CHAPTER 11: THE HUNTER'S MARK

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Rain lashed down on the cracked pavement as Kaien stalked through the narrow alleys of East Verdan. The city looked different at night—colder, quieter, and full of secrets. Neon lights flickered through the storm, painting everything in fractured reds and greens. His breath steamed in the air, mixing with the tension that coiled around him like a live wire.

His new system interface pulsed faintly in the corner of his vision.

> [SYSTEM NOTICE]

Void Surge Residue Detected. Unknown Tracker Engaged.

Recommended Action: Immediate Combat or Evade.

"Of course," Kaien muttered.

He didn't know what was coming, but something had latched onto him since the encounter with the cloaked figure. And it wasn't just watching—it was hunting.

He rounded a corner—and froze.

A girl stood there.

She couldn't have been older than sixteen. Pale hair. No umbrella. Just standing in the rain like she belonged to it. Her eyes were a storm of silver, and Kaien felt the air twist around her like it obeyed her will.

"Kaien Vale," she said softly, voice like a razor behind silk. "You weren't supposed to survive the Surge."

Kaien's fist clenched. "You another 'Watcher'?"

She smiled, eerie and innocent. "I'm the bullet they send when warnings don't work."

Suddenly, a dagger flew from her sleeve—he barely dodged it as it embedded itself in the wall behind him with a thud. Kaien leapt back, hands glowing as he activated [Void Step], warping behind her—

But she was gone.

Something slammed into his ribs. Hard. He flew through the air and hit a dumpster, metal folding around him. Pain exploded through his chest. He coughed—blood.

> [SYSTEM ALERT: Major Fracture Detected – Ribs #6 & #7]

Skill: Pain Suppression Activated.

The girl appeared above him, her blade crackling with violet lightning. "They said you'd be fast," she whispered. "They didn't say you'd be this fun."

Kaien gritted his teeth and pulled himself up, eyes flaring with black fire.

"Store," he growled. "Open now."

> [SYSTEM: STORE UNLOCKED]

Welcome to the [Shadow Nexus Store].

— Credits Available: 12,000

— Featured Item: "Crimson Vial – Temporary Berserk Protocol (60 Seconds)" – 8,000

— Purchase?

He didn't hesitate. Confirm.

As her blade came down, Kaien rolled, pulled the vial from his inventory, and downed it in a single gulp.

Everything stopped.

Then ignited.

The world bled red as Kaien's vision burned with rage. His muscles expanded, time slowed, and his mind faded into a primal rhythm.

He moved.

Faster than thought, he grabbed the girl mid-strike and slammed her into the asphalt. She vanished into mist—an illusion.

"Smart," he growled.

A blade pierced his shoulder. "Smarter," she whispered behind him.

Kaien spun and caught her by the throat. "But not smarter than me."

He activated [Void Chain].

A black chain erupted from his palm, wrapping around her body in an instant, paralyzing her mid-air.

Her eyes widened. "That's… a forbidden skill."

Kaien leaned in, blood trickling from his lips. "Then I guess I'm breaking all the rules."

And with a surge of power, he slammed her into the side of a parked car—twice.

She went limp.

The storm crackled above, thunder rolling like the growl of a god.

Kaien stood there, chest heaving, the chain retracting back into his arm. Rain washed the blood from his face.

> [System Update]

New Ability: "Void Chain – Tier 1"

Effect: Capture or bind a target in mid-action. Duration: 5 seconds. Cooldown: 45 seconds.

— Skill Upgrade Potential: High.

He looked down at the unconscious girl. "Who sent you?"

She coughed, eyes blurry with shock. "You already know... they're always watching…"

A flicker sparked behind her ear—Kaien's eyes widened.

A bomb rune.

"Sh*t—"

He dove away as her body erupted into white flames, disintegrating completely. No body. No trace.

Only a single symbol burned into the wall behind her.

A black eye.

Kaien stared at it, the lines pulsing with unnatural energy.

> [NEW QUEST: The Eye Watches]

A kill team has been dispatched by the hidden organization known only as Echelon.

Survive the next three encounters.

Reward: Classified.

Kaien wiped blood from his lip, his body still vibrating from the Crimson Vial.

"This is how they play?" he muttered. "Fine."

He turned toward the city's heart. Toward the next shadow. Toward the next fight.

"They want war?"

He grinned.

"They just got one."

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