The Price Of A Sacrifice

First target

The television screen in front of me glowed brightly, bathing the dark corners of the room in a piercing blue light that strained the eyes. There, in the center of a stage decorated with white lilies symbols of purity stood Julian Durnevra. He looked more vibrant than the last time I saw him, when he was lying at death's door. That suit, crafted by the finest tailors, hugged his body perfectly, hiding the surgical scars that, ironically, were made using a part of my own body.

"Julian, how does it feel to return to the public eye after your battle with that rare illness?" a female host asked, her voice dripping with adoration.

Julian smiled the specific kind of smile he always used to get exactly what he wanted. "Incredible. I feel like I've been given a second chance to serve the world through Durnevra Corp."

"You are a true hero, Julian. A survivor who inspires so many," the host continued.

I snorted softly, my voice sounding dry in the silence of the room. "A hero? He couldn't even stay alive without stealing a piece of his own younger brother."

[ EMOTION DETECTED: ANGER SPIKE LEVEL 4. ] The voice of the Altar of Loss system resonated in my head. [ ADVISED: CONTROL BREATHING TO MAINTAIN POWER STABILITY. ]

"I am calm, Altar. I am perfectly calm," I whispered to the empty air.

On the screen, the camera cut to Elena Durnevra sitting in the front row. She wore an elegant black silk dress, a lace handkerchief held in her hand. As the lens focused on her face, she began dabbing the corners of her eyes with practiced, dramatic movements.

"As a mother, seeing Julian rise from the brink of death is a miracle I cannot put into words," Elena said as a microphone was thrust toward her. Her voice trembled, filled with a hypocrisy that made my stomach turn. "We almost lost him. But the love of family saved him."

"Love?" I asked Elena's image on the screen. "Or do you mean... an investment? You cry for Julian in front of millions, but you didn't even look my way when I was dragged onto the operating table."

"Adrian, would you like me to hack this broadcast channel now?" Altar’s voice asked, offering a technical solution. "I can display the recordings of that illegal surgery in seconds."

I fell silent for a moment. The hand holding my glass of water trembled slightly. The urge to destroy them right then and there was overwhelming. I could see their faces turn pale if the world knew the truth. I could end this farce right now.

"No," I finally answered. "It's too soon. That would be too easy for them."

"Why?" the system asked with its pure logic. "The efficiency of vengeance would be higher if carried out while they are at the peak of their popularity."

"Because I don't just want to take them down, Altar. I want them to feel what it's like to be abandoned, discarded, and treated like trash before they finally die." I stood up, approaching the massive monitor that showed a close-up of Julian's face. "If I expose them now, they'll only be seen as criminals. I want them to be seen as monsters who don't deserve to live."

"Analysis accepted. Long-term plan: Architectural Destruction," the system replied.

I stared into Julian's eyes on the screen. They shone with arrogance. He truly believed he survived because of destiny, not because he had preyed upon his own brother.

"Look at him, Altar. He’s laughing on top of my blood," I said, pointing at the screen. "Every breath he takes is stolen. Every beat of his heart is an insult to me."

On the television, Dimitri Durnevra walked onto the stage. He placed a proud hand on Julian's shoulder. "Durnevra Corp will soon launch the 'Life Pillar' project. A dedication to Julian and everyone who needs new hope in healthcare."

"Life Pillar," I laughed bitterly. "A pillar built on a foundation of corpses. Dimitri really is a master architect of lies."

"Target fully identified," Altar notified me. "[ PRIMARY MISSION: COLLAPSE THE DURNEVRA PILLAR OF LIFE. ]"

"Give me a list of Julian's personal assets," I commanded.

The screen beside the main monitor immediately filled with rows of numbers and data. "He owns three shell firms, one yacht, and twelve million dollars in crypto investments. Most of those funds come from embezzling the company's research budget."

"Good," I smiled coldly. "He steals his father’s money for fun, while his father steals my body to save him. What a harmonious family."

I walked to my desk and grabbed a blood-red permanent marker. I stood back in front of the screen still broadcasting the celebration. The atmosphere there looked so grand. The clinking of champagne glasses could be heard faintly through the speakers.

"They are celebrating the 'recovery' of their hero," I murmured.

"Do you feel anything, Adrian?" Altar asked. "Pain? Or perhaps... longing?"

"Longing?" I stared at the screen blankly. "My sense of taste is gone. My filial affection was taken by you. All that’s left in my chest is a machine counting down the time until their deaths. I feel nothing but a cold silence."

I raised my hand, pressing the tip of the red marker directly onto Julian’s forehead on the screen.

"One by one," I whispered.

I drew a straight line, crossing out Julian’s face. The red ink covered his smug smile, creating a gruesome visual scar on the monitor.

"First, I will take your wealth. Then, I will take your reputation. And in the end..." I pressed the marker harder until the screen creaked. "...I will take that kidney back from your body."

"First target: Julian Durnevra. Status: Marked," Altar’s voice confirmed.

I turned away, leaving the television screen that was still broadcasting the festivities at the Durnevra mansion. In this dark room, I began drafting the first financial sabotage scheme that would shake Durnevra Corp’s stocks by tomorrow morning.

The world might know Julian as the hero who survived death. But to me, he is nothing but a defective product. And as the Architect, my primary task is to destroy that failure down to its roots.

"Let them celebrate tonight," I said, closing my laptop. "Because this is the last party they will ever enjoy in peace."

I stood in the darkness, staring at the remnants of the red line on the glowing screen. Under that streak, Julian’s face now looked like a monster—a reminder that out there, a Revenant was watching their every move.

"A beautiful night for destruction," I whispered to the silence.