The city no longer felt like a city.

It felt like a battlefield pretending to be normal.

Ethan Carter stood under a flickering streetlight, rainwater still dripping from broken rooftops nearby. The silence from earlier had disappeared.

Now, there was something else.

Movement.

Hidden.

Everywhere.

WARNING: MULTIPLE SIGNATURES DETECTED

Ethan didn’t react immediately.

Not like before.

Instead, he breathed slowly.

Controlled.

Focused.

"...So they’re not hiding anymore."

His eyes scanned the street.

Nothing obvious.

No pedestrians.

No cars.

But his instincts told him everything he needed to know.

He wasn’t alone.

A faint sound came from behind him.

A footstep.

Ethan turned.

A figure stood at the edge of the street.

Then another appeared.

And another.

Three.

All human.

But none of them felt normal.

"...System users," Ethan muttered.

The system flickered in response.

CONFIRMED: MULTIPLE HOSTS DETECTED

The one in front stepped forward.

A tall man with a calm expression, wearing a dark coat. His eyes glowed faintly, just like the one Ethan fought earlier.

But unlike that one—

This one wasn’t smiling.

"You’re new."

Ethan didn’t answer.

He studied them instead.

Left: a woman, arms crossed, watching silently.

Right: a younger guy, restless, shifting his weight like he was ready to attack.

Three different presences.

Three different styles.

"...And you’re not hiding it," Ethan said calmly.

The man in front tilted his head slightly.

"There’s no point."

Another step closer.

"Not anymore."

Ethan’s grip tightened slightly.

"...What do you mean?"

The woman finally spoke.

"You really don’t know anything."

Her tone was cold.

Not mocking.

Just factual.

Ethan exhaled slowly.

"...Then explain."

Silence followed.

The three exchanged brief glances.

Then the man spoke again.

"The system didn’t choose just you."

Ethan already suspected that.

But hearing it confirmed—

Changed everything.

"It activated across the city," the man continued.

"Maybe beyond."

Ethan’s expression hardened.

"...So this isn’t random."

The younger guy smirked.

"Of course not."

He stepped forward slightly.

"You think all this is coincidence?"

Ethan didn’t respond.

Because deep down—

He already knew.

"This is selection," the man said.

The word echoed.

Selection.

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

"...For what?"

The woman answered this time.

"Survival."

Simple.

Direct.

Uncomfortable.

The system flickered again.

SYSTEM NOTE: USER EXPOSURE INCREASED

Ethan ignored it.

His focus stayed on them.

"...And what happens to the ones who don’t survive?"

The younger guy laughed lightly.

"They disappear."

No hesitation.

No emotion.

Just truth.

Silence fell again.

Heavy.

Unavoidable.

Ethan took a slow breath.

"...So what now?"

The man looked at him carefully.

"Now we decide what to do with you."

Ethan’s eyes sharpened instantly.

"...With me?"

The atmosphere shifted.

Tension rising.

Not chaotic.

Controlled.

"You’re an unknown variable," the man said.

"And unknown variables are dangerous."

Ethan stepped forward slightly.

Not aggressive.

But not backing down either.

"...I’m not looking for trouble."

The younger guy scoffed.

"That doesn’t matter."

The woman’s gaze remained fixed on Ethan.

"Everyone says that at the beginning."

The system flickered again.

WARNING: HOSTILE INTENT DETECTED

Ethan exhaled slowly.

"...Of course."

His body relaxed slightly.

Not weakness.

Preparation.

"...Then let’s skip the talking."

The younger guy grinned.

"Finally."

He moved first.

Fast.

But—

Ethan moved faster.

Not rushed.

Not panicked.

Controlled.

He dodged cleanly.

Countered instantly.

CRACK!

The strike landed.

The younger guy staggered back.

Surprised.

"...He’s not weak," the woman said quietly.

The man watched carefully.

Not moving yet.

Analyzing.

The younger guy charged again.

More serious now.

Ethan adjusted.

Every movement precise.

Every reaction calculated.

They exchanged blows—

Fast.

Clean.

Relentless.

CRACK!

Another hit landed.

This time harder.

The younger guy stepped back.

Breathing heavier.

"...You’re improving mid-fight."

Ethan didn’t answer.

Because it was true.

The system flickered.

COMBAT SYNC: STABLE

Ethan moved again.

Closing distance.

Forcing pressure.

The younger guy blocked—but struggled.

"Enough."

The man stepped forward.

And everything stopped.

Just like that.

The pressure in the air shifted instantly.

Heavier.

Sharper.

Dominant.

Ethan’s body reacted before his mind did.

Step back.

Instinct.

"...He’s stronger."

The system flashed violently.

THREAT LEVEL: VERY HIGH

The man looked at Ethan calmly.

"That’s enough testing."

Testing.

Again.

Ethan frowned.

"...You people really like that word."

The man ignored the comment.

"You’re not weak."

"But you’re not ready either."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed.

"...Ready for what?"

The man turned slightly.

"What’s coming."

That answer didn’t help.

And somehow—

That made it worse.

The woman stepped forward slightly.

"You should leave."

Ethan didn’t move.

"...Or?"

The younger guy smirked again.

"Or next time, we won’t stop."

Silence.

Rain started again.

Light.

Cold.

Ethan looked at all three of them.

One by one.

Memorizing.

Understanding.

"...Fine."

He stepped back.

Slowly.

Carefully.

Not turning his back.

Not lowering his guard.

"...But this isn’t over."

The man nodded slightly.

"No."

"It’s just beginning."

Ethan turned.

And walked away.

Step by step.

The pressure faded—

But not completely.

The system flickered one more time.

NEW STATUS: USER RECOGNIZED BY OTHERS

Ethan exhaled slowly.

"...Great."

He looked up at the dark sky.

Rain falling again.

"...So this world just got bigger."

And far more dangerous