A World That Hunts

They hit before nightfall.

Three figures.

One emerged from a shadow within a market tent and threw knives that bent in mid-air, bearing curses carved in dead languages.

The latter fell from a rooftop — clad in a makeshift set of an angel's bones, its eyes radiating a synthetic divinity.

The third didn't even show his face—only called forth a living weapon from a broken sigil: a chained beast whose manifold mouths screamed in reversed scripture.

Kanji didn't hesitate.

The first was dead before his second knife struck.

The second exploded, pulverized into dust as Ghostrend cleaved into their cowardly-chosen path with soul echo from past lives filling its blade.

The third?

His scream was a cry of terror as his summon turned on him, undone by the pulse of UNMAKE Kanji that had been sent down the sigil from range.

[Bounty Hunters Eliminated.]

[Soul Fragment +2]

[Infamy Increased.]

[Nearby Factions Aware.]

He cleaned blood off his face.

"Too easy," he muttered.

"No," Lyra said, peering down from a balcony, arms crossed. "Too early."

She sprang down, landing with nonchalant elegance.

"They'll get stronger. Desperate. You made a statement. The ones the kind people either worship —" she nodded to the remains — "or try to bury."

Kanji looked at her.

"Are you going to interfere next time?"

She paused before her answer came.

"I don't need to."

"You sure?"

"If I do, Kanji," she said quietly, "everyone in this zone will die."

He didn't smile.

But he understood.

She was still holding back. Always had been.

[System Note: "Lyra Veyne" is Unscanable. Threat Level: Undefined.]

[Ancillary Class (From Wonderopolis: The Surreal following Redirected On a Cloud)]

[Caution Recommended.]

They took off again before the sun came up.

The next region, The Hollow Veins, was known for one thing: silence. No wind. No birds. Just a province cursed by the screams of a god who didn't fully die.

That was where Kanji would find the next Fragment of Nahra'zeth.

And maybe, the next person would find him first.

A godblood mercenary.

A fallen system avatar.

Perhaps even Aurelia's last knight.

But one thing was now inescapably clear:

Kanji was outside of any world's rules.

And all that became his rules would visit upon his destruction.

It was built into the cliffside — hidden, nameless, shaped like the fingers of a hand from redstone, shot through with quiet enchantments. No symbols. No prayers. Just neutral ground.

The type of place one passed through when they did not wish to be remembered.

Kanji threw his stained mantle on the ground, pressed against the wall shirtless, breathing deeply. His skin still throbbed with energy lingering from the last fight—his Soul Core was not yet fully settled.

Lyra walked in moments later.

She'd changed.

Her habitual dark robes and battle-hardened cloak were gone.

Instead, she wore a blood-red wrap-top, knotted in the middle, exposing hints of sinew in her midsection. The fabric caught a little light, enchanted for motion, not fighting. Her pants were coordinated — skinny, high-waisted combat fit, tapering into soft-leather boots. Everything about the ensemble radiated elegance while also signaling lethal efficiency.

Her hair was swept up and a few strands framed her face. Her glasses still sat low on her nose, reflecting the ambient glow of the lantern over her head.

She looked unbothered.

Controlled.

Untouchable.

Of course, Kanji's eye was glued to her for just a moment too long.

Lyra caught it.

"What?" she said flatly.

He looked away. "I had no idea we were dressing for court."

"Court's dead," she said, strolling past him. "This is for clarity."

Kanji raised a brow.

Lyra took a cloth off the shelf and slowly wiped down one of her curved daggers.

"You're getting more difficult to predict," she said. "The system is having trouble determining who you are. The Church is split. And you're getting attention from places that don't typically look down.'"

Kanji threw on a loose black tunic, torn at the neck, and sat across from her.

"Let them look."

"They are," she said, not looking up from the blade. "Especially him."

He stilled.

"Who?"

Lyra placed the dagger down.

"You'll know soon. Let's just say … he's the you who said yes."

Kanji didn't respond.

But his jaw tightened.

[System: Unknown Entity Tracking Soul Signature]

[State: Godblood Class — Verified]

[Affiliation: Church | Status: Faithful]

[Codename: "Solemn Vale"]

[Level: Comparable]

Outside, in the wind of the desert outside the inn, a figure knelt at the lip of a cliff.

A knight in white-gold armor engraved with holy filigree. A thin sword at his back. His visage is covered by a porcelain mask inscribed with scripture.

He twirled between his fingers a piece of Kanji's aura.

And smiled.