The fires didn't stop.
All of Sector D was burning.
The Cult's message was clear:
Defy the Empire—and you all burn together.
Sei stood on a rooftop, cloak fluttering in the smoke-filled wind.
Below him, civilians screamed as flames swallowed homes. Soldiers in black armor marched through the ruins, dragging families out. Beating them. Laughing.
Liberation Targets Detected: 23
Oppression Level: High
Warning: Elite Enforcer inbound – Estimated Level: ???
Sei clenched his fists.
He couldn't save them all. Not yet.
His system wasn't strong enough. His body wasn't ready.
But he couldn't watch either.
"Just one more," he muttered. "Then another. And another…"
That's how chains broke.
One link at a time.
BOOM!
A wall exploded below.
A family ran out—mother, two kids. A soldier grabbed the mother by her hair, raised his blade—
Skill: Chain Breaker (E) – Activated
CRACK!!
A blue flash streaked from the rooftop.
The soldier's blade shattered mid-swing.
Sei landed like a lightning bolt behind him.
Before the man could turn—
BANG!
A fist slammed into his gut, lifting him off the ground. He flew five meters before crashing through a stone pillar.
Liberation Complete
+1 Soul Flame
+300 EXP
Current Level: 2 (85%)
"Go!" Sei shouted to the mother.
She didn't question. She ran with her children, tears streaking through ash.
He turned back—six more soldiers surrounded him now.
"Kill him!" one shouted. "System user or not—he bleeds like anyone else!"
Sei's eyes narrowed.
"No," he said, cracking his knuckles.
"I burn."
The fight began.
One slashed. Sei ducked low—Ash Step—and drove his elbow into the attacker's ribs.
Another came from behind. Chain Breaker glowed—he spun mid-air, kicking the sword from their hand, then blasted them back with a palm strike.
Blue lightning sparked with every motion.
He wasn't just fighting.
He was freeing.
Each blow shattered the invisible chains binding this city.
But then…
Everything went silent.
Like the world held its breath.
A shadow fell over the battlefield.
CLINK.
A black boot stepped through the flames.
The soldiers all froze.
Even Sei felt it—a wave of pressure, like gravity had tripled.
He turned.
A tall figure emerged from the fire. Robes of red and gold. Mask like a dragon's skull. On their back: a blade twice their size.
WARNING: Oppression Source Detected
Class: Reaper of Order – Level: 25
System Authority: High
Status: Enforcer of the Throne
Liberation Feasibility: 0.01%
The Reaper's voice echoed like metal scraping metal.
"System User. Unauthorized. Illegitimate."
"Seventeen seconds remaining… until erasure."
Sei couldn't move.
His instincts screamed at him to run.
But his feet stayed planted.
Not because of fear.
But because Mina was behind him.
Because innocent people were still watching.
Because if he ran—who would stand?
He opened his system panel with a thought.
Soul Energy: 8
Available Stat Points: 0
Current Skills: Chain Breaker (E), Ash Step (F), Soul Sense (F)
No chance.
He couldn't win.
But maybe…
He didn't have to.
He took a slow step forward.
And smiled.
"I've got seventeen seconds then?"
The Reaper's sword began to rise.
"Then let's make them count."
TO BE CONTINUED…