The path didn't feel real.
The moment Amir stepped forward—
The world shifted.
The town behind him—
Gone.
No houses.
No streets.
No sound.
Only wind.
Endless.
"…this isn't Ilocos anymore…" Amir said.
"No," the Anito replied.
"…then where am I?"
"A place between."
"…that's not reassuring."
The ground beneath him was dark.
Not soil.
Not stone.
Something else.
It pulsed.
Faint.
Like a heartbeat.
Amir's grip tightened.
"…I don't like this…"
"Good."
"…why is that good?"
"It means you understand the danger."
The wind shifted.
Then—
Stopped.
Completely.
Silence.
Heavy.
Absolute.
"…you brought me here…" Amir said slowly.
No answer.
"…then show yourself."
A pause.
Then—
"…you're learning…"
The voice came from everywhere.
Layered.
Broken.
"…slowly…"
The air warped.
Like heat bending space.
Then—
Something stepped forward.
Not from the ground.
Not from the wind.
From everything.
A figure formed.
Tall.
Shaped like a man—
But wrong.
Its body flickered.
Like it couldn't decide what it was.
Its face—
Shifted.
Too many features.
Too many expressions.
"…you see me now…" it said.
Amir didn't move.
"…you're the one controlling them."
"…controlling… guiding… feeding…"
Its voice overlapped itself.
"…you use people."
A pause.
Then—
"…they are already mine."
Amir's jaw tightened.
"…you're killing them."
"…no…"
The figure tilted its head.
"…I'm making them useful."
The ground pulsed beneath Amir's feet.
Stronger.
Closer.
"…why me?" Amir asked.
A pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
"…because you answered."
Amir frowned.
"…answered what?"
The figure stepped closer.
Not walking.
Sliding.
"…the wind called…"
"…and you listened."
Amir's chest tightened.
"…so that's it?"
"…no…"
The figure leaned forward slightly.
"…you survived."
The wind surged—
Violently.
"…others didn't."
Images flashed—
Faint.
Distorted.
Other figures.
Falling.
Breaking.
Disappearing.
"…you're testing us…" Amir said.
"…refining…"
"…selecting…"
"…shaping…"
The words overlapped.
Unnatural.
"…into what?" Amir asked.
Silence.
Then—
The figure raised its hand.
The ground split.
Creatures rose from it.
Not like before.
These—
Were worse.
More stable.
More complete.
"…your next step…" it said.
Amir's grip tightened.
"…so I pass your test…"
"…or I die."
The figure didn't answer.
It didn't need to.
The creatures moved.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Controlled.
Perfect.
"…these are different…" Amir said.
"Yes."
"…they've been shaped."
"…by it…"
"Yes."
The first one attacked.
Fast.
Precise.
Amir moved—
But this time—
It matched him.
Strike for strike.
"…what—"
It adapted instantly.
Countered.
Amir barely blocked—
The impact sent him sliding back.
"…that's not normal…"
"No."
"It is learning."
"…from me…"
"Yes."
The second attacked—
From behind—
Amir turned—
Too slow—
The hit landed—
"Gah—!"
He dropped to one knee.
"…I can't keep up…"
"Then stop reacting."
"…what?"
"Anticipate."
The third moved—
Amir steadied himself.
Breathing.
Watching.
"…it learns from me…"
"…then I change."
The creature lunged—
Amir stepped—
Different.
Unexpected.
His strike landed—
Light burst—
Sharper.
Faster.
The creature staggered.
"…good," the Anito said.
"Again."
The second attacked—
Amir didn't hesitate—
He moved first—
Intercepting—
His strike landed clean—
The creature dropped.
Silence fell.
The last one didn't move.
It waited.
Watching him.
Just like the figure.
"…you're learning…" the voice said.
Amir exhaled slowly.
"…so are you."
A pause.
Then—
"…yes…"
The air tightened.
Heavier.
More dangerous.
"…but you're still behind."
The figure stepped forward again.
Closer.
Too close.
Amir couldn't move.
Pressure crushed down on him.
His legs shook.
His breath slowed.
"…this is your limit…" the figure said.
Amir gritted his teeth.
"…not yet…"
The wind surged.
Violently.
Unstable.
"…then show me."