something offensive, something that could at least harm the creature that had taken Mrs. Abernathy from him.
The forums he had read suggested that most elemental skills could be weaponized to some degree, but they weren't designed specifically for combat. For that, he would need specialized combat crystals, though they were far more expensive and subject to stricter regulations than the basic Wind crystal he had purchased today.
Alternatively, he could focus on enhancing his Wind skill to its maximum potential. He had asked various questions to the system, and it had indicated that reaching 100% proficiency at level 3 for Wind would transform the skill in some way. What would Wind become if he pushed it to its limits?
As he pondered his options, his eyelids grew heavy. The day's excitement and exertion caught up with him at last, dragging him toward sleep. His last conscious thought was of Mrs. Abernathy's face, not contorted in death as he had seen it last, but smiling as she had in life, telling him there was more to the world than his apartment, more to existence than mere survival.
"I'll make it count."
He murmured drowsily as sleep claimed him.
"I promise."
…
Marcus awoke to the sound of his alarm, momentarily disoriented. For the first time in weeks, he had slept through the night without nightmares. His mind felt clearer, sharper, as if the fog of depression that had enveloped him since Mrs. Abernathy's death had partially lifted.
The system interface manifested as soon as he opened his eyes, expanding from the small icon in the corner of his vision.
[GOOD MORNING, USER]
[PROCESSING OVERNIGHT SYSTEM INTEGRATION...]
[LORD OF CONTRACTS ORIGIN SKILL STABILIZED]
[NEW FUNCTION UNLOCKED: CONTRACT VISUALIZATION]
"Contract Visualization?"
Marcus inquired, sitting up in bed.
"What's that?"
[CONTRACT VISUALIZATION ALLOWS YOU TO PERCEIVE THE POTENTIAL CONTRACTUAL BONDS BETWEEN YOURSELF AND OTHER ENTITIES OR OBJECTS]
[FUNCTION ACTIVATES AUTOMATICALLY WHEN FOCUSING ON POTENTIAL CONTRACT TARGETS]
Marcus glanced around his room, curious to test this new capability. His gaze fell on his wheelchair, sitting faithfully beside his bed as it had for seventeen years. He focused on it intently, thinking of the concept of a contract between himself and the chair.
Slowly, a faint golden thread materialized between his chest and the wheelchair, barely visible, like a strand of spider silk catching the morning light. As he concentrated harder, the thread brightened and thickened slightly.
[POTENTIAL CONTRACT DETECTED: WHEELCHAIR]
[COMPATIBILITY: HIGH]
[EP COST TO ESTABLISH CONTRACT: 50]
[POTENTIAL BENEFITS: ENHANCED CONTROL, REDUCED FRICTION, AUTONOMOUS MOVEMENT CAPABILITIES]
Fifty points. That was nearly twice what he had accumulated yesterday from his insect hunt. But the benefits... autonomous movement? Could his wheelchair actually move on its own if he formed a contract with it?
The possibility was tantalizing, but he reminded himself of his priorities. Vengeance first. Convenience second. He needed to focus his resources on combat capabilities, not quality-of-life improvements, no matter how tempting.
Marcus transferred himself to the wheelchair without using his Wind ability, preferring to conserve his energy for the day ahead. He had another appointment with the transport service scheduled for ten o'clock—another trip to the Professional Shop Center.
As he prepared for the day, he expanded his plans. He would need more than just skill crystals; he needed information about the creatures that had appeared after The Awakening. The Professional Shop Center housed a Transcendent Library on its third floor—a public resource for registered skill users. Registration was beginning to seem less like a bureaucratic annoyance and more like a necessary step.
By 9:30, Marcus was ready. He had dressed more carefully today, choosing clothes that would blend in at the center rather than draw attention. His funds were more limited after yesterday's purchase, but he had transferred another five thousand credits to his accessible account, enough for another basic crystal and the registration fee.
The transport arrived precisely at ten. To Marcus's surprise, Devin was again the driver.