The Final Life Begins

Pain.

That was the first thing Tony felt as his eyes shot open. Blood — his blood — ran down his arm, pooling on the cracked earth beneath him. His chest heaved, lungs burning as if they were filled with smoke and fire.

He was alive. Again.

A twisted laugh echoed in the void around him, deep and jagged like shattered glass grinding together. From the darkness stepped the Being, the same cruel figure that had haunted every one of his deaths.

"One thousand lives, Tony, and every single one of them — a failure." The Being's smile stretched too wide, eyes glowing with sick pleasure. "You save them, and they die anyway. Your heroism is a curse. And now...this is your last chance."

Tony tried to stand, but pain flared in his legs. The Being reached out, tapping a single clawed finger to Tony's forehead.

"This is your Final Life, hero. No more resets. No more second chances. And this time — I'll even be generous." The Being's grin sharpened. "A gift. A suit powered by the lives you save. Save more — grow stronger. Fail… and this world will bury you."

Tony spat blood onto the ground, glaring up. "Just kill me already. This world's hell."

The Being chuckled. "Not hell, Tony. Just...not your world." The Being's finger twisted in the air — a bolt of dark energy slammed into Tony's chest, sending him crashing down from the void toward a bright, blinding planet below.

"Live a life of pain, hero. I'll be watching."

The Arrival

Tony's eyes snapped open again — this time, the air was different. Fresh, but heavy with tension. His body was covered in sleek black armor, glowing faintly with silver circuitry. The suit clung to him like it had been part of him all along.

A mechanical voice crackled to life inside his helmet."Tony, status: alive. Scan complete. You have six minutes to save a life — or you die."

Tony stumbled to his feet, heart racing. "Who the hell—?"

"I am Togo, your suit. Your protector. Your partner." The voice was calm, but firm. "My creator designed me to block the Curse. You are the last hero free from it — but the System will sense you soon. We must move."

Tony shook his head, memories flooding back — a thousand deaths, a thousand failures, each life slipping through his fingers. But this time...he had Togo.

"What happens if I save someone?" Tony asked.

"You gain strength. Level up. Every five lives saved grants you a new power — including the ultimate ability: Limit Breaker. But if you save no one in six minutes…you die."

"No pressure then." Tony clenched his fists and broke into a sprint, the suit enhancing his speed.

The Village of the Damned

The sound of screams led him toward a nearby village, where a mob had gathered in a square. In the center, chained and beaten heroes knelt in the dirt — some barely breathing, others already limp.

"What the hell is this?" Tony muttered. Togo shifted his armor to blend into the crowd — the sleek black became tattered civilian clothes.

"Execution site. They are heroes. Therefore, they die." Togo's voice held no emotion, but Tony could feel the disgust behind the words.

Tony stepped closer to a man at the edge of the crowd. "Why are they killing them? What did they do?"

The man glanced at him like Tony was insane. "They're heroes. You must be new here."

"Heroes save lives, right? Why kill them?"

The man sneered. "That's the problem. The System decides who lives and who dies. When a hero saves someone meant to die, the System retaliates — it kills a hundred innocent people to restore balance. Heroes disrupt fate. They're monsters in disguise."

Tony's fists shook. "So saving lives gets people killed? That's insane!"

"The System is our savior — the one true god. It gave us order when the curse first arrived. You dare question the System? You must be one of them!" The man raised his voice. "He doesn't believe in the System! He's a hero lover! He must die!"

The crowd turned, eyes wild with fear and fury.

The Curse Revealed

"Tony, the System has marked you. They sense I'm blocking the Curse. They'll send Hunters. Run or fight — choose now." Togo's voice was urgent.

"What is the Curse? Why does the world hate heroes?" Tony demanded, stepping back.

Togo's voice softened slightly. "The Curse twists fate itself. Every hero is doomed — anyone they save is marked for death. No hero has ever escaped it — except you, because of me."

"So every life I save…won't die later?"

"Correct. You're the first real hero in centuries. That's why the System wants you dead."

The crowd surged forward, weapons raised.

"No more talking. Fight or die." Togo activated a blade along Tony's forearm — sleek, silver, and humming with energy.

The First Fight

The first attacker swung a rusted axe at Tony's head. Togo automatically adjusted his stance — Tony twisted, catching the axe shaft and slamming his elbow into the man's gut. The crowd gasped.

"He's fast! A cursed hero! Kill him!"

More villagers rushed him — pitchforks, knives, bare fists. Tony ducked, weaved, Togo feeding him instant battle data. Every move felt natural, like instincts wired into his muscles.

"You have five minutes to save a life, Tony. Or you die."

Tony scanned the square, spotted a little girl hiding under a cart, trembling, her parents already dead beside her. Blood covered her tiny hands.

"Her. I save her."

He burst through the crowd, deflecting a knife with his forearm blade. Grabbing the girl, he cradled her close.

"You're okay — I got you."

"Target rescued. Timer reset. Five minutes until next required save." Togo's voice was calm again.

The crowd roared — more voices joined the mob, System Hunters arriving, their eyes glowing silver, bodies enhanced by twisted technology.

"Togo — what's Level One power?" Tony asked, holding the girl tightly.

"Enhanced reflexes. Faster reaction time than any human."

"Perfect."

The first Hunter lunged — and Tony moved like a blur, the blade flashing once, and the Hunter fell. The mob froze.

"You save five lives — you Level Up again. You become stronger. And they will fear you even more."

Tony stood between the girl and the mob, armor gleaming, blood dripping from his blade.

"Come on then," he growled. "Let's see if you can kill the last hero."