The Arrival of Zairoth
Zairoth, The Watcher, descended from the rift in space, its fractaled form constantly shifting, as though it didn't truly exist in this reality.
Its hollow, glowing eyes locked onto Liam.
> SCANNING ENTITY…
SYSTEM ARCHITECT – ENFORCER CLASS
THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME
OBJECTIVE: OBSERVATION AND EARLY TERMINATION OF SYSTEM BREAKER
Liam exhaled sharply, his entire body tensing.
"They didn't send a full invasion—this is just a test."
The Architects were watching.
Studying him.
Determining if he was truly a threat.
He cracked his neck, stepping forward, the ground trembling beneath his power.
"Well, let's make sure they get their answer."
---
The System Masters Prepare for War
The System Masters fell into formation.
Elena Vasquez, the Combat Specialist, drew her twin warblades, eyes locked onto the enemy.
Dante Cross, the Elemental Manipulator, ignited his hands with flames hotter than magma.
Shiro Kade, the Assassin, vanished into the shadows, his presence completely erased.
Aria Novac, the Healer, summoned a glowing barrier, already preparing to counteract whatever damage the Architect might inflict.
Reinhold Graves, the Engineer, activated the Hellstorm Core, its artificial Architect energy surging like a miniature star.
Liam stood at the front, his presence overshadowing them all.
This was it.
The first real battle between humanity and an Architect.
Zairoth, The Watcher, simply floated silently.
And then—
It moved.
---
The Speed of a God
Zairoth was fast.
Too fast.
One second, it was floating in the air—the next, it was right in front of Liam.
A black energy lance formed in its shifting hand, striking down at impossible speed.
Liam barely had time to react—he raised his arm, blocking with pure System energy.
BOOOM!
The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield.
Liam skidded back, his feet digging trenches into the ice.
His arm tingled.
"That thing hits harder than Azaroth did."
He didn't have time to think—Zairoth shifted again, warping behind him.
But this time—
Elena was already moving.
She appeared at Liam's side, her blades flashing.
Her weapons sliced clean through the Architect's form—
But nothing happened.
Zairoth didn't even flinch.
Elena staggered back, eyes widening.
"My weapons… didn't work?"
Zairoth raised a finger, and without warning—
Elena vanished.
---
The First Casualty?
Liam's heart stopped.
"Elena?!"
She was gone.
Not teleported.
Not killed.
Just… erased.
Dante's roar of fury shook the sky.
"YOU BASTARD!"
He thrust both hands forward, unleashing a devastating storm of elemental destruction—fire, lightning, ice, all converging into a single point.
The explosion engulfed Zairoth completely.
BOOOOOM!
The shockwave tore through the Arctic, shattering glaciers, splitting mountains.
But when the dust settled—
Zairoth was still there.
Untouched.
And then, without hesitation—it turned to Dante.
---
Testing Hellstorm: A Do-or-Die Shot
Liam's mind raced.
"Elena is gone. Dante's attacks did nothing. And it's about to wipe us out."
They needed to test Hellstorm. NOW.
He turned to Reinhold. "FIRE IT!"
Reinhold didn't hesitate.
He activated Project Hellstorm.
The orb of pure destruction surged with unstable energy, a blinding beacon of artificial Architect power.
Zairoth paused, recognizing the threat.
It turned toward the Core—for the first time, it looked… interested.
Reinhold gritted his teeth.
"Burn in hell, you cosmic freak."
And he fired.
---
Hellstorm vs. Zairoth: The Power of Humanity
A beam of condensed energy erupted from the Hellstorm Core.
This wasn't fire.
This wasn't elemental power.
This was a weapon designed to kill a god.
The beam pierced through Zairoth's chest, ripping through its fractal form.
Zairoth let out a soundless scream, its body flickering violently.
For the first time—it felt pain.
Liam's eyes blazed.
"We can kill them."
But just as he thought they had won—
Zairoth's form began to regenerate instantly.
The wound sealed shut, its golden eyes locking onto Liam once more.
Hellstorm wasn't enough.
Liam's jaw clenched.
"Damn it. We need more firepower."
And then—a second rift opened.
---
Elena Returns… And Brings a Warning
From the new rift—
Elena Vasquez stepped out.
Liam's eyes widened.
"Elena?!"
She was alive.
But her eyes were different.
Like she had seen something beyond this world.
She looked at Liam, her voice urgent.
"We have a problem."
Liam stiffened. "Bigger than the Architect trying to erase us right now?"
Elena shook her head.
"The Architects… they weren't the first ones here."
Liam's breath caught.
"What?"
Elena pointed at the sky.
"Something else is coming."
And then, as if on cue—
A shadow darker than anything they had ever seen began forming above them.
The true war had only just begun.
---