Game of Higher Hands - Always One Step Late

8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOii5hvf91

The journey begins again.

A backpack.

A map.

Some food.

A few useful tools.

That is everything I need.

The world is much bigger now.

Before, I only cared about surviving.

Now...

I have a destination.

I walk along an old road.

Away from cities.

Away from crowds.

The map in my hand is different from before.

The first time I got it, it only showed a small area.

Then a city.

Then a state.

Now...

new parts are slowly appearing.

Not all at once.

Not clearly.

But enough.

I can see places that were hidden before.

Areas that normal maps don't show.

I stop near a mountain road.

Look at the paper.

A small mark.

Not a shard.

Not yet.

But this area feels strange.

I studied every forbidden zone report.

Every appearance pattern.

Every location.

They are not completely random.

There are connections.

Maybe the map is helping me see them.

Maybe the shard inside me changed it.

Maybe something else.

I don't know.

But I have a guess.

This place.

Soon.

A forbidden zone will appear here.

I put the map away.

Then continue walking.

Three days later.

My guess is correct.

Almost.

I wake up because my phone keeps shaking.

Emergency news.

Again.

I open it.

A new forbidden zone has appeared.

Location:

The northern mountain area.

I look at the coordinates.

Then smile.

"Interesting."

The location is exactly where I expected.

I look at the photo attached to the news.

A strange black fog.

Broken land.

A warning area.

Then I scroll down.

And I see another headline.

Unknown swordsman clears the forbidden zone alone.

I stop.

A photo appears.

Black hood.

Black scarf.

Sword.

Charly.

Again.

I stare at the picture.

Then laugh.

"Seriously?"

He is fast.

Too fast.

But now...

I notice something.

A pattern.

Every time a forbidden zone appears...

he arrives quickly.

He doesn't search.

He doesn't wait.

He already knows.

Which means...

Either he has his own information source.

Or...

He has a way to predict them.

I tap my finger on the screen.

"Interesting."

Then I scroll further.

Another picture.

Six people standing outside the forbidden zone.

Ethan's team.

The same expression.

The same situation.

Too late.

Again.

I laugh.

"Are you guys following him?"

"Or is he just too fast?"

Poor Ethan.

They are trying to save the world.

But somehow...

they are always one step behind.

I put my phone away.

The most interesting thing is not that Charly got the shard.

It is that the Chosen Team keeps appearing after him.

Like a shadow.

A very slow shadow.

I smile.

"Maybe I understand something."

Charly does not explain.

He does not cooperate.

He simply moves.

The Chosen Team reacts.

They chase.

They follow.

They arrive late.

Simple.

A strong person moving forward.

A group trying to catch up.

That is the game.

I spend the next few days waiting near another possible location.

Not because I am lazy.

Because patience is useful.

The old me would rush forward.

Try everything.

The current me watches first.

People reveal information when they move.

Governments.

Teams.

Enemies.

Everyone leaves traces.

During the day, I hide.

Observe.

Collect information.

At night, I train.

My speed.

My control.

My body.

The ability is changing again.

Small things are easier now.

A falling leaf.

A moving stone.

A flying object.

I can change them more naturally.

The feeling is strange.

Before, it felt like forcing something.

Now...

it feels like asking.

Like the world listens a little.

I don't know if that is good.

Usually, things that are too easy are dangerous.

A week passes.

No forbidden zone.

Then another week.

Still nothing.

I continue waiting.

And thinking.

The Chosen Team wants to collect shards.

Charly wants shards.

I want shards.

Three different players.

Same target.

The difference?

They need each other.

Charly doesn't.

And me?

I smile.

Maybe I don't need to fight them directly.

Sometimes...

the best way to change a game...

is not to attack the players.

It is to change where they move.

I check the map again.

A new line appears.

Not a shard.

A route.

A possible path.

I look at it.

Then look at the direction.

The Chosen Team is currently somewhere near this area.

Interesting.

I don't send them a message.

I don't call them.

I simply leave some information where they can find it.

A forgotten survival forum.

A small post.

A simple sentence.

"Strange activity detected near northern area."

Nothing more.

No name.

No explanation.

Just enough.

Because people who are searching for something...

will always notice information about it.

Especially desperate people.

I put my phone away.

Then continue walking.

The funny thing is...

I still say I want to stop them.

I still say I don't want the world restored.

But somehow...

every move I make...

changes the board.

Maybe I am making things harder.

Maybe I am making things easier.

I don't know.

And honestly?

That uncertainty makes it more interesting.

I look toward the empty road ahead.

"Come on."

"Show me what happens next."

The world does not answer.

But somewhere far away...

another piece begins to move.8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgQWgm7vHu

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