Free

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In the days that followed, Aegis busied himself with missions, striving to grow stronger, until one day, Silco summoned him for an important task.

Aegis's crimson eyes narrowed as he trailed Silco through the labyrinthine streets of Zaun. The air was thick with the stench of oil and smoke, mingling with the faint tang of Shimmer. Silco moved with purpose, his every step measured, his presence commanding attention without a single word.

"You remember what I told you about Vander, don't you, Aegis?" Silco's voice broke the silence, low and steady.

Aegis nodded, his gaze sharp. "You said he betrayed you. That he chose the safety of others over power. That he left you to drown."

Silco's thin smile spread, his orange eye glinting in the dim light of the streetlamps. "Good. Today, I intend to write the final chapter of that story—one Zaun will never forget."

Aegis remained calm, his growing power leaving him unfazed.

The pair arrived at a desolate building on the outskirts of the Undercity. Inside, a small group of Silco's loyal fighters awaited orders, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. The tension in the room was palpable.

Silco turned to Aegis, his tone almost fatherly, though his words dripped with venom. "Remember this moment, Aegis. Power is not given—it is taken. Tonight, Vander will understand the cost of betrayal."

Aegis didn't respond. He simply watched as Silco gave orders to his fighters.

Taking a step back, Aegis retreated into the shadows. A soft chime from his system echoed in his mind:

[New Mission Generated]

Mission Title: A Choice in the Shadows

Objective: Decide whether to support Silco's plan against Vander or secretly intervene to warn Vander and protect the innocents at the Last Drop.

Reward (Support Silco): +100 XP, +20 Mana, Increased Trust with Silco.

Reward (Warn Vander): +80 XP, +15 Mana, Potential Ally: Vander.

Failure Consequences: Loss of Trust with Silco, Reduced Influence in Zaun.

Aegis tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips as the system's message lingered in his thoughts. The air in the room felt heavy with anticipation, but to Aegis, it was just another moment in this game of survival. Leaning against the wall, arms crossed, he let out a soft chuckle, catching the attention of a nearby enforcer.

"Something funny, kid?" a fighter growled, his hand twitching toward his weapon.

Aegis didn't bother to glance his way. Instead, he spoke in a tone so casual it felt like a taunt. "Nah, just thinking how much easier life would be if we all played cards instead of plotting murder."

The fighter furrowed his brow, unsure if Aegis was mocking him or simply insane. Silco, however, turned his head slightly, his sharp gaze locking onto Aegis.

"You find this amusing, Aegis?" Silco's voice was calm, but there was an edge to it sharp enough to cut steel.

Aegis straightened up, still smiling but now with a glint of mischief in his crimson eyes. "Oh, not at all, Silco. I'm just thinking... betrayal, power struggles, backstabbing—it's all so... predictable. Like a deck of cards you've seen a hundred times. Vander folds, you raise, and boom—game over."

The room fell silent. Aegis shrugged, his smirk widening as he walked closer to Silco. "But hey, who am I to judge? I'm just the kid in the corner trying to figure out which hand to play."

Silco's expression remained unreadable, but the faintest twitch at the corner of his scarred lips suggested he was both intrigued and mildly irritated. "And what is your hand, Aegis?"

Aegis leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, just loud enough for everyone to hear. "The one that wins, of course." He pulled back with a nonchalant wave of his hand, adding, "Or maybe the one that burns the whole table down. Haven't decided yet."

Uneasy glances were exchanged among the fighters, unsure whether Aegis was a genius, a lunatic, or both. Silco, however, let out a low chuckle, the sound unsettling in its rarity.

"You have an interesting way of looking at the world," Silco said, his voice laced with something akin to approval. "Just make sure your hand doesn't cross mine."

Aegis gave a mock salute, his grin never faltering. "Wouldn't dream of it, boss. Cards are your game, after all. I'm just here to learn the tricks."

Silco turned back to the group, but Aegis could feel his gaze lingering for a moment longer. As the fighters prepared to move, Aegis's mind raced with possibilities. The system's prompt still hung in his thoughts, but instead of agonizing over the choice, he found the idea itself amusing.

"Support Silco? Warn Vander? Maybe I'll flip a coin. Or maybe I'll play both sides just to see who folds first. After all, it's just another hand in a game no one else knows they're playing."

Aegis let out a soft chuckle under his breath as he trailed after Silco, a spring in his step. The chaos of Zaun didn't faze him—it entertained him. Every mission, every scheme, every decision was just another card to add to his deck.

Aegis wanted to live freely.

"Nothing can bind me to any rules."

"With my current power, I feel Free."

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