Chapter 4: The System’s Revelation

  The voice lingered in the air, as if it were waiting for a response. The other two figures hovered silently, their glowing forms still and unmoving.

  “Who are you?” Alex asked, his voice low but steady, maintaining his tactical stance.

  The figure that spoke tilted its head slightly. “You are the one chosen.”

  Alex’s brow furrowed. “Chosen for what?”

  The figure didn’t respond at first, only staring at him with its unsettling, glowing eyes. The silence stretched between them, thick and charged.

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  The figure's voice suddenly shifted, no longer whispering but speaking with a clear, forceful tone. “To combat the coming destruction. To save this world.”

  Alex’s mind raced. Destruction? He wasn’t sure what they meant by that, but he wasn’t about to dive headfirst into some grand mission without understanding the situation. He had to keep control, stay in command.

  A cold breeze swept through the trees, rustling the leaves. Alex’s instincts screamed at him. He needed to prepare. If these things weren’t friendly, they’d be dead before they could blink.

  Before he could raise his rifle, the figure moved closer, faster than he anticipated. It extended a hand, glowing with an ethereal light. Alex barely had time to react.

  [Skill Activated: Arcane Disruption]

  The sudden rush of energy inside him felt like an explosion—blinding, overwhelming. His body jerked as his muscles locked, and for a moment, his vision blurred. He was on the ground, unable to move. The world around him rippled, as if reality itself was warping.

  The voice whispered again, but this time it wasn’t just outside his mind. It echoed in his very thoughts. “Your mind and soul are bound to this world now. We are your guides. But your path is one of great sacrifice.”

  Alex fought against the pressure, forcing himself to stay conscious. He gritted his teeth and tried to focus. Sacrifice? What the hell were they talking about?

  [System: Host is Experiencing Arcane Fusion. Anomalous Event Detected.]

  The system’s words flashed across his mind, but they only made the pain worse. His body spasmed, but he held onto his will, pushing against the surge of energy.

  He couldn’t hold on any longer.