The moment Kael stepped into the broken corridor, the ruined throne hall behind him sealed shut with a thud.
The Legacy Vault had given him knowledge, a weapon, and the beginnings of something more dangerous than magic—**clarity**.
But the world wasn't done testing him yet.
His interface flickered with new data.
---
\[Quest Updated: First Contact]
Objective: Survive the Scavenger Squad
Recommended Power: Level 5+
Current Level: 2
Warning: Hostiles approaching. Estimated arrival – 02:11
---
Two minutes.
Kael flexed his right hand. The Phantom Gauntlet hummed with stored energy. Blue runes pulsed across his knuckles, responding to his heartbeat—or perhaps his intent.
Outside, the world had shifted once more.
The skies above Ruinfall crackled with unstable mana, casting flickering shadows across the warped stone pathways. The air was heavy. Not with magic.
With **eyes**.
---
### Somewhere Nearby
Five figures moved through the rubble with trained precision.
Mercenaries. Light armor, mismatched gear, scavenged relic weapons.
At their front walked a woman with white dreadlocks, wearing faded Guild armor etched with the crest of the Crimson Stalkers. Her name was Silna.
She raised a hand to halt the group.
"Energy spike just ahead. That's our target."
Her second, a younger man with brass goggles and a plasma blade at his hip, clicked his tongue.
"High-tier system signature. Looks like legacy-level bonding."
"Doesn't matter," Silna replied. "Kill them before they stabilize."
---
### Kael Waits
He stood still beneath a half-collapsed arch, mind running through possibilities. His system interface offered choices—routes, weak points in terrain, potential ambush points.
---
\[Mind of the Strategist – Passive Triggered]
→ Combat prediction active
→ Terrain advantages identified
→ Enemy route: Confirmed
---
A cracked statue nearby had a hollow base.
Kael stepped behind it and crouched low, his breathing calm.
Then he waited.
He didn't have long to wait.
---
### The Ambush
Silna's squad entered the ruined courtyard cautiously. Their orb scanner floated ahead, scanning fragments of mana residue.
Too late.
Kael moved.
With a whisper of speed, he emerged from the shadows. The Phantom Gauntlet shimmered—and slammed into the nearest mercenary's chest like a comet.
Bone cracked. The man was sent flying.
Before the others could react, Kael's system flared:
---
\[Combat Engaged]
Enemies: 4
Detected Threat Level: Moderate
Suggested Tactics: Divide and Disable
---
Silna spun, her plasma blade igniting with a shriek. Kael caught her wrist mid-swing.
"Too slow."
He pivoted, dragging her off balance, and smashed the butt of his gauntlet into her temple. She crumpled, unconscious before her blade hit the ground.
One mercenary fled.
Another raised a rifle—
Kael raised his hand, and for the first time, the gauntlet responded on its own.
A blue barrier shimmered midair, deflecting the bolt with a high-pitched whine.
Then he moved forward.
One strike.
Two.
The field was silent.
---
### Aftermath
Kael stood amidst the unconscious and defeated.
His system pulsed.
---
\[Combat Complete]
XP Gained: 290
Skill Efficiency Increased: Phantom Gauntlet Mastery (Lv.1 → Lv.2)
Passive Skill Gained: Reactive Counter (Lv.1)
Enemy Drops: Crimson Guild Tags, Energy Shards x4
---
Kael stepped over Silna's body. He didn't kill them.
He didn't need to.
Not yet.
---
\[Optional Objective Complete: Subdue Hostiles Non-Lethally]
Bonus Reward: Alignment Modifier +1 (Neutral)
---
He glanced at the floating orb tracker still flickering in the dust.
"Let them report this," he murmured. "Let them know the system has chosen."
Then he vanished into the ruins once more.
---
**\[Chapter 3 Complete]**
— Passive Unlocked: Reactive Counter (Lv.1)
— Skill: Phantom Gauntlet Mastery (Lv.2)
— Quest Completed: First Contact
— Next Chapter: *Ashes Whisper My Name*