The ground trembled beneath them as the explosion's shockwave sent dust and debris flying. Liam barely had time to process the impact before his interface lit up again.
[Warning: Hostile Forces Detected]
[Threat Level: High]
Liam's eyes flicked to Echo, who had already drawn his blade. "You said we weren't safe. Looks like you were right."
Kai groaned, drawing his dual blades. "Why do we always get attacked right when things get interesting?"
Echo's gaze sharpened. "They're not just any enemies. They sent them."
Liam didn't have to ask who they were.
Through the dust, figures emerged—cloaked warriors, their armor matte black, their faceshidden behind sleek, featureless helmets. Their presence exuded an unnatural stillness, like predators sizing up their prey.
The Obsidian Reapers.
Kai cursed under his breath. "I thought they were a myth. A high-tier assassination unit under the system's direct control."
Liam smirked. "Guess they're real. And they're here for us."
Echo's voice was tense. "They're not just after us. They're here to erase anything that threatens the system."
Liam's grip tightened on his sword. "Too bad for them—I don't go down that easy."
The Battle BeginsBefore another word could be spoken, the Reapers moved.
They were fast. Too fast.
In a blink, two of them closed in on Liam, their curved daggers slicing through the air. Liam barely dodged the first strike, the blade grazing his jacket. The second attack came even faster, but before it could land—
Clang!
A blue energy shield flared to life in front of Liam. Kai had intercepted the attack, his defensive barrier shimmering from the impact.
Kai grinned. "Come on, man, you can't die on me yet."
Liam rolled his eyes. "I wasn't planning on it."
He retaliated, swinging his blade at the nearest Reaper. The assassin twisted unnaturally mid-air, avoiding the strike before
countering with a dagger aimed at Liam's ribs.
Echo and Kai were locked in their own battles. Kai's blades clashed with a pair of Reapers, his movements precise but barely keeping up with their speed. Echo, on the other hand, was a blur of light and shadow, his movements effortless as he deflected attacks with inhuman precision.
But even with their skills, the Reapers weren't slowing down.
Liam narrowed his eyes. These enemies weren't normal.
Their movements were too synchronized, too perfect.
Then it hit him.
"They're not human," Liam muttered.Echo's blade cut through one of the assassins, and instead of blood, flickering code burst from the wound.
Kai's eyes widened. "They're AI constructs?"
Echo nodded grimly. "And they don't feel pain."
Liam smirked. "Then we just have to break them faster than they can repair."
He activated Override, his ability flaring as he prepared to counter the next attack.
Liam Summons His Tamed BeastLiam knew the Reapers were too fast for a direct fight. He needed backup.
Without hesitation, he summoned his tamed wolf.
A shimmering blue glyph appeared beneathhim, and in an instant, his shadowy wolf companion leaped forward, fangs bared.
The wolf snarled, lunging at one of the Reapers, its claws tearing through the assassin's armor. The AI construct twitched as digital static spread across its body.
Kai grinned. "Finally bringing out the big guns, huh?"
Liam smirked. "Figured it was time to let my partner have some fun."
The wolf didn't just attack randomly—it moved strategically, cutting off enemy movements and forcing the Reapers into Liam's strike range.
As one of the assassins tried to retreat, the wolf leaped, its jaws locking onto the Reaper's leg. With a sharp twist, the AI construct shattered into pixels.
Echo's gaze flickered toward the wolf. "It's adaptive. It learns from your fighting style."
Liam grinned. "Then let's teach it something new."
With their teamwork, Liam, Kai, and Echo began pushing back.
Kai's defensive barriers blocked incoming strikes while his counterattacks started landing. Echo moved like a ghost, phasing through attacks and striking at the perfect moments.
Liam adapted, using his Override ability to disrupt the Reapers' movements, making them glitch mid-action.
One by one, the assassins began to fall.
Kai and Echo pushed forward, breaking through their ranks. The last of the Reapers hesitated, realizing the fight was lost.
Before they could retreat, Echo raised his hand—
And a wave of blue energy erased them from existence.
A Moment of Silence As the dust settled, Liam exhaled.
Kai sat down on a nearby rock, wiping sweat from his forehead. "That was way too much work."
Echo, however, remained silent.
Liam turned to him. "What is it?"
Echo's gaze was fixed on the horizon. "This attack wasn't random. They knew exactly where to find us."
Kai frowned. "You think someone sold us out?"
Echo shook his head. "Worse. The system itself is tracking us."
Liam's grip on his sword tightened. "Then we need to move. Now."
Echo nodded. "Agreed. The Obsidian Rift is still our best shot at answers."
Liam took one last look at the battlefield before turning away.
This was only the beginning.
The real fight was yet to come.
End of Chapter 13