I Die to Become Stronger

THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE SYSTEM

Silence didn’t last long.

It never did in this new world.

Kai stood in the shattered remains of the dome, Mira still in his arms. Around them, survivors slowly backed away. No one spoke. No one dared to get too close.

They had watched him die.

Again and again.

And still stand up.

One woman whispered, “He’s not human.”

Kai heard her.

He didn’t react.

Mira stirred weakly. “Kai…”

“I’ve got you,” he said softly. “You’re safe.”

She tried to smile, but her face was pale, drained. Whatever she had done to interfere with the System had taken more out of her than she realized.

Kai helped her sit down against a wall.

“You shouldn’t have stepped in,” he said quietly.

She shook her head. “If I didn’t… you wouldn’t have come back as you.”

Kai had no answer for that.

Before he could speak again, slow clapping echoed from the far end of the street.

Clap.

Clap.

Clap.

Everyone froze.

A group of people emerged from between two ruined buildings. They walked calmly, confidently, as if monsters didn’t exist. Each of them wore strange markings painted on their clothes, blue symbols that resembled the System’s interface.

At their front walked a tall man with a shaved head and cold eyes.

“Beautiful,” the man said, smiling. “Absolutely beautiful.”

Kai stepped in front of Mira immediately.

“Who are you?” Kai asked.

The man bowed slightly. “We are the Chosen.”

Some survivors gasped.

The man spread his arms. “We believe in the System. We listen to it. We obey it.”

Mira whispered, “That’s… insane.”

“No,” the man corrected calmly. “It’s survival.”

The Chosen leader’s gaze locked onto Kai.

“You are the irregular,” he said. “The one who defies death.”

Kai didn’t deny it.

“You interfered with a correction unit,” the man continued. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Kai narrowed his eyes. “I stopped it.”

The man laughed softly. “You delayed it.”

He took a step forward.

“The System doesn’t make mistakes,” he said. “If it wants something erased, it’s for the good of humanity.”

Mira’s fingers dug into Kai’s sleeve.

Kai’s voice was cold. “Then humanity is already lost.”

The Chosen didn’t attack.

Not yet.

Instead, the leader snapped his fingers.

Two members dragged a trembling boy forward. He couldn’t have been more than sixteen. His face was bruised. His eyes were empty.

“He refused a trial,” the leader said casually. “The System deemed him unworthy.”

The boy looked at Kai desperately. “Please…”

Kai took a step forward.

The leader smiled. “Ah. See? You still feel something.”

Then, without warning, one of the Chosen slit the boy’s throat.

Blood splashed onto the ground.

Mira screamed.

Kai moved.

Too late.

The boy collapsed.

The System chimed softly.

Trial Failure Confirmed

Kai’s hands shook.

Not with fear.

With rage.

“You worship this thing,” Kai said slowly, “but you don’t hear what it’s really saying.”

The leader tilted his head. “Oh? Enlighten me.”

Kai pointed at the dead boy. “It doesn’t care about you. It doesn’t care about survival. It cares about control.”

The leader’s smile faded.

“Kill him,” he said calmly.

The Chosen attacked.

They weren’t normal humans.

They moved faster. Hit harder. Some had glowing symbols floating near their eyes, partial System enhancements.

Kai stepped forward.

But something stopped him.

Pain.

Real pain.

His body froze mid-step.

The System appeared again.

Warning:

Excessive deviation detected

Restriction Applied

Kai’s muscles locked.

“What did you do?” Mira cried.

Kai gritted his teeth. “It’s… limiting me.”

The Chosen leader watched with interest. “Of course it is. You’re valuable but not irreplaceable.”

The attackers closed in.

Mira stood up.

Her legs trembled, but her voice didn’t.

“Stop!” she shouted.

Everyone paused.

The leader looked amused. “And you are?”

“I’m the reason he’s still human,” Mira said.

The System flickered.

Variable Anchor Interference Detected

Mira closed her eyes.

For the first time, she didn’t panic.

She focused.

On Kai’s voice.

On his warmth.

On the way he looked at her before the world ended.

The restriction shattered.

Kai inhaled sharply.

Movement returned.

He exploded forward.

The fight was short.

Brutal.

Controlled.

Kai didn’t die this time.

He didn’t need to.

The Chosen fell one by one.

The leader backed away slowly, eyes wide not with fear, but awe.

“You’re… imperfect,” he whispered. “That’s why you’re dangerous.”

Kai grabbed him by the collar.

“Tell the System something for me,” Kai said quietly.

The leader laughed weakly. “It’s always listening.”

Kai leaned closer.

“So am I.”

He knocked the man unconscious.

Afterward, the survivors stared at Kai differently.

Not like a god.

Not like a monster.

Like a choice.

Mira sank down beside him, exhausted.

“I was scared,” she admitted softly. “But… I think I understand now.”

Kai looked at her. “Understand what?”

“This world isn’t just monsters and systems,” she said. “It’s people deciding what kind of humans they want to be.”

Kai nodded.

The System remained silent.

But far above, unseen, new parameters were being written.

Irregular Asset Escalated to Priority Threat

And somewhere beyond the ruined city, something ancient and curious smiled.