We gathered at the entrance, the air unusually heavy.
No one said it out loud, but we all felt it.
Something was wrong.
"Wait… I need to grab something."
Xia turned and rushed back into the house before anyone could respond. A few seconds later, she returned—this time carrying a long, black sheath adorned with serpent-like dragons coiling along its surface.
She stopped in front of us.
Slowly… deliberately… she unsheathed the blade.
A thin, elegant dao gleamed under the fading light. Its edge shimmered with a cold brilliance, the black hilt engraved with golden inscriptions that seemed to breathe faintly.
"This sword has been in my family for generations," she said, a faint smile forming on her lips.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the handle.
"Shí Hóu Zhě… Devourer of Throats."
Something about the way she said it…
Didn't sit right.
We stepped outside.
The moment my foot touched the ground—
A blinding light flickered across my vision.
And then…
A voice.
Close.
Too close.
Right beside my ear.
"Prepare yourselves…"
I froze.
"What…?"
I turned around, but there was no one there.
Just the wind.
Just silence.
"…for what comes next."
My chest tightened.
"…Did anyone else hear that?"
No one responded.
They were already walking.
Laughing.
Talking.
Like nothing had happened.
I clenched my jaw.
"…Forget it."
Maybe it was just my imagination.
It had to be.
My phone vibrated.
I pulled it out.
A message.
From Eclipse.
Eclipse:
The parasite inside Won ho is not ordinary.
It was born from Matusalem.
These entities are linked to an artifact known as the Master Pendulum.
It grants power… to both the parasite and its host.
You need to find the sanctuary.
Deep within the Forbidden Forest.
I cannot go with you.
But two allies are already on their way.
You'll meet them at the forest entrance.
…Be careful.
If you fail—
he won't be saved.
A cold weight settled in my stomach.
I showed the message to the others.
No one joked this time.
No one smiled.
"…Let's move," Minho muttered.
We descended the hill.
The forest swallowed us quickly, its shadows stretching longer with every step.
Branches cracked beneath our feet.
The deeper we went…
The quieter it became.
After a while, exhaustion forced us to stop.
We gathered beneath a cluster of trees, catching our breath.
No one spoke at first.
Until—
"…Do you believe it now?"
Minho's voice broke the silence.
I knew exactly what he meant.
I exhaled slowly.
"…No."
He frowned.
"I mean… all of this. The gods, the cults, the monsters…"
I looked down at my hands.
"…Even after everything…"
I tightened my grip.
"…I still feel like this is just a nightmare I haven't woken up from."
Minho leaned back against a tree, frustration flashing across his face.
"…Tch. Figures."
"Hey."
Kim stretched her arms behind her head.
"Whether it's real or not… we're already in it."
She looked at me.
A small grin.
"So you better keep up, Dark."
I forced a weak smile.
"…Yeah."
We resumed walking.
Step after step.
Deeper.
Further.
Until—
We reached the edge.
The Forbidden Forest.
And there they were.
Waiting.
Miriam stood with her usual confident posture, arms crossed, a faint smirk on her lips.
Beside her—
Professor Adermat.
Calm.
Composed.
Watching us like he already knew everything.
"You took your time," Miriam said.
"We came as fast as we could," Xia replied, stepping forward.
Adermat gave a small nod.
"We've been informed of the situation."
His eyes shifted toward me.
"…You'll need more than courage for what lies ahead."
I didn't respond.
"Alright then," Xia said, turning toward the forest.
Her voice carried a sharp determination.
"Let's go."
And just like that—
We stepped into it.
The moment we crossed the boundary…
Something changed.
The air grew heavier.
Thicker.
Like breathing through invisible water.
A faint pressure settled behind my eyes.
"…Do you feel that?" Airi whispered.
No one answered.
But we all did.
And far ahead…
Hidden beyond dead trees and silence—
Something was waiting.
The deeper we walked…
The quieter the world became.
No wind.
No insects.
No distant sounds of life.
Just our footsteps.
And even those felt… wrong.
Muted.
Drowned.
The trees changed first.
Their bark turned pale, cracked, lifeless—like bones stripped of flesh. Their branches twisted unnaturally, stretching toward the sky as if frozen mid-scream.
The ground followed.
Dry.
Gray.
Dead.
"…This place gives me the creeps," Kim muttered.
Even she wasn't smiling anymore.
Adermat narrowed his eyes.
"…Stay alert."
We slowed our pace.
Instinctively.
No one needed to say it.
Something was watching us.
Then—
A small stumble.
"…Xia?"
Kim stepped closer.
Xia pressed a hand against her temple.
"…I'm fine."
Her voice sounded… distant.
"You don't look fine," Airi said softly.
"I said I'm fine."
Sharper this time.
Too sharp.
I frowned.
"…Xia?"
She didn't respond.
Her breathing changed.
Subtle.
But wrong.
In.
Pause.
Out.
Pause.
Too slow.
Too controlled.
"…Hey," Minho said, stepping forward. "If something's off, just say it—"
"Shut up."
Silence.
We all froze.
Xia slowly lowered her hand.
Her eyes…
Something inside them had shifted.
"…What did you say?" Minho asked, confused.
Xia tilted her head slightly.
Like she didn't recognize him.
"…You're loud."
A faint smile appeared.
Cold.
Empty.
A chill crawled down my spine.
"Xia…?"
No response.
Just—
Movement.
Too fast.
A flash of steel.
And then—
A wet sound.
Minho's body jerked.
The blade had already passed through him.
Clean.
Precise.
For a moment…
No one reacted.
Not even him.
"…X…ia…?"
His voice barely formed the name.
Then—
Blood.
It spilled from his mouth as his body collapsed forward, sliding off the blade.
Time stopped.
My mind refused to process what I was seeing.
No.
That wasn't real.
That—
"XIA?!"
Airi screamed.
Too late.
The blade moved again.
A single step.
A single motion.
And silence.
Airi's body dropped beside Minho's.
"…No…"
Kim's voice trembled.
"…No, no, no—!"
Flames ignited around her fists instantly, bursting to life in a surge of raw panic.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
She lunged forward—
But Xia didn't dodge.
She blocked.
Effortlessly.
Metal met fire.
Wind met heat.
And in that instant—
Her eyes met ours.
There were tears.
But they weren't falling.
They were… trapped.
"…Help me…"
A whisper.
Barely audible.
Then—
Gone.
Her expression snapped back.
Empty.
The ground beneath us trembled.
Spikes of earth erupted upward—
Miriam.
"MOVE!"
She reacted instantly, trying to restrain Xia—
Too late.
Wind exploded outward.
The spikes shattered.
Adermat stepped forward.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"Stand back."
Time… bent.
I felt it.
Not saw it.
Not heard it.
Felt it.
Like reality itself… stuttered.
Xia's movement slowed—
Reversed—
Paused—
Adermat moved.
Fast.
Precise.
He reached for her—
And then—
Something broke.
A distortion.
Invisible.
Violent.
A force slammed into him mid-step.
He was thrown back—
Hard.
"What—?!"
Blood spilled from his mouth as he hit the ground.
"…This isn't just control…" Miriam muttered, eyes wide.
"…Something's amplifying her…"
Kim attacked again.
This time—
No hesitation.
A massive sphere of fire formed in her hands and shot forward.
It hit.
Directly.
Flames engulfed Xia completely.
For a second—
Hope.
"…We got her…" Kim whispered, panting.
Then—
The flames split.
Cut.
Divided cleanly in two.
Xia stepped out of the fire.
Unburned.
Smiling.
"…Is that all?"
Kim froze.
"…No…"
Behind her—
The wind screamed.
And in the next instant—
Everything collapsed into chaos.
Everything broke at once.
Wind howled.
Fire twisted.
The ground split beneath our feet.
"Spread out!" Miriam shouted.
But no one moved fast enough.
Xia was already there.
She blurred forward—
And Kim barely managed to raise her arms before the impact.
A violent shockwave exploded between them.
Flames burst outward, devouring everything in their path—
Trees.
Air.
Sound itself.
I staggered back, shielding my face.
My ears rang.
My vision blurred.
"…Kim…?"
The fire faded.
She was still standing.
Barely.
Her hands trembled.
Her flames flickered—unstable.
"…Why…?"
Her voice cracked.
"…Why are you doing this…?"
Xia didn't answer.
She stepped forward.
And struck.
A diagonal slash.
Clean.
Precise.
For a second…
Nothing happened.
Then—
Kim's body split open from shoulder to waist.
Fire erupted uncontrollably from her wounds, consuming her from within.
She didn't even scream.
She just…
Collapsed.
"…No…"
My voice came out broken.
Behind me—
Minho and Airi were still on the ground.
Unmoving.
Too still.
Too quiet.
"Focus!"
Miriam's voice snapped through the chaos.
Spikes erupted again—faster this time, sharper, denser.
They surged toward Xia from every direction.
This time—
They hit.
Piercing through her body.
Pinning her in place.
For a moment…
She didn't move.
"…We can still—"
The spikes shattered.
Like glass.
Xia stepped forward.
Blood dripping.
But her body…
Was already healing.
"…No way…" Miriam whispered.
Adermat forced himself up, coughing blood.
"…It's not just control…"
His eyes locked onto Xia.
"…Something is feeding her."
Time warped again.
I felt the pull—
Stronger this time.
Heavier.
Adermat moved.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each step—
A correction.
A rewind.
A forced outcome.
But Xia adapted.
Each reset…
She moved differently.
Faster.
Sharper.
Closer.
Until—
She reached him.
His eyes widened—
Too late.
The blade pierced through his throat.
A wet, choking sound escaped him.
Time snapped back—
One last time—
But this time—
He didn't move.
His body collapsed.
Still.
Silent.
"…Professor…?"
No response.
Miriam froze.
For the first time—
Fear.
Real fear.
"…Tch…"
She raised her hand again—
But her movements were slower now.
Weaker.
Something was draining her.
"…Get back!" she shouted.
I didn't move.
I couldn't.
My legs wouldn't respond.
My body felt like stone.
Xia turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
No words.
Just intent.
Miriam attacked first.
Hundreds of spikes—
Faster than before.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
They filled the air.
Blocked every path.
No escape.
Xia didn't dodge.
She walked forward.
Step by step.
Each spike that touched her—
Broke.
Shattered.
Disintegrated.
"…Impossible…"
The distance closed.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Then—
A single thrust.
Straight through Miriam's chest.
Her body jerked.
Blood spilled from her lips.
"…Guess… I… overestimated…"
She smiled.
Then fell.
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Only one sound remained.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Measured.
Coming toward me.
My breathing turned erratic.
No.
No no no—
"Xia…"
My voice trembled.
"…It's me…"
She stopped.
For a moment—
Her expression flickered.
A crack.
"…D…ark…"
Hope.
For a single second—
Hope.
Then—
Gone.
Her grip tightened.
The blade lifted.
My body screamed at me to move.
Run.
Fight.
Do something—
But I couldn't.
My legs gave out.
I fell to my knees.
"…I don't want to die…"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
My chest tightened.
My vision blurred.
"…I don't want to see this anymore…"
My hands trembled uncontrollably.
"…I can't… do this…"
The blade moved.
I closed my eyes.
A sharp pain pierced my chest.
Cold.
Burning.
Like something tearing through my heart—
Not just flesh—
Something deeper.
My breath stopped.
I gasped—
But no air came in.
My body collapsed forward.
The ground felt distant.
Everything felt distant.
Sound faded.
Light faded.
Pain—
Stayed.
"…Ah…"
A weak, broken sound escaped me.
My fingers twitched.
Reaching for something.
Anything.
Nothing.
Darkness crept in slowly.
"…I'm… sorry…"
I didn't even know who I was apologizing to.
My friends.
Alya.
Myself.
"…I couldn't…"
My thoughts scattered.
My body went cold.
And then—
Nothing."—Ah!"
Air.
It rushed back into my lungs violently, like I had been drowning.
I collapsed forward, coughing—
My hands digging into the ground.
Alive.
I was… alive.
"…Dark?"
Kim's voice.
Close.
Too close.
I froze.
Slowly…
I lifted my head.
Everyone was there.
Standing.
Breathing.
Talking.
Minho.
Airi.
Miriam.
Adermat.
Xia.
Xia.
My pupils shrank.
"No…"
My voice came out as a whisper.
"No, no, no…"
My body started shaking.
"…You were—"
I stopped.
Dead.
I had seen them die.
Every single one of them.
"…Dark, are you okay?"
Kim stepped closer, concern written all over her face.
I stared at her.
Her face.
Her eyes.
Alive.
"…This isn't real…"
"Hey, talk to me."
I staggered back.
"No… I saw it… I saw everything…"
My breathing became uneven.
"They died… you all died…"
Silence.
They exchanged glances.
Confused.
Worried.
"…Did you hit your head or something?" Minho asked.
I grabbed my hair.
"No… no, this already happened…"
My heart started racing.
I turned—
The forest entrance.
We hadn't moved.
We were back.
Right at the beginning.
"…No…"
A pressure built in my chest.
"…No, no, NO—"
A voice interrupted me.
Soft.
Close.
Inside my head.
"Dark…"
I froze instantly.
"…Eclipse?"
The world around me dulled.
The voices of the others faded into the background.
Only her voice remained.
"You remember."
Not a question.
A statement.
"…What happened?"
My voice trembled.
"…Why are we here again…?"
A pause.
Then—
A quiet exhale.
"Because time… has been broken."
My stomach dropped.
"…What?"
"This is not a dream."
Her tone softened slightly.
Almost comforting.
But something beneath it…
Was wrong.
"What you experienced…"
A brief pause.
"…was real."
My hands clenched.
"You died."
My breath hitched.
"You all died."
A chill ran down my spine.
"…Then why—?"
"Because Matusalem is watching."
The name alone made something inside me tighten.
"He does not move like other beings."
Her voice lowered.
"He bends time… until it breaks."
My vision blurred slightly.
"…So this is…?"
"A loop."
The word echoed.
"You are trapped inside it."
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
"…And them?"
I looked at my friends.
Still talking.
Still unaware.
"They do not remember."
"…Why me?"
A pause.
Longer this time.
"…Because you were chosen."
My expression hardened.
"…I didn't choose this."
"I know."
Her voice softened again.
Almost gentle.
"That is why you must survive it."
My chest tightened.
"…How do I stop it?"
Silence.
Then—
"You already saw the outcome."
My mind flashed back—
Blood.
Fire.
Screams.
"…So change it."
My breath trembled.
"…How?"
A faint whisper.
Closer.
"Find the cause."
My eyes narrowed.
"…Xia…"
"No."
Her voice cut in sharply.
"Do not mistake the blade… for the hand that wields it."
I froze.
"…Then what—?"
"Something is there."
A pause.
"Watching."
My heart skipped.
"…Where?"
"Close."
Too vague.
Too late.
"…Eclipse—"
"Dark."
Her voice stopped me.
Soft.
But firm.
"If you fail again…"
A pause.
Long enough to feel intentional.
"…the loop may not reset the same way."
Cold.
"…What does that mean?"
No answer.
"…Eclipse?"
Silence.
She was gone.
The world rushed back.
"—and then we just go straight in!"
Kim's voice snapped everything into place.
"…Right, Dark?"
All eyes turned to me.
Waiting.
Expecting.
Trusting.
My hands trembled slightly.
I took a deep breath.
"…Yeah."
My voice steadied.
"…But we're doing things differently."
They frowned.
"…What do you mean?"
Minho asked.
I looked toward the forest.
The place where they all died.
"…Trust me."
A pause.
"…We don't go in blindly."
I didn't run this time.
My fists trembled at my sides, but my feet stayed planted.
I had already seen it.
Every step. Every scream. Every ending.
This time… I was going to change it.
"Wait."
My voice cut through the group just before we stepped into the dead zone.
They all turned to look at me.
Kim raised an eyebrow.
"Since when do you give orders?"
I swallowed.
"I… I think something bad is going to happen inside."
Minho let out a short sigh.
"Yeah, no kidding. It's a creepy forest."
"No," I said, forcing the words out. "I mean it. Something is going to make us attack each other."
Silence fell over the group.
Xia narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…What are you talking about?"
I hesitated.
I couldn't explain the loop.
I couldn't prove anything.
"I just… have a bad feeling. Please. Stay alert. Don't trust what you see."
Airi shifted uncomfortably.
"That's not reassuring…"
Professor Adermat observed me carefully, but didn't say anything.
Miriam, however, smiled faintly.
"Instincts like that… are sometimes worth listening to."
Xia scoffed, resting her hand on her sword.
"Fine. If something happens, I'll just cut it down."
I exhaled slowly.
It wasn't much.
But maybe…
Maybe it would be enough.
We stepped inside.
The change was immediate.
The air turned heavy.
Oppressive.
Wrong.
My heart started racing.
This is where it begins…
I turned toward Xia—
—and saw it.
That slight stagger.
That exact moment.
"Xia—!"
Too late.
Her body trembled.
Her breathing shifted.
Slow. Uneven.
Her eyes…
…turned red.
It started again.
But faster.
There was no hesitation this time.
No confusion.
No pause.
She moved like a blade already mid-swing.
Steel flashed—
—and everything fell apart.
Minho didn't even have time to react.
One moment he was there—
The next—
He collapsed.
"MINHO!"
Kim reacted instantly.
Flames erupted around her fists as she lunged forward.
"You're not touching anyone else!"
But Xia was already gone.
A blur.
A whisper of movement.
And Airi dropped before she could even understand what was happening.
My breathing shattered.
"No… no no no—"
This wasn't like before.
This was worse.
Faster.
Sharper.
Like she already knew exactly how to kill us.
"Contain her!" Miriam shouted.
Spikes erupted from the ground—
—but Xia cut through them mid-air without slowing down.
Adermat raised his hand.
I felt it.
Time twisting.
Pulling.
Rewinding—
But something was wrong.
It didn't fully reset.
It stuttered.
"Something's wrong…" he muttered.
Kim didn't hesitate.
"GET AWAY FROM THEM!"
A massive sphere of fire roared forward—
—and Xia smiled.
Cold.
Empty.
She caught the flames with her blade.
Just like before.
But cleaner.
Faster.
Deadlier.
"Your flames…"
She stepped forward.
"…will be the ones that kill you."
The slash came before I could blink.
Fire exploded—
then swallowed everything around Kim.
It was over in an instant.
My vision blurred.
My ears rang.
My body wouldn't move.
Adermat tried again.
Time bent.
Once.
Twice.
Again—
But each time felt weaker.
Slower.
Like something was breaking.
"Damn it…!"
He staggered.
Blood ran from his nose.
Xia was already in front of him.
No hesitation.
No emotion.
A single movement—
—and he fell.
Everything went quiet.
Too quiet.
Miriam stood alone for a second.
Then she moved.
Not to win.
To delay.
Spikes erupted everywhere.
Wild.
Desperate.
"RUN, DARK!"
I couldn't.
My body wouldn't respond.
I just stood there…
Watching.
Frozen.
Broken.
The distance closed.
One step.
Then—
She fell too.
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Now it was just me.
And her.
Xia turned toward me.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Inevitable.
My body started shaking.
Every instinct screamed at me to run.
But my legs—
Wouldn't move.
I tried…
I warned them…
I changed things…
AND IT DIDN'T MATTER—
She walked closer.
Step by step.
Her blade dripping.
Her eyes empty.
I closed my eyes.
Tears slipped down my face.
"I don't want to die again…"
A presence.
Behind me.
My eyes snapped open.
Behind…?
Too late.
A flash—
And everything went dark.
Air slammed into my lungs.
I gasped violently.
My body jerked forward.
My heart pounded like it was going to explode.
I was back.
At the entrance.
Again.
But this time…
I wasn't in shock.
I was terrified.
Not of dying.
But of something worse.
Nothing I did…
…was enough.
I didn't say anything this time.
I just stood there.
At the entrance.
Again.
Same trees.
Same sky.
Same voices.
Same beginning.
"…Dark?"
Kim waved a hand in front of my face.
"…You good?"
I didn't answer.
I couldn't.
My vision felt… distant.
Like I wasn't fully there.
My breathing—
Something was wrong.
Too fast.
Too shallow.
Like no matter how much air I took in…
…it wasn't enough.
"Hey… seriously, what's wrong with you?" Minho asked.
Still nothing.
My hands trembled at my sides.
It happened again.
I changed it…
I tried…
AND THEY STILL DIED.
My chest tightened.
Hard.
A sharp pain spread through my ribs.
"…I can't…"
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
"What?" Kim stepped closer.
"I can't do this…"
My voice cracked.
The world in front of me blurred.
The forest…
It looked wrong.
Like it was bending.
Like reality itself wasn't stable anymore.
"…Dark?" Xia stepped forward.
"…You're scaring me."
That voice.
That same voice…
The one that killed me.
Something inside me snapped.
"DON'T COME NEAR ME!"
Silence.
Everyone froze.
I stumbled backward, my breathing spiraling out of control.
"I saw you…!"
My voice broke into something raw.
Something desperate.
"I SAW YOU KILL THEM!"
Confusion spread across their faces.
Shock.
Fear.
"…What are you talking about?" Airi whispered.
I grabbed my head.
"No no no—this isn't right—this isn't real—this keeps happening—!"
My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
Louder.
Faster.
Violent.
"…I can't breathe…"
My fingers dug into my chest.
"It hurts…"
Everything tilted.
My legs gave out.
I dropped to my knees.
"Dark!"
Kim rushed toward me—
But I recoiled instantly.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!"
My voice shattered into panic.
"I need to get out—I need to get out—I NEED TO GET OUT—"
And then—
I ran.
I didn't think.
I didn't plan.
I didn't look back.
I just ran.
Branches tore at my arms.
Dry leaves cracked under my feet.
My lungs burned.
But I didn't stop.
Faster.
Further.
Away from them.
Away from that place.
Away from death.
Away from the loop.
Away from everything.
My vision darkened at the edges.
My heartbeat became erratic.
Unstable.
Wrong.
"I can't… I can't… I can't—"
My legs weakened.
My body screamed for me to stop.
But I forced it.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE AGAIN!"
My voice echoed through the forest.
Broken.
Desperate.
My chest tightened violently.
A crushing pain exploded in my heart.
I gasped—
But no air came in.
"…Ah…!"
My body collapsed forward.
My hands clawed at the ground.
My fingers trembled uncontrollably.
My heartbeat—
Skipped.
Then raced.
Then—
Stopped.
"…Dark?!"
Footsteps.
Fast.
Panicked.
I felt hands on me.
Someone grabbing my shoulders.
"Dark! Stay with me!"
Xia.
Her voice was shaking.
My eyes were barely open.
Everything was blurry.
Distant.
"…Help…"
The word barely left my lips.
Kim's voice broke somewhere nearby.
"ALYA—!"
Her hands were trembling.
"COME NOW! PLEASE—HE'S DYING!"
Airi was crying.
I could hear it.
Minho…
Nothing.
Silence from him.
Miriam and Adermat pulled Xia back.
"Give him space!"
"No! Let me go!"
She struggled.
Desperate.
"HE'S DYING!"
Their voices…
They sounded far away.
Like they were underwater.
Everything was fading.
So this is it…
Again…
Darkness crept in.
Slow.
Cold.
I failed…
My body went still.
Silence.
"…Ah…!"
My eyes snapped open.
White.
Everything was white.
Ceiling.
Walls.
Light.
Too bright.
My breathing came fast—uneven, sharp.
Like I had just been dragged out of deep water.
"…Where…?"
My voice felt weak.
Dry.
I pushed myself up slightly—
Pain shot through my chest.
I flinched.
Alive…
My hands trembled as I touched my body.
Neck.
Chest.
Face.
Everything was… intact.
"…I'm not… dead…"
The words didn't feel real.
Fragments rushed back.
Fire.
Blood.
Screams.
Xia.
The blade.
My head—
"—Dark!"
The voice cut through everything.
Footsteps rushed toward me—
And then—
Warmth.
Alya wrapped her arms around me.
Tightly.
Too tightly.
Like if she let go…
I would disappear.
"Are you okay?!"
Her voice was shaking.
I froze.
For a second…
I didn't react.
Then slowly—
My hands lifted.
And I held onto her.
"…Alya…"
My voice broke.
"I…"
I couldn't finish.
My body started trembling again.
Not from pain.
From everything else.
She pulled back slightly, just enough to look at me.
Her eyes—
Red.
Wet.
"You're safe," she whispered.
Safe.
That word…
Something inside me cracked.
"I'm not…"
My voice came out uneven.
"I'm not safe… I'm not… I can't—"
My breathing sped up again.
"They died…"
My grip tightened around her.
"They all died… I saw it… I saw everything…"
She didn't interrupt.
Didn't question.
She just listened.
"They killed each other… no—she killed them… Xia—she—"
My voice collapsed.
"And I couldn't do anything… I tried… I tried to change it…"
Tears streamed down my face.
"I tried and it didn't matter…"
My shoulders shook.
"They still died… every time… every time…"
Alya's expression softened.
Not pity.
Understanding.
"I believe you."
I froze.
"…What?"
"I believe you."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just certainty.
My lips trembled.
"…You don't think I'm crazy?"
She shook her head slowly.
"No."
Her hands cupped my face gently.
"You're exhausted."
Her thumbs brushed away my tears.
"And you've been carrying something you shouldn't carry alone."
I clenched my jaw.
"…I can't do it…"
The words came out broken.
"I can't save them… I can't even save myself…"
My voice dropped to a whisper.
"I don't want to go back…"
Silence.
She leaned forward—
Resting my head against her chest.
Her arms wrapped around me again.
This time softer.
Steadier.
"You don't have to do it alone."
Her voice was calm.
Grounding.
My breathing slowly began to follow hers.
"I'll help you."
My fingers tightened slightly.
"…You can't… you weren't there…"
"I don't need to be."
She closed her eyes briefly.
"I'm here now."
A pause.
"And I'm not going anywhere."
Something shifted inside me.
Not fixed.
But… steadier.
I let out a shaky breath.
"…I was scared…"
"I know."
"I still am…"
"I know."
Her hand moved through my hair.
Slow.
Repetitive.
Comforting.
"I thought… if you saw me like this…"
I hesitated.
"…you'd leave."
She pulled back slightly.
Just enough to look at me.
Her expression changed.
Firm.
Serious.
"Look at me."
I hesitated—
Then did.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Each word landed.
"Not because you're strong."
A pause.
"Not because you're perfect."
Her hand rested over mine.
"But because you're you."
My breath caught.
"And that's enough for me."
Silence.
Heavy.
But warm.
"…I want to be stronger…"
My voice was quieter now.
"…Not for me…"
I swallowed.
"For them."
She nodded slowly.
"Then we'll figure it out."
We.
Not you.
We.
That word stayed with me.
I closed my eyes for a moment.
"…They're still there…"
My voice shifted.
More focused.
"In the forest…"
She understood immediately.
"…You want to go back."
I nodded.
The fear was still there.
But now—
It wasn't the only thing.
"…I have to."
She stood up.
"Then we're going together."
I looked at her.
"…You don't have to—"
"I know."
She cut me off gently.
"But I want to."
A small pause.
"…And you're faster with me anyway."
A faint smile.
Barely there.
But real.
I exhaled softly.
"…Okay."
Minutes later—
We stepped out of the hospital.
Cold air hit my face.
The sky had darkened.
Clouds gathering.
A storm coming.
Fitting.
Alya unlocked the car.
"Get in."
I glanced once at the sky—
Then at her.
And nodded.
I got in.
The engine roared to life.
And we drove straight toward the forest.
I jumped out of the car and ran.
Branches whipped past me.
My lungs burned.
But I didn't stop.
I already knew what I was going to find.
And aun así…
seguí corriendo.
Please…
I reached the dead zone—
—and froze.
Silence.
Bodies.
All of them.
On the ground.
Still.
Lifeless.
"…No…"
My voice broke instantly.
Xia stood among them.
Her blade dripping.
Her eyes…
Empty.
Controlled.
"…Too late…"
My hands trembled.
Again…
"I don't understand…"
My voice sounded hollow.
"How…?"
Miriam.
Adermat.
They shouldn't lose.
Not like this.
It doesn't make sense…
I took a slow step forward.
Thinking.
Forcing myself to think.
There has to be a reason…
Then—
I felt it.
A presence.
Behind me.
Too late.
I closed my eyes.
So this is how it ends again…
A sharp sound tore through the air.
A gunshot.
Silence followed.
I opened my eyes.
Xia's body collapsed in front of me.
A hole through her head.
Blood spreading beneath her.
I turned—
And froze.
Alya stood there.
Gun in hand.
Firm.
Unshaken.
"…Are you okay?"
I stared at her.
"…Y-yeah…"
I couldn't process it.
She lowered the weapon slightly.
"…Don't worry."
Her voice was calm.
"That wasn't her."
I exhaled slowly.
"…I know."
A pause.
Then—
Something clicked.
My eyes sharpened.
"…I think I understand now."
She frowned slightly.
"…Understand what?"
I looked around the area.
Every detail.
Every shadow.
"…Give me a moment."
I walked into the dead zone.
Slow.
Focused.
Listening.
Watching.
Something moved.
A shadow between the trees.
Gone in an instant.
"…We're not alone…"
I kept moving.
Then—
crack.
I stopped.
Looked down.
Something half-buried in the dirt.
I crouched.
Picked it up.
A small plaster figure.
A priest.
Marked with the symbol.
And beneath it—
Luminari.
'𖤟𖥾𖤕𖥾𖦈'
"…Alya."
She walked over and crouched beside me.
"…Do you recognize this?"
She examined it carefully.
"…No… but…"
Her expression shifted.
"…it feels wrong."
I nodded.
"…Yeah…"
I stared at it.
"…This is part of it."
Then—
A sound.
Too close.
Too fast.
I turned—
But not fast enough.
A figure emerged from behind us.
Hooded.
Silent.
A sharpened stake in his hand—
And he drove it straight into Alya's chest.
Everything stopped.
Her body jerked.
Blood spilled.
Warm.
Too much.
"…Alya…?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then dimmed.
She collapsed.
"…No…"
My voice shattered.
The man pulled the weapon free.
Calm.
Like it meant nothing.
He picked up the gun.
Pointed it at me.
Silence.
I didn't move.
Didn't run.
Didn't fight.
"…Do it."
My voice was empty.
"…You bastard."
The shot rang out.
And everything went dark.
I gasped.
Air flooded my lungs.
I was back.
At the entrance.
Again.
Everyone alive.
Again.
My hands clenched.
Shaking.
Then—
I smiled.
Small.
But real.
"…Alright."
My voice steadied.
"…Now I know."
I looked toward the forest.
This time…
I understood.
"…This is what we're going to do."
We moved again.
Same path.
Same timing.
Same moment—
Xia staggered.
"…I feel—"
"NOW!"
Flames exploded outward.
Kim's fire consumed everything around us.
Heat swallowed the dead zone.
Xia reacted instantly.
Her blade flashed into her hand.
"I command you—bind to my core!"
Wind surged violently.
Trees cracked and fell.
I stepped forward.
"…Listen carefully."
My voice cut through the chaos.
"There are hidden priests."
Everyone froze.
"They're using this place to manipulate one of us."
My eyes locked onto Xia.
"…They're going to control her."
Silence.
"…Again."
Alya narrowed her eyes.
"…So that's it…"
I nodded.
"And there's more."
My tone hardened.
"They're weakening the strongest."
I looked at Adermat and Miriam.
"…That's why you lost."
Understanding hit instantly.
"…Then we stay back," Miriam said.
"Long-range support."
Adermat nodded.
"Agreed."
Then—
Movement.
Figures emerged from the flames.
Dozens.
Hooded.
Watching.
"…About forty," I muttered.
Xia stepped forward.
Her eyes burned with fury.
"…They're going to pay."
She vanished.
Steel flashed.
And the ground turned red.
Miriam followed.
Spikes erupted from the earth—
Piercing through them without mercy.
"Hey! Those were mine!" Xia snapped.
Miriam smirked.
"Can't let you have all the fun."
I blinked.
"…Do you two hear yourselves?"
They looked at me.
Xia wiped blood from her blade.
"…I was raised for this."
A pause.
"…I don't enjoy it."
"…But I won't hesitate."
Miriam sighed.
"…Same."
"…Let's move."
"…Wait."
I stepped aside.
Reached into a bush.
And pulled out another figure.
"…This one too."
Miriam froze.
"…Professor!"
Adermat arrived instantly.
Took the object.
Examined it—
Then crushed it.
A black crystal fell into his hand.
"…What is that?" I asked.
"…Quel'vorum."
Silence.
"…A ritual mineral."
His voice turned serious.
"It suppresses LC."
He glanced at Miriam.
"…and me."
Everything clicked.
"…That's why…"
I whispered.
"…that's why Xia could kill you…"
He nodded.
"…Exactly."
I exhaled slowly.
"…Then we destroy all of them."
A pause.
"…And we win this time."
We moved forward.
Deeper.
The air grew heavier.
Darker.
Until—
We saw it.
The sanctuary.
Ancient.
Rotting.
White and gold—
Now consumed by decay.
"…This is it…"
I stepped forward.
"…Let's finish this."
And together—
We entered.