The air inside the abandoned subway tunnel suddenly felt colder.
Ethan stood still, his breathing slow but steady. The faint golden glow from his newly unlocked Divine Sight illuminated strange energy trails around him.
But one trail stood out.
It was bright.
Powerful.
And it was moving toward him.
Fast.
The system flashed urgently.
---
CRITICAL ALERT
Hostile humans detected.
Threat Level: Medium–High
Estimated enemies: 6
---
Ethan frowned.
"Humans?"
Footsteps echoed from the stairway above.
Heavy boots.
Disciplined.
Not monsters.
Soldiers.
Moments later, six figures appeared at the entrance of the tunnel. They wore black tactical armor marked with a silver emblem.
Their leader stepped forward slowly.
Tall. Calm. Confident.
His eyes scanned Ethan carefully.
"So," he said quietly, "you're the one."
Ethan crossed his arms.
"Depends. Who's asking?"
The man ignored the question.
"I am Agent Rylan of the Ascendant Order."
He pointed toward Ethan.
"You are coming with us."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah… that's not happening."
The agents shifted their weapons.
Rylan sighed.
"I was hoping you'd cooperate."
Then his voice turned cold.
"Capture him."
---
The agents moved instantly.
Two rushed forward with stun batons crackling with blue electricity.
Another raised a strange device that emitted a faint humming sound.
Ethan's instincts screamed.
MOVE.
He activated Shadow Dash.
His body vanished into the darkness beside the tunnel wall.
The first agent swung his baton—
And hit nothing.
Ethan reappeared behind him.
THUD.
One punch sent the man crashing to the ground.
But these enemies were different.
They were trained.
Another agent spun and fired a shock projectile.
The bolt struck Ethan's shoulder.
Pain exploded through his body.
"Gah!"
He stumbled backward.
The system flashed again.
---
WARNING
Damage detected.
Vitality decreasing.
---
Rylan watched calmly.
"Interesting," he muttered. "He's already enhanced."
The remaining agents surrounded Ethan.
One of them activated a glowing blade.
"This is your last chance," the agent said.
"Submit."
Ethan wiped blood from his lip.
His heart was pounding.
Five enemies left.
Stronger than normal humans.
But the system pulsed again.
---
COMBAT ANALYSIS ACTIVE
Recommended action: Use Shadow Dash + close combat.
---
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"Alright," he muttered.
"Let's do this."
The agents attacked together.
Ethan dashed forward.
His body blurred through the shadows.
He appeared beside the nearest agent and drove his fist into the man's ribs.
CRACK.
The agent collapsed instantly.
But another one grabbed Ethan from behind.
"Got him!"
Before they could restrain him—
Ethan activated Shadow Dash again.
He slipped from their grip like smoke.
Then he struck again.
Another agent fell.
Two left.
But the last agent pulled a handgun.
"Stop moving!"
Ethan froze.
For a split second.
The gun fired.
BANG.
The bullet grazed Ethan's arm.
Pain shot through him.
Something inside him snapped.
He rushed forward with everything he had.
One punch.
The gunman flew backward and slammed into the wall.
Silence filled the tunnel.
Four agents were unconscious.
One was barely moving.
Only Agent Rylan remained.
The commander stepped forward slowly.
He looked… impressed.
"Not bad."
Ethan clenched his fists.
"You done?"
Rylan tilted his head.
"No."
He removed his gloves.
Golden energy crackled around his hands.
Ethan's Divine Sight reacted instantly.
The man's power level spiked.
---
WARNING
Enemy classification: Enhanced Human
Threat Level: High
---
Ethan's eyes widened.
"You've got powers too?"
Rylan smirked.
"The Ascendant Order hunts monsters."
He stepped closer.
"And sometimes…"
Golden energy flared around him.
"We create them."
Before Ethan could react—
Rylan moved.
Fast.
Faster than Ethan expected.
His punch slammed into Ethan's chest.
The force launched Ethan across the tunnel floor.
Pain exploded through his body.
The system flashed red.
---
CRITICAL CONDITION WARNING
Vitality dropping.
---
Rylan walked toward him calmly.
"You're dangerous," he said.
"That system inside you…"
His eyes hardened.
"Can't be allowed to grow."
He raised his glowing hand.
"Goodbye, Ethan Vale."
The system suddenly erupted with light.
---
EMERGENCY PROTOCOL ACTIVATED
New Skill Unlocked.
---
Ethan's vision blurred.
A new ability appeared.
---
SKILL UNLOCKED
Skill: Combat Instinct
Description: Temporarily enhances reflexes and battle awareness.
Duration: 30 seconds.
---
Time slowed.
Ethan could suddenly see everything clearly.
Rylan's movement.
The energy in his hands.
The opening in his stance.
Ethan moved.
Faster than before.
He dashed forward with everything he had.
Shadow Dash activated automatically.
Rylan's eyes widened.
Too late.
Ethan's fist struck his chest.
Hard.
The energy burst shattered.
Rylan slammed into the tunnel wall.
He slid to the ground… motionless.
Silence returned.
The system chimed loudly.
---
ENEMIES DEFEATED
XP Gained: 780
---
A golden message appeared.
---
LEVEL UP
Level 6 → Level 8
Attribute Points Available: 10
---
Ethan fell to his knees, breathing heavily.
He stared at the unconscious commander.
His hands trembled.
This was the first time he had truly fought humans.
The first time he came close to killing someone.
The system spoke softly.
---
WARNING
Your existence has been confirmed by the Ascendant Order.
Threat level toward host has increased.
Prepare for stronger enemies.
---
Ethan slowly stood up.
He looked toward the tunnel entrance.
The world outside suddenly felt much bigger.
Much more dangerous.
And this was only the beginning.