The transport came to a halt in front of a massive steel door. It was embedded in the cavern wall, covered in hundreds of glowing runes that shifted like digital code.
"This," Aurelia said, stepping forward, "is the Forbidden Archive. It contains every record of anomalies within the System—people, spells, technology that defy the established rules."
Gabriel stared at the door. "And why are we here?"
"Because you just became one of those anomalies."
She pressed her palm against a scanner. The runes flickered, and the massive door vanished, revealing a vast chamber lined with floating data terminals. Strange holograms projected moving images of battles, artifacts, and—most interestingly—people whose System screens were glitched, just like his.
Gabriel stepped forward, awed. "Who were they?"
Aurelia's expression darkened. "They called them Deviants. Individuals who could manipulate the System in ways they weren't supposed to. Some could rewrite their own stats. Others could copy skills just by watching them."
"And what happened to them?"
Aurelia hesitated. "The Academy… erased them."
A cold chill ran down Gabriel's spine.
"They were too dangerous," she continued. "The System is what keeps order in this world. If people start breaking it, society crumbles. That's why the Federation hunts down anyone with abilities like yours."
Gabriel clenched his fists. "So you brought me here to warn me?"
She met his gaze. "No. I brought you here because you have a choice to make."