Urgent Departure— growing tension.

"Come on," Hector said, motioning for them to follow deeper into the facility. "We have a lot to discuss."

They walked through a series of corridors, Maverick's light-hearted banter providing a brief respite from the tension that clung to them. "You should have seen Hector trying to turn us into a team of bodybuilders while we waited," he joked.

Hector chuckled, shaking his head. "Just making sure everyone's ready for anything," he said. "You never know what's coming next."

In the secure meeting room, the atmosphere shifted to one of seriousness. The walls were lined with monitors and tactical maps, and a central table held various devices and documents.

Hector and Maverick took their seats opposite Jade and Ethan. "We managed to get into Maya's home," Hector began, his tone somber. "What we found wasn't just destruction—it was a complete erasure. Her place was wrecked, but more importantly," Maverick leaned forward, his expression grim. "We believe Maya was deleted."

Jade's eyes narrowed, her mind already racing ahead. "This confirms our worst fears. Maya knew something vital, and now she's gone."

Hector's gaze turned to Ethan. "The perpetrators—digital entities are called Eradicators. These are advanced AI programmed to hunt and eliminate perceived anomalies or bugs. They're relentless and won't stop until their targets are neutralized."

Maverick nodded, adding, "They're likely searching for you now, and will do the same, just as they had done to her."

Restless, though he was, Ethan kept his composure. "How close are they?" he asked, his voice steady but edged with concern.

Jade's tone was firm. "One of them almost got him. If I hadn't been there at the right time, things could have been very different."

Hector nodded in approval, his eyes reflecting a mix of respect and determination. "We need to fortify our defenses and devise a strategy. If they're coming for us, we'll be ready."

The atmosphere in the secure meeting room was thick with tension, the whirr of technology and the dim glow of monitors magnifying the gravity of the situation. Ethan sat at the table, his gaze shifting between Hector, Maverick, and Jade. The recent tumultuous events had left him with a barrage of questions swirling in his mind.

"I need answers," Ethan said, his voice strained with a mix of confusion and urgency.

Hector exchanged a glance with Maverick and Jade, then nodded. "Ask away, Ethan. We'll do our best to explain."

Ethan took a deep breath, struggling to steady his thoughts. "These Eradicators—what exactly are they? And why do my memories feel so fragmented, like pieces of different puzzles that don't fit together? I remember things that feel real but don't match up with what I'm told or what I see now."

Hector leaned back in his chair, his expression grave. "As was once said, the Eradicators are entities, programmed to hunt down and delete what the system deems as anomalies—individuals like you, who aren't bound by the conventional rules of our reality. Their primary job is to eliminate these awakened ones to maintain the system's balance."

He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to settle in the room. "When an Anomaly is killed by an Eradicator, all memories of them are erased from the collective consciousness, as if they never existed. It's a way to ensure their influence is completely removed. However, other Anomalies, like us, remember them because we're no longer tethered to the system in the same way."

Ethan's mind raced, struggling to process this revelation. "So, that's why my memories are so chaotic? Because I'm an Anomaly?"

Hector nodded slowly. "Exactly. Your mind is trying to piece together fragments that don't fit within the system's confines. It's like having memories from a different reality, one that's constantly being rewritten."

As Hector spoke, a vivid memory surfaced in Ethan's mind. He saw Maya—her smile, her voice, the way she laughed at his jokes. It was so clear, so real. "I remember Maya," he said softly, the realization hitting him like a wave. "I remember her now."

His heart clenched. Could it be?... "When you say 'deleted,' what does that mean?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Hector's face was a mask of sorrow. "It means she's dead, Ethan. Her deletion meant she didn't make it."

The room seemed to close in on him, the air thick with unspoken grief. Ethan glanced at Maverick, Hector, and Jade, noticing a deep, unspoken look in their eyes. They were particularly disturbed by her demise, but he didn't put much thought into it. The weight of Maya's loss was enough for now.

In the heart of their high-tech sanctuary, the team rallied. The threat of the Eradicators loomed large, but so did their resolve to fight back. The battle for survival had only just begun, and within the shadows of their grief lay the glimmers of hope and defiance.

~

The group never stayed in one place long enough to leave a trace. Jade led them through a labyrinth of back alleys, abandoned buildings, and hidden tunnels, her instincts sharp and unerring. Hector and Maverick flanked Ethan, their eyes constantly scanning for any sign of danger. The Eradicators were relentless, their presence a specter haunting their every step.

Every few hours, they changed locations, each new hideout more obscure and remote than the last. But despite their best efforts, every attempt to contact other agents ended in static and silence. The comm lines were dead, jammed by some unseen force that seemed to anticipate their every move.

As days turned into a haze of constant movement, the tension within the group grew palpable. Hector's jaw was set in a permanent clench, Maverick's usual humor had turned into sharp, frustrated remarks, and Jade's eyes were shadowed with worry.

"It's not just chance," Jade muttered one night, as they huddled in the dim light of an old, forgotten basement. "Someone or something is deliberately blocking us."

Ethan could see the worry etched into their faces, the realization dawning that their enemy was not only powerful but cunning. The Eradicators were closing in, their net tightening with each passing hour.

Ever perceptive, Jade suddenly pieced together the implications of Ethan's memories. Her eyes widened, and she turned to him, her voice barely above a whisper but carrying the weight of a looming threat.

"Ethan remembering about Maya means something more," Jade murmured, her words cutting through the silence like a knife. "He could have awakened."

The room fell into a stunned silence, each member of the group processing the gravity of Jade's revelation. Maverick's expression shifted, his features hardening with determination as he grasped the urgency of the situation.

"They'll know he remembers," Maverick said, his voice low but filled with conviction. "And they'll be coming for him harder than ever before."

Fear rippled through the group like a wave, tangible in the way they exchanged glances filled with concern and apprehension. Maverick wasted no time, taking Ethan aside with a sense of purpose. He explained to Ethan that he was no longer just an ordinary person. He was now a player in a complex, game-like reality where survival meant understanding and mastering the rules.

"Activate your interface," Maverick instructed,

"My what?"

Maverick sighed, guiding Ethan how to do so. The process at which it was done was a bit different, hence even he had a slight difficult time.

The holographic display hovered ahead of Ethan, showcasing his potential in a tangible form.

--------------------------------------------

>Ethan Reed <

Grade: E [Type 1]

Level: 1

Experience: 46000

Main Class: Saber/Neuron.

Sub Class: [Unassigned]

Attributes: Strength: 5/ Agility: 4/ Durability: 6/ Luck: 0

Energy: 38/38

Energy Lvl~ 1

Health: 300/300

Lvl~ 1

Innate Ability: [Neuron]?

[Neuron] > lvl 1

Abilities: [None]

Skills > [None]

-----------------------------------------

"These stats aren't just numbers," Maverick emphasized, his voice filled with gravitas. "They represent your growth, your potential. Master them, and you can face anything."

As Ethan absorbed this newfound knowledge, Maverick delved deeper, introducing the concept of classes—distinct roles with unique strengths and weaknesses. Each class was a piece of a strategic puzzle, and understanding their dynamics was crucial for survival.

"Saber, Archer, Lancer, Caster, Berserker, Assassin," Maverick listed, explaining the tactical advantages of each.

--------------------------------------

-Saber: Balanced in attack and defense, strong against Lancer.

-Archer: Long-range combat specialist, excels against Saber.

-Lancer: Fast and powerful, strong against Archer.

-Caster: Magic user, versatile but vulnerable in direct combat, counters Assassin.

-Berserker: High offense, low defense, powerful but reckless.

-Assassin: Stealth and precision, deadly in surprise attacks, weak against Caster.

----------------------------------

The team set up a training regimen for Ethan, adapting their routines to the constant need for movement. Every new safehouse became a temporary training ground, where Ethan's physical agility, combat techniques, and mental resilience were honed.

Hector, ever the strategist, took charge of the tactical training. He drilled Ethan on anticipating opponents' moves and executing precise, powerful strikes. "Think ahead," Hector instructed, demonstrating a swift disarm maneuver. "Every move should be calculated."

Jade focused on stealth and evasion, leading Ethan through dimly lit corridors and teaching him to move silently, blending into the shadows. "You need to become invisible," she whispered, demonstrating how to slip past imaginary guards.

Maverick, meanwhile, refined Ethan's understanding of the system. He guided him through the interface, explaining how to leverage his character stats: health, strength, agility, and special abilities.

Ethan soon acquired [Basic Combat] skill. Although basic, was the foundation. [Hush Feat] and [Swift Fingers] were also added to the list basic skills.

As they moved from one temporary haven to another, a growing unease settled over the group. The relentless pursuit of the Eradicators was becoming more apparent with each passing day. To bolster their defenses, Maverick contacted the closest of their agents, but even they were out of reach.

Strange.

Ethan's heart pounded as he looked to Maverick, a newfound determination in his eyes. The team moved into position, their faces set with resolve. The air was thick with a sense of foreboding urgency, each member acutely aware of the imminent danger.

They listened intently, the hum growing louder, signaling the relentless advance of their pursuers. The fight was inevitable, but so was their unity. Prepared and unyielding, they steeled themselves for the confrontation that would soon follow, ready to face whatever came their way together.