The ruins of the old house still burned behind them. Kira, Riven, Tony, Vincent, and Mark sprinted through the alley, chased by the relentless echoes of boots on metal and the roar of approaching dropships.
"Left!" Tony shouted, ducking around a smashed dumpster and opening fire behind him.
Vincent threw a blue EMP orb. It detonated mid-air, cutting off the tracker drones swarming them from above. Sparks rained down.
They burst into an open construction site—unfinished towers, scaffolding, exposed steel, and shattered glass.
Waiting in the center of it all… was him.
The Masked Executioner.
His armor was sleeker than the others—black with glowing binary blue lines across his chest and arms. His face was completely covered, visor glowing.
Riven's steps halted.
Kira froze.
It was him. The one who moved like Cipher. The one who wasn't Cipher.
"So you're the copy," Riven said through clenched teeth.
The masked Executioner took one step forward.
"You're late," he said, voice modulated but deep. "She was never supposed to leave."
Kira stepped in front of Riven, blade humming. "You'll have to go through me."
"I intend to."
CRACK.
He was on her instantly.
A blur of motion. His fist collided with Kira's blade—then another swing, and another. The force sent shockwaves through the air. Kira barely blocked, her heels digging into the ground as her sword cracked.
Behind them, the rest of the team spread out, trying to create an opening.
Mark charged in with his hammer, aiming for the masked Executioner's flank.
BAM.
Blocked. The masked Executioner caught it with one hand and threw Mark across the site.
Tony's bullets curved through the air—perfect shots. The Executioner spun, hand glowing blue, and caught them in mid-air. He redirected one toward Vincent, who barely dodged, taking a grazing burn across his ribs.
Kira moved again, sword changing form into a wide crescent blade.
She slashed,
He ducked, sidestepped, and spun behind her, slamming a palm into her back. Code burst from her skin and she screamed, crashing into a steel pillar.
"Kira!" Riven shouted.
He ran in. He couldn't hold back anymore. His fists lit up with red energy. He blinked forward, aiming a blow for the Executioner's chest—
But the masked figure anticipated it. He twisted, letting Riven pass, then pivoted back.
A glowing dagger of blue flame formed in his hand.
He threw it.
Not at Riven.
At his heart.
Kira moved.
She was in front of him—arms wide.
THUNK.
The blade buried itself deep in her chest.
Time froze in Riven's mind.
Her face was pale. Her eyes wide. She staggered, breath hitching.
"Riven…" she whispered.
He caught her as she fell into his arms, knees hitting the rubble. Her blood glowed out of her mouth.
"No," Riven whispered. "No no no no—don't do this—"
"I… I remember now…" Kira smiled weakly. "Mom… Dad… You…"
Her fingers gripped his shirt.
And then
She was gone.
Riven screamed.
It was raw. Animal. Devastated.
His body flared with energy, his Execution Code trembling like it was under pressure.
The masked Executioner watched silently.
Tony yelled, "Riven, behind you!"
Riven didn't move.
But the air around him cracked—like glass under pressure.
Then,
BOOM.
His body was engulfed in a red explosion of light.
SYSTEM NOTICE
EXECUTIONER LEVEL UP
RANK: C+ → B-
New Ability Unlocked: Chrono Rift
The masked Executioner stepped back. His plan had worked.
Pain. Loss. Despair.
They were the keys to unlocking Riven's power everytime.
Riven stood slowly, the digital wind howling around him.
"She died… because of you," he said coldly.
The air warped again as he took a step forward.
"No more running."