The road ahead was quiet.
Too quiet.
Karam followed the man without asking questions. Every step felt deliberate, as if the ground itself was listening. The city lights blurred behind them as they left the main streets and entered an old, abandoned district.
Broken buildings. Empty roads. No people.
A place that felt… forgotten.
Karam stopped.
"Where are we going?"
The man didn't turn around.
"Somewhere safe."
Karam's eyes narrowed.
"Nothing about you feels safe."
A faint smile.
"Good. That means you're still thinking."
They continued walking until they reached a large, rusted gate hidden behind collapsed structures. The man placed his hand on it—and for a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
A soft pulse of energy spread outward.
📊 [System Signal Detected]
The blue screen flickered in Karam's vision.
But—
It distorted.
Glitched.
Karam froze.
"...It's reacting."
The man looked back.
"Of course it is."
The gate slowly opened.
Beyond it—
There was nothing.
Karam stared.
"This is…"
The man stepped forward.
"A blind spot."
Karam followed him inside.
And the moment he crossed the threshold—
Silence.
The world… changed.
No sound.
No system interface.
No notifications.
Karam stopped breathing for a second.
"I… can't feel it."
The man finally turned to face him.
"Yes."
A pause.
"This is one of the few places where the system cannot directly observe."
Karam looked around.
The space was strange. Not a room. Not a building.
More like a void… disguised as a place.
"Explain."
The man crossed his arms.
"What do you think the system is?"
Karam didn't answer immediately.
He thought carefully.
"A tool."
The man nodded slightly.
"Partially correct."
He stepped closer.
"But it's more than that."
A long silence followed.
"The system you have… is not just giving you power."
Karam's eyes narrowed.
"Then what is it doing?"
The man's expression turned serious.
"It's rewriting you."
Silence.
Karam's expression didn't change.
But his eyes sharpened.
"Explain."
The man raised a hand.
"Every time you gain strength…"
He paused.
"…something in you is removed."
Karam clenched his fist slightly.
"I noticed."
"Good," the man replied. "Most don't."
He walked a few steps forward.
"You think you're getting stronger."
He turned back.
"But in reality… you're becoming less human."
Karam remained silent.
"Memory loss. Emotional decline. Identity changes."
The man pointed at him.
"You're not just evolving."
"You're being edited."
A heavy silence filled the space.
Karam finally spoke.
"Why?"
The man sighed.
"Because the system needs something specific."
"A perfect protagonist."
Karam's eyes darkened slightly.
"Define 'perfect'."
The man looked at him carefully.
"Someone who can adapt to any situation."
"Someone who can grow without limit."
"Someone who can survive… no matter what happens."
He paused.
"Even if it means losing everything else."
Silence.
Karam looked down at his hand.
"Then I'm not 'perfect' yet."
The man smirked slightly.
"No."
"You're close."
A faint wind—though there was no source—passed through the void.
Karam looked up.
"If this place hides me…"
He stepped forward.
"Then I can grow here."
The man nodded.
"Yes."
"But growth comes at a cost."
Karam met his gaze.
"I already understand that."
The man studied him for a moment.
Then spoke:
"Good."
A pause.
Then—
"Then let's begin your real training."
Suddenly—
The space shifted.
A figure appeared in front of Karam.
Not human.
Not entirely solid.
Its presence was overwhelming.
"Fight it."
Karam's eyes widened slightly.
"Without the system's assistance."
A faint smile formed on Karam's face.
"Finally."
The figure moved.
Fast.
Karam reacted.
No system.
No assistance.
Just instinct.
Their fight began.
⚡ [End of Chapter 24 – True training begins]