The city felt different.

  It was as if the air itself was holding its breath.

  One day. That was all the time they had before the Great War Event began. The countdown loomed over everyone's heads like a sharpened bde, waiting to fall.

  Ethan and Lisa stood on the edge of the citadel, looking down at the streets below. Survivors moved with urgency, setting up barricades, reinforcing defenses, and gathering supplies.

  Lisa exhaled. "Feels like we're waiting to die, huh?"

  Ethan tightened his grip on his sword. "Feels like we're waiting to fight."

  Lisa gave him a tired smirk. "Same thing."

  They had spent the st day doing everything they could to prepare.

  Ethan had pushed his body to the limits, training against stronger and stronger opponents within the citadel. His Blood Ssh had become faster, more precise. Crimson Swordsmanship had become an extension of himself.

  Lisa had been practicing her archery, refining her aim and learning how to infuse more essence into her shots. Her arrows could now pierce through steel like paper.

  It still didn’t feel like enough.

  Michael had been organizing survivors into groups—fighters, defenders, scouts, and medics. Everyone had a role. Everyone was needed.

  And yet, even with all this preparation, there was one thing they still didn’t know: what they were preparing for.

  The System had been silent.

  No one knew what the Great War Event would actually bring.

  And that was the worst part.

  The unknown.

  That night, Reyna appeared again.

  She always did. But tonight, her expression was serious.

  Ethan was sitting on a rooftop, watching the moon. He didn’t flinch when Reyna appeared behind him, resting her chin on his shoulder.

  "You seem tense," she whispered.

  "You seem serious," Ethan countered.

  Reyna sighed, sitting next to him, golden eyes reflecting the moonlight.

  "I am," she admitted. "Because I won’t be able to help you when the event starts."

  Ethan turned to her, frowning. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean that the System will block direct interference from Patrons like me." She leaned back on her hands. "This is the first real test. Your world and the one merging with it will be forced into chaos. And you? You have to survive."

  Ethan clenched his fists. "What about the others? The ones with Patrons like me?"

  "They’ll be fighting too," Reyna said. "And some of them will be much stronger than you."

  Ethan exhaled through his nose. Of course.

  Reyna continued.

  "You need to remember what I told you. Do not kill unless you have no choice. The ones who survive this event will be the real threats in the future. You don’t want too many enemies too soon."

  Ethan looked at her, his voice colder. "And if they try to kill me first?"

  Reyna smirked. "Then teach them a lesson they won’t forget."

  Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Anything else you want to tell me before everything goes to hell?"

  Reyna's smirk faded. For once, she hesitated.

  Then, she reached into her cloak and pulled out a small blood-red gemstone.

  She handed it to him.

  "A gift," she said simply.

  Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

  "A bloodstone," Reyna expined. "It stores life essence. If you’re about to die, this will keep you alive. Once."

  Ethan stared at it. "...That’s actually useful."

  Reyna rolled her eyes. "I do care about my Champion, you know."

  Ethan smirked. "You just don’t want me to die because it would be inconvenient for you."

  Reyna chuckled. "Maybe."

  She leaned in close, her voice soft. "Stay alive, Ethan."

  Ethan met her gaze. "I will."

  Reyna gave him one st look before disappearing into the night.

  Ethan sat there, gripping the bloodstone tightly.

  Tomorrow, everything would change.