Harem Stealing System

Eiden's eyes widened in disbelief as his brain struggled to process the sight before him. Arin was here and not just her, but also a buffed-up guy standing right beside her. She glanced at Eiden, then turned her gaze towards Ruel. Without speaking a word, she nodded at the man beside her. That was all it took. The buffed guy immediately dashed forward, running toward Ruel with surprising speed and precision. Ruel remained unaware, completely focused on Lyra, who was desperately struggling in his grip. Her eyes were clenched shut as she tried to yank her hand away from him. But Ruel, much stronger than her, kept shaking her arm, pulling her close, his grip unrelenting. Lyra began to sob, her body trembling from the helplessness and fear.

Then, with a loud thud, the man struck Ruel at the back of his head with a powerful kick. Ruel's body immediately collapsed forward and slammed into the ground. His hold on Lyra was broken, and she stumbled backward in shock. The moment she regained her balance, her eyes landed on Eiden, who was frantically waving at her to come over. She didn't think for even a second. Without hesitation, she sprinted toward him at full speed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

She had no intention of slowing down and ended up crashing right into Eiden. He immediately caught her in a hug, pulling her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her. Using the momentum of her crash, Eiden turned both their bodies around the corner of the wall to hide. From the corner of his eye, he peeked again, watching the scene unfold. Ruel groaned as he slowly rolled to his side and rubbed the back of his head, dazed and clearly disoriented. But despite that, he began to push himself up. His movements were clumsy, but he managed to get back on his feet.

Ruel's eyes locked onto the man who had attacked him. His face twisted into something unrecognizable rage, confusion, pain. But he didn't ask questions. Instead, he dropped into a fighting stance. His feet shifted wider apart as he bent his knees slightly, both fists raised in front of his face, mirroring a boxer's form. Without warning, Ruel dashed forward. He twisted his hips, using all the power in his body to drive his fist toward the man's face. But the buffed guy didn't move his feet. Instead, he leaned back, dodging the punch with almost lazy grace, his back arching as the blow swished past harmlessly.

The man countered immediately, thrusting his palm forward in a straight line aimed at Ruel's face. Ruel managed to block the attack, but the sheer force of the strike pushed him back several steps. His feet skidded against the ground as he staggered, barely managing to keep himself upright. He rebalanced and lunged again, this time with a swift left punch. But it was a feint. Before the left hand could connect, Ruel's right fist shot forward in a sharp jab. The man seemed to have anticipated the move. He turned his body with ease, avoiding the strike once more.

But the buffed guy didn't stop there. Using the momentum from his turn, he spun around fully and attempted a back swing. Ruel managed to raise his arms and block the attack just in time, but the strength behind the blow still pushed him backward again. This time, though, Ruel was prepared. He used the force to rotate and immediately sent an uppercut toward the man's chin with his right fist. Before it could land, the man grabbed both of Ruel's wrists and twisted. He then shifted his own waist forward, using Ruel's swinging force against him.

With a fluid motion, he flipped Ruel over and slammed him into the ground face first. A loud thud echoed in the air. Ruel groaned in pain, but the man wasn't finished. He twisted Ruel's arm and pinned it behind his back, applying pressure. Ruel, now lying flat on his stomach, squirmed and cried out in frustration. "Arhhghg," he groaned, his voice filled with pain. Before he could do anything else, the man delivered a swift chop to Ruel's neck. Ruel's vision blurred instantly. His eyes rolled back before closing completely as his body went limp. The man stayed crouched for a second longer, checking Ruel's state to confirm unconsciousness.

Only after he was certain did he stand back up. Eiden had watched the entire scene unfold while still holding Lyra in his arms. Her face remained buried in his chest as she sobbed quietly. The trembling in her body hadn't stopped. Eiden gently rested his chin over her head, trying to offer her some kind of comfort. Eventually, after what felt like a long time, Lyra slowly pulled away from him. Her face was flushed, eyes red, tears clinging to her lashes as she looked up at him. "Thank you," she whispered softly.

But Eiden couldn't respond. He felt a wave of guilt flood through him. He hadn't done anything. He had just stood there, hesitating, frozen. It wasn't courage that had saved Lyra it was Arin and that guy. That truth left a bitter taste in his mouth. He felt small. Weak. Pathetic. And watching the way that man had taken down Ruel so efficiently only confirmed what he had begun to suspect Ruel wasn't someone he could beat. Not in a fair fight. Not even if they somehow had the same stats. The difference in technique, experience, and confidence was too great.

And he didn't even have similar stats. He was weaker than Ruel in every way. That realization made his stomach churn. Eiden clenched his teeth tightly, trying to hold in the frustration. His fists shook. No amount of thinking could change the truth. He was simply not strong enough. As he stood silently with Lyra still beside him, he noticed the buffed guy walking toward them, carrying Ruel's unconscious body on his shoulder like he weighed nothing. Arin pointed in a certain direction, and the guy gave a brief nod before heading that way.

Arin began to follow him but paused and turned slightly. She looked over her shoulder at Eiden and said coldly, "I'm keeping an eye on him." Then, without waiting for a response, she turned back and walked away, disappearing into the distance alongside the man. Eiden stared after them until their figures faded from view. The street fell quiet again, the chaos from earlier already starting to feel like a blur. He turned and looked at Lyra beside him. She wasn't crying anymore, but her eyes still looked exhausted and hollow.

Without speaking, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her. Step by step, he walked her back home. They didn't speak during the walk, nor did they need to. The silence was heavy but mutual. When they reached her doorstep, Lyra gave him a final look, her lips trembling slightly before she turned and entered her house. Eiden stood there for a moment, watching the door close behind her. Then, slowly, he turned and walked away, his heart numb, his expression blank.

By the time he reached home, night had fully fallen. His house stood silent under the dull glow of the streetlights. As he entered, he was greeted by his mother, Dally Mores. She gave him her usual bright smile. "Ohh, you're back," she said warmly, expecting at least a nod or some reply. But Eiden didn't answer. He didn't even look at her. Wordlessly, he walked past her and went straight into his room, closing the door behind him with a soft click.

Dally stood in the hallway, frozen. Her smile slowly faded as she tilted her head in confusion. Her hands moved to her cheeks as she frowned with concern. She didn't know what had happened, but something in her son's eyes had deeply unsettled her.