The night didn't feel the same anymore.
⸻
The air—
⸻
Heavier.
⸻
As if something unseen had stepped into the world…
⸻
And refused to leave.
⸻
Back at the palace—
⸻
Morning came.
⸻
But no one felt rested.
⸻
Even the wind carried tension.
⸻
Malvek stood in the courtyard again.
⸻
Earlier than usual.
⸻
"…You're early."
⸻
Nobu's voice.
⸻
Malvek didn't turn.
⸻
"…Couldn't sleep."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…Good."
⸻
Nobu stepped forward.
⸻
"…Then your body is starting to understand."
⸻
Malvek frowned slightly.
⸻
"…Understand what?"
⸻
Nobu stopped in front of him.
⸻
"…That time is running out."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Malvek's eyes sharpened.
⸻
"…You felt it too."
⸻
Nobu didn't deny it.
⸻
"…Something entered this era."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…And it's not weak."
⸻
Malvek clenched his fist.
⸻
"…Is it them?"
⸻
Nobu's gaze shifted slightly.
⸻
"…Not sure."
⸻
Another pause.
⸻
"…But it's close enough."
⸻
⸻
Training began.
⸻
Harder than before.
⸻
Faster.
⸻
Sharper.
⸻
No wasted movement.
⸻
No pauses.
⸻
Malvek attacked—
⸻
Again.
⸻
And again.
⸻
And again.
⸻
Each strike—
⸻
Cleaner.
⸻
Stronger.
⸻
More controlled.
⸻
BOOM!!
⸻
The ground cracked beneath his step.
⸻
For a split second—
⸻
Nobu's eyes narrowed.
⸻
"…There it is."
⸻
Malvek stopped.
⸻
Breathing heavier now.
⸻
"…What?"
⸻
Nobu stepped closer.
⸻
"…You're starting to break your limits."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…But you're still holding back."
⸻
Malvek froze.
⸻
"…I'm not—"
⸻
"Don't lie."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Nobu's voice dropped slightly.
⸻
"…You're afraid."
⸻
Malvek's fists tightened.
⸻
"…If I lose control—"
⸻
"…Then lose it."
⸻
The words hit harder than any strike.
⸻
"…Because what's coming…"
⸻
Nobu's gaze darkened.
⸻
"…Won't give you the choice."
⸻
⸻
Elsewhere—
⸻
Far beyond the palace—
⸻
Beru moved.
⸻
Faster now.
⸻
Not wandering anymore.
⸻
Searching.
⸻
Hunting.
⸻
But not blindly.
⸻
Carefully.
⸻
His eyes scanned a ruined village.
⸻
Burned.
⸻
Empty.
⸻
Too clean.
⸻
"…Not normal…"
⸻
He crouched.
⸻
Touching the ground.
⸻
Cold.
⸻
Not from weather—
⸻
From something else.
⸻
"…That thing…"
⸻
His grip tightened.
⸻
"…It passed through here."
⸻
A voice suddenly spoke behind him.
⸻
"…You noticed too."
⸻
Beru turned instantly.
⸻
Three figures stood there.
⸻
Not weak.
⸻
Not ordinary.
⸻
Survivors.
⸻
One stepped forward.
⸻
"…You're not from any clan nearby."
⸻
Beru said nothing.
⸻
"…Relax."
⸻
The man raised his hands slightly.
⸻
"…If you were the enemy…"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…We'd already be dead."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
Beru studied them.
⸻
Carefully.
⸻
"…You felt it too."
⸻
The man nodded.
⸻
"…Something passed through here."
⸻
"…Didn't attack."
⸻
"…Didn't hesitate."
⸻
"…Just… moved."
⸻
Beru's eyes darkened.
⸻
"…It's heading somewhere."
⸻
Another pause.
⸻
"…And I know where."
⸻
The three exchanged glances.
⸻
"…Then we're coming with you."
⸻
Beru didn't respond immediately.
⸻
Then—
⸻
"…Keep up."
⸻
And he walked past them.
⸻
They followed.
⸻
Without hesitation.
⸻
⸻
Deep underground—
⸻
"…Memory extraction—12%."
⸻
"…Resistance decreasing."
⸻
The girl's eyes were open.
⸻
But empty.
⸻
Flickering.
⸻
"…Emotional anchor weakening."
⸻
A faint whisper—
⸻
"…Mal…vek…"
⸻
"…Suppress it."
⸻
The machine pulsed harder.
⸻
Her body trembled.
⸻
Tears fell—
⸻
Without emotion.
⸻
"…Prepare neural overwrite."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…She will make an excellent V."
⸻
⸻
Elsewhere—
⸻
V9 moved.
⸻
Not fast—
⸻
But precise.
⸻
Each step calculated.
⸻
Each movement silent.
⸻
Its eyes scanned the horizon.
⸻
"…Distance to target—reducing."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…Interference probability—rising."
⸻
For a moment—
⸻
It stopped.
⸻
"…The previous subject…"
⸻
"…Anomaly."
⸻
Beru.
⸻
"…Will be dealt with if necessary."
⸻
And then—
⸻
It vanished again.
⸻
⸻
Back at the palace—
⸻
Evening fell.
⸻
Malvek collapsed to one knee.
⸻
Exhausted.
⸻
Sweat dripping.
⸻
Hands shaking.
⸻
"…Get up."
⸻
Nobu's voice.
⸻
Malvek didn't move.
⸻
"…I can't…"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…Good."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
"…Then now you'll grow."
⸻
Malvek forced himself up.
⸻
Barely.
⸻
But he stood.
⸻
Nobu watched.
⸻
Quietly.
⸻
"…It's close."
⸻
Malvek looked at him.
⸻
"…What is?"
⸻
Nobu turned toward the horizon.
⸻
"…Everything."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…The war."
⸻
Another pause.
⸻
"…And the ones who started it."
⸻
The wind shifted again.
⸻
Stronger this time.
⸻
And far away—
⸻
Three paths were already moving toward each other.
⸻
Malvek.
⸻
Beru.
⸻
V9.
⸻
And when they meet—
⸻
Nothing will remain the same.
⸻
To be continued…