The countdown ticked louder than the tower's walls could hide.
> [System Purge: 66:02:10]
[Tower Defense State: Passive]
[Threat Signature Detected – Low Impact Class: Emotional Scout]
Codename: Echo-Four
The warning had appeared an hour ago.
But the strange part wasn't the threat. It was the fact that nothing had happened yet.
Elias stood inside the tower's observatory hall, flanked by Null and Serai. Mira remained on surveillance, while Velhira, Aya, and Lilith scouted the perimeter.
Still, no sign of infiltration.
Until the door opened on its own.
And a young man stepped inside.
He was ordinary.
Painfully so.
No aura, no weapons, no visible threat.
Just clean robes, pale skin, and unreadable eyes.
"I come on behalf of the Order," he said softly.
Aya was already beside him, blade pressed to his throat. "Talk fast."
He didn't even blink.
"I'm not here to fight. I'm here to offer... release."
---
System Analysis – Echo-Four
> Status: Non-Combat Agent