Liam's breath slowed, his body tense with raw focus as he faced the two Level 3 System Users.
The female assassin flicked her blade, her stance flawless—a predator waiting to strike.
The towering enforcer cracked his knuckles, his massive frame radiating destructive energy.
They weren't just strong.
They were killers.
And they were here for him.
---
The First Strike: Facing Death
The assassin moved first.
One second, she was standing still—the next, she was gone.
Liam's system-enhanced reflexes barely caught her movement.
> System Warning: Extreme Speed Detected.
She appeared behind him, her knife slicing toward his neck.
Liam ducked—just in time.
The blade missed by a hair's breadth, cutting the air where his throat had been.
No hesitation.
Liam spun, countering with a brutal elbow strike.
But she was already gone.
She flickered like a ghost, reappearing at his side, her knee slamming into his ribs.
CRACK!
Liam gritted his teeth, the impact forcing him backward.
Pain flared through his body.
"She's faster than me."
The towering enforcer charged.
His fist—a wrecking ball of power—came down toward Liam's skull.
Liam moved instinctively, rolling aside as the punch shattered the floor.
Debris exploded outward.
Liam flipped back onto his feet, breathing hard.
Two enemies. One specialized in speed and precision. The other? Raw destruction.
He was outmatched.
But he wasn't out of options.
---
Pushing Beyond Level 3: The Overclocking Gamble
Liam wiped blood from his lip, his mind racing.
"I need more speed. More power. More everything."
He gritted his teeth and pulled up his System interface.
"SYSTEM! Override my current limits—push me beyond Level 3!"
The System hesitated.
> WARNING: Level 3 Threshold Unstable. Attempting to surpass this stage will place your body under extreme strain.
Failure could result in system collapse.
Liam's eyes darkened.
"No choice."
"DO IT."
> Overclocking Initiated.
Forcing Evolution Beyond Level 3…
Power Surge Incoming.
A violent shockwave ripped through Liam's body.
His vision blurred, his veins burned with raw energy.
The air around him warped, crackling with unstable power.
The assassin and enforcer froze.
They could feel it.
Something was happening to Liam.
Something impossible.
---
System Evolution: Level 3 → ???
Liam's mind exploded with knowledge.
New abilities. New instincts.
His entire body rewired itself, adapting to a new level of existence.
The System's voice rang in his mind.
> NEW SYSTEM STATE: BEYOND LEVEL 3 (PROTOTYPE).
Speed Increased by 500%.
Reflexes Enhanced to Near-Prediction Levels.
Kinetic Awareness Unlocked.
Adrenaline Overdrive: Damage Resistance Activated.
Liam exhaled slowly.
Everything felt… different.
Sharper. Faster.
He raised his hand—his fingers trembled with untapped power.
For the first time… he felt invincible.
---
The Counterattack: Breaking Limits
The assassin lunged again, moving at blinding speed.
But this time?
Liam saw it.
He felt it.
Like the world had slowed down just for him.
He dodged. Effortlessly.
Her blade missed by inches.
Liam's counter was instant.
A brutal uppercut, enhanced by his new power.
CRACK!
The assassin flew backward, crashing through a steel pillar.
Liam didn't stop.
The enforcer charged, his massive fist swinging.
Liam caught it.
With one hand.
The enforcer's eyes widened.
"Impossible."
Liam tightened his grip.
Then he twisted.
The sound of breaking bone filled the air.
The enforcer screamed, dropping to his knees.
Liam delivered a final knee to his face, knocking him out cold.
Two Level 3 users. Defeated.
And Liam?
He wasn't even tired.
---
Uncovering the True Mastermind
As Liam stood victorious, a slow clap echoed through the room.
His head snapped up.
A man stepped forward from the shadows.
Tall. Dressed in a black suit. Eyes unreadable.
But his System signature?
Terrifying.
> System Scan: ERROR. Power Level Unknown.
Liam's breath caught.
"What the hell…?"
The man smirked.
"Congratulations, Carter. You've broken past Level 3. That makes you… special."
Liam's jaw tightened.
"Who is this guy?"
The man took another step forward, hands in his pockets.
"I'm here to offer you something. A seat at the real table."
Liam's eyes narrowed.
"The real table?"
The man's smile widened.
"You think Vance was the top?" He chuckled. "You're still playing in the kiddie pool."
Liam's fists clenched.
"Then who the hell are you?"
The man's eyes gleamed.
"The one who runs the System war."
A cold silence filled the air.
Liam felt it deep in his bones.
This was the real enemy.
And he had just stepped into the real battlefield.
The True Mastermind & The Ultimate Choice
Liam stood motionless, his enhanced senses fully locked onto the mysterious figure before him.
This wasn't like Vance.
This man wasn't posturing, wasn't trying to intimidate.
No.
This man radiated control.
His black suit was crisp, his posture effortless, but it was his eyes—sharp, analytical, dangerous.
Liam's System scanned him immediately.
ERROR. Power Level: UNDETECTABLE.
ERROR. System Affiliation: UNKNOWN.
Threat Level: ???
Liam's fists clenched.
"The hell kind of System User is he?"
The man smirked, as if reading his thoughts.
"I assume you're wondering why your System can't measure me," he mused, his voice smooth, confident. "That's because I don't operate under the same rules as you."
Liam remained silent, analyzing every detail.
"He's either bluffing, or he really is beyond measurement."
The man took a slow step forward, his presence suffocating.
"I go by many names," he said. "But for now, you can call me Xavier."
Liam's jaw tightened.
Xavier.
The name felt heavy, as if just knowing it came with a burden.
Xavier's smile didn't falter.
"I've been watching you, Carter. You've done something… quite remarkable. You've broken past Level 3 without external assistance. That's rare. Unheard of, actually."
Liam's mind raced.
"He knows about the Level barriers? Then… he knows how the System works at its core."
Xavier's hands remained in his pockets, as relaxed as ever.
"Which brings me to my proposal."
A Deal with the Devil
Liam kept his stance firm, muscles tensed.
He knew. This was the real conversation.
Everything he had fought through so far—Vance, the System Cores, the underground wars—they were just steps leading to this moment.
Xavier watched him carefully.
"You have two paths before you, Carter."
He raised two fingers.
"One—you work with me. You take full control of Vance's old empire, but under my direction. I will provide you with resources, knowledge… and more importantly, access to Level 4 and beyond."
Liam's heart pounded.
"Level 4… he can take me past the limit?"
But Xavier wasn't done.
He lowered one finger.
"Or two… you walk away. And I erase you."
Silence.
Liam felt the weight of the moment.
"Work for him? Or die?"
His System pinged an urgent warning.
WARNING: Xavier's power surpasses estimated survival probability.
Projected Escape Chance: 0.02%.
Recommended Action: Negotiate or submit.
Liam ignored the warning.
He had never been the kind of person to bow down.
He took a deep breath, calmly meeting Xavier's gaze.
"…And if I choose neither?"
Xavier's smirk widened.
"That's the answer I was hoping for."
Unlocking a Terrifying Power
Xavier slowly removed one hand from his pocket.
The moment he did—Liam felt it.
A force unlike anything before.
Not energy. Not strength.
Something deeper. Something primal.
The air itself trembled.
Liam's System went haywire.
ERROR! UNIDENTIFIED ENERGY SOURCE DETECTED.
SYSTEM STABILITY AT RISK.
UNKNOWN ABILITY ACTIVATED.
Liam gritted his teeth.
"What the hell is he doing?"
Xavier tilted his head.
"You feel it, don't you?" he said softly. "The true nature of the System."
Liam stumbled back, his vision warping.
For the first time since acquiring the System, he felt small.
Weak. Inferior.
Xavier continued.
"The System is not just a tool for evolution." His voice was almost hypnotic. "It is a force that rewrites existence itself."
Liam's mind reeled.
"Rewrites existence? Is that how he's suppressing my System?"
Then—his System flared.
New Adaptive Response Detected.
System Evolution Triggered.
A sudden burst of knowledge filled Liam's mind.
New commands. New pathways.
And with it—a choice.
Choose Your Evolution Path:
1) Absolute Combat Mastery (Unlocks a fighting style beyond human capabilities.)
2) System Override (Breaks System limitations, allowing full adaptation.)
3) Forbidden Synchronization (Merges user's essence with the System itself.)
Liam's breath was ragged.
"Each one of these… will change everything."
His hands clenched.
If he chose Absolute Combat Mastery, he'd be a flawless warrior.
If he chose System Override, he could manipulate his System like Xavier.
But Forbidden Synchronization?
That was something entirely different.
It would bind his very existence to the System.
A true fusion of man and machine.
His gut screamed at him.
"This is dangerous."
But he had no choice.
If he wanted to win, he needed something Xavier couldn't predict.
Liam exhaled sharply.
And he chose—
[3) Forbidden Synchronization.]
System Mutation: Becoming More Than Human
The moment Liam selected the path, an explosion of pure energy erupted from his core.
His veins turned luminous, his entire body vibrating as the System merged deeper than ever before.
WARNING: SYSTEM SYNCHRONIZATION AT 10%… 30%… 60%…
WARNING: REDEFINING USER PARAMETERS.
Liam collapsed to one knee, gripping his head.
His consciousness expanded.
He could see beyond the normal world.
Numbers. Code.
The very foundation of reality shifting before his eyes.
Xavier watched with intrigue.
"Well… I wasn't expecting that."
Liam's eyes snapped open.
They were no longer human.
They burned with something new. Something terrifying.
He had become something beyond a System User.
Something Xavier didn't control.
Xavier's smirk wavered—just for a fraction of a second.
And Liam grinned.
"Your move, Xavier."
To be continued: