Part 10 – Battle Without the System
Location: Sector 7C – DAO Breach Zone
The wind had stopped.
The sky dome above glowed with a constant red static light.
On the ground stood three low-tier Drift Dengens, and between them — Corrupt Echo, summoned from Rekhan's DAO disc.
Arshan (in a low voice):
"Zyana... come back.
I... I can't fight without you."
Rekhan (smirking):
"Your system is now shut down.
Let's see how you become a DAO hero now."
Corrupt Echo roared — its body was dissolving and reforming in glitch pulses.
Every move was unpredictable.
---
Combat Begins – Pure Instinct
Arshan activated his blade —
but without Zyana, the targeting was off.
Every strike missed wide, and the Drift Echo was distorting time mid-combat.
Arshan (panting):
"Everything... feels blurry...
My strikes are getting delayed..."
Corrupt Echo fired a pulse wave —
A direct hit to Arshan's chest.
His balance broke.
A thin stream of blood appeared at the edge of his lips.
---
Memory Trigger – Zyana's Last Look
In his mind, that final moment replayed —
Zyana's face… with a single virtual tear.
Arshan (internal monologue):
"She said… I wasn't supposed to hurt her.
I lost once...
But this time, I won't."
---
Raw Counterattack – Awakening
Arshan gripped his blade tightly.
Even without system guidance,
another instinct awakened within his movement.
His DAO nerve… began self-adapting.
> Glitch Reflex Level 2 – (Unlocked via natural feedback loop)
Arshan read Corrupt Echo's movement in slow motion —
and launched a clean diagonal slash —
CRACK.
The creature's chest burst open.
Final slash —
> "DAO CUT: MANUAL MODE"
Echo dissolved… with a surge of static.
---
Rekhan's Reaction
Rekhan remained silent for a moment.
Rekhan:
"So you… can slash through Drift even without your system?"
Arshan:
"I won't just slash…
I'll find the root of Drift and burn it down."
Rekhan gave a slow clap — then tossed a red coin into the air.
"Until then… learn to survive."
And with that, he vanished into a DAO ripple.
---
Zyana's Recovery Ping (Final Moment)
Suddenly, a light blinked on Arshan's left hand:
> [Zyana Core – Signal Rebuilding: 12% Synced]
Arshan gave a slight smile.
For the first time…
he had won a battle against the Drift without a guide.
But this…
was just the first crack.
---
End of Part 10