Confrontation with Another Survivor
[Henrique's Perspective]
Peace lasted less than twenty-four hours.
The next dawn, as Henrique watched the sky filled with lilac clouds and smoke, he felt the crystal's vibration in his chest shift in tone. Deeper. More... alert.
[Hostile approach detected]
[Energy signature: Compatible with Singular Ability]
[Threat level: High]
[User name: Jorge "Red Fist"]
Henrique had heard the name before.
A former soldier who lost his family and established his own "safe zone" in central Luanda, expelling anyone who wouldn't bow to him.
Now, he was here.
Jorge appeared in the distance, walking down the middle of the road, barefoot, shirtless, arms tattooed up to his shoulders. His eyes were red — not from blood, but from condensed mana.
Dragging behind him were two human bodies, bound by chains. A message.
— Are you the king here? — he shouted from afar.
Henrique descended the building steps, locking eyes with the survivors huddled inside. Leandro ran after him.
— Dad! What are you going to do?
— Whatever is necessary — Henrique replied, without looking back.
[Kiala's Perspective]
High above, invisible to all others, Kiala floated over the battlefield. Her golden eyes assessed Jorge coldly.
— This man... touched a Crimson Fragment. He doesn't know it, but the Empress gave him power. Just to see if you truly deserve to carry chaos.
— He's a test? — Henrique asked mentally.
— Yes. And if you fail…
— You'll die in front of your children.
[Open Ground – In Front of the Supermarket]
Jorge stopped about twenty meters away. The ground around him trembled. Henrique stood firm, arms crossed.
— I saw what you did. Heard about your "magic word." — Jorge spat on the ground. — But I don't kneel for tricks.
— I tear things apart with my hands.
He pounded his fists against his chest. A red wave burst out, and his skin gained the sheen of living metal.
[Singular Ability Activated: Blood Skin]
For 90 seconds, the skin becomes an organic armor. Strength and durability increased by 300%.
Henrique let the crystal glow faintly. But he said nothing.
Jorge charged like a beast. Each step cracked the ground. He leaped and came down with a punch aimed at Henrique's skull.
But he missed.
Henrique moved as if time had slowed. With a tight pivot, he struck Jorge's liver with surgical precision.
Jorge staggered back two steps… and laughed.
— Strong. But not enough.
They exchanged blows. With each clash, the air quaked. Survivors hid behind overturned cars and shattered walls. Leandro watched with clenched fists.
— Is Dad going to…?
Henrique used the crystal's power to read micro-expressions. But Red Fist was tough. When he landed a hook on Henrique's jaw, the world spun.
Henrique dropped to one knee.
[Calculation: 39% chance of victory. Do you wish to activate Absolute Word?]
Henrique spat blood. Looked up at Jorge, who laughed as he approached.
— Is that all? The god of chaos? A kneeling old man!?
And then… Henrique whispered.
— "Silence."
The word fell like thunder.
The world went mute.
Birds froze. Voices ceased.
And Jorge… couldn't scream.
His mouth opened, but no sound came.
His fists froze.
And Henrique stood.
[Skill Absolute Word activated. Effect: Total suppression of sound and verbal coordination in hostile targets. Duration: 20 seconds]
— My turn.
Henrique struck with precision. It wasn't brute force. It was technique.
Jaw.
Knee.
Neck.
Solar plexus.
In less than 10 seconds… Jorge collapsed, unconscious.
Henrique looked around.
— Anyone else want to play king?
Total silence.
But not from the ability.
From fear.
[Silas' Perspective – The Orator]
Silas watched everything from the supermarket balcony. A faint smile curled on his lips.
— Now they all fear him.
— That's good.
But his eyes trembled.
"But if he falls… who will the people follow?"
[Miro's Perspective]
In the shelter, Miro still lay sleeping.
But the ground beneath him… began to crack.
Dark energy swirled like living smoke.
Sónia tried to touch her brother, but an invisible force pushed her back.
— He's… he's burning! — she screamed.
Not from fire.
From power.
And then…
Miro spoke.
Not with his mouth.
But with the world.
— "You are too loud…"
The wall cracked. The lights flickered.
And Henrique's crystal shone — as if it had heard a call.
[Lívia's Perspective – The Crimson Empress]
Lívia collapsed to her knees in her fortress. A jolt pierced her chest.
— What… was that?
She clutched her heart. The blood in her veins boiled.
"An echo… of the oldest chaos."
She rose, trembling.
— Send the squad. Now.
[Henrique's Perspective]
Returning to the shelter with Jorge unconscious, dragged like a sack of potatoes, Henrique felt the ground tremble.
Sónia ran up to him, breathless.
— Miro… he spoke, Dad. Without opening his mouth.
Henrique rushed to the room.
Saw the shattered ground beneath the boy.
And for the first time… Kiala looked afraid.
— Henrique…
— He's no longer just your son.
— He is… an anchor of ancient chaos.
— If he fully awakens… this world won't be enough to contain him.
Henrique knelt beside his son.
— Miro… son… I'm here.
The boy slept.
But now, he slept like a slumbering god.
And the world… was beginning to tilt in his direction.