The hallway outside Agilan's room was strangely silent.
Raiden didn't grab him or force him — he just walked ahead, hands in his coat pockets, like a parent leading a troubled son to the principal's office.
Agilan followed quietly.
Footsteps echoed.
Neither spoke… until Raiden finally broke the silence.
"You had another dream, didn't you?"
Agilan didn't answer — but Raiden didn't need words.
He sighed.
"When someone carries power that big… the nightmares are always the first thing to come."
That wasn't a joke.
It wasn't sarcastic.
It felt like Raiden knew something — something old.
They entered the elevator, doors sliding shut.
Inside the metal walls, Raiden spoke in a low voice — so low only Agilan could hear.
"Whatever they ask you today… don't deny and don't confirm. Just keep quiet."
Agilan frowned slightly.
"Why?"
Raiden looked up at the security camera in the corner — then back at him.
"Because the Council doesn't want to imprison you. They want ownership."
The lights in the elevator reflected in Raiden's eyes — a flash of anger he tried to hide.
"You're not a weapon for sale. Not under my watch."
The elevator opened.
Now the hallway wasn't empty — it was crowded.Guards stood along the walls, but not threateningly. They were pretending everything was normal.
Agilan realized:
This wasn't a meeting.
This was a show.
A reminder of who held power here.
At the end of the carpeted hall stood a massive door — steel polished like glass, engraved with the symbol of Apex.
Two advisors opened it.
The room inside was dim, lit by a circular table.
Seven Council members sat around it — all elite hunters, all dangerous, all old enough to have survived multiple near-death realities.
Agilan walked in with Raiden at his side.
Immediately, he looked around.
Ananya was there too.
She wasn't seated. She stood behind a chair — as if she fought to be in this room.
She didn't look at Agilan, but the slight movement of her fingers told him:
I'm here. You're not alone.
The Council leader spoke first — Chief Seung-Ho, calm, old, eyes sharp as if he measured souls.
"Hunter Agilan Shaktivel. Thank you for accepting this summons."
Agilan didn't bow and didn't act arrogant. He just nodded — perfectly neutral.
Seung-Ho continued:
"We won't waste your time. We want clarity."
A hologram projected into the air — showing medical scans of Agilan in the hospital, the night the mold fused with him.
Everyone in the room turned toward the screen —
except Raiden and Ananya.
They already knew.
A Councilwoman leaned forward.
"You carry a living organism that cannot be classified. It is not demonic, not parasitic, and not viral. It is something that predates them."
Her eyes locked onto Agilan.
"We want to conduct research. Not to imprison you — but to protect humanity."
Agilan's jaw tightened.
Raiden stepped forward — gently, but firmly.
"With all respect, you're not asking. You're demanding compliance."
Seung-Ho didn't deny it.
Then he said:
"Agilan. If your power grows beyond control… who do you think will stop you?"
That question didn't come from hate.
It came from fear — the kind only veterans understand.
Agilan's voice was quiet and controlled:
"If I ever lose control… I would rather die than let innocent people get hurt."
Every single person in the room fell silent.
Even the Council didn't expect that answer.
Seung-Ho exhaled.
"You are not the monster we feared."
Then he stood — slowly, with authority.
"Then let us be clear. We will NOT force you into a lab. And we will NOT cage you."
The tension in the room softened — slightly.
"But," Seung-Ho continued, "we expect one thing in return."
Agilan raised his eyes.
"When the Virality Gods return… you stand with us."
The room went still.
Raiden didn't interrupt.Ananya didn't breathe.
Agilan didn't answer immediately.
He let the weight sink in — because the old Agilan would have agreed instantly.
But the Agilan now had friends to protect.
Slowly, carefully, he answered:
"I will protect the world. But I won't be owned by anyone. Not Apex. Not any Council."
A long silence followed.
It wasn't disrespectful.
It wasn't rejection.
It was honesty.
Seung-Ho nodded once — accepting the answer.
Then he turned to Raiden.
"Escort him out. No more questions today."
Raiden placed a hand on Agilan's shoulder — proud, relieved.
As they exited the room, one more voice called out.
"Agilan."
Ananya.
She walked toward him — not running, not dramatic — just close enough so only he could hear:
"You handled that perfectly."
And for the first time since he arrived in Apex —
Agilan let out a small breath of relief.
Not a smile.Not weakness.
Just relief.
The hallway lights dimmed as the doors closed behind them.
But something happened that no one noticed except Agilan.
Inside his chest —
Y'therax spoke again.
"You chose independence… like I once did."
The tone wasn't angry.
It was… almost proud.
But then it changed.
"Be careful, Agilan. A king who stands alone becomes a target first."
Agilan didn't respond out loud.
But his steps grew heavier.
Because deep inside —
he already felt it.
The world wouldn't let him stay neutral forever.
And the chapter ends.
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