A sharp, digital chime echoed in his mind, cutting through the night. His vision blurred for a split second, and then a cold, mechanical overlay appeared before his eyes:
**[SYSTEM ALERT!]**
> Genetic Instability Detected. Mutation Sequence Breached Protocol.
> WARNING: Your genetic code is evolving beyond control.
> WARNING: Incomplete mutation will result in total collapse of your dominion. 'Kingdom of Dark Shadows' will be ERASED in 72 hours.
> System Sync: Incomplete [0%]
> Immediate Action Required to Prevent Full System Shutdown.
> MAIN QUEST – OVERRIDE INITIATED
> Quest Name: "Spark of Rebellion"
> Objective: Infiltrate Stark Industries. Retrieve the Arc Reactor.
> Details: This core will stabilize the mutation and unlock the next stage of your power.
> Reward: System Integration. Sovereign Control Over Shadow Protocol.
> Failure Penalty: Kingdom Destruction. Cognitive Overload. PERMANENT DEATH.
> ACCEPT QUEST? [YES] [NO]
Evan's breath caught in his throat. The words glowed with a sinister urgency, each line hammering into his brain. He felt his stomach twist, a wave of nausea rising as the reality of the message set in. His hands shook so badly he nearly dropped the bag.
He tried to blink the notification away, but it remained, pulsing with a red warning. "No, no, no…" he whispered, voice trembling. This wasn't just a glitch or some weird game event. The system had never sounded like this before-never threatened him, never used words like "PERMANENT DEATH."
His mind raced. Genetic instability? Mutation sequence breached? He glanced down at his hands, half-expecting to see them dissolve or mutate before his eyes. The idea that his very DNA was unraveling, that the world he'd built-the Kingdom of Dark Shadows-could be wiped out in just three days, sent a cold sweat down his spine.
He tried to steady his breathing, but his thoughts spiraled. Was this why he'd been feeling different, why his powers felt unstable? Was everything about to collapse-his abilities, his shadow ninjas, even his own mind?
The timer was already ticking. Seventy-two hours. Three days, and everything he cared about could be gone. The penalty wasn't just failure-it was total erasure. Death. Not just for him, but for the entire kingdom he'd built in the shadows.
He stared at the quest objective, heart pounding: *Infiltrate Stark Industries. Retrieve the Arc Reactor.* The Arc Reactor-Tony Stark's legendary power core, the thing that powered Iron Man's suit and, rumor had it, could generate limitless energy. Now, the system demanded it as the only way to stabilize his mutation and save everything.
Evan's mouth went dry. Stark Industries was a fortress. Breaking in would be suicide. But the alternative… He couldn't even finish the thought.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force back the panic. He'd faced danger before, but nothing like this. The system had always been his ally-now it was an executioner, holding his entire existence hostage.
His fingers hovered over the phantom [YES] and [NO] options. He couldn't even bring himself to choose. Every second felt like it brought him closer to the edge.
The city noise faded. All Evan could hear was the pounding of his heart and the relentless echo of the system's warning. The world suddenly felt bigger, colder, and far more dangerous than ever before.
He needed air. He needed action-anything to drown out the terror clawing at his mind.
He slipped on his black ninja costume and mask, barely noticing the familiar comfort of the fabric. He moved on autopilot, opening the window and slipping into the night, the cold air biting at his skin. He leapt from rooftop to rooftop, his movements sharp and frantic. Each jump was a desperate attempt to outrun the system's warning, to prove that he was still in control.
The city below was alive, but Evan felt like a ghost, drifting above it all, haunted by a countdown only he could see.
Suddenly, the wail of police sirens cut through the night. He crouched on the edge of a building, watching as a fleet of police cars raced down the street, lights blazing. Instinct took over-he followed, needing a distraction, needing to feel powerful again.
He kept pace with the police cars, leaping from building to building, his body moving with a speed and precision that felt almost alien. After about ten minutes, the cars screeched to a halt, surrounding a silver van at the end of a deserted street.
Evan perched on a nearby wall, watching intently. "Robbery? Hostage situation?" he wondered, his voice barely a whisper. The tension in the air was electric.
On the ground, the police took up positions behind their cars. "Come out with your hands up!" the lead officer shouted.
There was no response from the van.
The officers repeated their command, but the van remained silent. After exchanging nervous glances, the police began to approach, weapons drawn.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from the van's window, tossing a small object toward the officers.
"Grenade!" someone yelled.
The officers dove for cover as the grenade exploded with a deafening bang. Smoke and debris filled the air. Before the police could recover, the van doors burst open and six masked criminals jumped out, firing wildly.
"Go to hell, cops!" bellowed a burly man with a scar across his face.
The police scrambled for cover, pinned down by the hail of bullets. The criminals moved with practiced efficiency, one of them grabbing a black duffel bag from the van.
"Grab the goods! We're moving out!" the scarred man shouted.
The criminals split up, darting into nearby alleys. Evan watched from above, noting the bag in the scarred man's hand.
His mind was still reeling from the system's warning, but instinct kicked in. That bag-whatever was inside-suddenly felt important. Maybe it was a lead, a clue, something he could use. Maybe it was just a way to prove to himself that he wasn't powerless.
He tracked the scarred man as he sprinted down a narrow alley, glancing nervously over his shoulder. The police were still pinned down, unable to give chase.
Evan saw his chance. He dropped from the rooftop, landing silently behind the criminal. The man barely had time to turn before Evan struck, a swift kick sending him crashing into the alley wall.
Evan snatched the duffel bag from the stunned man's grasp. "Thanks, I'll take that," he muttered, his voice low and cold.
The criminal groaned, reaching for his gun, but Evan was already gone, scaling the wall and vanishing into the shadows.
His entire body trembled-not from the fight, but from the system's warning still pulsing in his mind. He landed on a nearby rooftop, heart pounding, and crouched low, the city lights flickering in the distance.
He set the black bag down in front of him, hands shaking. He glanced around, making sure he was alone. The alley below was empty, the police still occupied with the other criminals. He was invisible in the night, just another shadow among many.
With a final, shaky breath, Evan slowly unzipped the duffel bag. The zipper made a soft, metallic sound, loud in the quiet night. He hesitated for a moment, the system's warning still echoing in his mind, then pulled the bag open-hoping desperately that whatever was inside might offer a way out of the nightmare that had just begun.
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A/N: Hey Everyone, If you like the chapter please share your reviews and feedbacks. Thank you for reading.