The message had been sent, and it couldn't be taken back.
Crow stared at his phone screen for a moment, rereading the two simple sentences that now felt far heavier than they should. No excessive words, no explanations—just the certainty that he would come. The decision seemed small, even trivial, but behind it was something he could no longer ignore: he chose to approach the problem, not avoid it like he usually did.
He took a slow breath, then put away his phone. The night air was still damp after the rain, clinging to his skin like the residue of something unfinished. His steps toward Livia's apartment weren't hurried, yet they weren't hesitant either. For the first time since the system appeared, he wasn't trying to run from this situation.
If he wanted to survive, he had to understand the rules of the game.
Throughout the journey, his mind never truly rested. Every possibility he constructed, then collapsed on its own. What if the order could be manipulated? What if "elimination" didn't mean direct killing? Or perhaps there were other limitations he didn't yet understand?
But all those speculations were cut short by one undeniable fact.
[Time remaining: 22:31:08]
The countdown appeared again, consistent and emotionless. Unconcerned with his confusion or rejection.
Crow shifted his gaze, his jaw tightening. He didn't have time to keep thinking without acting.
Livia's apartment was on the third floor of an old building beginning to lose its color. The hallway lights glowed dim, occasionally flickering as if reluctant to maintain their light. The place was simple, unassuming, and perhaps that was what made it feel safe.
At least, before tonight.
Crow stood in front of the door for several seconds, his hand raised but not yet knocking. Something held him back—not fear, but the awareness that once that door opened, everything would no longer be the same.
Finally, he knocked.
Footsteps sounded from inside, followed by the click of a lock turning.
The door opened.
Livia stood there, staring at him with an expression that immediately changed upon seeing Crow's face.
"You look like someone facing a big problem," she said softly, her tone half-joking, half-worried.
That sentence was too close to the truth.
Crow entered without saying much. He didn't sit immediately, only stood a few steps from the door, as if still considering whether he should be here or not.
"I need your help," he finally said.
His tone was enough to erase the remaining jest from Livia's face.
They sat facing each other, separated by a small table that now felt like an invisible boundary. No small talk. No effort to lighten the atmosphere. Only silence that grew more pressing with each passing moment.
"What happened?" Livia asked, staring at him seriously.
Crow held his breath for a moment, trying to choose words that wouldn't sound like madness.
He found no safe choice.
"There's something… giving me orders," he said slowly. "And the target is you."
Livia didn't react immediately. She only stared, trying to understand whether this was a joke or something far more serious.
"Are you serious?" she finally asked.
"Yes."
"And you came here to tell me that?"
"Yes."
"Not to do it?"
Crow shook his head slowly.
"If that were my goal, I wouldn't have knocked on the door."
That answer was simple, but clear enough.
[Warning: Target is within elimination range.]
[Recommendation: Execute.]
The voice came again, this time sharper, more urgent.
Crow clenched his fist under the table. He could feel the pressure—not as an emotion, but as a force slowly pushing. As if something was trying to align his actions with the given order.
Livia noticed the change.
"You're pale," she said softly. "You're really hearing something, aren't you?"
Crow nodded.
"Not just a voice," he answered. "More like… instructions."
Several seconds passed without words.
Livia leaned back in her chair, letting out a long breath, trying to process everything.
"Alright," she finally said, her tone calmer than expected. "If this is real, then we can't just stay still. What's your plan?"
Crow fell silent.
That question was simple, but the answer wasn't there.
Before he could say anything, the lights in the room flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then died for one second before coming back on.
That small change was enough to shift the atmosphere.
Crow turned toward the window reflexively. Something felt… wrong.
Not a sound. Not a shadow.
But an instinct that suddenly emerged without clear reason.
[Warning: External entity approaching.]
His heart beat faster.
"Livia," he said softly, his voice changing. "We might—"
A sound from the balcony cut his sentence short.
Footsteps.
Soft.
Measured.
As if someone walked with full confidence that they wouldn't be stopped.
The glass shook slightly, then—
CRASH!
The balcony door burst open.
A man entered.
He stood straight, unhurried, unsurprised. His gaze immediately locked onto Crow, without hesitation. No question there. No confusion.
Only certainty.
"Target confirmed," he said coldly.
Livia stood from her chair, her breathing becoming unstable. "Who is he?"
Crow didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
Because now everything connected clearly.
The system.
The order.
And now—
The hunter.
The man stepped forward, each step measured and efficient.
"Anomaly detected," he continued. "Classification: Class S threat."
His hand rose slowly.
Energy began gathering in his palm, dense and stable.
[Warning: Conflict unavoidable.]
Crow stood.
Not because he was ready.
But because he had no other choice.
He stepped forward, placing himself between the man and Livia.
For the first time since everything began, he truly understood one simple thing that couldn't be avoided:
There is no neutral path.