Protocol: Pause

The sun hung high over the desert, a relentless ball of fire baking the sand beneath their feet. Heat shimmered across the horizon, but it was nothing compared to the heat Riven felt in his chest. Not from the sun—but from the moment he saw her.

His sister.

Kira.

Her hands ready for war, emotionless and unrecognizing. She stood at the forefront of over thirty armed Death Protocol soldiers, flanked by at least ten Executioners. Their digital weapons were already drawn.

"Let them go, Kira," Riven said firmly, stepping in front of the children and spreading his arms slightly, a living shield.

But Kira didn't blink. "Orders are orders. And my system doesn't question orders."

There was a flicker in her stance—a readiness to strike.

Lucy stepped beside Riven, her Binary Blade shimmering into existence. "We're surrounded," she muttered. "We can't fight them and protect the kids at the same time."

Riven's hand twitched. "We don't have to." His eyes closed for a split second.

[SKILL ACTIVATED: PORTAL]

A shimmering rift burst open behind them—digital static warping the desert air. "Tony, Mark, Vincent—get the kids out of here! Now!"

Without hesitation, Cipher's three rogue Executioners leapt into action.

Tony moved first—his twin pistols of light appearing in both hands. He fired two precise shots, taking out snipers poised on nearby dunes, then slung a child over his shoulder. "Let's move, NOW!"

Mark stomped through the sand like a tank, shielding several children behind his hulking frame. His massive digital hammer swung low, smashing through a charging soldier with a single devastating blow.

Vincent raised his palm—purple EMP code flared from his arm. A wave of system interference rippled outward. Death Protocol rifles glitched. HUDs scrambled. "Systems jammed—move while they're blind!" he shouted.

As the last of the children were led into the portal, the Executioners made their move.

"Go loud!" one barked.

The air exploded with gunfire and digital blasts.

Riven moved first.

[SKILL ACTIVATED: FLASH]

He zipped left, then right, trailing afterimages as bullets flew past. Lucy met an incoming Executioner with her Binary Blade, their weapons clashing with a shriek of raw code. Sparks flew.

Vincent turned, unleashing a second EMP pulse that disabled an Executioner's Code Lance, forcing the enemy into hand-to-hand.

Mark swung his hammer again, the ground cracking beneath the force. He sent two soldiers flying like ragdolls.

Tony's pistols glowed bright. He moved between cover points, firing rapid bursts of pinpoint light. "Sniper positions clear!"

But Kira didn't move.

Not yet.

She watched Riven—an unreadable calculation running behind her eyes.

Then, she raised her hand.

Twelve digital arrows formed around her, floating silently in the air like a crown of death.

[SKILL ACTIVATED: POTENT ARROW]

They launched.

"RIVEN!" Lucy shouted.

Flash.

He pulled her aside just in time—but one arrow grazed his side, slicing his coat and burning his skin. A second impaled the sand where a child had been moments ago.

"She's not holding back," Riven breathed. "And she doesn't remember me."

Lucy's gaze darkened. "She's not your sister right now—she's their weapon."

Riven's fists clenched. "Then I'll break the chains."

Suddenly, a massive digital greatsword materialized in Kira's hands—at least 30 feet in length. With a single swipe, she sent a shockwave of binary energy barreling toward Riven.

He leapt—just barely avoiding the wave as it carved a canyon into the sand behind him.

"She's warping the system," Tony yelled. "No one should be able to manipulate Execution Code like that!"

"She's the perfect one," Vincent shouted back. "They upgraded her beyond protocol!"

Kira began to walk forward, conjuring fire—massive digital flames appearing in midair. They rained down like meteors, scattering the desert into glass.

Mark roared and slammed his hammer into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked back incoming soldiers. "We need to take her down now!"

"No!" Riven barked. "She's not the enemy. They did this to her!"

Lucy glanced at him. "Then what do we do?"

Riven's system buzzed. His body shook.

[EXECUTION CODE ACTIVATED]

[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: PAUSE]

A golden glyph glowed in his palm. A single word echoed in his mind: Pause.

He looked up. Kira was preparing to release another wave of digital fire.

His hand snapped forward.

"PAUSE."

Everything stopped.

The flames froze mid-air.

The Executioners stood frozen in place, weapons mid-swing.

Even the wind held its breath.

Only Riven could move.

He took a slow step forward, staring at his sister. Her face was calm—beautiful and terrifying. She was just a kid the last time he held her hand.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I should've found you sooner."

The five seconds ticked by like heartbeats.

1…

2…

3…

He grabbed Lucy and pulled her out of harm's way.

4…

5—

BOOM.

Time resumed in an instant. The frozen flames crashed into the sand where they'd just been. Kira blinked—then narrowed her eyes.

"That was new," she said.

"I'm full of surprises," Riven replied.

Kira raised her sword again. This time, she charged.

Riven didn't retreat.

He met her blow with his bare hands—using Flash and brute force to parry the massive weapon. Sparks erupted. The ground cracked beneath them. He wasn't trying to win.

He was trying to reach her.

"Kira!" he yelled, dodging a swing. "It's me! Riven! Your brother!"

She snarled, digital fire erupting behind her. "I don't have a brother!"

Her sword enlarged again—slamming down with thunderous force. Riven barely managed to roll aside, coughing sand and blood.

"I'm not fighting to beat you," he muttered. "I'm fighting to bring you home."

Lucy fought off two Executioners on her own nearby, her movements graceful and vicious. Mark crushed a soldier with a spinning hammer strike, while Vincent disarmed another with an EMP burst that fried his gauntlet. Tony fired rapid cover shots to keep the heat off Lucy.

But it wasn't enough.

Kira raised her arrows again—twenty this time.

Riven's voice roared through the desert.

"PAUSE!"

Again, the world stopped for five seconds.

He stood still, panting, eyes locked on his frozen sister.

Tears welled in his eyes.

"I'll save you," he whispered. "Even if it breaks me."

And like that, the five seconds were gone.

The portal behind them sparked again—still active. Tony shouted, "The last kid is through! We can leave now!"

But Riven stood between them and Kira.

"No," he said. "She's coming with us."