The first move no longer came from them.
It came from Damián.
It wasn't fast in the traditional sense, nor was it clean or technical, but it was precise in intent—and that was all that mattered now. His body surged forward without hesitation, closing the distance with a determination that hadn't existed in him just hours ago, forcing both men to react instead of execute, and that simple shift completely altered the flow of the fight.
[Combat Adaptation active]
[Pattern reading…]
[Opportunity window detected]
The masked man tried to step back to regain space, but Damián didn't allow it. His movement remained aggressive, constant, invading his range, forcing him to defend instead of attack. The shard of glass in his hand came down again, not seeking perfect precision, but continuous pressure, forcing mistakes.
And the mistake came.
Small.
Almost invisible.
But enough.
The edge slid deeper this time, piercing through the improvised defense and opening a more serious wound on the attacker's side, triggering an immediate reaction—a wider step back, a disrupted breath.
[Accumulated damage on target: HIGH]
[Neutralization probability: 34%]
But that number didn't last.
Because the other one was already moving.
The man without a mask appeared at Damián's flank with a speed that surpassed everything before. His attack wasn't meant to warn, nor to measure—it was meant to finish him.
A clean strike.
Direct.
To the head.
Damián saw it.
But this time…
It wasn't enough.
The impact connected fully.
Everything went white for a second.
His body lost balance.
The ground received him violently.
[Critical damage]
[END insufficient]
[Status: UNSTABLE]
The sound of the rain faded.
Not completely.
But enough.
As if it were drifting away.
Far away.
*Get up…*
The voice wasn't external.
It wasn't the system.
It was his.
But it sounded… different.
Colder.
Emptier.
More dangerous.
He tried to move, but his body didn't respond immediately. The pain was too much, his vision fracturing into shadows and light, and for the first time since everything began…
Death felt close again.
Real.
Inevitable.
[Warning: Imminent mission failure]
[Time remaining: 19:21:03]
A step.
He heard it.
Then another.
They were approaching.
Unhurried.
As if the ending had already been decided.
*It's over,* said the unmasked man with absolute calm.
And in that instant…
Something inside Damián…
Broke.
It wasn't physical.
It wasn't visible.
It was internal.
Like a barrier that ceased to exist.
[Critical condition reached]
[Unlocking restricted protocol…]
[ERROR…]
[Forcing execution…]
The system faltered.
For the first time.
The notifications distorted for a moment, as if something within its structure wasn't designed for what was happening.
And then…
It responded.
[Special state activated]
[OVERDRIVE: PRIMAL INSTINCT]
The world returned.
But not the same.
Slower.
Clearer.
More… simple.
Damián opened his eyes.
And this time…
There was no doubt.
No fear.
No unnecessary thought.
Only one objective.
Survive.
At any cost.
The masked man stepped forward to finish him, but something in his posture changed—a subtle tension that hadn't been there before.
Because he felt it.
They all felt it.
The shift.
Damián stood up.
Not fast.
Not elegant.
But completely stable.
His breathing was low.
Controlled.
His eyes…
Empty.
[Active state: OVERDRIVE]
[Effects: Pain suppression — Extreme reflex enhancement — Absolute priority: survival]
The first attack came.
But this time…
It didn't land.
Damián moved.
A minimal, perfect shift, as if his body already knew exactly where not to be, and in that same instant, he counterattacked.
Not with the glass.
With his hands.
He struck the open wound of the unmasked attacker with brutal precision, driving his fingers into the exact point where the damage was greatest.
A scream.
Real.
Pure pain.
[Critical hit]
[REF +2]
[INS +1]
He didn't stop.
Didn't think.
Didn't hesitate.
He moved toward the second one.
Faster.
More direct.
The attacker tried to react, but now…
It was too late.
Damián twisted his body, dodging the attack by millimeters and responding with a sharp strike to the neck that momentarily cut off the man's breath.
[Momentary advantage acquired]
The world was still slow.
Too slow.
And that…
Was dangerous.
Because it wasn't normal.
Because it shouldn't be happening.
But at that moment…
It didn't matter.
Because Damián wasn't fighting like before.
He was executing.
Without emotion.
Without doubt.
Without limits.
The two men stepped back at the same time.
For the first time.
And that changed everything.
The unmasked man watched him with a completely different intensity, his breathing slightly altered, his posture now more defensive than offensive.
*…this isn't a normal awakening,* he murmured.
And it wasn't.
Because the system…
Wasn't just helping Damián.
It was breaking its own limits to keep him alive.
[Time remaining: 19:18:47]
The mission was still active.
But now…
There was something more.
Something no one had anticipated.
Damián took a step forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
And for the first time since everything began…
The hunters…
Hesitated.
Because in that moment…
The prey was gone.
And in its place…
There was something else.