The wind didn't fade.
It circled.
Tighter.
Amir stepped out of the house slowly.
His body ached.
His chest felt heavy.
But that wasn't what bothered him.
"…it's getting worse…" he said.
"Yes," the Anito replied.
"…it's not just spreading…"
"No."
A pause.
"…it's gathering."
Amir's grip tightened.
"…around me."
No answer.
That was answer enough.
The street ahead was no longer empty.
Shadows moved.
Not hiding.
Waiting.
"…you see them?" Amir asked.
"Yes."
The masked fighter stepped forward.
Blades low.
Ready.
"…how many?" Amir asked.
A pause.
"…enough."
"…that's not helpful."
The wind shifted.
And with it—
They emerged.
One.
Then two.
Then—
Five.
Different.
All wrong.
One dragged itself across the ground.
Another stood unnaturally tall—its limbs stretched too far.
A third moved in sharp, broken bursts.
And behind them—
More.
"…this isn't random anymore…" Amir said.
"No."
"They're being pulled."
"…by that thing…"
"Yes."
The creatures didn't attack.
Not yet.
They circled.
Slowly.
"…they're waiting…" Amir whispered.
"For what?" he asked.
The answer came—
Not from the Anito.
But from the wind.
"…for you…"
Amir's breath hitched.
"…yeah… I figured."
The masked fighter shifted stance.
Lower.
More serious.
"…stay behind me," they said.
"…no."
A pause.
"…I'm not just standing here anymore."
The fighter glanced at him.
Just briefly.
Measuring.
Then—
"…then don't fall behind."
The first one moved.
Fast.
The crawler.
It snapped forward—
Amir stepped—
Cleaner.
His stick came down—
Light burst—
Stronger than before—
The creature slammed into the ground.
Not dead—
But stopped.
"…again…" Amir muttered.
"Good," the Anito said.
"Now keep moving."
The tall one charged—
Heavy.
Overwhelming.
The masked fighter intercepted—
"Second Cut—Break."
CRACK—
Bone shattered.
But it didn't fall.
It kept moving.
"…they're stronger…" Amir said.
"They are being reinforced."
"…of course they are…"
The twitching one vanished—
Amir tensed—
"…above—"
Too late—
It dropped—
He pivoted—
Barely avoiding the strike—
"…not fast enough…" he gritted.
"Then move faster."
The creatures surged.
Not one.
All of them.
At once.
"…now?!" Amir shouted.
"Yes."
The masked fighter moved—
A blur—
Steel flashing—
"Third Cut—Flow."
SHING—
SHING—
Two dropped.
Clean.
Fast.
But the others kept coming.
Amir stepped in—
Not back.
His breathing steadied.
His movements—
Sharper.
More controlled.
"…left… right… now—"
His strike landed—
Light flared—
The creature staggered—
He followed—
Second strike—
Stronger.
It dropped.
"…I'm getting it…" he said.
"Not enough."
"…I KNOW!"
The wind screamed.
Louder than before.
Closer.
Too close.
Then—
Everything stopped.
The creatures froze.
Mid-motion.
Mid-step.
Mid-breath.
Amir's heart dropped.
"…what…?"
The masked fighter didn't move.
Didn't speak.
That was worse.
The wind shifted.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then—
"…good…"
The voice.
Clearer now.
Stronger.
"…you're learning…"
Amir clenched his fists.
"…show yourself."
A pause.
Then—
"…not yet…"
The creatures moved again.
But not toward him.
They parted.
Slowly.
Creating a path.
Amir's breath slowed.
"…that's not normal…"
"No."
"…it wants me to go through…"
"Yes."
The masked fighter stepped forward.
"…we don't follow that."
"…we don't have a choice."
A pause.
"…it's controlling everything."
The wind tightened.
"…choose…"
The voice echoed.
"…come… or fall…"
Amir looked ahead.
The path.
The darkness beyond it.
Waiting.
Calling.
Then—
He stepped forward.
"…I'm not running anymore."
The masked fighter didn't stop him.
Didn't follow immediately either.
But they didn't leave.
The wind roared.
And the path closed behind him.