Kael stood at the edge of the rooftop, staring down at the glowing pulse of Granis City below. His hoodie flapped in the wind as neon signs flickered like the heartbeat of a restless machine. The air was thick—not with smog, but with tension.
[System Alert: Time-sensitive Opportunity Detected]
[Recruitment Protocol – Unlock Eligible Allies (1/5)]
"Recruitment?" Kael muttered, eyes narrowing. "Finally."
He'd expected it eventually. Ever since the System evolved after reaching A-Class Operator, it hinted at something bigger—an organization of his own. One that could rival the hidden powers pulling the city's strings. One that wouldn't just survive, but fight back.
[Objective: Locate and Recruit a Tier-1 Potential Candidate – CODE NAME: WRAITH]
[Reward: 1,200 Credits + Unlock Group Buff Functionality]
"Where?"
[Tracking Coordinates: Eastern Slums, Industrial Sector]
Kael nodded, cracking his knuckles. "Let's go hunting."
---
The Eastern Slums weren't kind to visitors, especially ones who looked like they had purpose. The factories there spat fire day and night, drowning the streets in heat and ash. The people? Tough, suspicious, and often armed.
Kael moved through narrow alleyways, past broken vending machines and walls tagged with gang symbols. A few locals gave him a look, but his presence wasn't rare enough to draw real attention. Not yet.
[Target Located: 45 meters ahead, underground boxing den, alias – WRAITH]
He followed the System's directions to a rusted metal door. Music pounded behind it—gritty, loud, and violent. Kael knocked once.
A slit opened.
"No entry," a voice growled.
"I'm here for Wraith."
Silence.
Then the door creaked open. Kael stepped into a dimly lit basement filled with cigarette smoke, cheering, and blood on the floor. A fight was already underway—two men exchanging brutal blows in the ring.
And standing at the edge of the crowd was her.
Short white hair, eyes like sharpened steel, and a calmness that cut through the chaos. She wore a sleeveless combat vest, her arms bandaged and scarred. No one stood too close to her. No one dared.
[WRAITH – Real Name: Aria Voss. Combat Rank: B+. Compatibility: 89%]
Kael stepped toward her.
"You're Wraith?"
She didn't look at him. "Who's asking?"
"Someone with a system that says you're more than a pit fighter."
That got her attention. She turned her eyes to him—measuring, cold, curious.
"System user?"
He nodded.
She crossed her arms. "You recruiting?"
He blinked. "How did you—"
"I've been waiting for someone like you. This city's crawling with monsters in suits, and I've been itching for a war."
Kael smiled slightly. "Then you're in."
"You offering cash?"
"No. I'm offering purpose."
She stared at him a moment longer… then shrugged. "Good enough."
---
[WRAITH RECRUITED – Team Buff Activated: +5% Reflex Speed]
[Group Protocol Unlocked – You may now add up to 4 allies]
As they left the den, Aria tossed a towel over her shoulder.
"So what's your plan?" she asked.
Kael took a deep breath. "I don't want to just survive the System. I want to own it. Break the chains. Expose the Order. And destroy everything they stand for."
Aria grinned. "Now that's the kind of chaos I can get behind."
---
Back at Rin's hidden base, the screens lit up as Kael entered with Aria beside him.
Rin raised an eyebrow. "You brought a guest?"
"Meet Wraith. First recruit."
Rin looked impressed. "She's a good start. Tough reputation."
Aria leaned against the wall. "This the nerd cave?"
"Think of it more as command central," Rin replied dryly. "You've joined a revolution."
"Sounds fun."
Kael opened the mission menu.
[Next Recruitment: CODE NAME – SPARK]
[Estimated Location: Metro Line B – Abandoned Tunnel District]
Rin leaned over Kael's shoulder. "Spark? Isn't that the rogue hacker that fried a government mainframe two years ago?"
"Yeah," Kael nodded. "And we need her."
---
That night, as the city buzzed with invisible tension, Kael stood once more on the rooftop.
He was no longer alone.
The pieces were coming together—slowly, steadily, like puzzle fragments destined to form something bigger.
He had power. He had allies.
Now, he needed a cause big enough to unite them all.
And vengeance… vengeance was only the beginning.