Keon let out a slow exhale, rubbing his forehead with two fingers as he tried to process everything. His mind churned through the details—the contract, the pay, the hidden risks.
"Damn it… Think, think… There's gotta be something I'm missing here…"
And then, just as he was deep in thought, his vision flickered. A familiar translucent panel abruptly popped up in front of him, its dark glow contrasting against the room's lighting.
[System Analysis: Target Identified]
Name: Victor Jhon Title: Chief Director of SVD Espria: "Invincibility" Threat Level: High Notable Traits: Tactical Mastermind, Enhanced Cognitive Processing Status: Calm, Observing
Keon's fingers froze against his forehead.
"Invincibility?"
He subtly glanced at Victor, who still held the glowing contract, his expression unreadable.
"No way… That's gotta be an exaggeration, right?"
If this guy's Espria was actually what it sounded like, then fighting him was out of the question. No wonder he was so damn confident.
Keon let out a slow breath, muttering, "Yeah… that tracks."
Keon's system panel flickered as it automatically scanned the two guards standing beside Victor Jhon. Their presence had been overshadowed by the chief director, but now that he focused, their Espria details came into view.
[System Analysis: Targets Identified]
Name: Alex Draeven
Rank: SVD Special Operative Espria: "Phantom Step" Notable Traits: Enhanced Speed, Silent Movement, Temporary Invisibility Status: Relaxed, Watching
Keon's eyes narrowed. So, this guy's an assassin type? Makes sense why I barely noticed him before.
Name: Erika Voss
Rank: SVD Special Operative Espria: "Force Barrier" Notable Traits: Instant Shield Generation, Kinetic Deflection, Enhanced Durability Status: Focused, Ready
Keon exhaled, rubbing his temple.
"Great. One's a ghost, and the other is a walking fortress. No wonder these guys feel untouchable."
Victor Jhon smirked slightly, as if he could read Keon's thoughts. "Finished thinking, kid?"
Keon let out a long sigh, his shoulders relaxing slightly as he finally came to a decision. "Alright, alright… I'll sign the damn thing."
He reached out, grabbing the glowing contract. But just as he was about to sign, something clicked in his mind. He looked up at Victor Jhon.
"By the way, can I get my clothes back?"
Victor raised an eyebrow. "Not a fan of the suit we gave you?"
Keon quickly shook his head. "No, no, it's not like I hate it. It's just… my old clothes have some memories attached, you know?"
In truth, he couldn't care less about those rags. What he really wanted was his Disguise Cloak—and he needed to get it back before anyone realized what it was.
Victor smirked slightly, seemingly amused. "Well, your specialist suit comes with—"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure it's great," Keon cut in, waving his hand dismissively. "I just want to keep my old stuff. Sentimental value and all that."
Victor gave him a knowing look but eventually sighed. "Fine. I'll have someone retrieve them for you."
Keon nodded, keeping his expression neutral, but inside, he was already planning his next move.
Keon took a slow breath, staring at the glowing contract in his hands. The eerie purple light flickered slightly, as if alive, waiting for his decision.
"No turning back now."
With a final glance at Victor Jhon, who watched him with that same unreadable expression, Keon pressed his thumb against the contract. The moment his skin made contact, a sharp heat surged through his hand—like a pulse of energy crawling up his arm.
The text on the contract glowed brighter, shifting and rewriting itself as if the document were binding itself to him.
[Contract Signed]
A notification flashed in Keon's system panel. The contract in his hands dissolved into thin wisps of light, vanishing entirely.
Victor Jhon nodded, satisfied. "Welcome aboard, kid."
Keon exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Great. Now let's just hope I didn't sell my soul or something."
Victor smirked. "You'll find out soon enough."
Keon didn't like the sound of that.
Victor Jhon adjusted his cuffs before turning with a confident stride. Without glancing back, he spoke, his tone firm yet casual.
"Come with me, kid. I'll walk you through what your role here will be."
Keon hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking to where the contract had vanished. No turning back now.
With a sigh, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and followed. "Not like I have much of a choice, huh?"
Victor smirked. "There's always a choice. It just depends if you can live with the consequences."
Keon rolled his eyes. Yeah, real reassuring.
As they walked, the two operatives—Alex Draeven and Erika Voss—trailed a few steps behind, their presence quiet but unmistakably watchful. The corridor was sleek and sterile, lined with reinforced doors and glowing panels.
Victor continued, his voice steady, "You're not some ordinary recruit. We selected you because you're… different. Your Espria is unique, and that means you won't be given the usual assignments."
Keon raised an eyebrow, keeping his expression neutral. "Different how?"
Victor glanced at him, smirking. "Let's just say we don't hire people with Espria we don't understand. And yet, here you are."
Keon's fingers twitched. They still thought all the abilities he'd shown were his Espria. Only he knew the truth—it wasn't an Espria at all. It was the System.
"Your missions will be tailored to your skillset," Victor went on. "We'll be testing your adaptability, resourcefulness, and how well you handle situations normal operatives can't. That starts now."
Keon exhaled sharply, nodding. "Great. Can't wait."
Inside, though, his mind was already working. He needed to be careful—because as long as they believed he had an Espria, they wouldn't start asking the real questions.
Victor continued, his tone steady. "You'll be given missions suited to your abilities. We need people who can adapt, who can handle situations that standard operatives can't. That's where you come in."
Keon exhaled sharply. "Alright. Let's hear it, then. Just how deep am I in?"
Victor's smirk widened just a bit. "Deeper than you think, kid. But don't worry—we'll make sure you're ready."
Victor walked at a steady pace, leading Keon through the sleek, dimly lit corridor. Without looking back, he spoke, "You know how Espria are ranked, right?"
Keon, who absolutely did not, stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Nope. Enlighten me."
Victor sighed, as if dealing with an amateur. "Espria are graded like school ranks—F being the lowest, EX being the stuff of legends. Most people have D or C-Rank Espria, enough to be useful but not game-changing. B-Ranks are strong—your average elite soldiers and skilled operatives. A-Ranks are rare, and S-Ranks? There are only a handful of those in the world, and each one is a nightmare to deal with."
Keon raised an eyebrow. "And where do I land?"
Victor smirked. "Based on what we've seen? You're at least A-Rank. Maybe even S."
Keon barely held in a laugh. If only they knew the truth—it wasn't an Espria at all. Just his system doing all the work.
Still, he played along, tilting his head. "Sounds impressive. But tell me something—does an A or S-Rank only get paid twenty thousand Esperian Celves?"
Victor chuckled, shaking his head. "You're sharp, kid. Let's just say, if you prove you're worth more, that number will change."
Victor came to a stop near a reinforced door, the soft glow of security panels reflecting off his sleeves as he adjusted his cuffs. He turned slightly, a smirk playing on his lips.
"But first, let's introduce you to your team."
Keon blinked. "I have a team?"
Victor chuckled. "Of course. What, you thought we'd let an A-Rank potential operative run around alone? Even elites work with a squad."
Keon exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. A team, huh? This just kept getting better.
Keon crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. "What type of team are we talking about? Like the one… uhh, like Stella's?"
Victor raised an eyebrow, then let out an amused chuckle. "At least you're taking the time to remember recruits, huh?" He gave Keon a knowing look. "No, not like Stella's team. Your squad will be a little… different."
Keon narrowed his eyes. "Different how?"
Victor smirked. "You'll see soon enough." He turned toward the door and tapped the security panel. "Try to keep an open mind."
Victor exhaled, rolling his shoulders before giving Keon a sideways glance.
"First of all, your first task—introduce yourself without getting hurt."
Keon raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
Before Victor could answer, a loud mechanical whir echoed through the hall. The massive door before them slid open with a deep clunk, revealing a dimly lit chamber beyond.
And then—
A giant, fire-covered robotic head came rocketing straight toward them.
Keon's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
Victor stood firm, completely unbothered. The two guards, Alex and Erika, didn't even flinch.
Keon, on the other hand, moved on pure instinct. His Rift Barrier flared to life, a shimmering distortion wrapping around him. The moment the fiery construct made contact—it vanished.
Sucked away into the endless void of his Rift Barrier Dimension, leaving behind only a faint ripple in the air where it had once been.