I felt him before I saw him.
Not hostility.
Not killing intent.
Finality.
---
> [Entity Detected:]
— Exorcist Executor
Authority Rank: High
Combat Priority: Absolute
"…That's not ominous at all."
> [Recommendation: Avoid Direct Contact.]
"Trust me, I planned to."
---
The temperature dropped.
Not cold.
Empty.
As if something essential had been erased from the air.
---
A figure stepped onto the rooftop across from me.
White robes.
Black markings.
A face calm enough to be terrifying.
He carried no weapons.
He didn't need them.
---
"Free Spirit," he said.
His voice wasn't loud.
But it arrived.
"You are a deviation."
---
> [Authority Pressure: Extreme]
My core screamed.
I nearly lost cohesion.
---
"I'm just… existing," I replied through clenched focus.
"That is the problem."
---
The space between us folded.
Distance lost meaning.
---
> [Containment Zone: Established]
"…I hate when people do that."
> [Agreement: Strong.]
---
Symbols burned into the air.
Not chains.
Not barriers.
Declarations.
---
> [Executor Skill Detected:]
— Law of Severance
The name alone made my core tremble.
---
"You will be corrected," he continued.
"Resistance is inefficient."
---
I scanned.
No gaps.
No blind spots.
This wasn't a net.
It was a verdict.
---
> [Survival Probability: 9%]
"…System?"
> [Suggestion: Delay.]
"Helpful."
---
I gathered emotion—
But it dispersed instantly.
---
> [Effect Nullified: Authority Override.]
"…So I can't fight."
> [Conclusion: Correct.]
---
The Executor raised his hand.
Light condensed.
Not energy.
Judgment.
---
Time slowed.
I thought—
Not of death.
But of erasure.
---
Then—
The world tilted.
---
A pressure slammed sideways into the containment zone.
Crude.
Violent.
---
> [External Interference Detected!]
---
A roar echoed through the sky.
Not a sound.
A presence.
---
The Executor turned.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
---
"…Rogue."
---
A massive shadow coalesced between us.
Twisted.
Ancient.
Laughing.
---
"Still using rules, monk?" the thing boomed.
---
> [Entity Identified:]
— Rogue Spirit Lord (Fragmented)
Threat Level: Catastrophic
"…That's worse."
> [Assessment: Significantly.]
---
The Executor stepped back.
Not retreating.
Recalibrating.
---
"This one is under observation," he said.
"Do not interfere."
The rogue laughed.
"Too late."
---
The containment zone fractured.
Just enough.
---
The rogue's gaze dropped to me.
Amused.
Interested.
---
"Little free one," it rumbled.
"Run."
---
I didn't argue.
---
I compressed everything—
Core.
Presence.
Fear.
---
> [Skill Used:]
Emotional Camouflage – Overdrive (Unstable)
Pain tore through me.
---
> Spirit Core Integrity: 58% → 44%
---
I slipped.
Not away.
Between.
---
The world snapped back into focus miles away.
I crashed into open air.
Barely coherent.
---
Below me—
The city burned with symbols and shadows colliding.
Above—
Rules and chaos clashed.
---
> [Status Update:]
Survived Encounter: Executor
> [New Flag:]
— Witnessed Law-Level Conflict
"…I'm never complaining about hunters again."
> [No disagreement detected.]
---
I drifted.
Broken.
Alive.
And very, very noticed.
---