> "Final Round: Active. All remaining players must choose: Hunter or Prey."
Aiden blinked as the room dimmed. The final chamber restructured itself, revealing a holographic message floating above a pedestal:
> The Reckoning Protocol now enters Final Sequence. 15 players remain. Only one will advance.
But this time, the system didn't just push them into another kill zone—it gave them a choice.
A sinister one.
Two buttons appeared on each player's wrist interface:
[Hunter] – Gain enhanced strength and tracking ability. You must eliminate at least one player to survive.
[Prey] – No power boost. Evade, hide, and survive the Hunters. But if found—you die.
"It's forcing us to turn on each other," Mei said, trembling.
Tatsuya snarled. "It always was. This just makes it clearer."
Aiden didn't speak.
He was watching the others.
Some already pressed Hunter without hesitation. Their bodies flickered with a red aura, their eyes changing hue as the system enhanced them. Killers, fully awakened.
But three others—Mei among them—chose Prey.
It was a gamble.
Aiden looked at his own interface.
> [Awaiting Selection]
He hesitated.
For a moment, his mind flashed to the ones they had lost. To Elian. Kyle. Even Sera, who had turned on them before vanishing into the collapse.
What did survival mean now?
The voice returned.
> "The system adapts. The player chooses. The world rewrites itself."
He pressed—
[Hunter]
The others stared in horror.
But Aiden didn't move to attack.
"I'm breaking the system from inside," he whispered to Mei. "Hunters get access to restricted code. I need it."
She nodded. Tatsuya backed away, keeping guard as chaos erupted.
Two Hunters turned on each other—ripping through the chamber in a deadly duel.
> 12 Players Remaining
An explosion rocked the side wall. Smoke. Shouts. One of the Hunters screamed—then silence.
> 9 Players Remaining
Aiden's wrist buzzed.
> SYSTEM PHRASE UNLOCKED: "Render the Reckoning."
A hidden admin command. Meant to destabilize core functions.
He ran toward the server vault beyond the final corridor—only open to Hunters. Two more players tried to intercept him.
Aiden leapt, shoulder-rammed one, flipped over the second—and ran straight through the digital lock as it blinked green.
Inside was the core.
Pulsing.
Alive.
Waiting.
> "Welcome, Player 17. Final choice will be yours."
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