Gerrik's scout reached Stonehollow just after noon.
A lone figure, wrapped in silver mail and confidence, stepped onto the east road with his blade unsheathed and a tracking module glowing on his wrist.
No stealth.No ceremony.Just a system-cleared route and a bounty to check off.
He didn't knock.
He didn't call out.
He simply walked.
And Stonehollow — for a moment — held its breath.
Kiriti heard the metal boots first.
He was near the chapel, helping Emeric with gear checks, when the sound echoed up the cobblestone spine of the town. Too clean. Too fast. Too off.
Emeric's hand stopped mid-motion on a strap.
"Scout," he said.
Kiriti nodded.
"I'll go."
Emeric gave no protest.
Just handed him a simple short spear — unmarked, undecorated, sharpened to a fine point.
"He's not here to talk."
"I know."
Kiriti stepped out into the square.
The scout was already halfway across.
Confident. Eyes scanning buildings, not people.
NPCs moved out of his way — not prompted by code. By instinct.
The scout paused when he saw Kiriti.
No guild badge visible, but the nameplate floated bright in the air:
[PLAYER – Doran | Iron Pact | Lvl 38]
"Kiriti," the man said. Flat. Almost bored.
"You know me?"
Doran shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I'm here to ping your trace. Tag the settlement. Move on."
"Not here to fight?"
"No point." He tapped the side of his helmet. "We already won."
Kiriti didn't move.
"Don't mark this town."
"Why?"
"They don't deserve what's coming."
Doran laughed once. "They're code."
"They're people."
"They're scripted lines."
"They trusted me."
The scout took one step forward.
Kiriti raised the spear.
Doran's hand drifted to his sword.
"No one says you have to die here," he said.
"I'm not planning to."
The clash wasn't cinematic.
No glowing skills. No bladed ballet.
Just two figures.One trying to finish a job.One standing in the way of everyone else's definition of progress.
They traded two strikes. Then three.Doran was faster. Sharper. Level 38.
Kiriti was none of those things.
But he wasn't alone.
When Doran pivoted to flank, a small jar rolled from a rooftop.
It cracked open beside his feet — smoke and powder billowing in a sudden burst.
Doran staggered.
"Wha—?"
From behind a stall, a boy in a patched shirt shouted:
"He trained us to watch shadows!"
Doran raised his sword again — only to be met by a shovel's broad side.
The baker. Covered in flour. Hands shaking.
Behind him, the stablehand — a teen with no weapon, just a rusted pot lid and a look in his eye that said enough.
Kiriti struck.
Clean. Not brutal.
Just a step. A breath. A thrust.
Doran dropped.
The system didn't even flash a red alert.Because it hadn't expected him to fail.
Silence fell over the square.
The townsfolk stepped back. Not out of fear.
But in awe.
Kiriti knelt by the scout's fallen form.
He didn't loot him.
He just said:
"Tell Gerrik this isn't a zone. It's a home."
📄 [ALERT: UNEXPECTED COMBAT RESOLUTION]— Player Kiriti (Level 11) has neutralized Player Doran (Level 38)
Cause: Coordinated Civil Resistance
📄 Tag Unlocked: "Tactical Anchor – Emotional AI Link"
❗ Kiriti's Influence Tier: ELEVATED❗ Guild Activity Update: Iron Pact has flagged Stonehollow as HIGH VALUE TARGET❗ Player Behavior Watchlist: Kiriti – Priority Class C (Noncompliant Narrative Instigator)
As the town returned to stillness, Emeric stepped beside Kiriti.
"You didn't hesitate," the old captain said.
"I didn't have time to."
"You bought us some."
Revi watched from the chapel rooftop.
Didn't speak.
But her hand hovered over the [Record POV] button on her HUD.
And for the first time in weeks, she pressed it.