The air felt tight.
Not from fear.
Not from pressure.
But from control.
The group stood in front of Aarav, calm and unmoving, as if they already knew how this would end.
Aarav looked at them quietly.
"…You're confident," he said.
The man in front stepped closer.
"…We're prepared."
Aarav smiled faintly.
"…That's not the same thing."
A brief silence followed.
Then—
The man raised his hand slightly.
Not aggressive.
Not rushed.
Just—
A signal.
And instantly—
The others moved.
Fast.
Precise.
Two from the sides.
One from behind.
Mira reacted first.
A burst of energy shot forward.
"Back off!"
Boom.
One of them blocked it effortlessly.
No struggle.
No hesitation.
Mira's eyes narrowed.
"…They're stronger than regular awakened."
"…Yeah," Aarav said quietly.
"I noticed."
Another figure appeared behind him.
Too fast.
Aarav turned—
But didn't move to attack.
Instead—
He watched.
"…Not killing intent," he thought.
"…Just capture."
The realization came instantly.
"…You're not here to fight."
The man in front nodded slightly.
"…Correct."
Aarav exhaled.
"…That makes things easier."
Mira looked at him sharply.
"…What are you doing?"
"…Thinking."
"That's not the time—"
"It is."
The group closed in.
Careful.
Controlled.
No wasted movement.
Aarav's screen flickered faintly.
[ T H R E A T D E T E C T E D ]
But this time—
It didn't escalate.
Didn't push.
Almost as if—
It was waiting.
"…Interesting," Aarav murmured.
Mira stepped closer to him.
"…We can still break through."
"…Probably."
"…Then why aren't we?"
Aarav glanced at her.
"…Because I want to know."
Silence.
Mira frowned.
"…Know what?"
Aarav looked back at the group.
"…Who they are."
The man in front spoke again.
"…Smart choice."
"…Don't get used to it," Aarav replied.
Mira clenched her fist slightly.
"…This is risky."
"…Everything is."
A brief pause.
Then—
She stepped back.
Not agreeing.
But not stopping him either.
"…Fine," she said quietly.
"But I'm not leaving."
Aarav smirked.
"…Didn't expect you to."
The group stopped just a step away now.
Close enough.
Controlled.
"…No resistance?" the man asked.
"…Not yet."
Another pause.
Then—
"…Take him."
The moment the words fell—
Aarav felt it.
Not force.
Not violence.
But something else.
A controlled energy wrapped around him, restricting movement—not painfully, but firmly.
"…Yeah," he muttered.
"Definitely prepared."
He didn't struggle.
Didn't resist.
Instead—
He observed.
Every detail.
Every movement.
Every reaction.
"…Let's see where this goes."
Mira stepped forward again.
"…If anything happens—"
"…I know," Aarav said.
"…I'll handle it."
She looked at him for a moment longer.
Then nodded slightly.
"…Don't die."
Aarav smirked.
"…Not planning to."
The group began to move.
Taking him with them.
Not dragging.
Not forcing.
Just… guiding.
Like they were certain he wouldn't run.
And maybe—
They were right.
Aarav glanced back once.
At Mira.
At the empty street.
At the place where everything had changed.
"…New phase," he thought.
Because this—
Was no longer random.
This was organized.
Planned.
Controlled.
And whatever this group was—
They knew something.
Something important.
And now—
He was going to find out.