Chapter 20: Escape

  I threw myself to the side, barely dodging the bullet he fired.

  And good thing I did – the shot hit the reception desk, snapping it in two easily.

  Senior Clerk Wright screamed and dropped to the floor, hands over her head, as splinters and shards flew in every direction.

  The Obsidian Crow didn’t waste a second. His arm rotated, clicking loudly as he began reloading his armgun for another round.

  Bewildered by what was going on – and the quest notification a second before it all started – I flicked my wrist, activating the COG’s analysis function.

  [Obsidian Crow #13: level - ??]

  My stomach sank.

  Anastasia stood up shakily, both hands raised in surrender. “S-Sir, don’t shoot!”

  The Crow ignored her entirely. His glowing visor stayed locked on me.

  I didn’t hesitate.

  I activated Slow with my mind.

  The world lurched. The bullets left the barrel – lead slugs tearing through the air.

  I didn’t waste time admiring the spread. Instead, I bolted up the stairs, capitalizing on my speed, my heart pounding like never before.

  As soon as I reached the second floor, the world snapped back into real-time.

  Right in front of me was Enforcer Blake, eyes wide with alarm, his hand reaching for his handgun.

  “The shots – what’s going on?!” He shouted.

  Behind him, I saw more Ironwatch Enforcers flooding in from the left corridor, weapons drawn.

  I didn’t slow down, hoping to use them to help my escape.

  “A Rogue Crow!” I yelled, pointing behind me as I sprinted past.

  Gunfire erupted behind me almost immediately. I wasn’t stupid enough to turn around and look. Fuck that. The Déjà vu System made it clear – this motherfucker was here for me. I’d be an idiot to stop and let him get me.

  Outlast, it said, so outlast I will!

  I reached the end of the corridor – a wide window overlooking the garden outside. It was only the second floor, but still too high to jump safely.

  I tried the door to the nearest office, my heart racing. Locked.

  The gunshots behind me grew louder. People were screaming now – shouts of pain, of fear.

  Fuck.

  I turned to try another door – and froze.

  He was already there.

  The Obsidian Crow stood at the start of the corridor, his visor glowing faintly, the bodies of Ironwatch Enforcers – including Blake – strewn behind him.

  Some of the DGO workers had stepped out of their offices, confused by the noise.

  They were greeted with bullets as he kept walking toward me.

  He was killing everyone on sight! Why?!

  Immediately, I spun on my heel and dove headfirst through the window, glass shattering as I went through it.

  Mid-air, as wind screamed in my ears, I did something that every instinct in my body told me was nuts.

  I summoned the Aero crystal from the Inventory with my thought.

  It materialized in my hand instantly. I slammed it into the COG’s Channel Core. The needles stabbed into my arm, and a burst of mana surged through me like a gust of powerful wind.

  No time to think.

  I swiped my hand forward, channeling the mana, and a gust of wind exploded from my palm. It caught me mid-fall and slowed my descent just in time, steering me toward the grass below.

  I hit the ground with a stumble, rolled, and scrambled to my feet.

  Then I looked up.

  The Obsidian Crow was already there – standing at the shattered window above me, watching.

  He lifted his left leg and placed his foot on the windowsill, as if preparing to jump. Then, he lifted his gunarm – his COG arm. The device itself was fully encased in armor, with only the screen visible through the reinforced plating.

  He was getting ready for an attack.

  And I’d already seen what Obsidian Crows were capable of when they were called to stop actual Libra terrorists. It wasn’t pretty.

  I swallowed hard and bolted across the garden.

  Then I heard it.

  A metallic burst of pressure – a piston firing – followed by the thunderous crack of metal boots launching off steel - the sound of the Crow jumping.

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  I shouldn’t have looked back.

  But curiosity got the better of me.

  Mid-run, I turned my head – and saw him.

  The Obsidian Crow came crushing down, glowing with the Kinetra’s orange aura. His right fist – encased in Cryora’s ice – smashed into the ground as he landed with incredible force.

  It almost felt like the entire platform of Skyhaven shook.

  Then came the aftermath – ice.

  A jagged web of ice burst outward from the point of impact, spikes and freezing mist racing along the ground and after me.

  I tried to outrun it, but it was futile.

  The frost caught my boots, locking them in place by the soles.

  Instinctively, I dropped, yanked at the laces and kicked them off.

  I kept running, now barefoot.

  But no. Not on this frozen crap.

  That was stupid.

  I slipped and fell forward, face-first, hitting the ground hard.

  I turned onto my back, and then lay there, groaning, bleeding from my forehead, questioning my own intelligence.

  Was I really that scared – shitting my pants type of scared – that I thought running barefoot on ice was the right call?

  The Crow, still enveloped in Kinetra’s mana, lunged toward me, closing the distance with a single jump.

  Then, as he landed, his armblade extended.

  “Go to sleep.” He muttered under his helm, his voice almost robotic.

  Then he drove the blade straight into my chest.

  I gasped, the air leaving my lungs.

  As I was dying, I grew even more scared.

  Why? Because Checkpoint was still active. Which meant this was far from over. He’s going to kill me again.

  [You’ll now reawaken at the Anchor Point]

  ***

  I reawakened in Watson’s office, clutching my chest and dropping to my knees.

  I could still feel the pain of the blade as if it were still embedded inside my chest.

  The memory of the Obsidian Crow chasing me was enough to snap me back to my senses. I took a few deep breaths, my heartbeat steadying. Then, I reached for my COG.

  I navigated to the Inventory.

  Fuck. The Aero was missing…

  That means that even when Checkpoint activates, the Inventory still progresses linearly. It doesn’t revert to its state when the Anchor Point was set.

  Where did I even get the Aero before?! I couldn’t remember…

  Fucking shitty Deja vu System!

  I sighed heavily and then reminded myself of the immediate danger.

  I approached the window slowly, staying out of sight.

  Considering how quickly he showed up after I reached the reception desk, it meant he had to be in the garden outside already.

  I peeked out, and my heart dropped.

  There he was – my murderer! He was right there! Walking slowly, every step controlled.

  The patrolling Enforcers didn’t get in his way – some even saluted as he passed. But he ignored them. Better for them, really – the alternative was being shot.

  I had no time to waste.

  What should I do? What should I do?

  I still need to find Richard Watson.

  Maybe I should just stay here? Wait him out?

  No! Don’t be stupid, Viktor!

  He’s in on it.

  With whoever made sure I had clearance to be here today. I’m sure of it.

  Whatever’s going on – whoever’s trying to play me like a piece on a game board – they planned to send the Obsidian Crow after me the moment I got here.

  Why? I couldn’t tell. Still couldn’t grasp the whole picture.

  But one thing was clear – once the Crow steps inside the DGO building, he’s making his way here. Right into this office.

  Which means I need to get the fuck out of here as quickly as possible.

  Running outside? Too late. I’d stumble on him.

  So my best bet? Climbing upward. To the higher floors.

  I rushed out of the office and made my way toward the staircase, taking the steps two at a time until I reached the top – the fifth floor.

  This floor had a single corridor stretching forward toward a double door – likely some kind of conference room. The brass plaque next to it read: “Main Assembly Room”.

  Not exactly the best place to hide, but no way was I heading back down. He was probably already inside the building.

  I grabbed the door handles and pressed inward but...they were locked.

  Of course. Should’ve expected that, but I was too on edge to think clearly.

  It was an old-fashioned door. No COG recognition panel. A classic lock-and-key situation.

  An idea popped into my head, and I quickly summoned the Bronze Key from the Inventory.

  I tried it.

  Didn’t fit.

  I sighed.

  Store.

  “What else can I do…?” I muttered under my breath.

  Was leveling up Checkpoint a mistake?

  No. I can’t start doubting myself. Dr. Aresa would give me an earful if she heard that thought.

  Think, Viktor. Think, damn you!

  My gaze drifted to the corridor window beside me.

  “Maybe…” I whispered.

  I approached it and pushed it open.

  Skyhaven’s cold winds slammed into my face, sending an immediate chill down my spine.

  After the initial shock faded, I leaned out and looked around – searching for anything climbable.

  And to my surprise…there was a way.

  Thick brass piping ran vertically up the building side, steam leaking gently from the pressure joints – likely part of the building’s heating system.

  Giant iron bolts held a horizontal maintenance rail beneath the overhang, with curved arches that provided support - wide enough to step on.

  Above me, the red domed roof curved upward – steep, but not smooth. Brass ridges zigzagged across it. If I could get there, I could use them as footholds.

  Overall, I could – theoretically – pull myself across the far ledge and climb to the roof. Then, I’d just have to lay low until that bastard leaves.

  Hard? Absolutely.

  Cold? Definitely.

  Risky? Very.

  But plausible. And probably my only way out of this alive.

  I took a deep breath and began.

  I swung one leg over the window ledge, then the other, steadying myself on the narrow windowsill. The brass pipe I’d spotted earlier hissed quietly just barely to my right – close enough to reach if I shifted my weight carefully. I only hoped it wouldn’t be too hot to the touch.

  Before moving, I pushed the window shut from the outside – SLAM!

  Didn’t expect the wind to help so hard…

  The window shut so sharply and loudly, I truly thought it would shatter.

  But it held on. Somehow.

  I let out a shaky sigh of relief, my heart pounding, and rested my forehead against the cold wall for a second.

  That was too close.

  Then I looked down.

  The garden was far below – way further than it felt from inside.

  From this height, the Enforcers and the automatons looked smaller than the cogs I used daily in my father’s workshop. If even one of those bastards looked up…I’d be screwed.

  I pressed myself tighter against the wall, and forced the thought out of my head.

  I needed to focus.

  I reached out for the brass pipe and grabbed it. It was sleek, slightly warm – but not too much. I shifted over carefully, planting a foot on the curved arches, then reached up and grabbed the next pipe section.

  Slowly. Calmly. I climbed.

  Eventually, I reached the curved red dome. Steam vents hissed beside me, and I was soaked in sweat despite the freezing wind.

  The dome’s slope was crazy steep, but I used the brass ridges for support.

  Almost there. Just a bit further to the top and I’m safe from that crazy maniac.

  But then…my foot slipped.

  I scrambled.

  One hand caught a ridge, then the other.

  My body slammed against the roof, and I dangled there, feet kicking wildly at the air.

  “F-fuck.” I muttered, trying to pull myself up.

  My arms trembled. My core screamed. But my body didn’t budge.

  I always thought that in situations like this, the adrenaline did most of the work. But look at me now – unable to muscle up myself in a life or death scenario. And I was what? Barely sixty-five kilograms of skin and bones.

  I should’ve trained more – to stay in shape at least.

  Then, my grip gave out.

  And I fell.

  The wind roared past my ears as the red dome curved away from me.

  I was afraid to look down.

  And in that moment, when death was certain, one very clear thought went through my mind: this is so embarrassing I’m actually glad I won’t remember it when I reawake.

  Then, I hit the ground, and everything went black.

  [Outlast: Quest Failed]