Ascension: Shadow Protocol

Chapter 23: Protocol: Red Horizon

"The stronger the light… the deeper the shadow."

Those words echoed through Ryo's mind as the monstrous being before him—once human, now warped into something unrecognizable—rose from the crater like a demon born from the core of the earth.

Its body pulsed with tendrils of dark energy. Veins glowed crimson beneath its charred skin. Twin horns curled from its forehead, and black flame shimmered where eyes should've been.

[Warning: Forbidden Entity recognized. Shadowborn Class: Apex.][Survivability: 12%][Shadow Protocol urges retreat.]

"Retreat?" Ryo muttered through clenched teeth. "Too late for that."

He activated his skills.

[Skill Activated: Shadow Step x2][Skill Activated: Phantom Slash Lv. 3]

The world slowed.

His body blurred forward, blades drawn, arcs of black steel humming as he carved a lethal path straight toward the Shadowborn's core.

But the creature moved faster.

It raised one clawed hand—and caught Ryo mid-strike with impossible ease.

"You're not ready," it growled, squeezing.

Bones cracked. Pain shot through Ryo's ribs.

He kicked off the creature's chest and somersaulted back, skidding across concrete.

Blood dripped from his mouth.

"You… You're connected to the Protocol too."

The creature's smile widened.

"I am what you will become... when you finally break."

Ryo's eyes narrowed.

"I'm not breaking. Not now. Not ever."

Meanwhile — Genesis Tower, Council of Executors

The room was silent save for the droning hum of suspended data holograms. Twelve figures cloaked in high-collared robes sat in a circular formation, watching the events of Sector 12 unfold in real-time.

The central figure leaned forward.

"He survived contact with a fully Awakened Shadowborn. He even fought it."

Another scoffed. "That boy is an anomaly. Just like his father."

The room grew tense.

"Let's not make the same mistake again," the central figure said coldly. "Initiate Red Horizon Protocol."

All eyes turned.

"But… that would level the entire district—"

"Exactly."

Back in Sector 12, Countdown: 04:37

[Red Horizon Detected. Emergency Evacuation advised.]

Ryo's Protocol pinged him with a warning.

"Area-wide purge protocol has been activated. Hostile detonation imminent."

The Shadowborn laughed as the skies above them turned crimson.

"Your kind always burns what it cannot control."

Ryo's mind raced. Escape? No. He'd never make it in time.

Fight? Even worse odds.

Unless—

He glanced at the creature's writhing chest. A glowing core pulsed there—like a heart made of shadow.

"One chance."

He leapt again.

The Shadowborn roared, energy lashing out like a tidal wave of night. Buildings crumbled. The ground split. Rubble turned to ash.

But Ryo moved through it all like a ghost.

[Ultimate Skill: Shadow Compression Blade - Unstable Form]

He drove both hands into his shadow, pulled, and forged a single pitch-black weapon—a blade twice his height, formed of pure pressure and darkness.

"Let's end this."

He dashed through the maelstrom, shadows cloaking his every step, and struck.

The blade pierced the core.

The creature let out a soundless scream as light and shadow burst outward in a violent implosion.

For a moment—just a second—there was only silence.

Then came the wave.

BOOM.

A column of red light tore into the heavens.

From far across the city, civilians and Hunters alike watched as Sector 12 vanished in a blinding, burning storm.

The purge was complete.

Unknown Time — Unknown Space

Darkness.

Then pain.

Ryo's eyes fluttered open. Dust. Rubble. Fire. He was alive.

Barely.

[System Recovery: 14%. Shadow Vein damage detected.][Shadowborn: Neutralized. Core Assimilated.][New Ability Acquired: Abyss Pulse Lv. 1]

He tried to move but couldn't. His body was broken—burned and bruised—but still his.

His gaze drifted up to the blood-red sky.

"Still here… huh."

A weak laugh escaped him.

Then a whisper from behind.

"You shouldn't have survived."

A girl's voice. Cold, sharp, familiar.

He turned his head painfully—and saw Aya Fujimoto standing at the edge of the rubble.

Hair like silver silk. Eyes glowing faintly.

"You're changing, Ryo."

She took a step forward.

"Faster than they predicted."

"Aya…?" he croaked.

She didn't smile. Didn't blink.

"They're going to come for you now. All of them. Gods. Hunters. The Council."

She paused.

"But not me. I'll help you… if you promise me one thing."

He tried to speak, but his throat was too dry.

She knelt beside him and whispered into his ear:

"When the time comes… choose me over the Protocol."

End of Chapter 23