My Life Changed with the Unlimited System

The night outside was quiet, but the atmosphere in Jacob and Lily's room was anything but. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, the siblings whispered urgently to each other, their thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and determination.
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"I still can't believe it," Jacob said, running a hand through his dark hair. His voice was low, but the frustration was clear. "Ethan… a superhuman? And all this stuff about the Great Families and powers controlling the world? How are we supposed to deal with something like that?"

Lily hugged her knees, her expression pensive. "It's a lot," she admitted. "But it explains so much. Like how Ethan changed—his strength, the way he's been acting lately. He wasn't just working out or something. There's something bigger going on."

Jacob nodded, a thoughtful frown pulling at his face. "And he knew. All this time, he knew. No wonder he's been so distant lately… but why didn't he tell us?"

"Maybe he didn't want us to get involved," Lily said softly. "Maybe he thought it would keep us safe."

Jacob clenched his fists. "Well, that didn't work, did it? He's out there, and we're stuck here, useless. I don't want to just sit around anymore."

Lily straightened, a flicker of determination lighting her face. "Neither do I. But what can we do? We don't know anything about this world. Who do we even ask?"

Jacob thought for a moment, and then his eyes lit up. "Hale."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Hale? The one with the messy hair and the scary green eyes? The one who looks like he's ready to start a fight every time he walks into a room?"

"Yeah, that Hale," Jacob said, cracking a small grin. "Think about it. He's always hanging around Lucan and Axel, so he knows what's going on. But he's not like the others—he's… different."

Lily gave him a skeptical look. "Different how? Because from what I saw, he's about two seconds away from punching someone at any given time."

Jacob shook his head. "That's just how he looks. Don't you remember how he played with those kids when he was here last week? He practically became their favorite person in five minutes."

Lily hesitated, recalling the scene. Hale had sat on the floor with the neighbor's children, letting them climb over him like he was some kind of jungle gym. His fiery green eyes had softened, and he'd even cracked a few genuine smiles as the kids laughed and tugged on his messy hair.

"Okay," she admitted. "He's… not completely terrifying. But what makes you think he'll help us?"

Jacob leaned forward, his tone more serious. "Because he's young, like us. He's not as intimidating as Lucan or Axel, and he seems like the kind of guy who wouldn't leave people hanging—especially if it's about Ethan."

Lily sighed but nodded. "Alright. I guess he's our best shot. Just… don't let him scare you off when he starts acting like he's in charge."

Jacob smirked. "I can handle him."

Lily's expression softened, but her voice carried a quiet weight. "Jacob… do you think we could be like Ethan? You know… superhuman?"

Jacob hesitated. "I don't know. But if we could, I'd want to. Not for the powers but to take some of the burden off him. If I could protect you and Mom and Dad, maybe Ethan wouldn't have to worry so much."

Lily looked at him, her determination shining through. "That's not fair. I want to help, too. We're family, Jacob. If we're going to do this, we do it together."

Jacob gave her a small smile and stood, offering her a hand. "Then together it is. First step—let's find Hale."

Lily took his hand and stood beside him, her voice steady. "Let's hope he's as approachable as you think he is."

Jacob chuckled. "If not, I'll just remind him about those kids who braided his hair. That'll knock him down a peg."

The siblings left the room, their resolve set. Though they didn't know what they were stepping into, they both knew one thing for certain: they couldn't sit on the sidelines any longer.

***

Jacob and Lily waited until the house had quieted down for the night before sneaking out. They knew their parents would forbid this, but they couldn't ignore the questions racing through their minds. The only person they thought might have answers was Hale.

As they stepped into the cool night air, they spotted him patrolling the perimeter. Hale's wiry frame was a shadowy outline against the faint moonlight. His fiery green eyes caught them immediately, narrowing as they approached.

"What are you two doing out here?" Hale asked, his tone sharp. "It's late. Go back inside."

Jacob cleared his throat, trying to sound confident. "We need to talk to you."

Hale folded his arms, already exasperated. "About what?"

"About Ethan," Lily said quickly. "And about everything we've heard today."

Hale stiffened. His gaze flickered between the two of them, his frustration clear. "I'm not having this conversation with you."

"Why not?" Jacob pressed, stepping forward. "We're his family. We deserve to know what's going on with him."

"You're his family," Hale agreed, his voice low and clipped. "Which is exactly why I'm not going to tell you anything. Go to bed."

Jacob's temper flared. "That's not fair! You know something—don't act like you don't! Ethan's out there, dealing with God knows what, and you're here acting like it's none of our business!"

Hale ran a hand through his messy brown hair, muttering under his breath. "Of course, it's your business, but it's not my place to—"

"You owe Ethan, don't you?" Jacob interrupted, glaring at Hale. He was just testing his theory. "That's why you're here. I don't know what he did for you, but you're here because of him. So, tell us what's going on!"

Hale's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked as though he was about to explode. Then, he let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, I owe him. I owe him my life and probably more than that. But that doesn't mean I'm going to spill everything to a couple of kids."

"We're not just kids," Lily interjected, her voice quiet but firm. "We're his siblings. And we just want to help him."

Hale exhaled slowly, his frustration simmering. "Help him? You don't even know what you're asking for. Do you even understand what Ethan's up against? What has he become?"

Jacob frowned. "What do you mean, what he's become?"

Hale froze, realizing he'd already said too much. "Forget it," he muttered.

"No," Jacob said, his voice rising. "What do you mean, Hale? What has he become?"

Hale glared at them both, trying to shut down the conversation. But his temper got the better of him, and he snapped, "He's an Ascendant, alright?"

There was a beat of silence as Jacob and Lily stared at him, the word hanging heavily in the air.

"What's an Ascendant?" Lily asked cautiously. "Is that the term for the superhumans?"

Hale cursed under his breath. "Damn it. I've already said too much."

"So, it is," Jacob said, his eyes widening. "Ascendant. That's what Ethan is?"

Hale turned away from them, trying to collect himself. "This is exactly why I didn't want to talk to you. You don't know what you're asking to get involved in."

"But that's why we're here!" Jacob pressed. "If we don't know, how are we supposed to understand? How can we protect ourselves—or Ethan?"

Lily nodded. "We're not asking for much. Just enough to make sense of what's happening."

Hale groaned, his patience thinning. "Kids... Listen... I said no."

Jacob glanced at Lily, then back at Hale, his voice quieter but no less determined. "Kids? Alright, then, tell us this. How old are you?"

Hale blinked, caught off guard. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just answer the question," Jacob said, his expression unreadable.

"I'm eighteen," Hale replied, frowning.

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Eighteen? That's only four years older than me!"

Lily jumped in, her tone teasing. "Then you're six years older than me. You're barely older than us!"

Hale's face turned blank, and he let out a frustrated sigh. "Unbelievable," he muttered. "I've been doing this since I was six years old, alright? I've seen more in my life than you can imagine. Don't think for a second that age makes this any easier for you to understand."

Lily's curiosity deepened. "Since you were six?"

"Yeah," Hale said bluntly. "And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that people like you—people who don't understand this world—need to stay out of it. It's not for you. And it's not for Ethan either, but here we are."

Jacob clenched his fists. "Then teach us."

Hale blinked, genuinely taken aback. "What?"

"Teach us," Jacob repeated. "If you think we don't understand, then help us. Show us how to protect ourselves. We don't want to be a burden to Ethan—or anyone else."

Lily nodded, her voice steady. "If we can't know everything, fine. But at least let us learn how to keep ourselves safe."

Hale stared at them, his fiery green eyes flickering with irritation—and something else. Despite himself, he felt a flicker of admiration for their determination. But he wasn't about to make it easy for them.

"Alright," he said finally. "You want to learn? Then here's the deal: you're not stepping into this world until you prove you're ready. That means learning what an Ascendant is, mastering the basics, and starting with martial arts. If you can't handle that, forget it."

Jacob's and Lily's eyes lit up. "So, you'll train us?" Jacob asked eagerly.

Hale hesitated, trying to maintain his usual expression. He nodded awkwardly. "Yeah, I guess. But don't expect me to go easy on you."

"We won't!" Lily said quickly.

"Not a chance!" Jacob added.

Hale rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good. Now go inside and get some sleep. Meet me outside at five tomorrow morning. And don't even think about being late."

The two siblings nodded enthusiastically before darting back inside. Hale watched them go, shaking his head.

"Kids," he muttered, his voice tinged with reluctant amusement. For all his complaints, there was something about their resolve that reminded him of Ethan. Maybe, just maybe, they had what it took.