Darkness.
Heat.
And… whispers.
"…Break more chains…"
"Free the flame…"
"Come find me…"
GASP!
Sei's eyes shot open.
He jolted upright—only to groan in pain.
His entire body felt like it had been set on fire, shattered, and stitched back together with lightning.
"Ah… dammit."
He looked around.
He was lying on a tattered mattress, in an old temple hall. The windows were shattered, vines growing through the stone.
Moonlight filtered through the broken ceiling.
A voice came from nearby.
"He's awake."
Footsteps echoed.
A young man approached—shaggy green hair, goggles pushed up on his forehead, holding a vial of glowing liquid.
"Name's Taro, street doc. Don't move. You tore your soul open."
He handed Sei the vial.
"Drink this. Spiritroot tonic. Won't fix your system, but it'll stop the bleeding."
Sei took it, sipped. It burned, but it helped.
His body stopped shaking.
His eyes flicked around. "Where's Mina?"
"She's safe. Sleeping."
Taro nodded toward a side room.
"She hasn't left your side in two days."
Status: Stabilized
Level: 4 (5%)
Soul Energy: 9/30
New Trait: Fireborn Soul (Active)
Liberation Bonus: 13 Souls Rescued
Belief Buff: +130% stat synergy near rescued targets
Sei leaned back, breathing slowly.
But the peace didn't last long.
A massive BOOM echoed through the ruins of the city.
Dust rained down from the ceiling. Lights flickered.
Taro cursed. "Shit. They found us."
Sei shot up. "The Reaper?"
Taro's face darkened.
"No. Worse."
A presence rippled through the air like a storm.
Pressure.
Not like the Reaper's cold precision.
This was raw. Arrogant. Violent.
Sei stood slowly, wobbling.
From outside, a mocking voice rang out:
"I heard a little rat's been causing trouble in my city."
"Level 4, huh? Almost a person."
Taro froze. "That's… that's no Cult grunt…"
BOOOOM!!
The temple door exploded inward.
A tall man walked through the smoke.
He wore black robes trimmed in gold, bare-chested, muscles wrapped in glowing chains. His skin was tattooed with fire runes.
Eyes like molten lava.
Name: Karosh, Flame General of the 6th Imperial Ring
Level: 35 – Heaven-Grade Cultivator
Authority Rank: B (World Binder)
Mission: Public Execution of Liberation-Type System User
System Alert: Oppression Level – MAXIMUM
Run?
Fight?
Survive?
Karosh grinned, rolling his neck.
"I'm not here for a speech. You broke chains. So now…"
He cracked his knuckles.
"I break you."
Sei's knees nearly gave out.
This wasn't like the Reaper.
This was real cultivation power.
Karosh didn't need a system—his strength came from burning souls.
But then—behind Sei—
Mina stepped out, silent.
She stood beside him.
Then another figure.
An old man in rags.
Then a girl with burns on her face.
Then a dozen more.
The people he'd saved.
They stood with him.
No weapons. Just belief.
And then—
Fireborn Soul activated.
+10% Strength per Soul Liberated
Liberation Burst: Charge Rate Accelerated by Faith
Current Bonus: +170%
Sei's hair lifted in the rising aura.
He stepped forward.
His fists glowed again.
Karosh laughed. "What's this? You think belief makes you strong?"
Sei met his gaze.
"No."
"But it makes me free."
TO BE CONTINUED…