Sins of the Reborn Vanguard

The Glass Ceiling

"Too slow," Leon whispered. "My turn."

"Leon! Move! Get out of the way!" Jax screamed, his voice cracking with pure terror.

"[Warning: Incipient impact in 0.4 seconds. Activating 'Goblin Reflexes' physical override,]" the system's mechanical voice chimed directly in his head.

"I can see it... I can see everything!" Leon shouted, his body twisting with an unnatural, fluid speed.

The massive spiked club whistled through the air, missing Leon's shoulder by mere inches and smashing into the stone parapet with an ear-splitting crash.

"How did you dodge that?!" Thomas shrieked from behind, clutching his head in sheer disbelief. "That giant club should have flattened you!"

"No time to gawk, Thomas! Keep those ladders clear!" Leon commanded. He gripped his iron spear with both hands, his knuckles turning bone-white. "This is your end, you ugly bastard!"

"GROOOH?!" the Hobgoblin grunted, its massive head leaning forward in confusion as its heavy club remained wedged in the shattered stone.

"[Target weak spot fully exposed beneath the left eye socket. Strike now, host,]" the system urged.

"Take this!" Leon roared, lunging forward with a sudden burst of explosive power. He threw his entire body weight behind the thrust.

Squelch.

The iron tip of the standard spear sank deep into the beast's skull through its left eye.

"GRAAAAAAGH!" the Hobgoblin bellowed, a spray of hot, black blood erupting from the wound. It flailed its giant arms wildly, shattering the wooden railing of the scaffold.

"Get back! Fall back!" Jax yelled, dragging Thomas away from the thrashing monster.

Leon yanked his spear free, stumbling backward as the giant body rolled off the battlements, crashing onto the rocky ground below with a dull thud.

"Is... is it dead?" Thomas whimpered, peering over the edge. "Did we actually win?"

"Look at the others! They're running!" Jax cheered, pointing at the remaining goblins scrambling down the ladders. "They're retreating! We did it! We actually did it, Leon!"

Leon let out a long, ragged breath, his knees buckling beneath him. "Ah... damn it... my body..."

"[Combat encounter resolved. Threat neutralized. Initiating reward calculation...]" the system stated.

"Leon! Hey, Leon! Stay with me, buddy!" Jax caught him before he hit the deck, his face filled with worry. "You're bleeding again! Did that monster touch you?"

"No... just exhausted," Leon muttered, his vision spinning. "The strain... it's too much for this rookie body. My muscles... they feel like they're tearing."

"We need to get him to the barracks, Thomas! Grab his other arm!" Jax ordered.

"Right, right! Let's go before Captain Vargas comes up here and makes us pull another shift!" Thomas agreed, hoisting Leon up.

The walk back to the barracks was a blur of aching muscles and distant, fading shouts. Once inside, they laid him down.

"Lay him down gently, Thomas. Gently!" Jax hissed.

"I'm trying! He's heavier than he looks!" Thomas panted, setting Leon on his thin straw mattress. "Man, he was like a different person out there."

"Thanks, guys. I'll be fine. Just... let me rest," Leon whispered, closing his eyes.

"We'll guard the door. Call us if you need anything, alright? You're a hero today, Leon," Jax said, pulling the blanket over him before walking away with Thomas.

Once the door clicked shut, Leon spoke in a low whisper. "Alright, System. We're alone. Show me what we got. Give me the numbers."

"[Host Status Update. Experience acquired from Hobgoblin elimination. Current Unallocated Stat Points: 15. Please select attributes for distribution,]" the system replied.

"Perfect. Put ten points into Strength, and the remaining five into Agility. I need to make sure my muscles can keep up with my mind next time," Leon commanded.

"[Processing... Error. Command denied. Stat allocation failed.]"

"What? Denied?" Leon sat up, his brow furrowed. "Why? You said I could use these points to get stronger! Explain this right now!"

"[Host soul container capacity is currently at maximum limit for a low-level Vanguard vessel. Progression is locked.]"

"Are you kidding me? A limit cap already? I'm barely stronger than an average soldier!" Leon hissed, punching his mattress in frustration. "How do I break this lock? Tell me!"

"[Analyzing soul container structural integrity... Limit Break Quest generated.]"

"A quest? What do I have to do? Kill a Tier 3 beast? Hunt down a dragon?" Leon mocked.

"[Limit Break Quest: Commit the Sin of Theft. Target: Acquire the Purified Stone of Light. Penalty for failure: Spiritual regression and permanent lock of system functions.]"

Leon's heart sank. "The Purified Stone of Light? You want me to steal the camp's sacred relic? The one that keeps us safe?"

"[Correct. The Purified Stone of Light contains highly concentrated spiritual energy. Consuming its essence will expand the host's soul container by 300%.]"

"But that stone is the only thing keeping the nocturnal miasma from seeping into the valley!" Leon argued, his voice shaking with anger. "If I steal it, the soldiers—Jax, Thomas, Vargas—they'll all be exposed to the corruption! They'll turn into mindless husks! Do you want me to murder my own comrades?!"

"[The choice remains with the host. To defeat the Hero Ares and alter the tragic future, ultimate strength is required. Sins are the fuel for the Sin Eater. One must become a monster to defeat monsters.]"

"Ultimate strength..." Leon muttered, staring at his trembling hands. "If I don't get stronger, Ares will murder me again in twenty years. He'll destroy the entire kingdom. Thousands will die anyway."

"[A logical deduction. The sacrifice of the few for the survival of the host is the core philosophy of the Sin Eater System.]"

"I hate you, you know that?" Leon whispered. "But you're right. I can't afford to be weak. Not again. I will do whatever it takes."

The door opened slightly, and Jax poked his head in, looking relieved to see Leon sitting up. "Leon? Are you still talking to yourself? I swear, that blow to the head did something to you."

"I'm just planning, Jax. Come in here for a second," Leon said, beckoning him.

"What's up? You look like you're about to commit a crime," Jax joked, sitting on the edge of the adjacent bed. "Seriously, you have this creepy look on your face."

"Jax... do you know where Commander Kael keeps the Purified Stone of Light?" Leon asked, trying to sound casual.

"Kael's office, obviously. Why do you ask?" Jax raised his eyebrows. "Are you planning on staring at it? It's pretty, but Kael doesn't let anyone touch it."

"I was just thinking... if the monsters breached the wall today, what's stopping them from targeting our most valuable asset?" Leon lied smoothly. "Is the security around his office tight?"

"Tight? It's practically a fortress!" Jax laughed, shaking his head. "Kael's private study is in the center of the inner keep. He's got two veteran guards at the door twenty-four-seven. And the stone itself is locked inside an iron safe enchanted with physical resistance wards."

"And the key to the safe?" Leon pressed, leaning closer. "Where does he keep it?"

"Kael keeps it on his belt. It never leaves his side. Even when he sleeps, he keeps it tucked under his pillow," Jax explained. "Forget about it, Leon. Nobody's getting close to that key. The Commander is a Tier 4 Master Warrior. He'd sense you from ten paces away."

"A Tier 4 Master..." Leon murmured. "What about his routine? When does he leave the office?"

"Well, he always does his rounds at exactly four in the morning to check the outer watchtowers," Jax said, yawning deeply. "He locks the office door, leaves the guards outside, and walks the perimeter for thirty minutes. But like I said, the key goes with him."

"Thirty minutes... that's more than enough time," Leon whispered.

"Did you say something?" Jax blinked, his eyes half-closed. "I didn't catch that."

"Nothing, Jax. Go to sleep. You've had a long night," Leon said, patting his shoulder. "We both need our rest."

"Yeah... you too, hero," Jax mumbled, falling backward onto his mattress and instantly snoring.

Leon waited until Jax's breathing became heavy and rhythmic. He quietly slipped out of bed, his boots making no sound on the cold stone floor. He crept out of the barracks and made his way toward the inner courtyard, blending into the deep shadows of the wooden watchtowers.

In the center of the yard, the torches flickered against the damp night air, illuminating a tall, imposing figure in polished silver plate armor.

"Keep the perimeter tight! I want no lapses in security tonight!" Commander Kael barked at a group of tired lieutenants. "The miasma is growing thicker in the valley, and we cannot afford to lose our focus!"

"Yes, Commander! The wall is being repaired as we speak!" a lieutenant replied, bowing.

"Good. I will perform my personal inspection now," Kael declared, turning back toward his private quarters.

Leon pressed himself flat against the cold stone wall of the armory, holding his breath as Kael walked past.

Kael walked up the steps to his office, his heavy cape billowing behind him. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy brass ring.

Clink.

The sound of metal echoing in the quiet night made Leon's pulse race.

"I'm sorry, Commander," Leon whispered into the dark, his eyes locking onto the target. "But I need that power. I have to survive."

Kael inserted the key, turning the heavy lock with a loud, metallic clank. As he stepped inside, the torchlight caught the golden, intricately carved key hanging prominently from the left side of his leather belt, glittering like a tiny, mocking star in the night.

"Target locked," Leon muttered, his gaze hardening as the office door closed. "The countdown begins."