Prologue

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2076, King's Row, 8:47 P.M.

The sky was dark, thick with clouds that threatened more than just rain. The steady drizzle wasn’t heavy, but each drop felt deliberate, like the world itself was pressing down on the city. Gloomy. Oppressive. The kind of night where even hope seemed to wane. The rain trickled down, pooling on the grimy streets, as if feeding a city that had long since withered.

King's Row was infamous, the scar of the Omnic Uprising still fresh despite the years. Null Sector had claimed this place as a battleground for their fight for Omnic liberation. What followed was chaos—Overwatch, once a symbol of peace, now tarnished by allegations of corruption and covert operations. King's Row became a symbol of all that had gone wrong.

Raindrops dribbled against a windowpane, the sound barely audible over the low hum of the city. Inside, a shadowed figure stood, partially illuminated by the dim, flickering light of a single bulb. The figure watched the world outside, his face unreadable. Hovercars floated lazily along the roads, their passengers oblivious to the history beneath their feet. Umbrellas bobbed through the streets as people hurried to escape the weather, while in the shadows, Omnics huddled in alleyways, trying to avoid the abuse that still clung to them like a curse.

The figure sighed, stepping away from the window. His gaze fell to a small photo frame on a nearby table. His fingers traced its edges before lifting it to eye level. His expression softened—just for a moment—before the weight of reality brought his shoulders low again. He sighed and set the frame down.

“If only…” The words barely escaped his lips, too quiet for anyone but himself to hear. “If only things could’ve been different. The world… might still be at peace.”

He stood there for a while, the hum of the city and the soft patter of rain filling the silence. He didn’t move, not until his eyes drifted back to the window, staring at the night sky, wondering if the future held any answers… or more pain.

“My name is Shaun Oxton,” he said at last, his voice firmer, yet still carrying the weight of uncertainty. “And I will do my part... in saving this world.”

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