Chapter 3: RECHARGE
The pouch hit the table with a soft thud.
Aira didn’t look at you.
“Don’t waste them.”
You picked it up.
Inside—
Five faintly glowing crystals.
Small.
But enough.
You closed your hand around them.
The voice didn’t come.
Not yet.
Good.
You looked at Aira.
“I’ll be back with more food.”
She paused mid-bite.
“…Back?”
You shrugged lightly.
“Soon.”
She studied you for a second.
Suspicious.
But she didn’t stop you.
“…Don’t take too long.”
You stepped outside.
The ruined street stretched empty in both directions.
Wind. Dust. Silence.
You walked.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
Turning corners. Passing broken buildings.
Until you were sure—
No one was watching.
No movement.
No sound.
Alone.
Only then—
You opened your hand.
Five faintly glowing crystals rested in your palm.
And then—
The voice returned.
“Five Tier 1 mana crystals detected.”
“Recharge available.”
Your heartbeat picked up.
“…Recharge.”
“Recharging…”
The glow dimmed.
Then vanished.
All five.
Gone.
“Recharge complete.”
“Transfers available: 5”
You exhaled slowly.
A small smile forming.
Better than before.
Much better.
More freedom.
More control.
You closed your hand.
“…Transfer.”
The world snapped.
You stood in your room.
Clean walls.
Still air.
No blood.
No death.
For a moment—
You didn’t move.
Then a quiet laugh escaped you.
“…It’s real.”
Two worlds.
One body.
And now—
Control.
You grabbed the gold.
And left.
The city was alive.
People walked past you without a second glance.
Cars moved.
Voices filled the air.
Normal.
Completely normal.
Like the other world didn’t exist.
You stepped into a gold shop.
The man behind the counter barely looked up.
“Selling?”
You placed the bar on the table.
His eyes sharpened instantly.
He picked it up.
Checked it.
Weighed it.
“…Where did you get this?”
“Family.”
A simple answer.
He didn’t question it.
Just nodded.
“Pure.”
He wrote down a number.
You kept your face calm.
But inside—
You were stunned.
Way more than expected.
“Fine.”
Minutes later—
Cash.
Real.
Clean.
Yours.
You stepped outside and paused.
Thinking.
Gold here—valuable.
Gold there—worthless.
Food here—cheap.
Food there—power.
A slow smile formed.
“I can use this…”
You moved fast.
Supermarket.
Pharmacy.
Anywhere that mattered.
Chocolates.
Canned food.
Energy bars.
Medicine.
Penicillin.
More than before.
More than needed.
You filled your bag.
Then filled another.
You didn’t stop until you had to.
Back home.
Door locked.
Everything ready.
You took a breath.
“…Transfer.”
The world shifted again.
You were back.
Same ruined place.
Same silence.
But this time—
You came prepared.
You returned to the shelter.
Aira was exactly where you left her.
She looked up immediately.
Eyes sharp.
“You disappeared.”
You dropped the bags onto the table.
Heavy.
Loud.
Real.
“I told you,” you said calmly. “I’d be back.”
She didn’t respond right away.
Her eyes moved to the bags.
Then back to you.
“…What is this?”
You opened one slowly.
Food spilled into view.
Clean.
Sealed.
Perfect.
Her expression changed.
Just slightly.
“…Impossible.”
You leaned back a little.
Relaxed.
Confident.
“This is just the beginning.”
Inside your mind—
The system pulsed.
Alive.
Waiting.
And now—
With five transfers in reserve—
You weren’t just surviving anymore.
You had options.
Power.
Leverage.
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 3
