That did it. Kevin shot up. He didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his phone and started searching for flight info.

New York to Rome. Direct flight. Thirteen hours...

The clock read 12:00 PM on May 1st. Three days until the Eldritch hit.

Plenty of time.

What about money? After three days, it’d be worthless trash.

Better to spend it all now than let it rot in an account.

Kevin grabbed Bella’s wallet. He used her credit card to book a first-class ticket to Rome for himself.

Next, he opened a dating app, found a local Italian tour agency, and hired a top-tier private model guide.

He thought for a second, then added a massive tip.

Note on the order: Private tour of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Done. Kevin stood up, pushed the door open, and walked out.

Not long after Kevin left, the doorbell rang.

Bella rubbed her hands together and shuffled to the door. She pulled it open.

A delivery guy stood there holding a couple of large bags. He handed her the receipt politely. "Ma’am, your order."

"Swipe it," Bella said. She pulled out a credit card and swiped it on the card reader without thinking.

Insufficient funds.

"What? That can’t be right. Wait!" Bella frowned and tried another card.

Insufficient funds.

"Give me a second."

Bella’s face felt hot. She dug out a third card. Insufficient funds.

The delivery guy’s expression shifted. He gave her a look. "Ma’am, maybe you could ask a friend to cover it?"

Sweat broke out on Bella’s forehead. She pulled out her phone and opened her banking app. A charge popped up instantly: $8,800 for a one-way first-class flight to Italy.

Right after that: $10,000 for a tour service fee.

And another one: $10,000 for a model tip.

Thirty-eight thousand eight hundred dollars. To Italy for a model? Bella’s eyes went wide. "Kevin! You’re completely fucking insane!"

She dialed Kevin’s number on the spot. It rang and rang before he finally answered.

"Hello." Kevin’s voice was completely flat.

"Kevin! You actually went to Italy to sleep around?!" Bella’s voice hit a screech. "And who gave you the right to spend my money? I’m telling you, refund it right now! Or else-"

"Or else what?" Kevin’s voice turned ice cold and cut her off.

"Bella, you betrayed us," he said bluntly. "Consider this money my compensation for emotional distress and a breakup fee. Seems fair, right?"

"You bastard!" Bella was furious.

Weren’t men supposed to pay the breakup fee?

Instead, Kevin maxed out her card first. It felt like she was just played for free.

"Oh, and one last thing," Kevin’s tone turned playful. "Is that baby in your belly actually mine?"

Bella’s face drained of color. "W-what are you talking about?"

"Stop pretending. You know exactly what I mean." Kevin laughed, but it was a cold, chilling sound that made Bella’s skin crawl.

The line went dead.

Bella gripped her phone. Her hands were shaking.

How was that possible?

Why was Kevin asking that out of nowhere?

Had he figured something out?

The more she thought, the more panicked she got. She dialed another number. "Joseph... I’m in trouble."

A lazy male voice answered. "What’s up, honey?"

"Kevin suspects the baby isn’t his." Bella’s voice shook.

Joseph chuckled, completely unfazed. "What? That loser finally figured it out? I told you, lying to him is useless."

Bella bit her lip. "Just pay for the takeout. And... can I come over to yours tonight?"

Joseph laughed, his tone playful. "What? I didn’t wear you out enough last night? Come on, I’ll give you a refresher."

Bella’s cheeks flushed, but she felt a wave of relief.

She hung up. Glancing around the empty apartment, she sneered. "Kevin, don’t regret this."

She grabbed her phone and typed a quick text. "Kevin, this is your last chance. Give the money back, get on your knees, and apologize. I might still forgive you. Otherwise..."

Failed to send.

She was blocked.

"Fuck!" Bella hurled the phone onto the couch and stomped her foot.

Since when did that coward Kevin get this tough?

Fine. If he wanted a war, he’d get one.

She marched into the bedroom. Makeup on. Tight skirt on. High heels clicked as she headed out.

Joseph’s mansion was light-years ahead of Kevin’s dump. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

...

Kevin didn’t give a damn about Bella.

First stop: the bank. He liquidated every stock and investment under his name.

Next, he used both their IDs to max out every loan application he could find.

In six hours, he hit seven lenders. He secured a half-million in loans. Add in the asset sales and shark cash, and he had one million dollars in his pocket.

Interest could burn later. Let the debt collectors in suits go after the Eldritch for their money in three days.

Fifteen hours later.

Rome. Fiumicino Airport.

Kevin stepped into the arrival hall. A tall woman was already waiting for him.

Long brown hair. Tan skin. Sharp features. She had that raw, Sicilian vibe. "Mr. Kevin? I’m Luna. Your private guide."

Kevin gave her a once-over. He raised an eyebrow. "You look better than your pictures."

He pulled a thick stack of cash from his pocket and tucked it into her neckline. "Rent a Rolls-Royce. Take me to the nearest black market."

Luna froze. She looked down at the cash, then back at Kevin. "Sir, what exactly are we buying at this black market?"

"Weapons." Kevin patted her shoulder. "And book some bodyguards. I heard safety’s an issue here."

"Those gypsies wouldn’t touch weapons." Luna said, rolling her eyes.

They drove out to the suburbs. A massive abandoned industrial zone stretched before them.

On the surface, it was a scrapyard. In reality, it was Italy’s largest underground market.

After the Eldritch arrived, nothing from the real world could leave. Only the clothes on your back, your shoes, your backpack, and what you held in your hands would be flagged as "carry-ons." They’d cross over with you.

Your starting gear defined your survival. Stronger meant better.

So Kevin spent an hour at the market. He bought gear like a fully equipped spec-ops soldier...

Special ops combat suit.

Tactical boots.

Body armor.

Multi-function helmet.

One drone.

A tactical pack stuffed with ration bars, bottled water, medical supplies, rope, ferro rods, compasses, and combat shovels.

As for weapons...

Kevin picked two SOG tactical knives, a Cold Steel machete, and two Glock 19s. He loaded them with five hundred rounds of 9mm ammo.

Luna stood by, dumbfounded. "Mr. Kevin... are you heading to Ukraine for a war?"

"Roughly." Kevin inspected the machete’s edge. His answer was casual. "Next stop, St. Peter’s Basilica."

Luna rolled her eyes. "You sure you want to bring all that gear into a church? The guards will throw you in jail."

Kevin holstered the last pistol. He turned to Luna, pulled another stack of cash from his pack, and shoved it into her cleavage. "Enough?"

Luna looked down. The bills were already straining her buttons.

She swallowed hard. Her professional smile flashed back. "Enough! Sir, when do you want to go?"

Day three. 8:00 PM.

St. Peter’s Basilica.

Under the dim yellow lights, the church stood vast and solemn.

Kevin wore his full tactical gear. Pack on his back. Suit on. Gun and machete at his waist. Knife strapped to his outer thigh.

He walked forward. Step by step. Toward the inner sanctuary.

There sat the Chair of St. Peter.

An ancient wooden throne. Solemn in design. Inlaid with ivory and gold carvings.

It had witnessed a thousand years of history. It had been bowed to by countless believers.

Kevin took a deep breath. He climbed the steps. Turned around. Slowly sat down.

Ten minutes left.

Kevin counted the seconds in his head.

That’s when he caught a glimpse of a glass case nearby. Inside lay a spear. Its tip glowed faintly. Its shaft was wrapped in gold wire.

Lance of Longinus!

The legendary relic!

"Might as well take it." Kevin stood up. He punched through the glass. Grabbed the spear.

Cold metal met his palm. He laid the spear across his knees and sat back down.

The clock struck exactly 9:00 PM. The exact moment the Eldritch arrived in his past life!

...