The city was restless.
Three domains already hummed to Evan Sharp's rhythm, but Lowwater was bigger than three notes. Beyond Hook Street's chatter, the Docks' salt stink, and the Foundry's iron howl, another pulse beckoned—low, steady, unbroken.
The Towers.
They rose at the city's heart, stone spines stabbing sky, their bells and clock faces glinting dull gold in the ash light. Nobles and merchants lived in their shadows, Registry offices squatted inside their walls, and guards patrolled like ants convinced the towers belonged to them.
They did not yet know they were next.
Evan crouched on a roof near the tower district's edge. The Domain threads behind him tugged in harmony—Hook Street, Docks, Foundry. His panel burned.
Quest: Expand Claim — The Fourth Corner.Objective: Establish Domain Bond with the Tower District.Requirement: Defeat controlling faction (Tower Wardens).Reward: +40 Speed, Domain Bond (Minor), [Domain Strider I] progression.
Evan flexed his fingers. His fists itched with promise.
"Four corners," he murmured. "Let's see if the city sings louder."
The Tower Wardens weren't gangs. They were trained, armored, sanctioned by the Registry itself to protect the nobles in their high halls. Their gray-blue uniforms were pressed; their halberds etched with authority.
They weren't ready for him.
The first checkpoint stood at a narrow arch, iron gate half-closed. Two Wardens leaned on spears, their eyes bored and unfocused.
Speed Sense showed Evan ghost-lines: their surprise if he blitzed, their panic if he vanished. He chose neither. He walked out of shadow and let them see him.
One blinked. "You—"
Quickstep blurred him aside; Burst Step cracked the cobbles. Evan's palm tapped the first man's breastplate, Momentum Shift turning the shove into a throw. He hit the wall, armor clanging, out cold.
The second lunged. Evan tilted his head; the spear hissed past. Echo Step smeared a ghost. The guard stabbed it in panic, and Evan's fist clipped his jaw. He slumped to the ground.
The arch was clear.
[DING] Micro-Objective complete.Neutralize first checkpoint.+10 Speed.Speed: 560 → 570.
But the Towers noticed.
The bells tolled once, deep and sonorous, echoing across the district. Shutters slammed. Patrols formed with sudden precision. The city guards were chaos, but Tower Wardens were trained for sieges.
Boots thundered. Thirty men in polished gray marched into the plaza, shields interlocked, halberds thrusting through gaps. Behind them, a captain in heavier steel barked orders with the ease of a man who'd broken riots before.
"Anomaly Sharp!" his voice carried. "By Registry decree, you will yield!"
Evan's panel pulsed.
Quest Update: Tower Warden Captain detected.Defeat him to establish Domain Bond.
Evan crouched, grinning faintly. "Let's run."
The shield wall advanced, boots thudding in sync.
Evan blurred. Velocity Veil+ burst outward, ten ghosts sprinting, fists hammering the shields in a storm of sound. The Wardens braced, shields groaning under half-strength blows.
Spears thrust. Ghosts died. The real Evan darted low, Vector Break (D) pulsing in a tight circle around his chest. Two spears slowed mid-lunge, forgetting their thrust. He slid through untouched and cracked a shield-man's helmet with a short jab.
The formation wavered.
"Hold!" the captain roared.
The men rallied, pushing forward, shields slamming. Evan ran the line, fists tapping helmets, knees, elbows. Ghosts struck in rhythm, each carrying Vector Break's clean pocket for a second, making one blow every heartbeat undeniable.
Men toppled. Cries rose. The wall sagged.
The captain cursed, raised his halberd, and charged. His armor was heavier, his movements disciplined. Evan's Speed Sense painted arcs—the sweep, the thrust, the follow-through.
Evan ran straight at him.
Momentum Shift grabbed the sweep and shoved Evan into a Burst Step forward. His fist hammered the captain's chest, denting the steel. The man staggered but didn't fall. He swung again, teeth bared.
Vector Break flared across the halberd's arc. For three seconds, the weapon forgot motion. Evan's fist didn't. It smashed into the captain's jaw.
The man dropped. The formation broke. Wardens scattered, fear cutting discipline.
[DING] Quest complete — Expand Claim (Tower District).+40 Speed.Speed: 570 → 610.Domain Bond — Tower District (Minor) acquired.Title Progress: [Domain Strider I] — Network expanding.
The Towers hummed. Bells tolled again, not for Registry order, but for Evan's claim.
Four domains. Four corners. The city's hum grew louder, threads weaving into something greater.
Evan stood in the plaza, surrounded by broken shields and scattered men, and looked up at the stone spires.
"You're mine now," he whispered.
The panel pulsed.
Title Update: [Domain Strider I] → [Domain Strider II].Effect: Network bonus increased. Movement speed +20% within bonded zones. Enemy perception distortion +10%.
The city was no longer resisting him. It was running with him.
Far away, Aelira stood at a high window, watching the bells toll. Her jaw tightened.
"Four corners," she murmured. "He's weaving a net faster than we can cut."
She turned to the officer beside her. "Call the others. It's time Silver stops watching."
Status — Evan SharpLevel: 9Speed: 610Skills: Quickstep (F), Burst Step (F), Momentum Shift (F), Echo Step (F)Techniques: Velocity Veil+ (E), Speed Sense (E), Vector Break (D), Vector Veil (E)Titles: [Uncatchable I], [Domain Strider II]Domains: Hook Street (Strong), Docks (Minor), Foundry (Moderate), Towers (Minor)Overflow: 13%
The Towers sang. The city bent. Evan Sharp smiled into the bells and ran.