The cold of the asphalt penetrated to the bone.
Crow didn't immediately rise. His body lay half-curled on the roadside, his breath short and irregular, as if his lungs had forgotten how to work properly. Pain came late, but once it arrived, it spread quickly—from his back, to his chest, then spreading throughout his body like something demanding payment.
The streetlight above him glowed dimly, creating a circle of light that felt too far to reach. The sound of vehicles in the distance was still there, but sounded muffled, as if coming from another world no longer fully connected to him.
Several meters in front of him, the man stood.
Not hurried.
Not tired.
Not changed.
"Resistance ends," he said flatly. "Subject no longer meets criteria to continue."
Crow laughed softly, his hoarse voice almost lost in his unstable breath.
"You're too quick… to draw conclusions."
He tried to push his body up, but his arm trembled, failing to bear the weight. His body fell back onto the asphalt with a soft sound that felt heavier than it should.
For the first time since everything began, one possibility emerged that he couldn't ignore:
He could die here.
(Time remaining: 21:12:44)
(Condition: Critical)
(Life stability: Declining)
"Yeah… that looks more honest," Crow murmured weakly.
He stared at the running numbers. Not slowing down. Not caring.
If he died now, the system wouldn't need to punish him.
His own body would stop first.
The man raised his hand again.
No speech.
No warning.
Only an ending to be executed.
It was then that Crow realized something strange.
His fear… wasn't as big as it should be.
Not because he was brave.
But because part of him was too tired to be afraid.
"Strange," he said softly, his voice barely audible. "I should be panicking now."
He closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
His gaze changed.
Calmer.
More… cold.
(Warning: Emotional response declining drastically.)
(Analysis: Psychological adaptation to extreme pressure.)
"Adaptation?" Crow smiled thinly. "Or… am I beginning to lose something?"
The energy in the man's hand grew denser.
The next attack would end everything.
And Crow knew—
this was the last chance.
He didn't try to get up.
He didn't try to dodge.
Instead—
he let his body lie still.
But his mind… moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
If he couldn't win—
if he couldn't run—
then there was only one remaining choice:
Change the rules of the game.
"Hey," he said suddenly, his voice more stable than it should be. "If I die now… you get nothing, right?"
The man stopped for a fraction of a second.
Not because of doubt.
But because he was processing.
"Statement irrelevant," he answered. "Primary objective is elimination."
"So you don't care why I became like this?"
"No."
That answer was quick.
Too quick.
Crow laughed softly.
"That means you… also don't know."
For the first time, there was a pause.
Very small.
But real.
(Warning: Target showing manipulative behavior.)
(Suggestion: End conflict immediately.)
"See?" Crow whispered. "Even this system… doesn't want you thinking too far."
The attack was released.
But before that energy reached his body—
Crow raised his hand.
Not to block.
Not to attack.
But to… open something.
That darkness appeared again.
Deeper.
Heavier.
This time not like a tool.
More like… a response.
The air around them changed.
Light dimmed.
Sound seemed to be pulled away.
And for a fraction of a second—
everything stopped.
The man didn't move.
Not because he didn't want to.
But because—
he couldn't.
"Phenomenon… limiter?" he murmured softly.
Crow didn't fully understand what he was doing.
But he felt it.
Something within him… rejected the world around him.
Rejected the laws that should apply.
(Ability detected: "Rift" — Status: Unstable)
(Effect: Limited spatial disruption)
(Duration: Very short)
"Rift…" Crow repeated softly.
He smiled.
Not because he won.
But because finally—
he had something.
His body moved again.
Forced.
Pushed by the remaining strength that was almost gone.
He rolled to the side.
That attack struck the asphalt.
A loud explosion shook the road, creating cracks and dust spreading in all directions.
Crow was no longer in that place.
He stood several meters further, his body swaying, but still upright.
His breath heavy.
His vision slightly blurred.
But he was still alive.
The man turned.
His eyes were now truly focused.
No longer merely an executor.
But a hunter beginning to be interested.
"Subject… evolving," he said softly.
Crow laughed softly.
"Just realized?"
But before he could move again—
his legs lost strength.
His body swayed.
Almost fell.
(Warning: Physical limit exceeded.)
(Suggestion: Retreat immediately.)
"If I could…" Crow murmured, "I would have run from the beginning."
Footsteps sounded from the distance.
Fast.
Many.
The man turned slightly.
For the first time, his attention was divided.
"Additional units…" he said softly.
Crow raised an eyebrow, though weakly.
"Your friends?"
The man didn't answer.
But his reaction was enough.
This wasn't help for Crow.
This… was a new problem.
But precisely that—
gave him one thing he needed.
Opportunity.
Without thinking long, Crow forced his body to move again.
His steps were unsteady.
But enough.
He ran.
Away from the light.
Away from the main road.
Into a narrow, dark alley.
Behind him, footsteps began to branch.
Some chasing.
Some stopping.
And for the first time since everything began—
that distance…
began to form.
Crow didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
Didn't think.
Only one thing remained in his head:
Live first. Think later.
And behind all of that—
the system kept running.
Silent.
Watching.
Waiting.
(Time remaining: 20:58:03)
(Status: Active)
As if reminding of one thing that wouldn't change:
This isn't over yet.