The moment the ring settled into Rey's palm—
It changed.
The dull silver darkened, turning pitch black in seconds.
Even the crystal embedded within it lost its faint glow, becoming just as dark, so subtle it could only be noticed by touch.
Before anyone could process that—
The ring floated.
Then it shattered.
Not violently.
Not explosively.
It dismantled itself into countless particles and rushed straight into Rey's hand.
"Hah…!"
That sound escaped all of them at once.
Rey, Aiden, Victor—
Even Zero froze on the screen.
"WHAT THE HELL?!"
Rey shouted, frantically checking his hands, his arms, his chest.
He pressed the spot where the ring had entered.
Nothing.
No pain.
No mark.
No trace.
Victor immediately scanned his entire body using blood manipulation.
Hands.
Chest.
Heart.
Brain.
Nothing.
Aiden double-checked the mind.
Zero scanned the muscles.
Clear.
"Where the hell did it go?" Rey muttered.
Victor frowned. "It may be using high-grade concealment magic. Something ancient."
Aiden nodded, snapping out of his thoughts. "Yeah… go sleep, Rey. We'll deal with this tomorrow."
Still confused and slightly sweaty, Rey changed clothes and lay down.
Sleep came quickly.
The trio retreated into the white room.
They barely had time to sit—
Before something appeared.
Something that was never supposed to be there.
Aiden's lips curved upward.
"So it followed him here too…"
He snapped his fingers.
Rey's sleeping consciousness was pulled in.
"Huh?" Rey yawned. "What now? Another fight? I'm not in the mood."
He stood up—
Then noticed it.
A door.
A new one.
Silent.
Standing at the edge of the white room.
A slow knocking echoed.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Rey stopped mid-step.
"…Are you messing with me?" he asked, stepping back. "Only we exist here."
Aiden sighed.
Then walked forward.
And opened the door.
Darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
"Hah. I knew it," Rey relaxed. "Cheap prank—"
Something shot out.
Fast.
Too fast.
It slammed into his stomach.
Rey flew back and hit the ground.
"What the hell—help me!"
He looked at the trio.
They didn't move.
"Why would we?" Aiden said calmly. "Look at what's attacking you."
Rey turned—
And his blood ran cold.
The ring.
Floating.
Raging.
Wrapped in a violent aura, charging at him like a mad beast.
Before he could react—
It hit him again.
And again.
Left.
Right.
Straight to the chest.
He was beaten mercilessly.
Thrown.
Dragged.
Crushed.
Yet with every impact—
Something flowed into him.
The ring's aura seeped into his soul.
Rey's once-clear soul began darkening, mutating, changing.
The beating continued—
Until suddenly—
The ring stopped.
Its aura calmed.
It drifted forward.
And embedded itself into Rey's left hand.
Not physically.
But into his soul.
Rey never saw it.
He passed out.
But Aiden did.
The ring settled like it had always belonged there.
Moments later, Rey woke up.
Breathing heavily.
Instinctively guarding himself.
"…It's gone?"
Victor smirked and pointed.
Rey looked down.
The ring sat on his finger.
Plain.
Silent.
Calm.
He grabbed it.
Pulled.
Nothing.
It felt like touching his own skin.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
He tried everything.
Twisting.
Pulling.
Scratching.
Nothing worked.
"What the hell am I trapped with now?!"
Exhausted, Rey collapsed onto the bed.
"…I'm not cutting my finger off over a psycho ring."
Sleep claimed him again.
Morning arrived.
Sunlight crept in.
Rey stretched—
Then froze.
Because something was wrong.
Very wrong.
His body—
Had changed.