The ground shook under Elias's feet as he exploded forward, a blur of raw fury.
In Wrath Mode, he felt unstoppable — every heartbeat like a cannon blast in his ears, every movement faster than thought.
Trevor's eyes widened in terror as Elias reached him.
"Wait—!"
CRACK!
Elias's fist buried into Trevor's stomach, lifting him clean off the ground and sending him crashing into a concrete pillar with a sickening thud.
Trevor slumped to the ground, coughing blood, his watch flickering weakly.
But Elias wasn't done.
The remaining Watch Bearers hesitated.
They had expected an easy kill.
They had no idea that Elias had become something else entirely.
[Micro Task Unlocked:]
Defeat 5 hostile Bearers in Wrath Mode.
Reward: "Dominator's Aura" (causes enemies of weaker will to hesitate in combat).
---
The first to regain their nerve was the axe-wielder.
He screamed and swung his massive weapon.
Too slow.
Elias caught the axe mid-swing with one hand, his fingers crushing into the steel like it was paper.
The man gasped.
Elias wrenched the weapon from his hands and headbutted him savagely, knocking him out cold.
Another enemy threw knives from the distance.
Elias didn't dodge — he caught two in mid-air and threw them back harder, faster.
Both knives embedded themselves into the attacker's shoulders.
He screamed and collapsed.
Three down.
The blue-haired woman tried to run.
Bad idea.
Elias was on her in an instant, spinning her around and pinning her against a wall.
He leaned in close, his voice ice-cold.
"Tell Zephyr," he growled, "I'm coming for him."
He let her crumple to the ground.
[Task Complete: Dominator's Aura acquired.]
---
Suddenly, an eerie hum filled the air.
From the far edge of the lot, a figure stepped forward.
Cloaked in black.
Face hidden by a silver mask.
And on his wrist — a Watch.
But not gold... not platinum...
Black.
Elias instinctively knew:
This Bearer was different.
Deadly.
The figure tilted his head slightly, analyzing Elias like a specimen.
Then, a mechanical voice echoed from him.
"You progressed faster than expected, Elias Gray."
Elias's blood froze.
He'd never told anyone his full name.
The masked figure continued, casually:
"You're fun. I'll give you one piece of advice before I end you."
He raised a single gloved finger.
"Trust no one. Not even your Watch."
Then the figure vanished — faster than anything Elias had ever seen.
A chill swept through Elias's soul.
The real game...
was just beginning.
---
[Hidden System Awakening:]
After surviving the Black Watch encounter, your Watch has started evolving.
New Path Unlocked: Sovereign Candidate.
Requirements: Survive the next three "Hunting Rounds" from Black Bearers.
Rewards: ??? (Hidden.)
---
Elias fell to one knee as Wrath Mode faded, pain crashing down on him like a tidal wave.
But even through the agony, a fire burned brighter in his chest.
He wasn't a pawn anymore.
He wasn't a victim.
He was a contender.
And he would tear apart anything — anyone — that tried to stop him.
---