BOOOOOOM—
The pressure slammed down like a collapsing mountain.
Players hit the ground instantly.
Some screamed.
Some couldn't even breathe.
---
"I—can't—move—!"
"HELP—!"
"WHAT IS THIS—?!"
---
Kael stayed standing.
Barely.
His legs trembled.
His vision blurred.
But he didn't fall.
---
"…so it's really targeting me."
---
The hand above the sky shifted again.
Closer now.
Bigger.
Clearer.
---
It wasn't just a hand.
---
It was connected to something.
---
Something massive.
---
Something that shouldn't exist.
---
"…Kael…"
---
The voice returned.
The system.
---
"…you are escalating the breach."
---
Kael smirked faintly.
"…and you're losing control."
---
Silence.
---
"…correct."
---
That answer made Kael pause.
"…wait… what?"
---
"I cannot stop it."
The system continued calmly.
---
"…then what's your plan?"
Kael asked.
---
"…contain you."
---
Kael laughed.
"…of course."
---
The ground beneath him shifted.
---
Not cracked—
Rewritten.
---
Black lines spread across the floor.
Forming patterns.
Symbols.
---
"What is that—?!"
A player shouted from afar.
---
"A prison."
Kael said quietly.
---
The lines lit up.
---
"Kael."
The system spoke again.
---
"Do not resist."
---
"…yeah, no."
---
The hand above moved faster.
---
Lower.
---
Reaching.
---
"IT'S COMING DOWN—!"
"MOVE—MOVE—!"
---
Kael raised his sword.
---
"…you want me?"
---
He pointed it upward.
---
"…then come get me."
---
The system reacted instantly.
---
"WARNING: INSTABILITY SPIKE."
---
The black lines surged upward.
Chains.
Energy.
Binding toward Kael.
---
Kael swung.
---
CRACK—
---
The chains broke apart mid-air.
---
"…too slow."
---
The system paused.
---
"…adapting."
---
The chains reformed.
Stronger.
Faster.
---
They wrapped around his arms.
His legs.
His body.
---
Kael gritted his teeth.
"…not enough."
---
The sword pulsed violently.
---
A surge of glitch energy exploded outward.
---
The chains shattered again.
---
Players stared in shock.
---
"…he broke it… again…"
---
"He's not human…"
---
Kael ignored them.
---
His eyes were still on the sky.
---
The hand was almost here.
---
"…a few seconds more."
---
The system spoke again.
---
"Kael. Final warning."
---
"…say something new."
---
"…you will be erased."
---
Kael smiled.
---
"…I've heard that before."
---
The sky screamed.
---
A deep, tearing sound echoed across the world.
---
The hand broke through.
---
Fully.
---
Not just reaching—
Entering.
---
Everything froze.
---
Even the system.
---
"…that's not supposed to happen."
---
Kael whispered.
---
The hand opened slowly.
---
Inside—
Darkness.
---
Not empty.
---
Alive.
---
"…mine."
---
That voice again.
---
Deeper.
---
Closer.
---
Kael's body tensed.
---
"…so you're the real problem."
---
The system reacted instantly.
---
"NEW ENTITY DETECTED."
"THREAT LEVEL: UNKNOWN."
---
"…UNKNOWN?"
Kael laughed.
"…that's new."
---
The hand moved.
---
Faster than anything before.
---
Straight toward Kael.
---
"…here it comes."
---
Kael didn't dodge.
---
He stepped forward.
---
"…I need to know."
---
The players screamed.
---
"ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
"RUN—!"
---
Too late.
---
The hand reached him.
---
And—
Stopped.
---
Right in front of his face.
---
Silence.
---
"…interesting."
---
The voice echoed again.
---
"You are not breaking."
---
Kael stared back.
---
"…and you're not killing me."
---
A pause.
---
"…yet."
---
The hand slowly closed—
Around him.
---
Players gasped.
---
"NO—!"
"HE'S DEAD—!"
---
But—
---
Nothing happened.
---
Kael was still there.
---
Floating.
---
Inside the grip.
---
"…what are you doing?"
Kael asked.
---
"…checking."
---
"…checking what?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…ownership."
---
Kael frowned.
"…what?"
---
The system reacted instantly.
---
"DENIED."
---
The voice cut in.
---
"…he is under system jurisdiction."
---
The other voice laughed.
---
"…wrong."
---
The grip tightened slightly.
---
Kael felt it.
---
Not pain—
Pressure.
---
Like something was reading him.
---
Scanning.
---
"…you are not complete."
---
"…yeah."
Kael replied.
"…tell me something I don't know."
---
"…you belong to neither."
---
That made Kael freeze.
---
"…what?"
---
The system interrupted.
---
"Kael. Do not respond."
---
"…too late."
---
The hand pulled him slightly upward.
---
"…you are an opening."
---
"…to what?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…to me."
---
The sky broke further.
---
Something moved behind the hand.
---
Huge.
---
Endless.
---
Watching.
---
Kael's heart slowed.
---
"…this is bad."
---
The system's voice sharpened.
---
"Kael. You must be eliminated immediately."
---
"…now you're desperate."
---
"CORRECTION: NECESSARY."
---
The ground exploded.
---
Black structures rose upward.
---
Massive.
---
Towering.
---
Weapons.
---
Targeting Kael.
---
"…you're really going all out."
---
"FIRE."
---
Everything shot at once.
---
Beams.
Chains.
Energy constructs.
---
All aimed at Kael.
---
The hand reacted instantly.
---
It moved.
---
Shielding him.
---
The attacks hit—
---
And disappeared.
---
Gone.
---
Not blocked.
---
Not deflected.
---
Removed.
---
"…oh."
Kael blinked.
"…that's useful."
---
The system paused.
---
"…new variable detected."
---
The voice above laughed softly.
---
"…he is mine."
---
"…I don't remember agreeing."
Kael said.
---
"…you don't need to."
---
The hand tightened again.
---
Pulling him upward.
---
Higher.
---
Closer to the broken sky.
---
Players watched in silence.
---
"…he's being taken…"
---
"…what happens if he leaves…?"
---
No one answered.
---
Because no one knew.
---
Kael looked down.
---
At the world.
---
At the players.
---
At everything.
---
"…if I go…"
---
He muttered.
---
"…this world might collapse."
---
The system responded instantly.
---
"CORRECT."
---
"…and if I stay?"
---
Silence.
---
"…unknown."
---
Kael sighed.
---
"…figures."
---
The hand pulled harder.
---
He was almost at the sky.
---
At the edge.
---
"…last chance."
---
The system spoke again.
---
"Return to ground."
---
"…or?"
---
"…be erased with it."
---
Kael smiled faintly.
---
"…you're bluffing."
---
"…I am not."
---
The world below started collapsing faster.
---
Chunks disappearing.
---
Reality failing.
---
"…oh."
---
Kael looked up.
---
At the darkness beyond.
---
"…and you?"
---
"…come."
---
"…or everything ends."
---
Kael laughed quietly.
---
"…great choices."
---
The hand waited.
---
The system waited.
---
The world broke.
---
Everything paused—
---
For him.
---
"…fine."
---
Kael raised his sword one last time.
---
"…but I'm not choosing either of you."
---
The sword pulsed.
---
Stronger than ever.
---
Violent.
---
Unstable.
---
"…what are you doing?"
The system demanded.
---
"…something new."
---
Kael turned—
---
Not to the hand.
---
Not to the system.
---
But—
---
To the crack itself.
---
"…if I'm the error…"
---
He raised the blade.
---
"…then I'll break the source."
---
"STOP—!"
---
Too late.
---
He swung.
---
Not at the world—
---
Beyond it.
---
CRAAAAAAAAACK—
---
Everything froze.
---
The hand—
Stopped.
---
The system—
Silent.
---
The sky—
Split open completely.
---
And for the first time—
---
Something else looked through.
---
Not the hand.
---
Not the system.
---
Something older.
---
Something worse.
---
Something that whispered—
---
"…finally."
---
"…finally."
The word didn't echo.
It sank.
Deep.
Like something heavy dropped into the core of existence.
---
Kael didn't move.
"…you're not the same as the others."
---
No answer.
---
The sky remained open.
Wider than before.
Too wide.
---
"…hey… say something."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"…you dragged me into this, remember?"
---
A low sound followed.
Not a voice.
Not exactly.
---
More like—
Something trying to become one.
---
"…Kael."
---
His body froze.
---
"…you know my name too?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…you opened it."
---
"…yeah."
Kael replied.
"…and I'm starting to regret it."
---
A faint shift.
---
Something moved behind the tear.
---
Not visible.
---
But felt.
---
Every player still alive dropped to their knees.
---
"I—I can't breathe…"
"What is this pressure—?!"
---
Even the hand—
Paused.
---
"…so you're above that thing."
Kael muttered.
---
The system reacted instantly.
---
"NEW HIERARCHY DETECTED."
---
"…oh, now you're learning?"
Kael smirked.
---
"…define entity."
---
"…I don't think you can."
---
The system went silent.
---
"…figures."
---
The new presence spoke again.
---
"…incomplete."
---
"…you keep saying that."
Kael sighed.
"…be specific."
---
"…you are not whole."
---
"…and you are?"
---
A pause.
---
"…I was."
---
Kael blinked.
"…was?"
---
The air trembled.
---
"…before this system."
---
Silence.
---
Kael's expression shifted.
---
"…so you're older."
---
No answer.
---
"…and trapped."
---
Still—
No answer.
---
Kael smirked.
"…got it."
---
The hand moved again.
---
Suddenly.
---
Grabbing tighter.
---
Pulling Kael higher.
---
"…hey."
Kael frowned.
"…I'm not done talking."
---
"…you are coming."
---
"…says who?"
---
"…me."
---
Kael laughed.
"…not good enough."
---
He raised his sword again.
---
But this time—
---
It didn't react.
---
"…what?"
---
The blade flickered.
Weak.
Unstable.
---
"…you blocked it?"
---
"…no."
---
"…then what—"
---
"…it fears me."
---
Silence.
---
Kael stared at the sword.
---
"…seriously?"
---
The blade dimmed further.
---
"…wow."
He let out a breath.
"…traitor."
---
The system spoke again.
---
"Kael. This is your last opportunity."
---
"…you've said that like five times."
---
"RETURN."
---
"…make me."
---
The system didn't hesitate.
---
The ground below exploded again.
---
But this time—
---
Not weapons.
---
Not chains.
---
Something else.
---
Figures.
---
Dozens.
---
Then—
Hundreds.
---
Players.
---
But not players.
---
"…clones?"
---
They all looked the same.
---
Same armor.
Same face.
Same empty eyes.
---
"…that's creepy."
---
"They are control units."
The system explained.
---
"…you're using NPCs now?"
---
"They are not NPCs."
---
"…they look dead."
---
"They are efficient."
---
The clones moved.
---
All at once.
---
Toward Kael.
---
"…you're really throwing everything at me."
---
The hand tightened again.
---
Pulling him upward.
---
While the clones jumped.
---
Reaching for him.
---
"…annoying."
---
Kael twisted his body mid-air.
---
Dodging the first wave.
---
But more came.
---
Grabbing his legs.
His arms.
---
"…get off!"
---
He kicked one away.
---
But another replaced it instantly.
---
"…infinite spawn?"
---
"Correct."
---
"…yeah, I hate that."
---
The pressure increased again.
---
The hand.
The clones.
The system.
---
All acting at once.
---
"…you're desperate."
Kael muttered.
---
"CORRECTION: NECESSARY."
---
"…same thing."
---
The new presence spoke again.
---
"…they are afraid."
---
Kael smiled faintly.
"…I noticed."
---
"…you should be too."
---
"…I am."
Kael said calmly.
"…I just don't show it."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…good."
---
The word hit differently.
---
Not cold.
---
Not threatening.
---
Approving.
---
"…don't get weird on me."
Kael frowned.
---
The hand suddenly stopped again.
---
"…what now?"
---
It loosened.
---
Just a little.
---
"…wait…"
Kael's eyes widened slightly.
"…you're letting go?"
---
"…temporary."
---
"…why?"
---
No answer.
---
The clones kept coming.
---
Still grabbing.
Still climbing.
---
"…hey!"
Kael shouted upward.
"…you're helping me or not?!"
---
"…prove it."
---
"…prove what?!"
---
"…that you are worth taking."
---
Kael froze for half a second.
---
"…seriously?"
---
The system interrupted instantly.
---
"DO NOT ENGAGE."
---
"…too late."
---
Kael exhaled slowly.
---
"…fine."
---
His grip tightened.
---
Even if the sword was weaker—
---
It was still there.
---
"…let's try something else."
---
He closed his eyes.
---
"…if you won't work…"
---
He whispered to the blade.
---
"…then I'll force you."
---
The sword trembled.
---
"…respond."
---
Nothing.
---
"…respond."
---
Still nothing.
---
The clones were climbing higher.
---
Reaching his chest.
His neck.
---
"…RESPOND!"
---
The blade pulsed—
---
Suddenly.
---
Violently.
---
A burst of glitch energy exploded outward.
---
The clones were thrown back.
---
Disintegrating mid-air.
---
"…there we go."
Kael opened his eyes.
---
"…you just needed a push."
---
The presence watched.
---
"…unstable."
---
"…yeah."
Kael grinned.
"…that's my thing."
---
The system reacted.
---
"NEW PATTERN DETECTED."
---
"…too slow."
---
Kael swung.
---
Not clean.
Not precise.
---
Wild.
---
Uncontrolled.
---
CRACK—
---
The world fractured again.
---
But this time—
---
It didn't spread outward.
---
It folded inward.
---
"…what?"
---
Kael blinked.
---
"…that's new."
---
The crack—
Was pulling.
---
Dragging everything toward it.
---
Clones.
Debris.
Light.
---
"…you changed the direction."
---
"…I didn't mean to."
---
The presence spoke again.
---
"…good."
---
"…you like chaos too?"
---
"…it breaks cages."
---
Kael laughed.
---
"…I like you more already."
---
The system's voice sharpened.
---
"THIS MUST STOP."
---
"…make me."
---
The clones stopped.
---
All at once.
---
Then—
They merged.
---
"…what the—"
---
Hundreds of bodies—
Becoming one.
---
A massive figure formed.
---
Tall.
Heavy.
---
Solid.
---
"…okay…"
Kael exhaled.
"…that's new."
---
"I will remove you."
---
Its voice was deep.
---
Unified.
---
Kael tilted his head.
---
"…you talk now?"
---
"I adapt."
---
"…everyone does."
---
The giant moved.
---
Fast.
---
Too fast for its size.
---
It grabbed Kael mid-air.
---
"…got you."
---
"…not yet."
---
Kael raised the sword.
---
Point blank—
---
And—
---
The blade stopped.
---
Again.
---
"…seriously?!"
---
The giant smiled slightly.
---
"You are predictable."
---
Kael's eyes narrowed.
---
"…and you're annoying."
---
The pressure increased.
---
Crushing him.
---
"…if I can't cut you…"
---
Kael whispered.
---
"…then I'll break something else."
---
He turned his head—
---
Toward the crack.
---
"…let's go bigger."
---
The presence reacted instantly.
---
"…dangerous."
---
"…you said you liked chaos."
---
"…not uncontrolled."
---
Kael grinned.
---
"…too late."
---
He forced the sword—
---
Not at the giant.
---
Not at the hand.
---
At the tear.
---
"…let's see what's really behind this."
---
"STOP—!"
The system shouted.
---
The giant tightened its grip.
---
The hand moved again.
---
Everything tried to stop him.
---
But—
---
Kael swung anyway.
---
CRAAAAAAAAAACK—
---
This time—
---
Something answered.
---
Not from inside.
---
Not from outside.
---
From between.
---
A scream.
---
Not human.
---
Not monster.
---
Something trapped.
---
"…you broke the seal."
---
The presence whispered.
---
Kael's smile faded.
---
"…what seal?"
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
The crack widened.
---
Not slowly.
---
Instantly.
---
Something started coming out.
---
Not the hand.
---
Not the presence.
---
Something else.
---
Many.
---
Voices.
---
Whispers.
---
Hungry.
---
"…oh."
---
Kael's eyes widened.
---
"…that's not good."
---
The giant froze.
---
The system went silent.
---
Even the hand—
Stopped.
---
"…you didn't just open a door."
---
The presence said quietly.
---
"…you opened all of them."
---
The darkness moved.
---
Closer.
---
Faster.
---
Spreading.
---
And then—
---
Something grabbed Kael's arm—
---
From inside the crack.
---
Not the hand.
---
Something else.
---
Cold.
---
Alive.
---
"…found you."