The First Kill

LOCATION: SYSTEM ARENA – ENCOUNTER ENDGAME

Time Remaining in Proxy War: 5 Days, 17 Hours, 14 Minutes

Status: Stabilizing

System Sync: 64% — Style Surge Engaged

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Ash Nine reloaded with that same perfect, robotic motion—like he was born holding a gun.

I stepped out of cover, slower, shakier… but I wasn't hiding anymore.

Marcus stopped shooting.

He just leaned out from behind some mangled bulkhead, grinning like someone watching their kid ride a bike for the first time.

"Now we're talking," he muttered.

> ✅ SYSTEM STABILIZING

PAIN SUPPRESSION — MANUAL OVERRIDE

BLOOD LOSS: CONTAINED

STYLE RATING: 8.2/10

🟠 Status: Dangerous, But Not Dead

Ash Nine turned as I stepped forward, one arm limp, the other holding the Repeater low.

"You should've stayed down," he said. "Would've been easier."

"Maybe," I replied. "But easy's not exactly my style."

We circled each other in silence.

Smoke curling. Metal groaning above us. The air still sharp with leftover bullets.

Then Ash Nine raised his gun.

And I raised mine.

We fired.

Glass cracked. Sparks flew. Bullets kissed metal, screamed off walls.

I dived, rolled, fired again. He moved like lightning, but this time, I kept up.

One ricochet nicked his side.

He hissed, staggered back. I advanced, taking the center.

Ash Nine ducked behind cover, breathing hard.

I caught up to him, leveled the Repeater.

"Don't," he said, low and raw.

His gun was gone. His strength, bleeding out.

"I never asked for this," he whispered. "I didn't want to be part of their game."

I didn't lower the weapon.

But I didn't pull the trigger either.

"You still tried to kill me," I said.

"I know," he coughed. "They made it sound like a chance. A second life. Said if I killed the next user… I could go home."

He looked up at me. Something in his face was young. Lost. Human.

"But it wasn't real. The 'Red Witch'—she fed us lies. Locked us in this loop of failure and violence. Every proxy that fails? Just another piece on her board."

He paused. Swallowed something painful.

"Before you kill me… promise me something."

I said nothing.

"End it," he rasped. "All of it. Don't just win. Burn it down. No more proxy wars. No more resets. No more of this sick game."

I stared at him.

Ash Nine's eyes dimmed a little more with each second.

"I never got to go home," he muttered. "Don't let this world become yours."

Then—

I pulled the trigger.

One shot.

Right through the heart.

He slumped to the side. Body still. Face strangely calm. Like maybe… he was free.

---

> ✅ ENCOUNTER COMPLETE

Proxy Defeated: Ash Nine

KILL CONFIRMED

🟥 YOU HAVE A BODY COUNT NOW

STYLE BONUS: +15,200 Points

SYSTEM SURGE: 72% STABILITY

YOU'VE BEEN SEEN.

---

Marcus walked over, slow and calm, like he already knew how it was going to end.

"That's more like it," he said with a proud, crooked grin. "Didn't think you had it in you."

I stared at the notification, eyebrows scrunched, half-confused, half-sarcastic.

"My system said I have a body count now—like I haven't been killing people since I got here."

Marcus stepped closer, looked down at Ash Nine's body, then back at me.

"First one you killed as John Wick."

I frowned. "I don't get it."

"You will," Marcus said, voice quiet. "Soon."

Then he blinked, stared and pointed at me.

"…Wait. You've stopped bleeding."

I didn't say anything. Just looked down at my hands.

They were steady.

Clean.

No blood dripping anymore.

I checked. He was right.

No pain. No torn skin. Just smooth, closed flesh like I'd never been shot at all.

"I know, right?" I said, trying to play it off. "Neat trick."

But Marcus didn't smile this time. He just stared at me like I'd grown an extra head.

"What?" I asked. "…It doesn't work like that, does it?"

"No," he muttered. "It doesn't."

Then he turned, started walking toward the arena exit.

"Come on," he called over his shoulder.

I jogged to catch up, falling into step beside him. "Where are we going?"

"There's someone you need to meet," he said, voice lower now.

"Can I get a name? Or at least a place?"

Marcus paused at the exit.

Smirked.

Then said it like it was destiny.

"The Continental."

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TO BE CONTINUED.