It wasn’t just the lack of system buffs. Not just the absence of the divine whispers. Not even the silence where guilt used to echo. Like walking a tightrope with no net and no gods left to catch him. [Status: UNBOUND HERO] Divine Contract: Severed Protection Buffs: None Enemy Detection: Disabled Warning: You are now a valid target for celestial retribution. The others felt it too. Yulia said nothing, but her scans came more frequently. Lira watched him like a blade on a spring — one step from sheathing, one twitch from striking. Elira... sat closer to him now. Virela? She just smiled more. It was the eye of a divine storm. Somewhere Else — At That Exact Moment The gods held council. Cold, voiceless, omniscient. "He has chosen mortality." "Then we will give him death." A celestial key turned. And far across the continent, inside a sealed monastic gate forged from star-metal and prayer— Present – A Flash of Light at Dusk The party had just set up camp when the air cracked like lightning. Trees bent. Mana flared. And a girl fell from the sky. She landed with a shockwave that shattered stone and sent birds fleeing from miles around. And when the dust cleared— Clad in black-and-white exorcist robes, katana sheathed across her back, hair bound in a crimson ribbon. Kai’s system pinged first. [System Alert: Earthborn Detected – Divine Hunter Class] Origin: Earth – Tokyo Summoned: 3 Years Ago Objective: Annihilate Unbound Catalyst He didn’t recognize her. But she recognized him. Akari’s voice was calm. Controlled. "Are you the one who severed the Tether?" "And you’re the Hero who defied the gods?" Elira jumped between them, sword raised. Yulia readied a binding spell. Virela purred, "Now this just got fun." Only Lira didn’t move. This wasn’t a warning. "Stand down," Kai said, stepping forward. Elira turned sharply. "No—are you insane?!" "She’s not here to talk," he said. "And I won’t let her hurt any of you." "Let you?!" Yulia snapped. "She’s going to carve your heart out like a ritual offering!" "Exactly," he muttered. He took another step. And met Akari’s eyes. "I’m not your enemy," he said. Her grip didn’t change. "But I’m your assignment." One blink, and her blade was at Kai’s throat. He hadn’t even seen her draw. But Akari didn’t move. He just whispered, "What did they promise you?" Akari’s eyes didn’t soften. But her voice dropped. And in that moment, the battlefield tilted sideways. Because neither one of them wanted this. But both knew how it would end. [System Conflict: Catalyst vs. Hunter] Outcome Forecast: 3 Paths Possible Get full chapters from NoveI-Fire.ɴet And offered his hand. "Then let’s find a way where neither of us has to die." But the sword trembled—just slightly. Somewhere, the gods roared in fury. Because even now, even without them— He was still choosing mercy. And mercy is the most dangerous choice of all.