The night market of Silvermere glittered like a dream built on credit. Floating lanterns drifted above the cobblestone streets, their soft glow reflecting off puddles of spilled ale and false promises. The air buzzed with laughter, haggling, and the sweet, hollow clink of coins changing hands.
Kai stood in the center of it all, staring at a sign that read:
"Hero Sponsorship Applications – Debt-Free Zone!"
"…Debt-free?" He blinked. "What kind of fantasy world is this supposed to be?"
Beside him, Nyla yawned into her sleeve. The psychic's hair was a mess of violet strands, and she held a half-eaten skewer of something suspiciously still moving. "You're really thinking about getting a sponsor? You do realize no one sane invests in a hero whose power scales with bankruptcy, right?"
Kai adjusted his tattered coat, which had seen more explosions than laundry. "That's why it's perfect. I'll sell them on the potential of my debt. Investors love potential."
Mira, his team's healer—and unofficial debt collector—crossed her arms, her holy robes shimmering faintly in the lamplight. "Or they'll love your ability to owe them forever. Sponsorships mean contracts, Kai. And you already owe the kingdom, three merchants, two innkeepers, and me."
The last part stung. Especially because she had receipts.
Before Kai could retort, a ripple went through the crowd. A golden carriage, drawn by six white-plumed griffons, descended from the sky. The marketplace hushed as the carriage doors opened, revealing a figure in a deep crimson cloak. The air grew colder, quieter.
The man stepped down—tall, poised, with eyes like molten gold and a smile carved from arrogance. His presence alone made the surrounding merchants instinctively lower their prices.
Whispers spread like wildfire:
"That's Lord Veyrith, isn't it? The new Royal Treasurer…"
"No, not just the Treasurer. They call him the Debt King."
"Anyone who owes him never rises again."
Kai frowned. "Debt King? Sounds like someone I should definitely not meet."
Which, of course, meant fate had other plans.
Lord Veyrith's gaze swept across the marketplace and—because the universe loves irony—landed squarely on Kai. The golden eyes narrowed with curiosity. He began walking toward him, boots clicking with perfect rhythm.
"Oh no," Mira muttered, "he's looking right at us."
"Play it cool," Kai whispered. "Maybe he just wants directions."
"He's surrounded by ten armored accountants," Nyla deadpanned. "I don't think he's lost."
The crowd parted until only Kai and his team stood before the Debt King. Veyrith's cloak fluttered like a crimson banner as he stopped mere steps away.
"So you're the one they call the Limit Breaker," he said, voice smooth and precise as ink on parchment. "The man who grows stronger the deeper he sinks into debt. I must admit—your existence intrigues me."
Kai scratched the back of his head. "Intrigued, huh? Usually, people just say 'horrified.'"
A faint smile curved Veyrith's lips. "Tell me, Kai of Lous—do you truly believe debt is merely a burden?"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure it's not a blessing, if that's where this is going."
The man's golden gaze gleamed brighter. "On the contrary. Debt is power. It binds the weak to the strong. It defines the world's balance. Without it, there is no structure… no hierarchy… no control."
Kai opened his mouth to fire back—but a cold wind blew through the plaza. For a second, the lanterns dimmed. Veyrith's shadow stretched unnaturally long, splitting and twisting across the cobblestones. Something ancient lurked behind that smile.
Then, just as quickly, the moment passed. The crowd resumed its chatter, unaware of the weight that had just fallen on Kai's shoulders.
"I have an offer for you," Veyrith said, extending a gloved hand. "Join me as my champion in the upcoming Hero Tax Tournament. Serve under my banner, and I will erase your debts—every last coin."
Mira inhaled sharply. Nyla dropped her food. Even Kai hesitated.
No more debt.
No more interest fees.
No more sleeping behind taverns hoping the guild doesn't repossess his boots.
It sounded too good to be true—which, in Kai's experience, meant it definitely was.
He forced a grin. "Tempting, but I've got a rule: never trust anyone richer than me."
"Then I suppose," Veyrith said quietly, "you'll have to grow very, very rich indeed."
A faint gold glow flared around his hand. The moment Kai's eyes met it, his system interface flickered.
[New Quest Assigned!]
Title: Shadows of the Debt King
Objective: Uncover Lord Veyrith's true motive.
Reward: Unknown
Penalty: Debt Doubled
Kai blinked at the glowing letters. "Oh come on—again?"
Kai dismissed the glowing quest window with a groan. "Why can't I ever get a quest that says, 'Take a nap and wake up richer'?"
Mira glared. "Because that's not how karma—or interest rates—work."
Nyla tilted her head, eyes unfocused as her psychic senses brushed the air. "There's something strange about that man. His aura doesn't feel… alive."
Kai glanced toward where Veyrith had vanished, his golden carriage lifting back into the clouds. "Great. So he's not only rich, he's spooky. My two least favorite adjectives."
The psychic frowned. "I'm serious. Whatever that was, it's older than the system itself."
"Older than the system?" Kai scratched his chin. "Like… pre-debt?"
"Exactly."
The three of them shared a look. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the hum of floating lanterns. Finally, Mira sighed and pulled out her ledger—a holy book of healing spells on one side and a debt tracker on the other.
"Well, whatever he is," she said, "we can't ignore the quest. The system won't let you."
Kai groaned again. "You'd think a world with magic would have a refund button."
By morning, Silvermere had transformed. The once-lively market now displayed banners with golden emblems: Veyrith Finance Guild – Serving the Kingdom's Future. New clerks in tailored robes handed out fliers promising "Debt Refinancing Opportunities for Heroes."
Kai took one. The fine print immediately glowed red and attempted to tattoo itself on his wrist. He dropped it like it was cursed.
"It's official," he muttered. "He's spreading debt like an infection."
They wandered toward the Hero Registry Hall, where announcements of upcoming quests and tournaments flickered across crystal boards. A large crowd had gathered, murmuring about the same thing: the Hero Tax Tournament.
Mira adjusted her glasses. "Apparently, Veyrith's sponsoring this year's event. Heroes fight to earn tax exemptions and debt reductions."
Kai's expression soured. "So basically… an arena where everyone's broke and desperate?"
"Exactly," Nyla said. "Which means you'll fit right in."
He smirked. "Flattery won't get you out of splitting our tavern bill later."
Their banter faded as they reached the central board. A new notice shimmered into existence, stamped with a golden seal:
ATTENTION HEROES:
Those bearing active debts to the Crown or its subsidiaries are required to register for the Hero Tax Tournament. Failure to do so will result in immediate asset liquidation and credit nullification.
– Signed, Lord Veyrith
Kai stared at the words until his vision blurred. "He's conscripting us. Through taxes."
Mira pinched the bridge of her nose. "You have a remarkable talent for attracting tyrants."
"Hey, I didn't ask to be this charming."
Before they could argue further, a familiar ding! echoed.
[System Update!]
Global Rule Adjustment: Debtors with Limit-Type abilities are now bound to the Royal Treasury until repayment is complete.
Kai's blood ran cold. "…Bound?"
Mira paled. "He's rewriting the system. That's not supposed to be possible."
Nyla's voice dropped to a whisper. "Unless he's not using the system… but something that controls it."
Kai's fists clenched. "Then we'll find out how deep this goes. I'm not letting some golden-eyed accountant turn the world into a credit prison."
Mira crossed her arms. "You can't fight bureaucracy, Kai."
"Then I'll default harder than anyone in history."
That evening, they returned to their inn—the Lucky Coin, which, ironically, charged a cleaning fee if you thought about spilling something. Kai tossed himself onto his bed, staring at the wooden ceiling.
His mind replayed Veyrith's words:
"Debt is power."
He didn't want to admit it, but there was truth there. His own ability, Limit Breaker, was proof of it. Every time he pushed himself deeper into debt, his strength skyrocketed—but so did the danger.
The more he owed, the less control he had.
And now someone else was manipulating that same force on a global scale.
"Kai?" Mira's voice came from the doorway. She leaned against the frame, holding two cups of lukewarm tea. "You're thinking too much. That's usually my job."
He took the cup and gave her a tired smile. "Just wondering if we can actually do this. Fight a guy who owns the concept of owing money."
She smirked faintly. "You've fought worse. Remember the Debt Demon? The one that tried to repossess your soul?"
"Yeah," he said, staring into the tea. "At least that thing didn't have paperwork."
As night fell over Silvermere, the golden banners shimmered in the moonlight, each one humming faintly with an unseen energy. Somewhere high above, in a spire of black marble and gold, Lord Veyrith stood at his window, watching the city below.
A servant bowed low behind him. "My lord, the Limit Breaker has accepted the quest."
Veyrith's reflection smiled—a thin, hollow thing that didn't reach his eyes.
"Good," he murmured. "Then the first chain has been forged."
The reflection in the glass shifted—its mouth moving independently, whispering something too faint to hear. For an instant, the gold in Veyrith's eyes flickered into something darker… something older.
Morning came late to Silvermere. A hazy gold mist hung over the city, thick with incense and burnt ledger paper. The streets buzzed with the sound of vendors advertising "Hero Tax Insurance Plans" and "Tournament Debt Betting Pools."
Kai rubbed his temples as he passed a stand selling souvenir tax receipts.
"I can't tell if this place is a city or a financial crime scene," he muttered.
"It's both," Mira said, adjusting her satchel. "And we're the punchline."
Nyla floated beside them, her boots barely touching the cobblestones. "I can feel the city pulsing," she murmured. "Like it's alive."
Kai blinked. "Alive?"
"Every debt contract here has a trace of something unnatural in it. It's like… each signature binds more than money." She shuddered. "It binds soul fragments."
Mira's expression hardened. "That's not just unethical. That's necromancy through finance."
Kai whistled. "Guess I shouldn't have signed that 'Hero Card Rewards Program' form last night."
"You what?!" Mira spun on him, eyes blazing.
He raised his hands defensively. "Relax! It said 0% interest for the first week!"
"Those are the worst kind!" she snapped. "The ones that sound generous."
Nyla exhaled softly. "She's right, Kai. Veyrith's magic works by giving power first and collecting later. The 'later' part is the trap."
He frowned. "So what, he's feeding the entire economy his curse?"
"Exactly," Mira said. "And you're walking around like a glowing battery labeled 'Free Charge.'"
Kai sighed. "Why can't my curse ever be something simple, like spontaneous wealth?"
They reached the Registry Tower—a marble spire filled with bureaucrats, glowing crystals, and enough paperwork to bury a dragon. At the front counter, a clerk in a gold-trimmed uniform looked up from his quill.
"Name and debt level?"
Kai hesitated. "Uh… Kai Lumen. Current debt: unspecified. Ongoing. Unpayable. Existential."
The clerk didn't even blink. "That's under section nine." He stamped a form and handed it over. "Please proceed to Arena Registration."
Kai stared at the form, which now had his name engraved in golden script. The letters shimmered faintly—alive, almost breathing.
Mira took one look and swore under her breath. "Those aren't just registration glyphs. That's a binding sigil. Once you enter the tournament, you can't leave until your debt is settled."
"Which, knowing me," Kai said, "means never."
Inside the tower's inner chamber, dozens of heroes were already gathered. Some polished armor, others compared debt balances like battle stats. Floating screens displayed match brackets and exchange rates.
A loud voice boomed from the dais. "Attention all participants! Lord Veyrith's annual Hero Tax Tournament begins in three days! Prepare your wallets and wills accordingly!"
The crowd cheered—though whether from excitement or despair, it was impossible to tell.
Mira leaned closer. "We need to investigate before the games start. Find out how Veyrith's rewriting the system."
"Got any leads?" Kai asked.
"Just one." She opened her ledger, revealing a hand-drawn map. "The Treasury Vault. That's where the Kingdom stores all magical contracts and soul-sealed debts. If Veyrith's changed the system, the evidence will be there."
Kai grinned. "So we're going to rob a national bank?"
"Investigate," Mira corrected.
"Investigate loudly, with explosions?"
She glared. "No explosions."
"…So, quiet explosions."
That night, the trio slipped through the streets toward the Vault. It lay beneath the capital's central plaza—a massive golden lockplate set into the ground, engraved with runes that shimmered like molten light.
Kai crouched beside it. "Looks fancy. How do we open it?"
Mira whispered an incantation. Her staff glowed as faint lines of energy traced across the surface, revealing hidden inscriptions. "These aren't normal locks. They're written in Debt Script. You can't open them unless you owe enough."
Kai blinked. "Wait, seriously? You unlock it by being broke enough?"
"Pretty much."
He grinned and cracked his knuckles. "Finally, my time to shine."
The air trembled as his ability flared to life—Limit Breaker activating with a flash of crimson light. Golden symbols twisted, reacting to his overwhelming imbalance.
The lock hissed, then clicked open.
"See?" Kai said smugly. "Debt solves everything."
Mira facepalmed. "You're a walking financial apocalypse."
The Vault's interior was a cathedral of gold and shadow. Rows of floating scrolls drifted above altars made of coin stacks, whispering softly in dead languages. At the far end stood a statue—half angel, half judge—holding scales filled with glowing contracts.
Nyla stopped suddenly, her psychic senses spiking. "Something's here."
A voice echoed from behind the statue. Smooth. Cold. Familiar.
"I expected you sooner, Limit Breaker."
Veyrith stepped into view, his golden eyes faintly luminous in the dark.
Kai's smirk faltered. "Do you live in vaults, or are you just here for the aesthetic?"
"Neither," Veyrith said. "I'm here because this is where the world keeps its truth."
He gestured to the floating scrolls. "Every hero, every kingdom, every miracle—they all operate on debt. Power borrowed from the divine, mortals repaying with struggle and pain. I've merely… refined the process."
Mira's grip tightened on her staff. "You're enslaving people through magic."
Veyrith smiled faintly. "Slavery implies a lack of choice. They chose to borrow. I simply ensure they repay."
Kai stepped forward, anger simmering beneath his grin. "You sound like every collector I've ever punched."
"Perhaps," Veyrith said softly. "But I am not collecting your money, Kai Lumen. I am collecting your potential."
The golden sigils on Kai's tournament form began to glow, searing his skin through his pocket.
[New Contract Detected.]
Limit Breaker has entered a binding clause with The Debt King.
Kai's breath hitched as the mark burned brighter.
"What… did you do?"
Veyrith's smile widened. "I've invested in you."
The pain hit like a storm.
Kai staggered backward, clutching his arm as gold-tinged veins lit up under his skin. Every heartbeat pulsed with the weight of a thousand unpaid debts. The room spun—the whispering contracts above him seemed to chant his name.
"Kai!" Mira caught his shoulder, light flaring from her hands. "It's the curse—he's linking into your Limit Breaker!"
Nyla's voice trembled. "It's like he's turning your debt into his profit. He's literally investing in your suffering!"
Kai forced a laugh through gritted teeth. "So… basically he's short-selling my soul. Fantastic."
Across the chamber, Veyrith watched calmly, his golden robes gleaming. "Don't struggle, Limit Breaker. This is the nature of value. Every transaction has two sides—giver and receiver. You've always borrowed your strength. Now, it's time to pay the dividend."
"Yeah?" Kai rasped, standing upright as the energy crackled around him. "Then here's your interest!"
He swung his arm, and a wave of scarlet energy burst forth—wild, unstable, magnificent. The Vault shuddered as ancient contracts burned midair, their sigils unraveling like paper in fire.
But Veyrith barely flinched. With a snap of his fingers, the flames folded back into gold. "Impressive. But your strength still operates on credit. And every use of that power deepens your debt—to me."
A sharp chime rang through the chamber.
[Debt Increased: +10,000 Gold]
[Warning: Interest Rate Raised to 8.5%]
Kai blinked at the floating numbers that appeared beside him. "You've gotta be kidding me—my power has a HUD now?!"
"Looks like he monetized you," Mira growled, swinging her staff. "Not for long!"
She unleashed a bolt of radiant energy, but it shattered against an invisible barrier of gold script.
Veyrith turned slightly, his tone unchanging. "You're meddling in systems beyond mortal comprehension. I don't just tax heroes. I balance them."
Nyla's voice softened. "Balance? You're draining people dry!"
"Balance requires sacrifice," he replied. "And debt… is merely the form of that sacrifice the world understands best."
Mira reached into her pack, pulling out a silver coin etched with runes. "Kai, hold still!"
"Is that one of your enchanted payment seals?" he asked.
"It's an anti-transaction token. It cancels magical contracts for thirty seconds!"
She pressed the coin to his chest. For a moment, the glowing veins dimmed—the burning subsided.
Kai exhaled, half-collapsing. "Thirty seconds of freedom. Great. That's basically a loan too."
Nyla frowned. "We can't fight him here. This place is tied to his magic."
Veyrith tilted his head. "Leave if you wish. But remember this—every coin you spend, every life you save, every victory you claim… accrues interest."
He raised his hand, and the entire Vault shifted. The golden walls rippled into mirrors, each reflecting a version of Kai—some victorious, some defeated, all burdened by glowing chains of numbers.
Kai froze. "What is this?"
"Your possible futures," Veyrith said. "Each one measured in debt. Each one already owed."
Mira took Kai's arm and pulled. "We're leaving—now!"
The trio bolted toward the exit as Veyrith's laughter echoed behind them, cold and patient.
They didn't stop running until they reached the slums beyond the marketplace, breath steaming in the chill night air. The city's lights burned like gold fire in the distance.
Kai dropped to a crate, hands shaking. "I can still feel it… like something's crawling under my skin."
Mira knelt, her voice low but steady. "He's marked you with a debt chain. That's not just a curse—it's a control mechanism. He can raise your interest whenever he wants."
Kai let out a bitter laugh. "So I've officially become a financial asset."
Nyla wrapped her arms around herself. "He's not just taxing people. He's feeding on their futures."
There was a silence. The distant hum of the city filled it—coins clinking, merchants shouting, lives being bought and sold like nothing.
Mira broke it first. "We need to find a way to break his system. Not just for you—for everyone."
Kai looked up, eyes faintly glowing crimson-gold. "You're talking about toppling a kingdom's economy."
She smiled grimly. "Then we'd better start with a plan."
Later that night, as the others slept in their rented room above a noodle shop, Kai sat alone by the window. Moonlight poured over the rooftops, painting the city in quiet gold.
He opened his hand. The faint symbol of the debt mark pulsed like a heartbeat.
"An investment, huh…" he muttered. "Guess we'll see if I'm worth the risk."
Somewhere in the back of his mind, the system whispered:
[Limit Breaker – Passive Income Unlocked]
Each act of defiance generates equivalent debt.
The greater your rebellion, the greater your power.
Kai's grin returned—soft, dangerous, tired. "Guess I'll just have to go bankrupt saving the world."