At Military Headquarters, inside Bhairin's office, the monitors displayed the moment Ron shot Lian. Bhairin bolted upright. "Useless brat!" he roared, slamming his fist onto the desk.
The Brigadier guarding the door flinched at the sound. Bhairin took a sharp breath, his eyes fixed on the screen, but the feed suddenly cut to black.
"Dammit!" He snatched a stack of reports from his desk and hurled them across the room.
***
Seconds before the feed died—just as Ron fired and before Lian could even hit the ground.
"Outer, erase all the drones," Lian said flatly.
"Understood."
In an instant, every drone vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed at all.
***
The twilight sky slowly faded into darkness. As Lian gripped Outer, a shadowy figure with blank white eyes and jagged teeth manifested before Ron and Nox.
"Is... is that the same thing from the hospital?" Nox turned to solid stone, cold sweat beading on his temples.
Ron stood paralyzed, his body trembling. Panicking, Nox drew his pistol.
"Get back, you monster!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Nox fired repeatedly, but every bullet vanished the moment it touched Outer's body, swallowed by the darkness.
"So this is why Bhairin let him go..." Ron muttered.
Outer stared at Ron. Those hollow white eyes seemed to pierce through Ron's stiff exterior.
"AAARGHH!" Outer's roar erupted, drowning out the sound of gunfire.
Nox collapsed, his legs giving out. The pistol slipped from his hand. "This is... impossible..."
Ron finally moved, stepping in front of his brother to shield him.
"I'll be whatever you want... just let Nox go," Ron said, bowing deeply.
Nox gasped. "Ron..." he whispered, unable to believe his brother would humble himself like that.
Lian released his grip on Outer and clapped three times.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Outer vanished. Lian looked at Ron with a crooked smirk. "Well, Blondie? Regretting it yet?"
Ron remained bowed. "Yes."
"Threw in the towel already, Blondie?" Lian sneered. He tilted his head from side to side, as if weighing his options. Nox forced himself to stand, though his legs were shaking violently.
Lian watched the struggle and smiled wide. "How about the two of you box right now? The winner gets to decide the loser's fate. Wouldn't that be grand?" he said with a soft chuckle.
Ron and Nox froze. Ron finally stood straight and met Lian's gaze.
"Do you promise, Leuliang?"
"Of course. But," Lian's smile turned sweet and lethal, "if I catch anyone throwing the fight... I'll erase you both."
Ron took a long breath and looked at Nox. "You heard him, Nox. We have to give it our all."
Nox bit his lip. "Why, Ron...?"
"The die is cast." Ron smiled—calm, but bitter.
Nox closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Fine, Ron."
Lian stood at the edge of the abyss. "Come on then! Entertain me!" he said, clapping softly.
Ron raised his fists. His movements were steady, but his eyes were heavy, as if carrying a weight greater than fear. Nox swallowed hard and mimicked his brother's stance.
"...Ron, I don't want to do this."
"I know," Ron said firmly. "But if we stop now, he chooses our fate."
Nox nodded.
They stepped forward until they were only a pace apart. No referee, no rules—just two brothers forced into a cage match. Ron moved first with a quick, measured left jab.
Nox blocked, but the force pushed him back. Ron was clearly holding back, tapping rather than striking.
Nox's jaw tightened. "...If you pull your punches, we're dead," he whispered.
He countered with a jab. It wasn't as clean as Ron's, but it made his brother's head snap back.
Ron offered a faint smile. "Keep going."
They began to trade blows. It wasn't aggressive; it was disciplined, like two boxers who knew each other's rhythm perfectly.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Ron aimed for the shoulders and arms, avoiding the face. Nox targeted the chest and ribs, trying to minimize the damage.
Lian watched from the sidelines, his eyes sparkling. "Ah... I see. Family always has a different kind of intensity."
He turned to Outer. "Outer, who do you think will win?"
Outer tilted its head. "Why doesn't Lian just use them as tools?"
"Tools, huh..." Lian went quiet, returning his gaze to the fight.
Ron pressed harder with a three-punch combination.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Nox blocked two, but the third broke through his guard and caught his jaw. His head snapped back, his footing faltered, and he was knocked to the ground.
Ron let out a sharp breath. "...Sorry."
Nox stood up and wiped the corner of his mouth. "Don't apologize! Just hit me!"
He lunged forward, more aggressive this time. A left hook slammed into Ron's ribs, making him cough. Ron countered with a short uppercut to Nox's chest, forcing him back.
Lian hummed a little tune. "I love this dynamic—brothers beating the hell out of each other."
Outer clapped.
"Outer, I think I'll take your advice," Lian said.
A long stretch of time passed. Both men were exhausted and battered.
Ron looked at his brother. "Nox, listen to me."
"What?"
Ron lowered his guard.
"Win this."
Nox's eyes widened. "What...?"
Ron immediately caught Nox across the cheek with a powerful right straight—not a killing blow, but enough to send Nox stumbling back.
Nox wheezed. "Why... Ron?!"
Ron reset his stance. His eyes were calm but hollow; his mind was made up. "If someone has to lose, let it be me."
Nox bit his lip, shaking from head to toe. "...You're crazy."
"I have been for a long time," Ron replied, devoid of humor.
Nox lowered his fists, his face torn with conflict.
Lian noticed and clicked his tongue. "Remember, if anyone fakes a loss, the consequences are clear."
Ron raised his fists again, his voice a whisper. "So hit me as hard as you can. Now."
Nox closed his eyes, unable to stop the surge of emotion. "...Ron..."
Ron nodded, giving silent permission.
When Nox opened his eyes again, his resolve had shifted. He stepped forward, fists clenched. "Fine."
Ron braced himself. Nox's fist flew straight toward his brother's chin.
Just before impact, Lian shouted, "Enough!"
Nox's fist stopped precisely as it grazed Ron's skin. Lian began to clap. Both brothers collapsed, gasping for air, drenched in sweat.
"Outer gave me a brilliant idea. Are you two interested?" Lian's eyes were alight with excitement.
There was no answer; they were too spent to speak.
"ANSWER ME!" Lian screamed.
A deep abyss formed in the ground once more. Nox clenched his fists at the sight of it, his body refusing to move.
Ron struggled to his feet, trembling. "Yes," he managed.
Lian stared straight at Ron. "Good. The two of you... you're going to be my bodyguards!"
Nox forced himself up. His legs were wobbly, but his eyes burned with rage. Ron simply took a long, tired breath.
"And if we refuse?" Ron asked quietly. A third abyss tore open instantly.
"Dammit..." Nox muttered.
Ron looked at Nox and shook his head.
"Well, Blondie?"
"Fine."
"Hey, Champ! You coming, or do you want to vanish?" Lian's use of the word 'Champ' felt like a slap.
Nox muttered reluctantly, "Yeah, whatever."
Lian paced back and forth, eyeing a four-meter-wide gap between them. "Okay, we have a deal. But first, a little fitness test."
"Ugh," Nox groaned.
"Nox..." Ron warned.
Nox clicked his tongue.
"Relax, the test is easy," Lian said casually.
"Just jump across the abyss to me!"
Ron analyzed the gap. "What's the time limit?"
"Because I'm nice, you have until sunrise tomorrow."
"He calls this nice..." Nox grumbled. A fourth abyss opened behind them, the ambient air began to be pulled into the chasm.
Ron dug his fingers into Nox's shoulder so hard that his nails went white from the pressure.
Nox sat down, pouting. Ron thought hard while Lian waited patiently.
"Nox..." Ron called.
Nox didn't move. Ron walked over and sat down, leaning his back against Nox's.
"You're heavy."
"Deal with it." Nox sighed.
"Do we really have to obey him?"
"Do you want to disappear?"
"No," Nox grumbled.
"Then just swallow your pride," Ron said calmly.
"You think we can jump that far?" Nox asked, nudging Ron's back.
"Where there's a will, there's a way, Nox," Ron said, stretching.
"That's not a way, it's a hole in the ground."
"Don't remind me."
***
On the other side, Outer watched them.
"Lian, they seem to be enjoying themselves."
"Ignore them."
"What if reinforcements arrive?"
"Then erase them. It's simple, easy, and clean."
"Lian is so clever," Outer praised.
***
After resting for a moment, Ron stood up and started stretching, and Nox followed suit.
"We're going to make him regret making us his guards!" Nox declared.
Ron went silent.
"Sorry, slipped out," Nox laughed nervously.
Ron took his starting position to jump the abyss.
"You're annoying when you're grumpy," he muttered.
Nox lined up beside him. They ran with everything they had. Ron nearly slipped at the edge, but Nox landed safely and helped pull him up.
"Ron! You okay?"
Ron panted heavily. "Hah... hah... I'm fine."
The two of them looked back, staring at the exact spot where they had stood only seconds before. The ground had vanished, collapsed into a dark void carved out by Lian's assault.
"A second later... and that would have been our grave," Ron whispered, his voice trembling beneath the rising cloud of dust.
Nox clenched his fists as he gazed into the man-made abyss. "Leuliang... he's not human anymore. He's a complete psychopath," Nox murmured.
Lian gave a pure smile as he gazed at Ron and Nox. He and Outer gave them a standing ovation.
"Congratulations! You're officially my guards."
Ron and Nox looked around, stunned. The trees were vanishing one by one; even the grass was disappearing.
"What are you doing?" Ron tried to stay calm.
"Hey—stop it!" Nox panicked.
Lian didn't budge. Outer began to dance, and the lush crater slowly turned into a barren wasteland.
"Please, stop," Ron pleaded.
Lian ignored him, humming a light, airy tune as he watched a hundred-year-old oak tree dissolve into nothingness.
"What do you actually want from us?" Nox yelled, ruffling his hair in frustration. Lian turned to them.
"How does it feel to be ignored?"
"Not great," Ron answered.
"It's annoying," Nox added.
Lian clapped. "Outer, stop."
Outer stopped dancing immediately.
"Let's set the rules," Lian said, holding up one finger. "Rule one: If you ignore me, I start erasing the world, piece by piece."
Nox clenched his fists. Ron watched Lian intently.
"And the last... if you ever betray me, Syntax disappears!"
Ron and Nox felt a coldness sharper than any abyss settle in their chests.
To be continued...