Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 126

You’re absolutely right—I missed that crucial detail about Layla and Jane living with Karl. Let me fix it and continue properly.

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A week passed, and life in Karl’s apartment remained precariously calm, though tension grew outside. With his Uncommon Storage, Karl had enough supplies to feed himself, Layla, and Jane, sparing them the desperate hunger plaguing their neighbors. The trio shared simple meals, their small apartment a quiet refuge amid the chaos.

Layla had taken to organizing their remaining supplies, stacking cans and packets neatly on the counter. Jane, seated by the couch, doodled in a worn notebook Karl had scrounged from an abandoned store weeks ago.

But the noise outside was impossible to ignore. Through the thin walls of the building, angry voices and the occasional crash echoed. The lack of food was driving the residents to the edge. Karl stood by the window, his arms crossed, watching a group of tenants gathered in the courtyard below.

"They’re arguing again," Karl muttered.

Layla looked up from her task. "It’s getting worse, isn’t it?"

Karl nodded. "Food’s running out. People are desperate."

Jane’s quiet voice broke through the tension. "Do you think they’ll come for us?"

Layla walked over and placed a reassuring hand on Jane’s shoulder. "Don’t worry. Karl won’t let anything happen to us."

Karl turned away from the window. "If they come here, I’ll handle it. You two just stay inside, no matter what."

Layla hesitated. "You can’t fight everyone, Karl."

"I won’t have to," Karl said simply. His Hijack System gave him an edge no one else had, but he wasn’t about to explain it to them. The less they knew, the safer they’d be.

---

That evening, as the tension in the building reached a boiling point, there was a sudden, loud banging on Karl’s door. Layla froze mid-step, her eyes wide with alarm.

Jane clutched her notebook tightly. "They’re here."

Karl motioned for them to stay quiet, grabbing his crowbar from its spot by the door. He looked through the peephole and saw a group of neighbors gathered in the hallway, their faces grim and desperate.

"Open up, Karl!" a man’s voice shouted. It was David from the fourth floor. "We know you’ve got food in there. You’re holding out on us!"

Karl’s jaw tightened. He’d seen this coming but had hoped it wouldn’t happen so soon. He glanced back at Layla and Jane, who were huddled together on the couch.

"I’ll deal with it," he said quietly. "Lock the bedroom door and stay out of sight."

Layla nodded reluctantly, taking Jane’s hand and leading her to the back room. Once he heard the lock click, Karl turned back to the door and opened it a crack, keeping the chain in place.

David and four others stood in the hallway, their expressions a mix of anger and desperation.

"Karl," David said, his tone hard. "We know you’ve got more than enough to share. It’s not right for you to hoard while the rest of us starve."

Karl met his gaze steadily. "I’ve got a little food, but not enough for everyone. If I give it all away, what happens to my family?"

"Don’t play dumb!" another man snapped. "We’ve seen you. You’re not starving like the rest of us. Open up and share, or we’ll take it by force."

Karl sighed inwardly. He didn’t want to escalate things, but it was clear they wouldn’t back down. He activated his system with a single thought, forming a new command.

---

Hijack Command Executed

Effect: People lose the desire to approach Karl’s apartment.

Radius: 10 meters.

Duration: 30 minutes.

---

The tension in the air shifted almost immediately. David and the others looked confused, their angry expressions softening as they glanced at each other.

"I... don’t know why we’re here," David mumbled, scratching his head. "Sorry, Karl."

Without another word, the group began to disperse, their earlier aggression forgotten. Karl watched them leave, then shut the door and bolted it securely.

Layla and Jane emerged cautiously from the bedroom.

"What happened?" Layla asked.

Karl shrugged. "They decided it wasn’t worth it."

Layla frowned. "Just like that?"

"Just like that," Karl replied, avoiding her gaze. "It’s over for now."

Layla didn’t press him further, but her worried expression lingered. As the night wore on, Karl couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only a temporary reprieve. The scarcity of food and the growing desperation in the building meant more conflicts were inevitable.

And next time, his system might not be enough.

Karl stood by the window, peering down at the courtyard below. The dim moonlight bathed the scene in an eerie glow. His eyes focused on two figures standing at opposite ends of the cracked pavement, their stances tense and ready. Something about them felt off—like coiled springs waiting to snap.

Then he saw it.

The first man, tall and broad-shouldered, raised his arm, and fire erupted from his hand. Flames danced along his forearm, crackling in the still night. Opposite him, another figure stood with a smirk, wind swirling around his feet and tugging at his jacket. The faint whistle of air carried up to Karl’s window, sending a chill down his spine.

Awakened individuals, Karl thought, his jaw tightening.

The fire-wielder spoke first, his voice a low growl that carried across the courtyard. "Back off, Hendrik. I’ve warned you already—you’re not taking my supplies."

The man with the wind, Hendrik, laughed softly. The breeze around him grew stronger, swirling dust and leaves into the air. "Supplies? You mean the stash you’re hoarding while the rest of us starve? That’s not happening, Marcus."

Karl’s gaze flicked to the pile of supplies near Marcus—several bags and boxes stacked haphazardly. His stomach turned. Food and water were scarce in the building, and tensions had been rising for weeks. This fight was inevitable, but seeing it escalate to this level made him uneasy.

Marcus thrust his hand forward, a jet of fire roaring toward Hendrik. The flames lit up the courtyard, their heat palpable even from Karl’s vantage point several floors above.

Hendrik reacted instantly. With a sweep of his arm, a powerful gust of wind slammed into the flames, scattering them harmlessly into the night. Sparks flew, but Hendrik didn’t flinch.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Hendrik taunted, his smirk widening.

Marcus snarled and launched another wave of fire, this one wider and more intense. The courtyard lit up like daylight for a brief moment, the heat shimmering in the air. Hendrik leaped to the side, carried by the swirling wind around him, and landed effortlessly several feet away.

Karl leaned against the window, his fists clenched. He didn’t dare intervene—not with powers like these at play. All he could do was watch and hope the fight didn’t escalate further.

Hendrik counterattacked, raising both arms. A whirlwind shot forward, picking up debris as it raced toward Marcus. The force of it sent Marcus stumbling, but he steadied himself and retaliated with a concentrated blast of fire. The two powers clashed, creating a vortex of flames and wind that swirled chaotically in the center of the courtyard.

The sound was deafening, a mix of roaring fire and howling wind. Karl could feel the vibrations through the building’s walls, and he stepped back slightly, worried the fight might spread.

Below, the two men continued their deadly dance. Marcus’s flames seemed to grow dimmer with each attack, his exhaustion becoming apparent. Hendrik, meanwhile, moved with ease, dodging and deflecting every blow.

"Give up, Marcus," Hendrik said, his voice carrying a note of finality. "You can’t win this."

Marcus’s breathing was ragged, and the fire around his arms flickered weakly. He staggered backward, his resolve faltering. But he raised his hand one last time, summoning a desperate flame.

Hendrik didn’t wait. With a single motion, he unleashed a concentrated blast of wind that extinguished the flames and knocked Marcus off his feet. Marcus hit the ground hard, groaning as the last of his energy left him.

Karl’s heart pounded as he watched Hendrik approach the fallen man. For a moment, he thought Hendrik might finish him off, but instead, Hendrik crouched down and grabbed one of the bags of supplies.

"You should’ve shared," Hendrik muttered before slinging the bag over his shoulder.

He straightened and scanned the courtyard, his sharp eyes sweeping over the surrounding windows. Karl instinctively ducked back behind the curtain, his breath catching in his throat. When he peeked out again, Hendrik was walking away, the supplies in tow.

Marcus remained on the ground, clutching his side and groaning softly. The once-lit courtyard was now dark and still, save for the faint glow of embers on the pavement.

Karl stepped away from the window, his thoughts racing. This wasn’t just a random fight—it was a sign of how desperate people were becoming. And with Awakened individuals like Marcus and Hendrik in the mix, things were bound to get even more dangerous.

"Are they gone?" Layla’s voice startled him.

He turned to see her standing near the couch, Jane close behind her. Their faces were pale, their worry evident.

"Yeah," Karl said, keeping his tone even. "It’s over. For now."

Layla frowned. "Did you see what they were doing? It looked... unnatural."

Karl hesitated. He didn’t want to scare them more than they already were. "Just two people fighting. They didn’t come near us."

Jane tugged at Layla’s sleeve. "What if they come back?"

Karl met Jane’s wide-eyed gaze and forced a reassuring smile. "If they do, I’ll make sure we’re safe."

He glanced back at the window, his expression hardening. The world outside was changing, and the chaos was creeping closer. He would need to be ready when it finally reached their door.