Axel sprinted down the empty street, his feet pounding the pavement with relentless force. The early morning sky was starting to brighten, though darkness still lingered, casting long shadows from the streetlights. His breath came in ragged bursts, cold air stinging his lungs as he tore through the quiet streets.
His mind raced faster than his legs, the weight of his thoughts heavier with every step. He kept his head low, a futile attempt to hide the tears that streaked down his face. Of all the emotions he instantly evolved tothankd to the system, this one was different. But now, only one emotion had clawed its way through his wall of composure—regret.
_"Damn! After all I did... What a fool I was, thinking power could come for free. Now look at me... A monster."_
The thought echoed in his head, mocking him, gnawing at his soul. He blinked away more tears, his jaw clenched tight. He had become the very thing he feared, a creature he barely recognized.
"All I wanted... it's gone now. My family... I can't even be with them like this. But they still need me, Annie, Seo, Trisha, Loki and the others still need me, I can't leave them in a world like this."
He increased his pace, tearing through the streets, focused on one thing—Trisha. He had never been to her home before, but he knew where it was in Kyota. His knowledge of hunters and their territory was too vast to let him forget. He needed her help, now more than ever.
"Velerium," he growled under his breath, expecting the familiar voice, the familiar presence. But nothing came. No reply, no connection. Just silence. Axel's chest tightened.
_"No... not you too. Not you too, Velerium!"_
His voice cracked, barely more than a whisper. Desperation clawed at him. He hadn't seen or felt Velerium since the mission. That night in the alley... That was the last time.
Pieces started to fall into place.
_"Could it be...?"_
The realization hit him like a blow to the gut. Velerium had been absorbing the system's backlash, protecting him from its effects all this time. Axel's heart sank, and a cold, numbing dread settled in. When he had fought Rowin, using Disease Touch, his skin had broken apart from the strain—something that had never happened when Velerium was with him. It made perfect sense.
_"Velerium is dead."_
The words rang hollow in his mind. His throat went dry, his fists clenched tightly as he ran. Velerium had sacrificed himself for Axel, and Axel hadn't even known. A sickening wave of guilt washed over him.
_"You left me... you stupid bastard."_
Tears of anger and pain burned his eyes, but he kept running, the cold morning wind stinging his skin.
The assistant's face turned pale as every eye in the room focused on him. His instincts screamed at him to run, but his legs were rooted to the spot. He had a sinking feeling that nothing good would come from this.
"Come here," Hendricks ordered.
The assistant hesitated for a second too long. Hendricks' eyes narrowed, and with a single glance, the man knew he had no choice. Slowly, timidly, the assistant walked toward the podium, every step feeling like a march to the gallows.
When he reached Hendricks, the older man scanned him from head to toe, a smug look on his face. "See that metal railing over there?" Hendricks pointed toward the guardrail surrounding the podium. "Grab it."
The assistant's throat tightened as he looked at the cold metal. His heart raced, his palms sweating. He knew, deep down, that whatever came next would not end well for him.
He glanced at the other members for help, but their faces were blank, tense. There was no escape. No mercy.
With trembling hands, he reached for the railing, wrapping his fingers around the cold, unforgiving metal. The silence in the room was deafening.
Hendricks smiled, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "Now, here's the game. Your master has committed a grievous sin against the gods of Kyota. And as the number one Supreme of Kyota, I've decided your fate." His voice grew darker, more menacing. "You have a chance to live. If you can break that railing, you win. .net
If not..." He trailed off, letting the assistant's imagination do the rest.
"But..." Hendricks grabbed another section of the railing, effortlessly tearing a piece off with a single jerk. "While you're trying to break it, I'll be beating you to death. Simple, right? If you break it before I kill you, you win. I'm not even a strength user, and I did it. Shouldn't be too hard for someone as...
young and vibrant as you."
The assistant's blood ran cold. Every muscle in his body screamed for him to run, to do anything other than stand there and meet his fate.
"I... I can't. I'm not strong enough. My ability isn't—"
The assistant's plea was cut short by the sharp crack of metal against bone. Hendricks had swung the torn piece of railing into the assistant's shoulder with brutal force. The assistant let out a blood-curdling scream as he crumpled to the ground, clutching his shoulder in agony.
Hendricks grinned. "Oh, didn't I tell you? The game has already begun."
***Author's note***
Please support it's not easy typing in my condition, but gift me with anything if you feel like, or leave a good review. I'm not asking for anything pressing. Just keep on enjoying the work. Thanks.