The city pulsed below, unaware.
But up here… in the shadows, something moved differently.
Not hunters. Not rogue spirits. Not ordinary exorcists.
---
> [Entity Detected:]
— Authority Enforcer (High-Rank)
Level: Elite
Intent: Containment/Neutralization
---
I felt it in my core.
Pressure. Heavy. Absolute.
---
"…Figures they'd send someone serious," I muttered.
> [System Note: Authority Enforcer Presence – Extreme Threat]
---
From the distance, golden light streaked across the rooftops.
Not chaotic. Not confused.
Pure law.
---
The Enforcer landed silently.
White armor etched with symbols I'd never seen.
Every line, every sigil radiated command.
---
"You are… irregular," the voice said.
Not loud. But it resonated through the air.
"Free Spirit. Unregistered. Deviant."
---
> [Threat Level: Maximum]
"…Thank you for the compliment?" I muttered dryly.
---
The Enforcer extended a hand.
A chain of light stretched out—golden, unbreakable in appearance.
> [Skill Detected: Authority Binding – Rank High]
---
I narrowed my focus.
This wasn't about fighting yet.
> [System Alert: Survival Priority – Critical]
---
I scanned.
Gaps in the city grid. Weak points. Timing of the Enforcer's approach.
---
> [Insight: Multi-faction Strategy Required]
---
I pressed forward with care.
Not attack. Not flee.
Observation.
---
The Enforcer moved with precision.
Every step calculated. Every gesture deliberate.
Not chaos. Pure structure.
---
> [System Analysis:]
— Emotional Grounding – Active
— Chaotic Signature – Ready for Burst
---
I considered my options.
Direct confrontation = suicidal.
Fleeing blindly = suicidal.
Manipulating chaos + emotional pulse = maybe… survivable.
---
I exhaled.
"…Time to test the real combination."
> [Skill Deployment: Emotional Grounding + Chaotic Signature Burst – Controlled]
---
A pulse radiated outward.
Rogue spirits wavered. Hunters hesitated.
The Enforcer paused.
Not confused. Calculating.
---
"…Interesting," it murmured.
Its chains contracted. Adjusted.
Not broken. But slowed.
---
I darted through gaps.
Calculated. Controlled. Every movement, a test.
---
> [Observation Logged: Authority Enforcer Adaptive Behavior Recorded]
---
Above, Mira's voice floated in my mind.
"Careful. One misstep and it's over."
"…Thanks for the pep talk," I muttered, slipping between light and shadow.
---
The Enforcer's gaze followed.
Unblinking. Unyielding.
And yet… there was a moment.
A slight hesitation.
A gap.
---
I held it in my focus.
Patience. Timing. Precision.
---
"…Not dead yet," I muttered.
> [System Update:]
— Survival Probability: 47% → 52% (Adaptive Maneuver Success)
---
The city below didn't notice.
The world above? Watching. Waiting.
And for the first time… I realized: surviving this would mark the start of something far bigger.
---