Buzzz-buzz!
The dim light flickered, emitting static electricity.
Swooosh! Swoosh!
The air tore.
The odor of sweat lingered.
In the dimly lit room, a man swung a blood-red blade.
Sweat clung to his skin, trickling down his naked back.
His muscles bulged, every ab visible.
But a massive scar sprawled across his chest, going down to his abdomen.
A testament to a deadly battle, a reminder of an almost lost life.
Swooosh!
An automatic door slid open, and a woman with short red hair walked in.
"Commander," Vivian pushed her glasses back.
She carried a folder with documents.
"Yes?" The commander didn't even glance at her.
Thud!
He laid his blade aside and dropped to the ground, doing push-ups.
"Commander, please stop for a moment to discuss a few things."
"Later."
"We need you to look over these…"
"Deal with them as you see fit."
"Sight…" Vivian shook her head. "You've been at it for hours."
"I know, but for some reason, I don't feel tired. I feel stronger."
"That couldn't be possible."
Vivian adjusted her slipping glasses.
Swoosh! Swooosh!
The commander changed his exercise, switching to sit-ups.
With each movement, his abs bulged.
"I can feel my power growing."
A smile curled up the commander's lips.
"I never felt like this before…"
'Something's wrong!'
Vivian's senses screamed.
Her brows furrowed.
"I feel so… free…powerful!!"
The commander exclaimed.
RIIIIP!
Suddenly, a tearing sound rang through the room.
The commander halted.
Vivian's eyes darted around.
But the commander's gaze swept down.
"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
An agonized cry escaped his throat.
His abdomen twitched, muscles pulling and tightening beneath his skin.
"Commander, what's happening?!"
Vivian ran to him, panicked.
"UGGGG!!!"
But he couldn't reply.
His body arched upward in pain, eyes bulging out.
An excruciating pain assaulted him.
Foam bubbled in his mouth, and his body slammed against the ground, spasming.
His eyes slowly rolled back.
The veins on his forehead bulged.
"Uggg…"
A splitting headache assaulted him as information flooded his mind.
Swoosh!
Blue particles appeared in the air, swirling towards the commander's abdomen.
Quickly, the few particles turned into a stream of blue light.
But the commander's consciousness faded.
"Commander! Commander!! MAREK!!!!"
Only Vivian's terrified screams filled the room and his out-of-control body.
…
Back at the hospital.
Faint moonlight penetrated through the gaps in the curtains.
"Agghh…"
Groans tore the silence of the room.
Vincent slowly opened his eyes, his entire body aching from sleeping curled up on the floor.
The exhaustion from the sleepless night and the mental pressure had overwhelmed him, making him fall asleep while crying.
"What time is it?"
He slowly stood up and walked to the window.
Swoosh!
Moonlight lit the room.
He parted the curtains.
'How much time has passed?'
He looked up.
The night was deep.
The three moons hung in the sky, their light uninterrupted by the ever-present rift in the sky during the day.
A faint red luster outlined their shape.
'It's peaceful.'
Vincent's eyes trembled, heavy with the burden from the events they had witnessed.
And deep down, something else flickered in them.
The saying went: The eyes are a mirror to the soul.
But his soul is tainted.
He stared at the moons for a while, clearing his mind.
"Sighh…"
A sigh escaped his lips.
"I better check on Gerold."
He reigned in his thoughts and turned away.
Thud! Thud!
He froze.
Confusion sprawled on his face.
'Was that?'
He stepped back, looking closely outside.
The corner of his eye caught movement.
As his room faced the side of the entrance, he saw it.
Two figures leaving the hospital.
One big, the other small.
'Peter…and Kai?'
Vincent's confusion deepened.
His mind raced, thoughts clashing.
'This morning, Peter clearly targeted me. Could it be…'
His eyes widened.
A trace of disbelief and urgency flashed on his face.
Swoosh!
He moved fast.
'Is he crazy? Does he want to target Kai because of me?'
His worry intensified.
'Does he think the rumors are false? Our warning?'
A memory flashed in Vincent's mind.
His memory with Kai.
'Kai will butcher him!'
…
Peter walked in front, while Kai sleepily followed a few steps behind.
'Perfect,'
Cold sweat drenched Peter's back, but a smile still curled up his lips.
He occasionally glanced back, sizing Kai up and down.
'He just woke up. He isn't carrying his weapons.'
His gaze lingered on Kai's waist, where the leather bags with the weapons usually rested.
And his back, where the eight daggers usually rotated mid-air.
'I wanted just to talk…'
A malicious light flashed in his eyes.
'But if he doesn't cooperate, I can just…'
"Ummm…"
Suddenly, Kai's voice shattered his thoughts.
His sleepy eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Where are the candies? How much longer?"
His voice carried a hint of impatience, but also a childlike innocence.
A warm smile flashed on Peter's face.
"Just a bit further ahead."
But his eyes weren't smiling; they flashed with malicious intent.
'He is just a child. Liam is overreacting. Besides, my ability is defense, and he has no weapons…'
Peter continued walking in front, oblivious to the massive shadow the tiny figure behind him carried. A shadow capable of devouring him.
They continued walking in silence.
The night was quiet.
Minutes passed.
"It's just ahead."
Peter's gaze locked onto a half-collapsed building in the distance.
"Mmhh…"
Kai nodded.
Peter's expression grew darker.
'Do I talk to him…'
His heart raced.
Suddenly, his muscles tightened.
A decision formed in his heart.
He would end him there, swiftly, with no chance for resistance.
What was supposed to be just a talk suddenly turned into a death sentence.
But the opportunity was too good to miss.
Soon, they reached the building.
Kai walked behind, his head lowered, his eyes weighing.
He struggled to stay awake.
A dagger slid out of Peter's sleeve, his grip tightening.
"DIE!"
He lunged back, thrusting the dagger.
No hesitation. He went for the kill—Kai's fragile neck.
"Hmmm?"
The shout snapped Kai out of his daze.
He raised his head, coming face to face with the tip of the dagger.
Swiiiish!
'What?!'
Peter's heart trembled, eyes filled with horror.
The blade stopped mid-air—just an inch from reaching Kai.
"What are you doing?"
Kai looked him in the eyes, innocently.
'AGHHH!'
Peter's instincts screamed; he felt his blood freezing.
Swoosh!
He jumped back, fear overwhelming him.
'What was that?'
His mind raced, and a dreadful thought occurred in his heart.
'Are the rumors true? Is he that powerful?'
He fell into a daze, his unfocused gaze looking at Kai.
No, he froze. Unable to accept the reality.
"What are you doing?"
Kai asked again.
His gaze fell on the dagger in Peter's palm.
"Is that a dagger?"
Peter snapped out of his daze and guiltily hid the dagger behind his back.
"Y-Yeah…"
He smiled awkwardly, but his back soaked in cold sweat.
He could feel his heartbeat in his throat.
'What is he thinking?'
He was on high alert, observing Kai.
Every slight movement, every micro-expression.
But Kai remained still, seemingly absent-minded.
A silence descended among them.
A dreadful silence.
Suddenly, Kai looked up, his eyes turned cold.
"You wanted to hurt me,"
His words fell.
Peter's heart sank.
"N-No…"
"Why?"
Kai cut him off, slowly walking forward.
BOOM!
"AGHHHHH!!"
A pressure crushed Peter to the ground.
"Ughhh…"
Peter's groans filled the air, but he couldn't move a muscle.
He felt as if his bones would break.
In that moment, he realized the power Liam talked about.
They were not in the same league at all.
"Why did you cut off Gerold's arm!!!"
Peter groaned hatefully.
Under such power, he didn't even try making up lies.
"He wanted to protect a traitor,"
"Lies! Mateo would be dead anyway! Gerold just wanted to bring him back and make an example in front of everyone!"
Peter fired back.
"Bringing a traitor back into our home will only pointlessly increase the risk."
"It would've been a massive benefit…"
Suddenly, Peter froze.
'He is just a kid!!'
The veins on his forehead bulged up!
Tears welled up in his eyes. Tears of frustration and unwillingness.
What good would it be to explain to a kid what benefit a public execution would've had? It's not like Kai would understand.
A kid only sees the surface of the matter.
'He is just a stupid monstrous bastard!"
Peter's teeth creaked, but he could only blame fate for giving such power to someone so young.
"It's all Vincent's fault!"
A groan left his throat.
If Vincent didn't bring this monster back, none of this would be happening right now.
The hatred for Vincent surged up. For Kai! For everyone!
"You want to go against big brother Vincent?!"
Kai's eyes turned colder and ruthless.
"Do you want to endanger my home too?! The home Big Brother built?! My new family!!"
"I'LL MURDER YOU ALL!"
Peter roared vengefully!
"YOU BASTARD…AGHHH!"
BOOM!
CRASH!
The pressure doubled.
Peter's bones shattered, blood splashing out of his mouth.
Swoosh!
With a wave of his hand, Peter's body flew up in the air, locked in place.
And in Kai's eyes, only murderous intent and a cold glint remained.
But in the distance, a figure appeared.
"KAI!"