I shut the door behind , the echo of my argunt with Abigail still lingering in the air.
The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting long shadows against the walls.
I tossed my bloodstained coat onto the chair, rolling my aching shoulders before sitting on the edge of the bed.
The weight of Victor's reappearance pressed against my thoughts like a heavy fog.
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.
"System."
The familiar blue screen flickered into existence in front of .
[Awaiting Command.]
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees.
"How the hell is Victor Cain here?"
A brief pause. Then, the System responded.
[Analyzing...]
The screen shifted, new text appearing in bold.
[Theory Confird: Dinsional Rift Detected.]
I frowned. "Dinsional rift? Explain."
The System humd, then displayed a new set of information.
---
[Explanation: The fabric of reality has been weakened due to the unnatural presence of an external force. This disturbance has allowed remnants of your second life to manifest in this world.]
---
I narrowed my eyes, my fingers tapping against my thigh.
"You an soone—or sothing—is pulling people from my past into this world?"
---
[Correct. However, the source of this interference is unknown. The phenonon is unstable. More anomalies are expected to appear.]
---
My jaw clenched.
This wasn't just about Victor. This was bigger.
"Who else could co through?"
The System took a mont before answering.
---
[Prediction Unclear. However, the stronger the connection to you in your second life, the higher the likelihood of their ergence.]
---
I let out a slow breath.
That ant... forr allies. Forr enemies.
And if Victor Cain—one of the strongest warriors in my past life—had appeared first...
Then the others that followed would be even worse.
I leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"How do I stop it?"
---
[Two possible thods:
1. Find the source of the rift and neutralize it.
2. Kill those who erge, severing their link to this world.]
---
A slow smirk pulled at my lips.
"Well, I already took care of one."
The System remained silent for a mont before displaying a new notification.
---
[New Main Quest Unlocked – The Rift War]
Objective: Investigate the dinsional rift and eliminate any anomalies that appear. Failure to do so may result in irreversible corruption of this world.]
Reward: ???
---
I let out a low chuckle, shaking my head.
"So this just got more interesting."
I stood up, rolling my shoulders before cracking my knuckles.
Victor was just the beginning.
If my past was coming for ... then I'd just have to send it back.
I exhaled slowly, stripping off my bloodstained shirt, the fabric sticking to my skin from dried sweat and fresh wounds.
The mirror reflected the damage.
Bruises blood across my ribs like dark ink, a gash ran across my shoulder, and my knuckles were raw and split.
I clicked my tongue. "Tch. Sloppy."
Victor had pushed harder than expected.
I reached for the first aid kit on the nightstand, flipping it open with one hand.
As I began cleaning the wound on my shoulder, the sting of antiseptic burned through my nerves.
I smirked. "Still hurts like hell, huh?"
I grabbed the roll of bandages, carefully wrapping my shoulder, making sure the tension was tight enough to hold but not restrict movent.
The gunshot wound on my side was already healing, thanks to my enhanced endurance.
Still, I disinfected it before applying a fresh layer of bandages.
Then, my knuckles.
I ran my fingers over them, the skin torn but healing fast.
"Guess I should be grateful," I muttered. "At least I don't need stitches this ti."
Once my wounds were taken care of, I turned to my wardrobe and pulled out a new set of clothes.
Black tactical pants, a fitted dark shirt, and my long black coat.
I slid on my fingerless gloves, flexing my hands as I fastened the straps.
The mont I buckled my gun holster, a familiar weight settled against my side.
I t my own erald gaze in the mirror, my expression unreadable.
This fight wasn't over.
If Victor had crossed into this world, then others were coming.
I rolled my shoulders, adjusting the cuffs of my coat.
Then, with a smirk, I muttered to myself—
"Let's see who else wants to challenge the dead."
As I stepped out of the guest room, adjusting my coat, I saw her.
Abigail.
She stood at the end of the hallway, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
Her gaze flickered to my bandaged wounds, then back to my face.
I could see it—hesitation. Regret. Frustration.
She wanted to say sothing.
But I wasn't in the mood for her gas.
I sighed, slipping my hands into my coat pockets.
"If you have sothing to say, Ms. Bardot, make it quick."
She flinched slightly at the formal address, but recovered fast.
"Why do you keep calling that?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual. "Why do you act like we're strangers?"
I chuckled softly, tilting my head. "Aren't we?"
She took a step closer. "We weren't always."
I exhaled, my patience wearing thin.
"That was a lifeti ago, Abigail. Before you shattered everything."
She clenched her jaw. "I never slept with anyone, Samuel."
I stared at her, my expression unreadable.
"Is that what you wanted to tell ?"
She hesitated. "It's the truth."
I let out a slow, humorless laugh.
"Truth?" I echoed. "The truth is, I no longer care."
She froze.
I stepped past her, my voice dropping to sothing calm, yet cold.
"You keep trying to reach a man who no longer exists."
I turned slightly, eting her gaze—but this ti, my eyes weren't those of Samuel Gebb.
They belonged to sothing else.
Sothing darker.
"Samuel Gebb died long ago," I murmured, my smirk sharp. "And you're speaking to his replacent."
She looked at like she wanted to say sothing—to argue, to fight, to deny.
But she couldn't.
Because deep down, she knew—the man she once controlled was gone.
And the one standing before her?
He was sothing else entirely.
Without another word, I walked past her, leaving her in the silence.
Because whatever she had to say... no longer mattered.
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