Chapter 10: Retreat

Cats were known for their nine lives. It meant they got a life to spare but not the lifetime to spend. That intriguing feline trait lingered in my mind as I contemplated the precarious nature of my own existence. The notion of mortality echoed loudly, reminding me that the pursuit of vengeance, though urgent, required a careful dance with time.

It didn't matter if I killed and delivered my vengeance right away. If I could not live to see the result of my actions, it seemed an unfair or rather tasteless way to go. The urgency of my mission clashed with the desire for a meaningful conclusion, creating a dissonance within me. I still had a goal to accomplish, and failing right here and now was not an option I could entertain.

In the face of this internal conflict, a decision crystallized – a tactical retreat, a temporary withdrawal from the immediate danger. Dory Michelson would be known as a criminal, and the pursuit of justice would find its course. The absurdity of the name "Dory" crossed my mind, prompting a peculiar and somewhat unrelated line of thought. In these tense moments, my mind had a tendency to drift into moments of humor that bordered on the absurd.

I couldn't help but question my own intellect in those instances. Was it a coping mechanism, or a reflection of the surreal circumstances that surrounded me? The humor, though seemingly out of place, provided a brief respite from the gravity of the situation.

As I navigated through the darkness, a cloak of shadows enveloping my every move, I donned my night vision goggles. The world revealed itself in a greenish glow, allowing me to discern the contours of my surroundings. Stepping out from the warehouse, the silence outside was palpable. Not a soul stirred, and even the shadows seemed to have abandoned this desolate place. The eerie stillness heightened my senses, urging me to proceed with caution in this clandestine journey toward an uncertain destiny.

Sin City sprawled vast and teeming with life, a sprawling metropolis nestled within the borders of Dales Ville Country, several hundred kilometers away from my home. The decision to abandon the suburbs, with their eerily empty streets, came as a calculated move. Surprisingly, despite the recent gunfight that had left its mark on the urban landscape, there was an unsettling absence of bystanders or people expressing any visible agitation. It dawned on me that the residents must have wisely sought refuge within the walls of their homes, opting to stay out of harm's way.

My footsteps echoed through the deserted streets as I navigated the urban labyrinth, the air thick with an unspoken tension. In the distance, a distant commotion reached my ears, a discordant symphony of chaos that indicated the mercenaries were relentless in their pursuit. Their sinister motive became clearer – to eliminate any witnesses, erase the signs of our existence, and ensure that no survivors could recount the tale of their ruthless assault.

The realization that Andre and his team were likely orchestrating this macabre cleanup mission only fueled the flames of vengeance within me. The streets became a battleground between the pursuit of justice and the merciless agents of darkness, and I knew that when the time came, I would exact revenge in the most severe manner possible.

Amidst the urban turmoil, a mercenary's voice pierced through the disquiet, shouting, "All clear!" The echo of those words reverberated as they meticulously combed through every nook and cranny, leaving no stone unturned. Desperation fueled their actions, leading them to break into homes in a frenzied search. The air was punctuated with sporadic gunshots, each report signaling the tragic fate of unwilling civilians and those who dared resist the merciless mercenaries.

This, I realized, was the grim underbelly of humanity, an ugly truth hidden beneath the façade of a seemingly benevolent and advanced civilization. The veneer of civility crumbled in the face of opportunity, revealing the dark impulses that lurked beneath the surface. As I traversed the chaotic streets, witnessing the ruthless onslaught, my resolve to expose the truth and mete out justice burned stronger than ever, a flickering flame against the encroaching shadows of malevolence.

The merciless scene unfolded before me, a brutish mercenary callously dragging a woman from the refuge of her home by her hair. The visceral horror of the sight ignited an uncontrollable impulse within me, a surge of righteous fury that resonated with the persona of Shayne, the embodiment of my existence in this treacherous world. Muscle memory and instinctual precision guided my hands as I swiftly raised my rifle, aligning the crosshairs with the heart of the villain who dared to inflict such cruelty.

The crack of the gunshot resonated through the air as the bullet found its mark between the mercenary's eyes. In an instant, he crumpled to the ground, releasing his captive. The woman, liberated from her tormentor, fled in a desperate sprint, her terrified screams echoing in the wake of her escape.

As the dust settled, the remaining mercenaries, alerted by the gunshot, scrambled to the scene, their confusion palpable. "Who was that?" one of them bellowed, his voice carrying a mix of anger and bewilderment. Their attention turned to the lifeless body of their fallen comrade, lying inert on the ground.

The question hung in the air, unanswered, as I stood defiantly before them, anger etched into every line of my face. In the face of their accusatory glares, my resolve solidified. Before they could react, I unleashed a barrage of gunfire, each shot finding its target with lethal precision. The mercenaries, now my adversaries, crumpled like marionettes with severed strings, their weapons useless in the face of my relentless assault.

The intensity of my rage fueled this deadly dance, an intricate ballet of bullets and death. As the mercenaries fell around me, their bodies forming a macabre tableau, the primal scream of Shayne resonated within me, a haunting echo that drowned out the chaos of the scene.

Yet, amidst the blood-soaked battlefield, a disconcerting clarity remained. My mind, though consumed by the flames of anger, remained steadfast in its commitment to survival. The visceral desire for justice blended seamlessly with the unyielding determination to dismantle this corrupt and treacherous organization.

With each fallen adversary, I forged a path of retribution that would leave an indelible mark on the annals of their nefarious deeds. The name Dory would become a haunting refrain, whispered in regret by those who had underestimated the resilience of the spirit fighting against the shadows of malevolence. In the aftermath of this brutal skirmish, the echoes of gunfire lingered, a solemn prelude to the relentless pursuit of justice in a world marred by corruption.

The lifeless bodies of the mercenaries sprawled across the ground, a testament to the onslaught I had unleashed upon them. My relentless advance left a trail of fallen adversaries, their slow and bulky frames no match for the swift reflexes that propelled me forward. The chaos of battle enveloped the air, a cacophony of gunfire and desperate shouts.

Yet, as the adrenaline-fueled moments unfolded, a peculiar sensation gripped me, a fusion of familiarity and otherworldliness. It was as if an unseen force was stirring within, teasing the boundaries of my physical form. A premonition danced at the edges of my consciousness, hinting at an imminent transformation. The energy coursing through me intensified, resonating with a power that transcended the tangible world.

In the midst of this metaphysical awakening, an exclamation point materialized before me, a symbol that transcended the physical realm. The system, an enigmatic conduit to the forces governing this surreal reality, beckoned me to unlock a newfound skill. Intrigued and compelled, I opened the interface, revealing the cryptic knowledge that had been bestowed upon me.

---------------------

System

[A restriction has been unlocked: Skill can now be used!]

[Limit Break: This capability enables the transient utilization of latent powers, providing a brief window of enhanced abilities. The skill operates within a finite timeframe, lasting for 5 minutes, after which it enters a cooldown phase lasting 2 minutes. Notably, the activation of this skill does not necessitate the expenditure of any Focus Points!]

-----------------------------

As I closed the system interface, a familiar voice sliced through the tense air, calling out my name. The low hum of an engine followed, heralding the arrival of a substantial vehicle that materialized before me. It was a converted civilian truck, its exterior fortified with thin plates to withstand small-arms fire. The ominous silhouette of the armored vehicle was accompanied by the foreboding presence of ten mercenaries, each armed to the teeth and unified in their hostile intent, their weapons all trained on me.

"Dory, Dory! You should not have crossed us!" Trevor's voice resonated with a mix of anger and smug satisfaction.

I met his gaze with a defiant grin, my resolve unshaken. "And what? Die as a sacrificial lamb?" I retorted, challenging the arrogance that dripped from his every word.

"What else?" Trevor responded, his tone laced with unwarranted confidence.

Arrogant as ever, Trevor seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation. His overconfidence, I knew, would inevitably lead to his downfall. The skirmish had only intensified my determination, fueling the flames of vengeance that burned within. As the mercenaries stood poised with their weapons raised, I braced myself for the impending confrontation, knowing that this encounter would be a turning point in the relentless pursuit of justice and retribution.