Kael didn't wait for them to make the first move.
As the three Black Veil operatives neared the ruined library, he slipped into the shadows of a collapsed stairwell and activated his system interface silently.
[Skill Prep: Awareness Lv. 2 – Active]
[New Passive Trait: Echo of the First – Activated]
[Temporary Boost: Focus, +10% Reflex, +5% Strength]
His breath slowed.
Each step the agents took echoed through the broken floorboards. They were moving like professionals—one at the front, the other two fanning out, creating a triangle of coverage. No words. Just hand signals and unspoken coordination.
These weren't street-level thugs. They were trained.
Kael gritted his teeth. This was real now.
"Target was last spotted near this structure," one of them muttered. His voice came through a voice-modulated mask, emotionless and metallic. "The fragment's energy has dissipated. He took it."
Another agent pointed at the shattered glass near the library's broken doorframe. "Recent movement. He's close."
Kael had seconds.
He checked his available items. One energy bar, a pocket knife, and a heavy wrench he picked up earlier. Not exactly elite gear.
[System Tip: Crafting option available – Combine Knife + Wrench = Improvised Combat Hook]
[Result: +15 Melee Damage, -5 Agility]
Good enough.
He accepted the prompt. A short shimmer of light formed around his hands as the two items fused together. Kael now held a brutal-looking weapon—a wrench reinforced with a sharp blade edge at the curve.
Suddenly, one of the agents stepped directly into his line of sight.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He burst forward and struck hard, aiming for the agent's side. The impact knocked the man off his feet with a crunch. Sparks flew from under the agent's jacket.
[Enemy Downed – Armor Cracked: Weak Point Exposed]
But the other two responded instantly.
One tossed a smoke capsule into the room, the other raised a baton that sparked with electricity.
Too late.
Kael had already vanished behind a toppled desk. His awareness skill showed both agents clearly through the mist.
He sprang out, sweeping the legs of the baton wielder. The second agent stumbled, but caught himself and swung—a wide arc that Kael ducked under before countering with a powerful uppercut.
The first downed agent began to rise, so Kael threw the combat hook like a tomahawk. It struck the man in the shoulder, pinning him to the wall with a metallic snap.
[Critical Hit – Bonus XP Awarded]
Kael turned back just in time to see the third agent—silent and precise—raise a small pistol.
No time to dodge.
The gun fired.
But the bullet curved—barely—missing Kael's head by a fraction.
He didn't question it. The Echo trait had activated on instinct.
Kael rushed forward and slammed the agent with a shoulder tackle, sending him crashing through a bookshelf.
Silence followed.
The smoke cleared.
Kael stood in the middle of the wreckage, panting. Three operatives lay unconscious or groaning. His hands were scraped, his hoodie torn, and his ribs felt like they'd been tenderized by a sledgehammer.
But he was still standing.
[Combat Complete – XP Awarded: +1,200]
[System Rank Increased: Bronze Tier 3 → Bronze Tier 4]
His screen glowed brighter now. New options unlocked.
[Available Upgrade Paths:]
Combat Reflex Upgrade – Lv. 1
Environmental Adaption – Lv. 1
Skill Tree: Mental Fortitude – Unlockable
Choose 1 to activate.
Kael hesitated for a moment, then picked Combat Reflex Upgrade. He'd need every edge if this was just the beginning.
As he retrieved his hook and started walking out of the library, his screen pinged again.
[Message from Unknown Contact: "Impressive. You're starting to understand what it means to survive. Meet me at the Eastern Rail Line. Midnight. Come alone."]
Kael stared at the message, sweat mixing with the dust on his face.
Who was watching him?
How deep did this system go?
And more importantly—was there anyone he could trust?