The village was in a state of tense excitement as news of the mysterious stranger spread. A palpable buzz filled the air, with villagers exchanging hushed whispers about the cloaked figure who had appeared at the edge of town. Marcus had been at the heart of the scene, facing the stranger under the dim glow of lanterns and stars, but he was left with more questions than answers.
As Marcus walked back toward his home, his mind raced. Who was this stranger? Why did he know so much about Marcus's Guardian abilities? And more pressing, how had he managed to counter the system's defenses so easily?
Just as Marcus reached his doorstep, the system chimed.
*Ding!*
**System Notification: "Caution Advised: Potential Threat Level Assessment Incomplete."**
"Really?" Marcus muttered, half annoyed. "You tell me now?" The system had never failed to alert him before; tonight's events unsettled him even more.
