The wind didn't settle.
It spread.
Amir felt it the moment he stepped off the cliffs of Cape Bojeador Lighthouse.
Wrong.
Like something had seeped into the town.
"…it's already here…" he breathed.
The masked fighter didn't slow.
"Wait—" Amir pushed forward. "Where are we going?"
"Town."
"…you're serious."
"Where else would it feed?"
Amir's jaw tightened.
"I need to get home…"
The Anito's voice came low:
"And if it reaches your home first?"
His grip tightened.
"…then I won't be too late."
They moved faster.
The road ahead was empty.
Too empty.
No lights.
No voices.
No life.
"…this isn't normal," Amir said.
"It is now."
The wind shifted.
And with it—
Voices.
"…help…"
"…please…"
Amir stopped cold.
"…those are people."
"Yes."
"…we're late."
"Not yet."
The masked fighter stopped.
"Listen."
Silence.
Then—
A scraping sound.
Slow.
Dragging.
From the houses ahead.
The shadows moved.
One stepped forward.
Then another.
Then—
Three more.
Amir's breath caught.
"…that's not just a few…"
"No."
Each one was different.
One stood tall—but its arms hung too long.
Another crawled on all fours—too fast.
A third twitched violently, like its body couldn't decide how to move.
"…they're not the same…" Amir whispered.
"They've changed differently," the Anito said.
"…that's worse."
The crawler burst forward first—
Fast.
Low.
Amir barely reacted—
It slammed into him—
"Gah—!"
He hit the ground hard.
"Too slow," the Anito said.
"I'm still injured!"
"Then adapt faster."
The tall one moved next—
Heavy.
Each step cracked the ground slightly.
"…that one's strong…" Amir muttered.
"And slow."
"…great combo."
The twitching one laughed.
A broken sound.
Then—
It disappeared.
"…where—"
"Above."
Amir looked up—
Too late—
It dropped—
He rolled—
Barely avoiding the strike.
"…okay—yeah—that one's worse."
The masked fighter moved.
No wasted motion.
They stepped into the crawler's path—
Blade flashed—
"First Cut—Sever."
SHING—
The crawler split cleanly—
Dropped instantly.
Amir's eyes widened.
"…they name their attacks…"
"Focus," the Anito said.
The heavy one charged—
Slower—
But overwhelming.
CLANG—
The fighter blocked—
Their foot slid back—
Just slightly.
"…they're not holding back anymore…" Amir said.
"No."
"They've adapted to the pressure."
"…great."
The twitching one reappeared—
Behind Amir.
"…again?!" he snapped—
It lunged—
Amir pivoted—
Cleaner this time—
His stick struck—
Light flared—
Stronger.
The creature staggered.
"…okay… that's better…"
"Again."
Amir stepped forward—
Not back.
His strike landed—
Solid.
The twitching one dropped—
Still moving—
But slower.
"…I'm getting it…" he breathed.
"Not enough."
"…I know."
The heavy one roared—
And charged again—
The masked fighter moved—
Faster now—
Second strike—
"Second Cut—Break."
CRACK—
The creature's arm shattered.
It stumbled—
But didn't fall.
"…why won't they die?!" Amir shouted.
"They are being sustained."
"…by that thing…"
"Yes."
The wind tightened.
That presence—
Closer now.
Watching.
Enjoying.
Then—
A door creaked open.
Amir froze.
"…wait…"
A man stepped out.
Normal.
Shaking.
"…help…" he whispered.
Amir's eyes widened.
"…he's alive—"
"Don't—" the masked fighter started—
Too late.
The man's body jerked—
Bones cracked—
His smile stretched—
"…found you…"
Amir staggered back.
"…no way…"
"He was already taken," the Anito said.
"…no…"
The man lunged—
Faster than all the others—
Straight at Amir.
"MOVE."
Amir reacted—
Barely—
The strike grazed his side—
He countered—
Light burst—
But it wasn't enough—
The creature didn't slow.
"…why is this one stronger?!"
"It was fresh."
"…that's not comforting!"
The masked fighter moved instantly—
Intercepting—
Blade flashing—
A clean strike—
The creature stopped.
Then—
Collapsed.
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Then—
The wind whispered again.
Closer.
Clearer.
"…good…"
Amir froze.
"…it's talking…"
"Yes."
"…where is it?!"
The masked fighter didn't answer.
Their stance lowered further.
"…it's close," they said.
A pause.
Then—
"…very close."
The wind shifted.
And for the first time—
Amir felt it.
Not just watching.
Not just calling.
But—
Waiting.
For him.