The morning after Serina's arrival, Eren found himself staring at the faint glow of the Survival System's interface. The new mission to investigate the Veil weighed heavily on his mind, but what intrigued him more was the system's shop. Over the past weeks, he'd earned a considerable amount of Survival Points, enough to afford some of the higher-tier skills and items that had previously been out of reach.
Sitting in the corner of his cabin, Eren navigated through the shop menu. Most of the skills were practical—enhancements to stamina, stealth, or crafting—but one caught his eye. It was labeled "Unbound Fury", and its description was both enticing and ominous.
Unbound Fury: Temporarily enhances physical strength, speed, and reflexes beyond human limits. Warning: User's consciousness may be compromised during activation, allowing an external entity to take control. Use at your own risk.
Cost: 1,000 Survival Points
Eren's finger hovered over the purchase button. The skill was risky, but its potential power was undeniable. If the Veil became a real threat, he'd need every advantage he could get. Finally, he made his decision.
Skill Purchased: Unbound Fury
A wave of heat coursed through his body as the skill integrated into his system. For a moment, he felt an overwhelming surge of energy, but it quickly subsided, leaving him slightly breathless.
Later that afternoon, Eren ventured deeper into the forest, away from the cabin. He needed to test the skill's capabilities before relying on it in a real confrontation. Serina had stayed behind, still recovering from her sleepless nights and the stress of her investigation. That was fine by Eren; he preferred to handle this alone.
He stopped in a clearing surrounded by towering pines and activated the skill.
Unbound Fury: Activated
The change was immediate. His muscles tensed, and his senses sharpened to an almost unbearable degree. He could hear the rustle of leaves from a hundred meters away, feel the faint vibrations of insects crawling across the ground, and see every detail of the forest in vivid clarity.
Eren clenched his fists and swung at a nearby tree. The impact splintered the wood, sending shards flying. The raw power was exhilarating, unlike anything he'd ever experienced.
But then, something shifted.
A strange, dark fog clouded his mind. His body froze for a moment, and then his consciousness slipped away, like falling into a deep sleep. When he woke up moments later, it was no longer him standing in control.
From the shadows of his mind, he watched as his body moved on its own, his movements unnaturally fluid and precise. The presence—something ancient and cold—had taken over, and it seemed to revel in its newfound freedom.
The entity turned its gaze to a deer grazing at the edge of the clearing. Without hesitation, it lunged. The deer bolted, but Eren's body—no, the entity controlling it—was faster. It caught the animal within seconds and tackled it to the ground. Hands tightened around the animal's neck with ruthless efficiency, ignoring the creature's frantic struggles.
Somewhere in the depths of his consciousness, Eren screamed, fighting to regain control. Stop! Let go! This isn't what I wanted! His pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Finally, the skill's timer ran out.
Unbound Fury: Deactivated
Eren gasped as control of his body returned. He stumbled backward, his vision clearing as the deer scrambled to its feet and fled. His hands were trembling, and his knees buckled beneath him. The memory of what had just happened lingered like a bad dream, and yet it felt all too real.
Back at the cabin, Serina noticed his disheveled state the moment he walked through the door.
"What happened to you?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Nothing," Eren said curtly, brushing past her. "Just testing something."
She frowned but didn't press further. Eren disappeared into his room and sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. The sensation of being a passenger in his own body haunted him. It wasn't just the power of Unbound Fury that was dangerous—it was the entity that came with it.
The skill was no longer a simple tool; it was a double-edged sword. One that could easily turn against him if he wasn't careful.
System Notification: Skill Unlocked: Unbound Fury Warning: Activation may result in temporary loss of consciousness and external entity control. Exercise extreme caution.
Mission Update: Investigate the Veil's activities. Progress: 15%.