> Zone: Genesis Sub-Layer — Border between Metacore and Murim
A flash.
The red light of the portal dissipated behind him as Hakaijin landed in a perfectly controlled stance, his saber still dripping with a final spectral echo.
The ground beneath his feet barely creaked.
The silence was heavy.
Before him, impossible architecture—floating fragments of skyscrapers, giant roots snaking through abandoned industrial towers, and a dark mist floating like a veil between two worlds.
> "...The Shattered Genesis," he whispered.
His sharp gaze immediately spotted a figure below.
Someone else.
Another player.
He cautiously descended a spiral staircase of rusty steel, his senses alert.
Z3RO, for his part, was already in a defensive position. He had heard the footsteps.
Slow. Determined. Controlled.
> "Profile detected: Unknown player — Estimated level: High — Type: Melee."
He activated a thermal filter... and deactivated it immediately. The guy wasn't emitting anything.
Like a fucking ghost.
— "Are you a special mob or are you just here to annoy me?" Z3RO called out loudly, just loud enough to be heard.
Hakaijin appeared around the corner of the collapsed structure.
A straight silhouette. Blade on his belt. Cold gaze.
> "You've set foot in a place that wasn't meant for you."
Z3RO narrowed his eyes.
— "So, NPCs now have philosophical lines, or are you just a noob who thinks he's a samurai?"
The atmosphere grew tense.
No cutscene. No cinematic sequence.
Just a clear intention to fight.
And that was enough.
Hakaijin drew his sword.
Z3RO leaped back, activating his gauntlets.
The fight erupted.
A dance of technology and tradition.
Z3RO sent a pulse from his right gauntlet, a magnetic wave aimed at Hakaijin's torso.
But Hakaijin pivoted sideways, his saber describing a pure arc that cut through the discharge—dissipating it.
"Your gadgets... they're cute."
Z3RO charged forward. He slipped under a horizontal blow and placed an EMP Trap on the ground as he pivoted.
> Silent bang.
Hakaijin stumbled briefly, knocked off balance. He jumped back... but not fast enough.
Z3RO struck with full power, gauntlet charged:
> Critical Impact! -198 HP
Hakaijin took two steps back. Then stopped.
A drop of digital blood beaded at his temple.
He smiled.
— "Good... but now it's my turn."
Martial Focus Mode: ACTIVATED
> Boost: +20% speed + temporary automatic parry
He launched himself forward, faster than gravity itself.
Z3RO barely had time to cross his arms before receiving a perfect combo:
1. Rising Strike (sabotages field of vision)
2. Spinning Strike (unbalances)
3. Parry + Counter (knockdown)
Z3RO rolled to the ground. His interface flashed.
> "Alert: Critical condition – shield deactivated – recalibration required"
— "This guy is a fucking human blade…"
Hakaijin approached slowly, blade pointed at Z3RO's throat.
— "Last chance. Leave this plane… or leave your avatar here."
Z3RO slowly straightened, one knee on the ground, his eyes fixed on the sword.
Then he smiled.
— "Okay… samurai. Let's dance for real."
✦ End of Chapter 10 — Part 1
Next: CHAPTER 11 — Blade vs. Machine (Part 2)
> The intensity is rising. Z3RO's retaliation will be brutal… but an unexpected interruption will change everything.