Chapter 6: Trust or Death
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1. The Battle of No Return
The underground vault was chaos.
Shattered walls, broken steel crates, and the deafening clash of metal filled the air.
Damocles, the Shadow Syndicate's monstrous leader, swung his heavy blade like it weighed nothing. Each strike shook the ground, sending shockwaves that knocked Ethan off his feet.
But Ethan's fear wasn't focused on Damocles.
It was focused on Lucas Veylan.
Lucas fought like a storm – swift, precise, unstoppable. His glowing blade sliced through Syndicate enforcers like they were paper. But every time his piercing blue eyes flicked toward Ethan, the Suspicion Meter climbed higher.
92%… 93%…
"One wrong move and Lucas will kill me before Damocles even gets the chance."
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2. The System's Ultimatum
The system's voice thundered in Ethan's mind:
Ethan stumbled to his feet, blocking an incoming strike from a Syndicate guard.
"Earn Lucas's trust?! In the middle of this? How?!"
System:
> "Be useful. Save the hero. Change the story."
"Be useful?! Lucas doesn't need saving, he's invincible!"
But then he saw it – Damocles, breaking free of Lucas's blade and swinging his giant weapon straight toward the hero's unguarded back.
Ethan's heart skipped.
"If I don't act now… Lucas will be killed."
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3. A Desperate Gamble
Ethan didn't think. He sprinted forward and shoved Lucas out of the way just as Damocles's blade came crashing down.
The impact hit Ethan's side, sending him flying across the room. He crashed into a wall, pain exploding through his ribs.
Lucas spun around, his eyes wide. "Blackwood?!"
The Suspicion Meter dropped slightly.
92%… 88%…
"It worked… but I think my ribs are broken."
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4. Fighting Together
Ethan gritted his teeth and forced himself up. "Lucas! He's using his left side too much. That's his weak point!"
Lucas's eyes narrowed. "How do you—"
"Just trust me!" Ethan shouted.
Lucas didn't respond, but he shifted his attacks, targeting Damocles's left side.
It worked. Damocles roared in pain as Lucas's blade pierced through a gap in his defense.
The Suspicion Meter dropped again.
88%… 82%… 75%…
"Yes… yes! I'm actually earning his trust!"
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5. Lydia's Sacrifice
But Damocles wasn't going down easily. With a last, desperate move, he lunged toward Ethan.
Before Ethan could react, Lydia Kane jumped in front of him. Damocles's blade impaled her through the chest.
"Lydia!" Ethan shouted, catching her as she fell.
She coughed blood, her voice weak. "Don't… waste this chance… Blackwood. Live."
Ethan's chest tightened. "No… you can't die, you're supposed to be Lucas's ally!"
Lydia smiled faintly. "Maybe… this is the story changing."
And then she was gone.
The Suspicion Meter ticked down further.
75%… 68%…
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6. The Killing Blow
Lucas roared and unleashed a final, devastating attack. His blade glowed with pure energy as he drove it through Damocles's heart.
The Syndicate leader let out a strangled roar before collapsing to the ground, his lifeless eyes still burning with hatred.
Silence filled the vault.
Ethan collapsed to his knees, clutching his bruised ribs.
"It's over… we actually survived."
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7. Lucas's Verdict
But the danger wasn't over.
Lucas turned toward Ethan, his sword still drawn.
"You knew about his weakness," Lucas said, his voice low. "You've been at the center of every major event lately. Why?"
The Suspicion Meter hovered.
68%… 70%…
"Please… don't go up again."
Ethan met Lucas's gaze. "Because I want to live. That's it. I'm not a saint, Lucas. But I'm not your enemy."
Lucas studied him for a long moment.
The Suspicion Meter… dropped.
70%… 60%… 55%…
Lucas sheathed his sword. "If you're lying, I'll know. But for now… I'll give you the benefit of the doubt."
Ethan let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"I did it… I actually earned his trust."
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8. The System's New Reward
The system's voice rang in Ethan's mind.
"Hero Bond? What does that do?" Ethan asked mentally.
System:
> "The Hero is now less likely to kill you directly. However… his actions will still shape your fate."
"Less likely?! That's not very comforting!"
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9. New Problems
When they returned to the Blackwood mansion, Ethan was treated for his injuries. But there was no time to rest.
The Shadow Syndicate may have lost Damocles, but they weren't destroyed. Worse, the heroines were all demanding answers about why Ethan had disappeared for two days.
Sophia, Claire, and Heroine A all arrived at the mansion, each one furious, worried, and… suspicious.
"Ethan, where were you?!" Sophia demanded.
"You're hiding something," Claire accused.
The system chimed:
"WHAT?! Now they have suspicion meters too?!"
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10. The Next Mission
Just as Ethan thought he might collapse from stress, the system spoke again.
Ethan's jaw dropped.
"An international summit? I don't want to go anywhere near important people, that's how I die!"
System:
> "Failure will result in Death Penalty."
Ethan groaned. "Of course it will…"
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11. Cliffhanger
That night, Ethan sat alone in his study, staring at the mission details.
"An international summit filled with martial arts masters, political leaders, and probably half my enemies… I'm walking into a death trap."
The system's voice grew darker.
"Host, be warned. Someone at the summit will change the course of your fate… permanently."
Ethan's stomach dropped.
"Change my fate… permanently? Does that mean I could finally be safe? Or die for real this time?"
He didn't get the chance to answer, because Damien rushed into the room.
"Sir… we just received word. Lucas Veylan will also be at the summit."
Ethan's heart skipped a beat.
"Oh no… this just got a thousand times worse."
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Chapter 6 End (Suspense)
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