Benson sat in the alley, trembling, the ashes of the creature still clinging to his clothes. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, drowning out the chaos outside.
"What… just happened?"
[Greed System Activated.]
The message burned in his vision, bright and unyielding. He tried to blink it away, but it stayed.
"Greed?" he whispered. "What the hell is Greed?"
No answer.
He stared at his trembling hands. They felt different. Not stronger, but heavier, like something new had taken root inside him.
[Ability: Consume.]
The words hung in the air like a curse. He didn't know what it meant, but he could still feel it—the raw, unrelenting hunger that wasn't his own. It clawed at him, deep and strong, demanding more.
The sound of shuffling footsteps snapped him back to reality. Benson scrambled to his feet, his eyes darting around the alley.
Another creature appeared at the far end, its body twisted and misshapen, its eyes glowing faintly in the red light.
"Crap," Benson muttered, backing away.
He glanced at the metal pipe lying nearby. He grabbed it, gripping it tightly. His mind raced. He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't even particularly brave. What was he supposed to do?
[Consume.]
The word whispered in his mind, louder this time, insistent.
"No," Benson hissed under his breath. "Whatever you are, shut up."
The creature lunged, and Benson swung the pipe with all his strength. It connected with a sickening crunch, sending the thing sprawling.
For a moment, Benson thought it was over. Then the creature started to rise, its movements jerky and unnatural.
"Of course," Benson groaned.
[Consume.]
The hunger surged again, stronger this time, almost overwhelming. Benson felt his grip on the pipe falter.
The creature charged.
It happened before he could think.
The pull came from deep inside him, like a vacuum opening in his chest. The creature froze mid-lunge, its body trembling. And then, it began to dissolve.
Benson watched in horror as the creature's flesh turned to ash, piece by piece, until nothing remained but a faint, glowing orb that hovered in the air for a moment before disappearing.
[Experience Points Gained: 50.]
The screen popped up again, but Benson barely registered it. His chest heaved as he dropped the pipe, stumbling back against the wall.
"What… what did I just do?"
[Consume: Ability to absorb life force and abilities of targets. Warning: Excessive use may result in side effects.]
"Side effects?" Benson barked out a laugh, bordering on hysteria. "What kind of side effects?"
The system didn't answer.
He didn't have time to dwell on it. The distant sound of gunfire and screams reminded him he was far from safe. His parents were still out there. He had to keep moving.
The streets were worse now. Mutated creatures roamed freely, attacking anything that moved. Benson stuck to away from light, avoiding them as best he could. But the hunger was still there, gnawing at the edges of his mind.
Every time he saw one of those creatures, he felt it—Greed, urging him to take, to consume.
He hated it.
By the time he reached the apartment complex where his parents lived, the sun—or what was left of it—was dipping below the horizon.
The building was in ruins. Windows shattered, walls cracked, and the front door hung loosely on its hinges.
"Mom? Dad?" Benson called, his voice echoing through the empty halls.
No answer.
His stomach sank as he climbed the stairs, his footsteps echoing loudly. The air felt wrong, heavy with the metallic scent of blood.
He reached their door. It was ajar.
Benson pushed it open slowly, his heart in his throat.
The living room was trashed. Furniture overturned, pictures smashed, and the TV lay in pieces on the floor.
"Mom? Dad?" he called again, louder this time.
A soft groan came from the kitchen. Benson froze.
"Mom?"
He stepped inside cautiously, his eyes scanning the room.
And then he saw her.
His mother was slumped against the counter, her skin pale and clammy, her breathing shallow.
"Mom!" Benson rushed to her side, his hands shaking as he tried to assess the damage. Her leg was twisted at an odd angle, and blood seeped from a gash on her forehead.
"Benson…" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"It's okay," he said, more to himself than to her. "I'm here. I'll get you out of here."
A noise behind him made him turn.
His father stood in the doorway, but it wasn't his father anymore.
His body was bloated and misshapen, his eyes glowing faintly in the red light.
"Dad?" Benson's voice broke.
The creature that had once been his father let out a guttural growl and charged.