The wind carried an acrid scent of burnt asphalt and scorched air.
Lin Chen stood silently on the rooftop of an abandoned high-rise, his gaze locked on the dark silhouette standing fifty meters away. The man exuded a heatwave-like distortion, the surrounding air rippling unnaturally.
[System Warning: Detected Hostile System Signature – Energy Type: Pyrokinetic Control]
The voice echoed in Lin Chen's mind as a red interface flickered into place before his eyes. The figure ahead, dressed in a burnt-orange overcoat, was the first known hostile system user — another "player" in this twisted game.
"So you're the one Erebus failed to eliminate..."The voice was deep, steady, and laced with deadly amusement.
The man stepped forward, the floor under his boots crackling from residual heat. Flames danced along his fingertips like loyal serpents.
Name: Zhao TianCodename: InfernoSystem Status: ActiveAbility: Pyrokinetic ManipulationEstimated Power Rating: B+
Lin Chen inhaled sharply.[System Activated: Combat Simulation — Environment Lock: Rooftop Arena][Initiating tactical override – Downloading opponent's potential move patterns...]
The air trembled.
With a snap of Zhao Tian's fingers, a volley of flame spheres rocketed toward Lin Chen.
Lin Chen ducked and rolled as the simulation interface overlaid trajectory lines in real-time. He vaulted over a crumbling parapet wall and countered by tossing a modified smoke bomb from his system inventory — a gadget purchased for 50 system coins the night before.
The smoke gave him mere seconds.
"Analyze his opening patterns!" Lin Chen growled internally.
[Confirmed: Subject favors mid-range attacks and area control. Recommending high-mobility tactics.]
Lin Chen narrowed his eyes. "Fine. Let's see how you like this."
Zhao Tian grinned from within the smoke."You can hide, but I control the temperature," he said, snapping his fingers again.
The entire area within a ten-meter radius ignited, the heat eating through the mist. Concrete cracked, metal beams groaned, and Lin Chen barely managed to leap away in time.
[Emergency Activation: Combat Reflex Module – Level 2 Engaged]Time slowed — not literally, but enough for Lin Chen's reactions to quicken as adrenaline and system synchrony surged.
He zig-zagged through debris and unleashed an EMP flash mine. It wouldn't hurt Zhao Tian, but it disrupted his system interface briefly.
That was enough.
Lin Chen surged forward with a tactical baton infused with high-voltage capacitors. He slammed it into Zhao Tian's ribs. Sparks exploded.
Zhao Tian staggered back — then roared in fury."You've learned well, but you're not the only one with upgrades."
His hands lit up like torches, and suddenly, twin columns of flame burst from his palms.
For minutes, they fought — one wielding fire like a living weapon, the other using system-enhanced agility, precision, and real-time analysis. Lin Chen's stamina was fading. His coin-based cooldowns were nearly expired.
Then—
[System Notice: Emergency Override – Unlocking Temporary Function: 'Battle Memory Extraction']
"What…?" Lin Chen blinked.
The moment Zhao Tian prepared another strike, Lin Chen's palm surged with a strange blue light. He grabbed Zhao's wrist, and a surge of energy transferred through contact.
[Memory Fragment Detected – Downloading]
Zhao Tian screamed, staggering back, smoke billowing from his skin.
In Lin Chen's mind, images flooded in.
A cold lab. Electrodes. A younger Zhao Tian bound to a surgical table.Men in Erebus suits.Syringes.A voice: "The fire will purge the weak from your soul."
And finally—a database. Coordinates. Names. A list of experimental hosts.
Zhao Tian collapsed, unconscious, flames extinguished.The rooftop was ruined. Sirens echoed in the distance.
Lin Chen panted, falling to one knee.
[Hostile Neutralized. Memory Fragment Acquired.][System Update: Host Fragment Count – 1/12][Secret Path Unlocked: Project Genesis Alpha — Accessing...]
But before Lin Chen could examine the data—
[Warning: Traces of Erebus surveillance drones approaching. Extraction advised.]
He staggered to his feet, slinging Zhao Tian's unconscious form over his shoulder. No way was he letting Erebus recover one of their own.
Hours later, Lin Chen sat in his underground safehouse, Zhao Tian restrained and sedated.
In front of him was the newly unlocked fragment interface. It pulsed faintly, as if alive.
[Memory Fragment 1 Contents:]– List of confirmed hosts under Erebus influence– Coordinates of a dormant experimental lab– Subject files: Li Chu – classification: System Candidate A
"Li Chu…?" Lin Chen whispered.
He leaned back, eyes burning with new questions.
So she really was one of them…
[System Message: New Path Branching – You have engaged in the first 'System vs. System' duel.][Branching paths include:]– Consolidation of Host Fragments– Direct Offensive on Dormant Labs– Protection Protocol for Known Candidate: Li Chu
As Lin Chen stared at the flickering screen, the world outside continued spinning, unaware of the battle that had just tipped the scales.
And for the first time since acquiring the system—Lin Chen wasn't just surviving.
He was hunting.