Shane's system screen blazed with notifications.
The sudden cascade of messages exploded across his vision like fireworks, bright flashes of text stacking over each other so quickly that he could barely read them before another appeared.
For a moment the digital storm almost hid the reality around him—the shattered furniture, the unconscious attackers, Saul and his wife clinging to one another in shock.
The notifications kept coming.
Crisis Averted
Multiple Skills Used
Innocent Life Saved
Then the sound.
Ding.
Ding.
Ding.
Ding-ding-ding-ding.
The sound continued relentlessly as message after message poured into his system.
Upgrade Available
Skill Points Received
All Skills Upgraded 1 Level
Reward for Quick Thinking – 1 Reset Available – Reset Cooldown on All Skills
Another flash of text replaced it before he could even fully process the first reward.
New Quest Received – Gain Information from a Celestial Familiar with Time Travel on Ramifications
Reward – 2 Level Ups on Time Travel
Max Level on Time Travel is Level 2 Until Quest Completed
Current Max Level on Time Travel Reached
Another notification appeared immediately.
New Quest Received – Become More Influential – Something Beyond a Business Owner
Reward – New Skill Unlocked – Transformation
Transformation – Take on the Appearance and Mannerisms of Any Person You Have Seen
Shane swiped furiously through the screen.
The notifications kept stacking.
"Okay… okay… enough," he muttered, shaking his head.
The system dimmed slightly but the text still hovered faintly at the edge of his vision.
He took a breath and looked around.
Saul and his wife were still near the doorway, holding each other tightly.
The adrenaline that had fueled the fight was fading now, replaced with the heavy realization of just how close the outcome had been.
Shane exhaled slowly.
"Too close…" he murmured.
Just as he finally managed to clear most of the messages from his display, the system delivered one final alert.
Celestial Energy Detected – High Level
Two Powerful Celestials Incoming
The Raven God and Veritas Alpha Signatures
Shane straightened instantly.
"Oh good," he said quietly.
Then the front door exploded inward.
The heavy door slammed open so violently it struck the wall with a sharp crack.
Olaf filled the doorway first.
The massive blond giant seemed to occupy the entire entrance at once—broad shoulders nearly scraping the frame as he stepped inside.
Behind him crowded Bjorn, Hugo, Ben, Silas, and Gary.
The sudden flood of familiar faces washed away the final edge of Shane's tension.
He ran a hand across the back of his neck.
"I sure am glad it was you guys," Shane said with a rough chuckle. "This system about gave me a heart attack. I thought it was more of Apex Negativa's thugs."
Bjorn stepped forward calmly, eyes scanning the room with practiced precision.
His gaze moved from the broken furniture… to the unconscious attackers… to the blood streaks across the floor.
"Well," Bjorn said evenly, "if it was them… I have a feeling you could have handled them."
His eyes flicked briefly toward Shane.
"The power drain I felt before we arrived," Bjorn continued, folding his hands behind his back, "suggests you just received quite a reward."
Shane rubbed his temples.
"There are more in the workshop," he said, gesturing toward the back door. "Can someone check and make sure none of them wake up and escape? We already missed one earlier."
Saul stepped forward, still shaken.
"Thank you Shane," he said quietly, emotion thick in his voice. "Without you getting here when you did…"
His wife squeezed his hand.
"Yes… thank you," she added softly.
Shane looked at them both and forced a small smile.
"It was closer than you think," he muttered under his breath.
Ben and Silas exchanged relieved looks.
Silas gave Shane a firm clap on the shoulder.
"Man… I thought we were about to walk into a massacre," he admitted.
Ben nodded.
"Yeah… same here."
Meanwhile Olaf and Hugo had already turned toward the workshop.
Gary followed them.
"Let's check the outside," Gary said. "Make sure nobody's pretending to be unconscious."
⸻
Workshop Perimeter
The group stepped into the workshop.
Framing nails were embedded in several bodies—Saul's desperate defensive work clearly visible.
Hugo crouched beside one attacker.
"He did this?" Hugo asked, impressed.
Gary nodded.
"Saul's tougher than he looks."
Olaf examined the scene silently.
Near the entrance lay the thug Shane had finished with the hammer.
None of them moved.
"Good," Olaf said quietly.
⸻
Inside the House
Ben and Silas checked the attackers Shane had dropped earlier.
Three men.
Still breathing.
Still unconscious.
Silas nudged one with his boot.
"He's out cold."
Ben looked toward Shane.
"What do we do with them?"
Bjorn answered first.
"Tie them up," he said calmly. "Make it tight and uncomfortable."
Shane didn't even look up from his system screen.
His voice came out colder than expected.
"On their bellies," Shane said. "Hands and legs tied together behind their backs."
Ben blinked.
"…like hog tying?"
Shane nodded.
"Exactly."
Silas whistled softly.
"Remind me not to get on your bad side."
Saul pointed toward a shelf in the corner.
"Rope's over there."
Ben grabbed it.
"Gary! Get in here!"
Gary jogged inside.
"On it."
Within minutes the attackers were bound tightly on the floor.
None of them were going anywhere.
⸻
System Discussion
Shane finally turned toward Bjorn.
"I got a pile of rewards from that fight," he said.
He explained everything.
The skill upgrades.
The cooldown reset.
The new quests.
The time travel notification.
When he finished he looked directly at Bjorn.
"Do you know anything about time travel?"
Bjorn shook his head slowly.
"I know of others who possess such abilities," he said carefully. "But I do not possess it myself."
He considered the system prompt.
"I suspect the system requires first-hand knowledge from someone who has actually used it."
Shane sighed.
"So we ask Olaf?"
"Possibly," Bjorn replied.
"And if he doesn't know?"
Bjorn shrugged slightly.
"Then we may have to consult the Old Gods."
Shane nodded slowly.
Then he pointed toward the next notification.
"Become more influential."
Bjorn thought for a moment.
"Your MMA debut could help," he said.
"But?"
"But you are already influential as a business owner," Bjorn continued. "At least regionally."
He folded his arms.
"A rookie fighter may not move the scale enough."
Shane sighed.
"So… politics?"
Bjorn raised an eyebrow.
"Let us hope not."
Shane laughed.
"A lot to think about."
He glanced toward the hog-tied attackers.
"What about them?"
"Olaf will deal with them," Bjorn replied calmly.
Shane nodded.
"Meaning?"
Bjorn answered simply.
"Interrogation first."
"And after?"
Bjorn met his eyes.
"Disposition."
Shane didn't ask another question.
⸻
Cleanup
The next hour passed in controlled activity.
Broken furniture was cleared.
Weapons were collected.
Saul and his wife packed a few essentials.
Eventually Shane made the decision.
"You two are moving near HQ," he told them.
Saul shook his head.
"That's not necessary—"
"Yes it is," Shane interrupted.
"This happened because of me."
The room went quiet.
Ben spoke first.
"That's not fair, Shane."
"It is to me," Shane said.
His tone left no room for argument.
The house near HQ would be paid for.
Saul and his wife would relocate immediately.
Hugo watched all of this silently.
The way Shane took responsibility.
The way the others trusted him.
The way even the celestials deferred to his judgment in certain matters.
It confirmed something in Hugo's mind.
He had chosen the right side.
⸻
Departure
Olaf's private jet was ready.
Since Shane couldn't teleport others yet, fast travel still required aircraft.
Olaf secured two prisoners under his arms like sacks of grain.
Silas whistled.
"Show-off."
Olaf grinned.
Ben and Silas stayed behind to help Saul pack.
Shane stayed with them.
The rest departed.
Bjorn.
Gary.
Hugo.
Olaf.
And three captured attackers.
⸻
Over the Ocean
The jet cruised above open water.
Inside the cabin the mood was cold.
Olaf dragged the first thug to the rear hatch.
Gary noticed the aircraft descending.
"How low are we going?"
"Eight hundred feet," Bjorn replied calmly.
The hatch opened.
Wind roared into the compartment.
Olaf ripped the gag away.
"Look down," Olaf said.
The man trembled.
"I… I don't know where we are."
Olaf smiled.
"Exactly."
He gestured toward the endless blue ocean.
"What do you know about the attack on Saul?"
The thug swallowed hard.
"We were paid anonymously!"
Bjorn leaned closer.
"By who?"
"I don't know!"
Without hesitation Olaf grabbed him and hauled him toward the hatch.
"Enjoy your meal, sea creatures!"
The man disappeared into the rushing wind.
Gary flinched.
Bjorn calmly adjusted his seatbelt.
Hugo shouted from the cabin.
"Good thing you had me ask the pilots to drop altitude!"
Olaf returned.
The second thug gave the same useless answers.
Seconds later he followed the first.
Gary swallowed.
"Do you think they knew anything?"
Bjorn answered evenly.
"No."
Gary blinked.
"Then why—"
"Because Olaf prefers certainty."
Gary stared at the open hatch.
"Did the fall kill them?"
Bjorn nodded.
"Yes."
"Terminal velocity from this height is roughly 120 to 130 miles per hour."
Gary winced.
"Hitting the water would be like hitting concrete."
Bjorn added calmly:
"The fish will appreciate the tenderized meat."
Gary stared at the floor.
Note to self, he thought.
Do not anger the Viking god.
The third thug screamed as Olaf dragged him toward the hatch.
Seconds later the ocean claimed him as well.
The hatch closed.
The jet leveled out.
Silence settled over the cabin.
Gary exhaled slowly.
"Yeah," he muttered quietly.
"Definitely not a good idea to piss off Olaf."
********************
"If you enjoyed Shane's journey, please drop a Power Stone! It helps the Common Sense Party grow!"