I felt it before I saw it—an oppressive weight in the air, like the pressure before a storm. The lights in the abandoned data center flickered. The low hum of the city above seemed to go silent.
Someone was here.
Someone powerful.
Claire noticed it first. She was already moving, checking the entrance. Reed dropped the tool in his hand and reached for his sidearm. I stayed still, watching the monitor, waiting for the security feed to confirm what my gut already knew.
The screen blinked. Then—movement.
Tall. Armored. Not Ezekiel. Not Knox. Someone new.
The camera glitched just trying to focus on him.
He walked like someone who didn't need to run.
He knew exactly where we were.
And he was coming straight for me.
The screen went black.
Claire turned, eyes narrowed. "Who the hell is that?"
Reed checked the mag on his pistol. "Doesn't matter. We hold until she gets out."
"Yeah," Claire said, voice tight. "Except she's not running, is she?"
She was right. I wasn't.
The moment I felt that presence… I knew what the system wanted from me.
It wanted to see if I'd break.
It wanted to see if I was worthy.
I stood up and opened my inventory with a flick of thought.
The weapon floated there, inert and silent.
Rebellion.
Demonic steel quenched in blood.
A blade forged to destroy anything… including its own wielder.
The system hovered a warning above it:
📩 [Warning: Sync Level at 14.2% – Below Recommended Threshold for Stable Wielding]
📩 [Risk of Activation: High]
📩 [Curse Effect – "Blood Price" Possible Upon Draw]
Reed stepped closer. "You're not seriously thinking of using that thing again?"
I gave a weak grin. "Have anything better that can level a building?"
Claire grabbed my arm gently, her voice low. "Evelyn, if that sword turns on you—"
"I don't have a choice," I said.
The door on the far end of the base shuddered. Once. Twice.
Then it exploded inward in a flash of light and dust.
He stepped through.
Tall. White mask. Jet-black armor laced with gold. No sound when he moved. No name on file.
But I knew what he was.
An Executioner.
Sent by the system itself.
Claire opened fire first. Her rounds tore through the air—and passed through him like smoke.
Reed fired next, aiming for joints, sensors, anything.
The bullets slowed midair and fell to the ground, melted.
The Executioner raised a single hand, and the air grew heavy.
📩 [System Alert – Lethal Threat Detected: Override-Class Pursuer]
👾 Administrator (Me): Yeah, I noticed.
💀 I'm Not a Bad Slime: If you're gonna swing that sword, now's the time.
🕷️ Peter Parker: That's the kind of guy who eats power armor for breakfast.
⚔️ The Lone Wolf: Either use it or die. No more hesitation.
I stepped forward, holding my hand out.
Rebellion appeared in a burst of crimson flame.
The weight of it dropped into my palm like a meteor. My knees nearly buckled.
A whisper entered my mind.
Low. Male. Ancient.
"Prove yourself."
The blade hummed to life, its crimson runes pulsing.
And then the pain began.
It started in my fingers. Like molten glass crawling through my bones.
Then it moved to my arm. My shoulder. My ribs.
📩 [Blood Price Engaged – Physical Integrity Degrading]
I screamed—just once—and dropped to one knee.
My vision blurred. Muscles tore. Blood trickled from my nose and ears.
But I didn't let go.
The Executioner raised his hand again.
Time seemed to slow.
I could feel the weight of the blade testing me. Judging me.
Not strong enough. Not synced.
But I didn't care.
I gripped tighter.
And I stood.
My legs shook. My lungs burned.
But I stood.
Rebellion's runes blazed brighter.
The pain stopped.
Not because the curse lifted.
But because the blade had accepted me.
Just for now.
The Executioner moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
I swung.
And everything around us exploded.
The blade met his arm mid-strike. A wave of black-and-red energy tore through the wall behind him, slicing through reinforced concrete like butter.
The Executioner staggered.
His mask cracked.
He tilted his head, almost curious. Then he disappeared in a blur, reappearing to my side.
I turned, parried, kicked him back.
Each movement felt like setting my own bones on fire.
But I was faster now. Stronger.
And I was done running.