I awoke to the familiar scent of iron. My eyes fluttered open, and I found myself lying on the cold, grimy floor of an abandoned building. Confusion and fear raced through my mind as I struggled to understand where I was.
"What... happened?" I muttered, raising my hand to my forehead, only to feel something strange. My fingertips brushed against a faint marking—three intertwining circles, glowing softly.
A holographic panel appeared before my eyes.
[System Activated: Idle Evolution] [Passive Skill Unlocked: Evolution Through Inactivity]
"What the hell?" I whispered, but my thoughts were interrupted by the loud crash of a metal door being kicked open.
Two ghouls entered, both with crimson eyes glaring hungrily at me. I was too weak to move. My limbs felt like lead, and my vision blurred.
[You have been idle for 1 hour. Strength increased by 5. Regeneration increased by 10.]
One of the ghouls lunged at me, and suddenly, my body reacted on its own—my hand shot out, grabbing its face and crushing it with a strength I didn't know I possessed. Blood splattered everywhere as the other ghoul staggered back in fear.
"What... am I?" I whispered, staring at my blood-soaked hand.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed from the doorway. "You're awake."
I turned to see Touka Kirishima standing there, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. She looked at the remains of the ghoul with disdain before shifting her gaze to me.
"You... killed it?" she asked, her voice firm but laced with curiosity.
I hesitated. "I didn't mean to... I just—"
Touka walked closer, inspecting the markings on my hand. "That's not something a normal ghoul would do," she muttered. "Who are you?"
My mind raced as I tried to recall how I ended up here. "I... I don't know. I just woke up like this."
She sighed. "Great. Another idiot who doesn't know his own power. Just my luck." She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from my face, her touch surprisingly gentle despite her harsh words.
[You have been idle for 10 minutes. Reflexes increased by 2. Agility increased by 3.]
I clenched my fists, trying to comprehend what this system was doing to me. It seemed like the more I stayed still, the stronger I became.
"You're coming with me," Touka commanded, pulling me to my feet. "I don't care what kind of freak you are, but you're not wandering around the 20th Ward without knowing how to survive."
As we walked through the dark alleys of Tokyo, I couldn't help but glance at her from the corner of my eye. There was something fierce yet comforting about her presence.
"Why are you helping me?" I asked quietly.
She scoffed, not meeting my gaze. "Don't get the wrong idea. I just don't want another clueless idiot attracting Dove attention. You're gonna cause problems if you don't know how to control yourself."
For some reason, I couldn't help but smile. Maybe it was the warmth behind her cold words, or just the fact that someone cared enough to guide me.
Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a twisted journey—a tale of power, survival, and a bond forged through the blood-soaked streets of Tokyo.