SHADOW'S GAMBIT**
The air in Neo-Tokyo's industrial sector tasted of rust and ionized metal as Seun pressed his back against a coolant pipe, his breathing deliberately steady. The System's latest alert pulsed in his peripheral vision like a warning siren:
**[TARGET LOCKED: PHANTOM LINA]**
- Threat Classification: A-Rank (Elite)
- Known Abilities: Neural Disruption Field, Adaptive Camouflage
- Mission Parameters: Subdue through tactical superiority (lethal force authorized)
- Warning: Direct engagement not recommended (Host Combat Rating: B+)
Seun's fingers twitched toward the shadow-forged dagger at his hip. He'd been lucky with Ryoto—the Bloodmoon commander had been exhausted from battling guild rivals, and the System had fed him precise weak points in real-time. Against a fresh A-Rank hunter in her element? Those were suicide odds.
**"Plan?"** he whispered to the shadows.
The System responded with tactical projections:
**[RECOMMENDED APPROACH: AMBUSH PATTERN DELTA]**
1. Lure target into confined space (success probability: 67%)
2. Disable neural disruptors with EMP pulse (duration: 3.2 seconds)
3. Execute shadow bind during vulnerability window
A droplet of sweat traced Seun's temple. Three seconds. That's all he'd get.
---
### **THE HUNT BEGINS**
Lina moved through the abandoned factory like liquid mercury, her adaptive camouflage rendering her nearly invisible. Nearly. The System highlighted telltale signs—distortions in the dust motes, minute delays in sound propagation.
Seun waited until she passed beneath a flickering arc light before striking.
**[SHADOW TECHNIQUE: VOID STEP]**
His form blurred across fifteen meters of open space—not true teleportation, but close enough. The EMP grenade detonated at Lina's feet before she could react. Her disruptor bracelet sparked violently.
*Two-point-eight seconds.*
Lina's camouflage flickered. Seun's dagger flashed toward her exposed neck—
—and met empty air as she twisted with A-Rank reflexes. Her return kick shattered two of his ribs before he could phase.
**[WARNING: CRITICAL DAMAGE DETECTED]**
Seun hit the concrete rolling, tasting copper. The System recalculated furiously:
**[ADJUSTED TACTICS: EXPLOIT ENVIRONMENT]**
He exhaled sharply. Time to cheat.
---
### **DIRTY WARFARE**
The factory became Seun's weapon:
1. **Shadow Mimicry** - Duplicated Lina's last three attack patterns to bait her into a collapsing walkway
2. **Acoustic Deception** - Used the System's audio synthesis to fake directional footsteps
3. **Environmental Sabotage** - Triggered overhead crane to drop its load when she took cover
Lina adapted frighteningly fast. When Seun feigned left, she anticipated right. When he tried to corner her near the smelting vats, she turned the superheated metal into a weapon.
**[COMBAT DURATION: 4 MINUTES 17 SECONDS]**
**[HOST FATIGUE LEVEL: 82%]**
Then—the opening.
A misstep caused by uneven flooring. The System highlighted it in gold:
**[VULNERABILITY WINDOW: 0.8 SECONDS]**
Seun's shadow lashed out like a living thing, wrapping around Lina's ankle mid-stumble. The yank sent her crashing face-first into an exposed I-beam.
Her nose shattered.
**[NEURAL DISRUPTORS OFFLINE]**
Seun was on her before the blood hit the ground. His knee pinned her spine as shadow tendrils snaked around her wrists.
"Yield," he growled through broken teeth.
Lina's laugh bubbled crimson. "B-Rank my ass."
---
### **THE BARGAIN**
The System offered terms:
1. **[FORCED CONVERSION]** - 40% success chance (high risk of mental fracture)
2. **[PACT]** - Voluntary binding with performance-based evolution clauses
Seun chose the latter.
"You want to hunt S-Ranks?" He pressed a shadow-wreathed palm to her forehead. "I'll give you the means."
The transformation wasn't like Ryoto's violent rebirth. Lina's adaptive camouflage darkened to pure shadowform, her neural disruptors merging with the System's architecture. When she stood, her eyes gleamed with predatory understanding.
**"Monarch."**
Not a slave. A blade honed for greater prey.
---
### **THE SYSTEM'S GAMBIT**
Back at the villa, the System revealed its true intent:
**[SHADOW LEGION PROGRESS: 12%]**
- Current Shadows: 2 (Ryoto, Lina)
- Next Targets: A-Rank Beasts (Evolution Potential: S)
- Critical Note: S-Rank engagement remains lethal until Host reaches A+
Seun studied the holographic map. Red markers pulsed over three locations:
1. **Frostfang Wastes** (Beast: Glacier Howler - Estimated Rank: A+)
2. **Neon Abyss** (Beast: Circuit Devourer - Estimated Rank: A)
3. **The Shattered Foundry** (Beast: Ember Maw - Estimated Rank: A)
Ryoto's shadowform flickered beside him. "We start with the weakest?"
Seun shook his head. "We play smarter."
He tapped the Glacier Howler's marker.
"First, we evolve."
---