Time no longer exists. Tokyo is no longer a city; it is an open-air slaughterhouse. Han-Jun stands motionless before the trail of golden dust, his iron bar still vibrating in his right hand. His body is cold—a coldness not caused by the rain, but by the void that has replaced his breath.
[ BING ! ]
[ WARNING: HOST IS IN A STATE OF NECROTIC SHOCK ]
[ ADVICE: ABSORB MORE ESSENCE TO STABILIZE THE SYSTEM ]
Han-Jun ignores the message. He turns his head toward the main avenue. In the distance, the black van of his attackers is smashed into a luxury storefront. The tires are still spinning in the air with an unbearable screech.
VROUM !
Two Void Crawlers are already on the roof of the vehicle, tearing off the doors with the ease of a child opening a tin can. The screams of Sato and his gang tear through the night. They are calling for help—the same voices that, ten minutes ago, laughed at his death.
Han-Jun takes a step. Then another. His movements are jerky, as if his muscles have to relearn how to obey a will that no longer comes from the heart.
— "Help! Someone!" screams Sato, his face bloodied, pinned between the seat and the steering wheel.
A Crawler drives its claw into Sato's shoulder.
SHLACK !
Han-Jun reaches the entrance of the alley. He sees the scene. His instinct tells him to leave, to let them rot. It is what they deserve. But the System in his skull crackles.
[ SUB-MISSION DETECTED ]
[ OBJECTIVE: ELIMINATE RANK F PREDATORS ]
[ REWARD: +30 XP, PASSIVE SKILL: 'GAZE OF THE ABYSS' ]
Han-Jun does not choose to save them out of heroism. He does it for the System. For the strength that allows him to remain standing.
TCHAC !
He throws his iron bar with all his might. It whistles through the air and embeds itself directly into the eye of one of the monsters on the van's roof.
SKRIIII !
The creature topples. Han-Jun lunges. His speed is no longer that of a human. He clears the ten meters separating him from the van in two strides. He leaps onto the hood, grabs the second Crawler by the neck, and hurls it against a power pole.
BOUM !
The impact is so violent that the pole bends. Han-Jun retrieves his iron bar from the skull of the first beast. It evaporates.
FROUISH...
[ TARGET ELIMINATED: +15 XP ]
The third monster, the one holding Sato, lets go of its prey and throws itself at Han-Jun. Its claws plow through the student's chest, tearing his clothes and his sallow skin. Han-Jun does not flinch. He feels no pain. He seizes the monster by the throat and drives his iron bar into its chest, where the core pulses.
KRAK !
A burst of purple light. The monster disappears.
[ TARGET ELIMINATED: +15 XP ]
[ MISSION SUCCESSFUL ]
[ SKILL UNLOCKED: GAZE OF THE ABYSS ]
Han-Jun stands on the smoking hood. He looks down at Sato. The group leader stares back at him, eyes bulging with terror. He recognizes this face. He recognizes Han-Jun—the one he beat to death just moments ago.
— "Han... Han-Jun? Is... is that you?" Sato stammers, urinating on his leather seat.
Han-Jun does not answer. His new black eyes fix on Sato. With his new skill, he sees flows of energy circulating everywhere. He sees Sato's life fading. Above all, he sees a massive shadow looming over the buildings behind the van.
GHRRRRRRRR !
The roar makes the remaining storefronts tremble. The Iron Executor is approaching. Each of its steps hits the asphalt like a small bomb.
BOUM ! BOUM !
Han-Jun turns his back on his attackers. He feels neither hatred nor pity. Only a need for power.
— "Get lost," he breathes, his voice echoing like a sound from a tomb.
He looks at the massive silhouette of the Executor appearing at the end of the street. The iron bar in his hand suddenly feels pathetic.
[ LEVEL 2 REACHED ]
[ EVOLUTION REQUIRED TO SURVIVE RANK B ]
To be continued.