Rain fell like the city was trying to wash itself clean.
Lagos never succeeded.
Elior Ade staggered down the narrow alley, his shoes soaked, his breath uneven. Neon lights flickered behind him, music thumping faintly from a nearby club—life going on as if his wasn't about to end.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: You're close. Just come inside.
A lie.
He knew it the moment his foot slipped and his back hit the damp brick wall. Pain exploded through his spine. Before he could scream, a fist crashed into his jaw.
Stars burst behind his eyes.
"Please," Elior gasped, sliding down the wall. "You said… you said you'd pay me."
A laugh answered him. Cold. Familiar.
"You ask too many questions for someone who delivers packages he's not supposed to look inside."
A boot pressed against his chest. Another blow followed. Then another.
Pain blurred into sound. Sound into darkness.
As Elior lay bleeding in the rain, his thoughts drifted—not to God, not to prayers—but to regret.
Dropping out wasn't the worst mistake. Trusting people was.
His vision dimmed. His heartbeat slowed.
Then—
Silence.
No rain. No pain.
Just… nothing.
---
A sound broke through the void.
Not a voice. Not exactly.
A presence.
> VITAL SIGNS: TERMINATED.
HOST COMPATIBILITY: CONFIRMED.
Elior's eyes snapped open.
He lay in the alley—but the rain no longer touched him. Droplets froze midair, suspended like shattered glass.
His blood burned.
> CRIMSON ACCORD ACTIVATED.
"What…?" His voice trembled.
> YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED.
DEATH DENIED.
Pain rushed back—but twisted. Sharpened. Rewritten.
Elior screamed as something moved inside him, threading through his veins like molten fire. Memories flooded his mind—not his own.
Fear.
Greed.
Guilt.
The man who attacked him… Elior felt his sins like fingerprints on his soul.
The rain fell again.
Time resumed.
Elior dragged himself upright, gasping. The alley looked the same—but he wasn't.
His wounds closed before his eyes.
His heartbeat was slow. Too slow.
A reflection stared back at him from a puddle—eyes glowing faintly red.
"No… no, no, no…"
> HUMANITY: 97%.
WARNING: SYSTEM USE WILL RESULT IN DEPLETION.
Footsteps echoed.
The men were coming back.
Elior's fear surged—then vanished.
Something else took its place.
Hunger.
> TARGET SIN DETECTED.
ABILITY AVAILABLE: SIN DRAIN (BASIC).
Elior clenched his fists.
"I don't want this," he whispered.
> CHOICE REGISTERED.
SURVIVE… OR DIE PROPERLY.
The footsteps grew closer.
Elior stepped out of the shadows.
And the night answered.