The Paralyzed Man's Revenge

Blood Contract

The pain was indescribable. It wasn't just a sting, but a sensation as if thousands of liters of molten lava were being forcibly injected into Arthur's spinal cord. His body, which had been stiff and cold, suddenly convulsed violently on the wet asphalt.

[Warning: Neural Integration in progress. Synchronization level: 5%.]

"Do it... just keep going..." Arthur groaned, his teeth chattering as he endured the agony. His vision began to blur. Through the curtain of roaring rain, he saw the shadow of Eleanor, his mother, standing a few meters away. The shadow didn't speak, only staring at him with eyes full of sorrow before finally fading into water droplets.

"Mother... I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you yet," he thought bitterly.

[Emotion Detected: Pure hatred toward target Alistair McAlister detected.]

[Obtained: 100 Hate Points.]

[Obtained: 50 Vengeance Points (First Blood Bonus).]

"What are... Hate Points?" Arthur asked internally, his breath coming in gasps. His chest rose and fell erratically.

[Hate Points are the fuel for your evolution, Arthur McAlister. The greater your grudge, the faster this system repairs your broken body.]

"Then take it all," Arthur hissed. "Take every drop of rage in my soul. I don't need peace. I only need the strength to break all of their necks."

[Request accepted. Accelerating motor nerve regeneration process. Warning: Mental load will increase drastically.]

Suddenly, a cracking sound echoed from his back. Crack! Arthur let out a low scream. It felt as if invisible hands were pulling and reconnecting nerves that had been dead for years. Cold sweat mixed with the rain flowing down his temples.

"It hurts... damn it, this is absolutely insane!" Arthur cursed, his hands gripping the asphalt until his fingernails bled.

[Current Host Status:]

[Name: Arthur McAlister]

[Strength: 3 (Very Weak)]

[Agility: 1 (Paralyzed)]

[Intelligence: 12]

[Willpower: 45]

[Vengeance Points: 150]

"Why is my willpower only 45?" Arthur asked in a hoarse voice.

[Because a small part of you still hopes for your father's love. Do you wish to erase this emotional residue?]

Arthur let out a discordant laugh, a dry sound that echoed eerily in the silence of Glencoe. "Hoping for love from that bastard? Not anymore. He died to me the moment he let Lily's legs be crushed and ran over Mom's body."

[Drastic change in Willpower detected. Willpower: 65.]

"Show me... what can I buy with these points?" Arthur forced his eyes to stay open, staring at the red screen blinking before him.

[Opening System Shop: Level 1.]

[Items available: Vial of Shadow Mending (100 Points), Intelligence Booster (200 Points), Basic Stealth (500 Points).]

"Shadow Mending... can it heal Lily?" Arthur's voice trembled as he mentioned his sister's name. He turned toward Lily, who lay helpless near him. His little sister's small face was as pale as a corpse.

[Vial of Shadow Mending can accelerate the healing of physical wounds in a short time. However, for permanent nerve damage, a higher system level is required.]

"I'll take one," Arthur said without hesitation.

[Vengeance Points deducted: 100. Remaining Points: 50.]

[Item 'Vial of Shadow Mending' has been stored in Inventory.]

Just as the notification appeared, a faint sound was heard from the distance. It wasn't the cold engine of a Rolls-Royce, but the roar of ambulance sirens piercing the darkness of the night. Blue and red lights began to reflect off the trees surrounding the Glencoe road.

"They're here..." Arthur muttered. He knew he had to act fast. If he were seen moving miraculously, Alistair would surely be suspicious and send someone to finish him off early.

[Warning: Spinal nerves are 40% reconnected. Basic motor functions have partially recovered.]

"Enough for now," Arthur commanded. "Hide this screen. Don't let anyone else see you."

[The system will switch to passive mode. Press mentally to recall.]

Arthur felt a strange warm flow at the tips of his feet. The cold that usually froze his limbs was replaced by a tangible pulse. Slowly, with a violent tremor, Arthur tried to move his right toes.

One... two...

The toes moved. Only slightly, but to Arthur, it was a miracle greater than the rising sun. Tears fell from the corners of his eyes, not out of sadness, but because of a hope that was reignited with a black flame.

"Arthur! Over there! There are victims on the road!" a paramedic shouted as the ambulance came to a sudden halt a few meters from them.

Arthur immediately relaxed his body, pretending to be as helpless as before. He closed his eyes, letting the officers run toward him and Lily.

"Hurry! This little girl is barely breathing! Her legs are crushed!" another officer shouted in a panicked tone.

Arthur felt warm hands touch his shoulders, lifting his body onto a stretcher. He could feel the jolts as the ambulance began to speed back toward Glasgow. Inside the cabin, bright with neon lights, Arthur opened his eyes slightly.

He saw a nurse busy placing an oxygen mask on Lily. Beside the nurse, the system screen reappeared faintly, visible only to Arthur.

[Main Mission Updated: Survive in the hospital and find the traitor within the legal authorities.]

[Reward: 300 Vengeance Points.]

Arthur took a deep breath, feeling the medicine-scented hospital air begin to permeate his lungs. He would not be the old Arthur. The weak Arthur had died on the cold asphalt of Glencoe.

Wait for me, Julian. Wait for me, Dad, he swore in his heart.

Suddenly, Arthur's heart pounded as he felt something in his pocket. A small bottle with a glowing, thick black liquid. The first item from the system. He knew that from this moment on, his life was no longer about survival, but about how to destroy a dynasty.

While the paramedics were busy checking his blood pressure, Arthur secretly clenched his fist under the ambulance blanket. The power was there, hidden, waiting for the right moment to explode.