"We," Orion said, his voice smooth, deliberate, dripping with an eerie certainty. His smirk never wavered."You'll understand soon enough what I mean. But for now, we've talked long enough—it's time to begin your story."He took a slow step back, his piercing green eyes gleaming like a predator watching its prey squirm."The Gods are getting impatient. And we wouldn't want that, now would we?"Vael's blood boiled. His jaw clenched so tightly it ached, his fists shaking at his sides."Fuck you."The words came out sharp, seething."You seem to forget—I don't give a damn about suffering unless I'm the one going through it. And I know the rules, Orion. You can't structure a story where the main character is the only one suffering. The Gods would never allow something so boring—so predictable."Orion let out a slow, mocking chuckle. It was a sound that slithered under Vael's skin, setting his nerves on edge. It wasn't just amusement—it was satisfaction, the kind that came from watching someone fall."Oh, we'll see. We'll see," Orion murmured, voice like silk laced with poison.There was something in his tone—something so sure—that made unease coil in Vael's gut.Vael scowled, hating the way his own mind tried to turn against him.Orion took another step back, tilting his head slightly, as if he were enjoying Vael's confusion, savoring the frustration boiling behind his eyes."I'll show myself when needed," he said, as if this was just another story arc, another script he had written."You know the drill."He paused, and then, with slow, deliberate intent, he met Vael's glare head-on. His glowing green eyes burned with an intensity that sent a slow, creeping chill through Vael's bones."Ah… and do remember…"The smirk widened."No choice is still a choice."Vael's breath hitched. His stomach turned.Those words.His words.Words he had spat at his own main characters over and over, cold and unfeeling, whenever they begged for a way out. Whenever they cried, screamed, pleaded for mercy.And now—They had been thrown back at him.Before he could even process it, Orion vanished.And with him, the chains.Vael staggered forward, the sudden lack of restraint making his body feel too light, too unsteady. His arms dropped limply at his sides, but the suffocating weight in his chest remained.For a long moment, he just stood there.His breaths were ragged, uneven. His mind churned with a thousand thoughts at once, all of them colliding in a storm of disbelief and rage.Then, he exhaled sharply, shaking himself out of it."Shit."His voice sounded hollow.He looked around, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.The forest was dark—too dark. The thick canopy above let in barely a sliver of moonlight, leaving everything bathed in eerie shadows. The trees were gnarled and ancient, their twisted branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The air was damp, heavy with the scent of earth and decay. A faint fog curled around his ankles.Unease prickled at his skin.'Where the fuck am I?'One thing was clear—this wasn't Haeven.This place felt wrong.His mind raced, piecing things together, searching for an explanation—anything that made sense.'Did Nyxara know about this?' His lips pressed into a tight line. 'Is this why she kept saying all that shit about the story never being over?'It wouldn't surprise him.Nyxara loved unexpected twists.Hell, it was what had drawn her to him in the first place.Among all the Gods, she had favored him. Praised him. Held him in high regard for his ruthlessness.For the way he never hesitated.For the way he shattered his main characters over and over again, leaving them broken and hopeless, all for the Gods' amusement.Vael had never cared about their suffering. Never once felt guilt.To him, they had been nothing more than puppets in a grand performance.And now—After all his work. After everything he had done.He was the one being forced into the role of a main character.The bitter laugh that escaped his lips was sharp, humorless.'What a joke.'His fingers raked through his messy hair, tugging slightly as if the small pain would ground him.'What the hell do I do now?'And as if the world itself had been waiting for his question—A system prompt flickered into existence before his eyes.[SYSTEM NOTICE: STORYLINE INITIALIZATION]Character Role: Escaped SlaveStatus: FleeingCurrent Objective: Evade CaptureFailure Consequence: Severe Punishment[NEW QUEST: OUTRUN THE HUNTERS]– Do not get caught.Time Limit: IndefinitePenalty: ???Vael's stomach twisted as the words solidified in front of him, glowing with an ominous finality."A slave?" His jaw tightened. "He made me a fucking slave?"The taste of iron lingered in his mouth as his breath came fast and uneven. The moment he read the words, the distant sound of barking hounds cut through the silence of the forest.Then—shouting."The tracks are fresh!""Find him! The master wants his head!"Vael's blood ran cold. 'No. No fucking way.'He spun on his heel. Through the trees, faint glows of torches flickered, weaving between the shadows like fireflies. Footsteps pounded against the forest floor, growing louder by the second. The system wasn't just telling him he was running.It was happening right now."Shit—!"Adrenaline shot through his body as he bolted, his muscles burning from exertion. His bare feet pounded against the damp earth, sharp twigs and rocks digging into his soles. He barely felt them.The chains were gone, but he still felt them—ghostly restraints lingering around his limbs, a mockery of his past role as a system."This is insane. How am I supposed to—"A sharp whistle sliced through the night.An arrow buried itself into the tree trunk just inches from his face.Vael's breath caught in his throat."They're fast."Another arrow. This time, lower. It nicked his sleeve, cutting through fabric and grazing his skin. A shallow sting. It could've been his throat."They're fucking good."His mind raced. He didn't know this body's limits, didn't know how long he could keep running before exhaustion took over. But he knew the system. He knew how these things worked.There was always a catch.[WARNING: The Hunters are closing in.]'No shit.'A sharp pain lanced through his ribs. He was weaker than he remembered being. His breath was coming too fast. His legs already ached.'Is this body seriously this pathetic?!'Another voice rang out from the dark."Don't kill him yet! Master wants him alive!"Vael's fingers curled into fists."Alive?"He didn't like the way they said that.[SYSTEM NOTICE: QUEST FAILURE PENALTY WILL BE ENACTED IF CAPTURED.]"No. Nope. Not happening."Vael forced himself forward, faster, ignoring the burning in his lungs. He had spent centuries crafting hellish scenarios for his main characters—twisting their pain, orchestrating their suffering for the amusement of the Gods.He knew how these stories played out.So, he knew how to escape them.