A Second Chance in a Doomed World

Leo kept his gun raised, eyes locked on the woman in front of him. The notification still lingered in his vision, a glowing reminder of the anomaly standing before him.

[System Alert: You have encountered a Hidden Talent.]

That wasn't something he expected. Most people were still fumbling with their status screens, trying to make sense of the new reality, let alone gaining any kind of title. Yet here she was, standing amidst the carnage, completely unfazed. Her piercing blue eyes met his with an intensity that made him uneasy, but also intrigued.

The woman took a step closer, her sharp gaze scanning him just as intently. "You're going to keep pointing that thing at me?" Her voice was calm, almost teasing, but there was an edge to it—a confidence that suggested she wasn't afraid.

Leo didn't lower the gun. "Depends. Hidden Talent? What does that mean?" His voice was steady, but his mind was racing. The system had thrown a lot at him in the past day, but this was new territory.

She tilted her head, her long black hair cascading over one shoulder. "You don't know?" Her tone was curious, but there was a hint of amusement in it, as if she found his ignorance entertaining.

"I've seen a lot of weird things today. First time seeing this." He kept his grip firm on the pistol, his finger resting lightly on the trigger. He wasn't taking any chances, not with someone who could trigger a system alert like that.

A small smirk played on her lips, and she placed a hand on her hip. "I guess I should be honored." Her voice was smooth, almost playful, but her eyes were sharp, calculating. "I'm Lisa."

Leo kept his expression neutral, though his curiosity was piqued. "Leo." He didn't offer more. In this new world, names were just the beginning—trust was a luxury he couldn't afford.

"Leo." She rolled his name on her tongue, as if testing how it felt. "I was hoping I'd run into someone useful." Her tone was matter-of-fact, but there was an underlying challenge in her words, as if she was sizing him up.

"Useful?" He narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on the gun. "And what makes you think I won't just take your supplies and leave you here?" His voice was low, a warning. He wasn't in the habit of trusting strangers, especially not in a world where survival was a zero-sum game.

She laughed, and it wasn't the nervous, forced kind of laugh he'd heard from others in the past day. It was confident, almost mocking, and it set his nerves on edge. "That's cute," she said, her smirk widening.

In a blur, she moved.

Leo reacted instantly, pulling the trigger. His finger pressed down, expecting the familiar recoil, the sharp crack of gunfire. But nothing happened.

Click.

His eyes widened. The gun jammed? No. It wouldn't fire. He had pulled the trigger, but the mechanism didn't respond. It was as if the gun had been rendered useless in an instant.

And in that split second, Lisa was already in front of him.

Her slender fingers traced over the pistol's slide, her touch light but deliberate. She tilted the barrel away from her, her movements fluid and precise. "Guns don't work on me," she murmured, her voice low and almost intimate.

Leo stepped back, his heart pounding, and gripped his knife instead. The blade felt solid in his hand, a familiar weight in a world that was becoming increasingly unpredictable. "What the hell are you?" he demanded, his voice rough with suspicion.

She grinned, her blue eyes glowing faintly in the dim light of the alley. "A survivor. Like you." Her tone was casual, but there was a dangerous edge to it. "Just… better."

Leo didn't let his guard down. "You have an ability." It wasn't a question. The system had given everyone power, but some people were clearly ahead of the curve. Her ability to disable guns was a game-changer, and he needed to understand it.

"You're quick," she said, her grin widening. She stepped back, finally giving him space, but her posture remained relaxed, as if she wasn't worried about him at all. "Relax, I'm not your enemy. Yet." She glanced at the bodies of the men he had killed, her expression unreadable. "You're strong. I need strong people."

Leo scoffed, his knife still at the ready. "For what?" He wasn't about to join forces with someone he didn't trust, especially not someone with an ability as dangerous as hers.

She looked past him, toward the city where more smoke was rising. The fires were spreading, and the sounds of chaos were growing louder. "This place is falling apart faster than people can understand," she said, her voice serious for the first time. "And I need allies who can keep up."

Leo studied her, his mind racing. She was dangerous, that much was clear. But she was also right—the city was descending into chaos, and surviving alone was becoming harder by the minute. He didn't trust her, but he couldn't ignore the potential advantage of having someone with her abilities on his side.

For now, he'd play along. But he'd be watching her every move.