John didn't sleep.
Not after seeing that thing on the rooftop.
Not after the system warned him it was "becoming curious."
So instead of lying in bed terrified, he opened the system's new tab:
[Universe Ability Shop — Tier 2 Unlocked]
Rows of abilities appeared — each one more insane than the last.
"Sharingan (Basic)"
"Super Speed (Low-Level Speedster)"
"Enhanced Durability (Marvel Variant)"
"Ki Control (Entry Rank)"
"Web-Slinging (Genetic Adaptation)"
"Full Counter (Weak Version)"
He scrolled slowly, heart pounding.
Tier 2 wasn't a game.
These were powers that could completely change who he was.
He needed something versatile. Something defensive. Something that could keep him alive against whatever shadow had been watching him.
The system chimed:
[Recommendation Based on Threat Level: Sharingan (Basic)]
[Cost: 50,000 Points]
John froze.
Sharingan.
The eye that could read movements.
Predict attacks.
Copy techniques.
See through deception.
Against a creature that mimicked him, that seemed perfect.
But he didn't immediately buy it.
He needed to think.
He Calls Sabrina
He grabbed his phone, scrolling to her contact.
He didn't usually call her this late.
But when she picked up, her voice was soft and sleepy:
"…John? It's midnight."
"Sorry," he whispered. "I just… needed someone to talk to."
There was a quiet rustle.
She was sitting up now.
"You sound scared. What happened?"
He hesitated.
He couldn't tell her everything — not yet.
But he didn't want to push her away either.
"I think someone's been… watching me," he admitted quietly.
Sabrina sucked in a breath.
"Is it the monster again? Or something worse?"
"…Worse."
Silence.
Then, very gently:
"John… please be careful. Don't get hurt. And don't disappear."
His chest tightened at the last part.
"I won't," he said, even though he wasn't sure.
"Promise?"
He closed his eyes.
"…Promise."
After they hung up, he stared at the system again.
He had people who cared now.
He had someone he wanted to protect.
That made the choice obvious.
He Makes the Purchase
"System," he whispered. "Buy Sharingan… basic level."
[Confirm Purchase?]
"Yes."
The world slowed.
Everything went silent.
Then—
[Purchase Successful]
[Installing Ability…]
A burning pressure hit his eyes.
He clutched his head, stumbling backward.
It wasn't pain — it was too intense, too overwhelming, too… alive to be simple pain.
His vision blurred.
Brightened.
Shifted.
Then—
His eyes opened.
Red.
Spinning.
Awake.
He had the Sharingan.
The room around him sharpened instantly.
Lines of motion.
Shifts of air.
Pulse signatures behind walls.
Heat signatures outside the house.
Everything was vibrant.
Alive.
Readable.
He gasped.
This was beyond anything he expected.
Testing the Power
He stood still… and focused on the window.
His Sharingan zoomed in without effort, adjusting like a camera lens.
He looked across the street.
Nothing on the rooftop.
He looked between buildings.
Nothing.
He checked every shadow, every alley.
Still nothing.
But then—
A movement.
Something small.
A quick flicker.
On the far side of the block, a figure slipped behind a water tower.
Too fast.
Too silent.
Too smooth.
His Haki hadn't sensed it.
But the Sharingan had.
A chill shot down his spine.
Whatever it was…
It wasn't gone.
It wasn't leaving.
And it definitely wasn't human.
The System Updates Again
A new message flashed across his vision:
[The Unknown Observer has detected your power increase.]
[Its behavior is changing.]
John swallowed.
"Changing… how?"
The system responded instantly:
[It is becoming more cautious.]
[More clever.]
[More bold.]
His heart raced.
"Bolder? How?!"
No response.
But then the system flashed one final warning:
[Be prepared, John.]
[It may approach you soon.]
A knock suddenly echoed from downstairs.
Loud.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
John's blood ran cold.
At midnight?
His parents were asleep.
Sabrina wouldn't come at this hour.
Yelena wouldn't knock.
The creature wouldn't either.
So who—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Someone was here.
Someone who knew where he lived.
Someone who wanted something.
John's Sharingan spun, activating fully.
Whoever stood outside that door…
Was about to change everything.