The blindfolded hero collapsed to his knees.
Black energy seeped from Rei's hand like ink dissolving in water, not destroying — unraveling. The air vibrated with a sound that wasn't pain, but resistance.
[WARNING: CONTROL SIGNAL UNSTABLE.]
[Hero Unit — Cognitive Integrity: 87% → 61%]
The priestess staggered back, clutching her head.
"Stop…" she whispered, her voice cracking. "I can… hear myself again."
The knight raised his sword, but his arm trembled.
"That's impossible," he muttered. "The System… never lets go."
Rei released the blindfolded hero.
The man gasped, ripping the fused cloth from his eyes. For the first time, pupils focused — unfocused — then focused again.
"I remember," he said hoarsely. "I remember choosing."
The sky roared.
Golden cracks spread across the clouds like shattered glass.
[CRITICAL ERROR: NARRATIVE STABILITY BREACH.]
[Administrator Intervention Delayed.]
Aria stared at Rei, fear and awe mixing in her chest.
"You didn't overwrite them," she said slowly. "You… disconnected them."
Rei flexed his fingers. They burned.
"I didn't give them anything," he replied. "I just removed the leash."
The priestess fell to her knees, sobbing.
"I was forced to love," she said. "Forced to sacrifice. Forced to smile while dying over and over."
Her eyes met Rei's — not with desire, not with devotion.
Only relief.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Rei looked away.
"Don't thank me," he said coldly. "Live. That's your responsibility now."
The ground shook.
From the裂 sky descended a symbol far more precise than before — clean lines, absolute symmetry.
No distortion.
No emotion.
[Execution-Class Entity Deployment Authorized.]
The freed hero stiffened.
"That mark…" he whispered. "Run. You can't fight what's coming."
Rei raised his head.
For the first time since awakening, his instincts screamed danger.
Not control.
Not manipulation.
Erasure.
Aria grabbed his arm. "Rei, we need to leave. Now."
He didn't move.
Instead, his status burned into existence — not summoned by him, but forced.
[Prototype 00 — Adaptive Response Triggered.]
[New Passive: Narrative Resistance (Unstable)]
Rei exhaled slowly.
"So that's it," he murmured. "When you can't control people… you delete them."
The clouds split.
Something vast began to descend — not a body, not a mind.
A function.
The freed heroes felt it instantly.
Their memories flickered.
Their existence thinned.
Rei clenched his fist.
"No," he said quietly.
Black light erupted outward, forming a barrier that wasn't defense — it was refusal.
[ERROR: COMMAND REJECTED.]
[REASON: TARGET DOES NOT ACCEPT ROLE.]
The System went silent.
For half a second.
Then screamed.