Chapter 11: The Fractured Path

The weight of Kara's revelation still hung in the air. Adam had spent the past few hours in silence, his mind racing through every possibility. If the gods were grooming him—shaping him into something else—what did that mean for his mission? He had returned to change the future, but now he had to ask himself a question he never considered before:

Was he playing right into their hands?

He stood at the center of the underground war room, eyes scanning the holographic projections of the world outside. Chaos was spreading. Governments were scrambling to maintain order, but it was slipping through their fingers. The solar flare had been the first domino, and now, the entire structure of civilization was collapsing. It was happening faster than it had in his past life.

Because of him.

Evelyn and Marcus stood nearby, watching him. Lilith leaned against the far wall, twirling a dagger between her fingers, her expression unreadable. Kara was still in the interrogation room, bound and under heavy guard.

"So," Marcus broke the silence, "what now?"

Adam's jaw tightened. "We move forward."

Evelyn frowned. "Just like that? After everything she said?"

He turned to her. "What choice do we have? If we stop now, we die. If we let someone else take control of the Game, humanity loses. I won't let that happen."

Lilith smirked. "Spoken like a true god-to-be."

Adam shot her a sharp look. "I don't plan on becoming what they want me to be."

Lilith shrugged. "Maybe not. But the path is set, Adam. Whether you like it or not."

He didn't respond. He couldn't afford to entertain doubt. Not now.

The First Move

The world outside was turning into a battlefield. Reports flooded in—cities in anarchy, factions rising in power, ancient beings awakening. The gods were making their presence known, choosing their champions, blessing those they deemed worthy.

Adam wasn't waiting for them to come knocking.

"We take the initiative," he said, pulling up the map. "There's a facility on the outskirts of D.C.—a hidden bunker belonging to one of the last secret government projects before the collapse. In my past life, it was lost before anyone could claim it. But now, we have a chance."

Marcus studied the map. "What's inside?"

"Technology. Weapons. Information. And most importantly—something that could give us an edge against the gods."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "And the catch?"

Adam's expression darkened. "It's not abandoned."

Lilith grinned. "Now this sounds interesting."

The Raid

The team moved at night. The bunker was hidden beneath an old military base, now overrun by scavengers and rogue military remnants. Adam's team wasn't the only one looking for a safe haven, but they were the only ones who knew what was inside.

They approached through the ruins, moving with precision. Adam led the way, his mind already calculating every possible outcome. The guards patrolling the entrance were well-armed but undisciplined. A well-placed diversion from Lilith drew them away, and within moments, the team slipped inside.

The air inside was stale, the bunker's lights flickering. Signs of a struggle littered the halls—blood smeared on walls, bullet casings scattered across the floor.

"We're not alone," Marcus muttered, gripping his rifle.

Evelyn knelt beside a body, checking for any signs of movement. "Fresh kill. Whatever did this is still here."

Adam pressed forward, his instincts screaming at him to be ready. They had come for weapons, for technology—but what they found was something else entirely.

The facility's core chamber loomed ahead. And inside, waiting in the shadows, was something that should not have existed.

A figure stepped forward, their presence suffocating, unnatural. Their eyes glowed with a golden light, power radiating from their very being. A god's chosen champion.

"So," the figure said, voice like a blade against stone. "You finally arrived."

Adam didn't hesitate. He drew his weapon, eyes locked onto his opponent.

The Game had truly begun.