《Guardians of The Damned》


 Chapter 1: The Ancient City

    Chapter 1 - The Ancient CityI stared up at the city ceiling and the towering skyscrapers that looked ready to pierce it. For a moment, I drifted off into a trance, lost in my own thoughts¡ª


    School.


    Family.


    Work.


    The future.


    And the present.


    I let out a long sigh and took a swig from the bottle of soya in my right hand. Drained it. Then tossed it into a trash can.


    Reaching into my bag, I fished out my vape. One long inhale. A slow exhale. The tension eased, just a bit. I felt a little better.


    I opened my phone and checked the news, curious if there was any progress on the surface.


    > [The Guerilla Squad has taken over the territory of the former country, Uruguay!]


    > [Tarot''s Team has lost 60% of its members during a raid in the region once known as Russia!]


    > [Bald Eagle Scouts have discovered a new nest in the Red Sea!]


    Three headlines. That''s all I needed. I didn''t bother scrolling for more. Just knowing how things stood was enough to reassure me¡ªthis place would hold, for now.


    Honestly, I''d give it thirty years before everything collapses. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How about you?


    ...Tsk. Who am I even asking?


    I closed the app and checked my messages. As soon as I opened them:


    **Johan**: @Yummy_greasy, @Real.Hooman, @TheWorld. Where are you guys? We''ve got a new mission. Return ASAP.


    **Yummy**: We just finished another one!


    **Real**: It''ll be quick. Stop whining.


    **TheWorld**: On my way.


    I''d just gotten tagged. Orders were in. Time to move.


    I took another drag from my vape, exhaling a thick puff. Then, I stretched my hand toward the smoke. It quivered before taking shape¡ªtransforming into a hoverboard.


    It floated over to me. I stepped on. It took off, picking up speed.


    The wind rushed past my body, ruffling my hair and making my clothes dance. I looked down at the glowing city lights with a blank expression.


    I was cruising at a decent pace. The scenery wasn''t a blur¡ªstill clear.


    Then, something caught my eye. I stopped, brows furrowing. Did I imagine that?


    I turned around to check.


    From high above, I saw two figures: a man, and a small boy¡ªtwelve, maybe.


    "Please! I''ll pay by the end of the month! I swear!" the boy pleaded.


    "You''ve been saying that for a year," the man growled. "You think I won''t take your kidney to pay it off?"


    "No! I really got a job this time¡ªI promise!"


    "Kid, your job won''t cover your father''s debt. Maybe in 200 years. You think I''ve got that long?"


    He grabbed the boy by the neck, lifting him. The boy let out a pained grunt, eyes wide with fear.


    "Don''t... do this..." he gasped, struggling to breathe.


    "Or what?" the man sneered.


    Then, a massive shadow loomed over him.


    "Behind you," came a deep, echoing voice.


    "Huh?" The man turned¡ªjust in time for a humanoid robot to backhand him across the street. He crashed through a building. A distant boom echoed after.


    The boy fell, trembling as he stared at the four-meter-tall robot in horror. His pain was quickly replaced by raw panic.


    "Please return! Please return!" he cried, pressing the mech''s hand against his shadow.


    The robot''s hand began to sink into it¡ªuntil it stopped.


    His hopeful expression vanished.


    He looked up. The robot was staring at the sky.


    He followed its gaze.


    And saw me.


    Especially the mech. It locked eyes with me, and I cursed myself for not fleeing the second I noticed it.


    It leapt.


    I was fifty meters above the ground.


    **Shit.** My pupils shrank. My heart jumped.


    But even then¡ªI stayed calm.


    I veered hard to the right, the hoverboard just barely dodging the mech''s deadly pounce. It passed so close, the rush of air made my clothes and hair whip wildly.


    I turned to face it.


    It floated mid-air, wings extended. Blue flames flared from its thrusters.


    Our eyes met again. Its golden, metallic gaze was piercing¡ªcold. It wanted me dead. I could feel it.


    I don''t have time for this... I remembered Johan''s message and glanced at the boy.


    "Can you shut that thing down?"


    "I¡ªI can''t! It won''t disappear until it annihilates its target!"


    "Why the hell am I its target?!"


    "It holds a grudge against Honors!"


    ...Honors. Those with superpowers.


    "I''ve never heard of a summon holding a grudge!"


    "I''m not lying!" he shouted defensively.


    Useless. I turned my attention back to the mech.


    It could speak. I''d heard it.


    "Can you let me go?" I asked.


    "No. All sinners must be punished," it said, voice deep and godlike. "Superpowers should belong to God alone. Humanity has blasphemed. All who possess them must perish."


    Its golden eyes gleamed. It drew a red sword from its back¡ªshrouded in an aura of death. The air chilled.


    A powerful killing intent slammed into me like a wall. Sweat slid down my temple. I''d never felt anything like it.


    I grabbed my vape and took a massive drag.


    Thick white smoke poured out, forming two massive arms wielding swords. They floated behind me like phantom limbs¡ªextensions of myself.


    **Puffy.**


    I scanned the mech for weak points.


    None.


    Think.


    It''s a machine.


    Water.


    I looked around. There¡ªa rooftop water tank to the right.


    Can''t make it obvious. It''d catch on.


    I took a breath. Time to sell it.


    "You know," I said with a grin, "I''ve always wanted to fight a mech."


    I charged.


    Puffy flew ahead of me. When it closed the distance¡ªthree meters¡ªit swung hard. A blur of smoke and steel.


    The mech dodged, barely. It understood the danger. Puffy''s strike wasn''t just fast¡ªit was vicious. The swing left a sharp arc of wind that sliced across a nearby building.


    While it dodged, I slid to its side, flicked my hand. A piece of my hoverboard detached, reshaped into a needle, and launched upward.


    It dodged again. Effortlessly.


    **You''ve got to be kidding me.** That was faster than a sniper round.


    I froze for half a second. Despair crept in.


    Then¡ªI snapped out of it.


    Too late.


    It was within range. I saw the slash coming¡ªstraight for my neck.


    There was no time to dodge.


    The blade sliced through me like butter. My head dropped. Blood sprayed¡ª


    ¡ªThen vanished in a puff of smoke.


    Behind the mech, it heard my voice.


    "Can you dodge this?"


    While it attacked, I''d released another piece of the hoverboard¡ªletting it drift close to its blind spot.


    Now?


    It shattered into thousands of translucent needles.


    I snapped my fingers. They locked on.


    "Have fun."


    The storm of needles launched faster than bullets, invisible to the naked eye.


    And Puffy wasn''t done either¡ª


    It followed up with a relentless barrage of slashes.

 Chapter 2: A Plan of An Option

    Chapter 2 - A Plan of An OptionBefore the innumerable attacks could land, the mecha stood silently, as if calculating the most effective way to dodge them.


    A millisecond later, it vanished¡ªthen reappeared some distance away, effortlessly evading Puffy''s slashes and the thousands of needles.


    But the needles adjusted their trajectory mid-air. Puffy charged again, radiating intense killing intent.


    None of it worked. The mecha dodged every single one at insane speed. Even when I surrounded it from all angles, it slipped through the gaps, leaving only afterimages.


    Despite its incredible agility, it never struck back. That puzzled me.


    *Can it not attack while dodging?* I wondered, turning to the idiot who summoned this thing.


    Gone. Seriously?


    Now what? My original plan''s toast. If it could dodge those needles, a tank drop of water would be nothing.


    Just as I was formulating a new plan, a chill ran down my spine. Something was wrong.


    I turned my attention back to the battlefield.


    As if Murphy''s Law had activated, the mecha clenched its fist. Its body glowed gold, and yellow sparks of electricity trickled from its limbs.


    The glow intensified until it exploded like a flashbang, turning everything white. Electricity spread outward in a dome, engulfing the area.


    Inside the dome, my thousands of needles vanished. I couldn''t feel them anymore.


    I frowned, scanning for Puffy¡ªbut it had disappeared as well.


    Then, almost like the mecha read my thoughts, I felt its presence behind me. Relief washed over me for a second¡ªthen confusion.


    I couldn''t feel it properly. I couldn''t control it.


    And that''s when I realized what was happening.


    Too late.


    Puffy slashed my neck.


    My body dissolved into a cloud, and I reformed somewhere else.


    I knew I couldn''t beat it directly. I fled.


    While flying, still reeling, I caught a wisp of smoke curling from a ventilation shaft. I paused, staring, and then my eyes widened.


    *That''s it.*


    I zipped through the familiar streets until I found an abandoned building¡ªa hospital. Though deserted, it was heavily guarded due to leftover medical tech.


    Fortunately, only robots and AI drones were stationed there.


    No way I could walk through the front.


    I shifted into white mist and slipped through the thin cracks of a tightly sealed window. Inside, the hallway was dim and quiet, lit only by the dull hum of red emergency lights.


    Only my own breathing echoed as I glided in mist form through the corridors.


    Then, the floor trembled slightly.


    Gunshots echoed in the distance¡ªrapid and relentless.


    *You''re here,* I thought.


    But then¡ªsilence. Sudden and complete.


    Unease crept in. I wanted to check it out, but forced myself to keep searching.


    About 50 meters ahead, my instincts screamed.


    I froze.


    Nothing happened.


    *Maybe I''m just paranoid,* I muttered.


    I was about to move again when I heard metal crashing¡ªsomething tearing through walls and machinery.


    Without hesitation, I shot backward, clearing 100 meters in seconds.


    I reformed at the end of the hall, just as the wall I had stood near exploded. Chunks of debris flew in every direction.


    Dust filled the air, and within it, a silhouette emerged. It turned its head toward me.


    Twin golden glints pierced through the haze.


    "Aren''t you quick? Can''t wait to meet me, huh?" I sneered, taking a heavy puff from my vape.


    Thick smoke billowed out. Before the ventilation could suck it in, I willed the smoke to flow into the vents and solidify, sealing them off.


    With the vents blocked, the smoke lingered¡ªthick, blinding. Vision dropped to five meters at best.


    Still, I wasn''t naive enough to think the mecha couldn''t see.


    It''s a machine. It might have heat vision or something worse.


    Either way, time for the next step.


    My body turned translucent again and became mist, blending with the fog as I moved toward my goal, slipping right past the mecha.


    I floated by as silently and calmly as possible, suppressing every emotion. Any hint of fear might alert it.


    I thought I made it.


    Then¡ªgoosebumps.


    A shockwave slammed me from behind, flinging me down the hall and breaking my mist form.


    I hit a wall hard enough to leave a crater.


    Luckily, I''d coiled myself in a long rope of smoke to cushion the impact.


    Even so, my vision blurred. When I came to, the mecha was right in front of me, sword raised.


    I ducked. The blade missed, slicing into the wall like butter.


    I spotted an opening and didn''t hesitate¡ªturned to mist and shot away.


    The mecha moved to follow¡ªbut the mist throughout the hall quivered.


    In an instant, the fog transformed into razor-thin threads. Transparent and deadly. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A lone fly, caught mid-flight, was sliced cleanly in half.


    The mecha stopped. Looked up.


    I hadn''t even noticed it had escaped.


    A hole gaped in the ceiling. It was gone.


    Slipped away before the trap could fully form.


    That thing''s too damn fast.


    I swear¡ªit didn''t need more than a second to vanish.

 Chapter 3: Not So Tough After All

    Chapter 3 - Not So Tough After AllWell, it didn''t matter anyway... I thought, floating through the ceiling to survey the surroundings. Parts were scattered across the floor, and impossibly thin threads covered every inch of the area.


    ...I''ve already covered this entire building with threads, I continued my internal monologue. Looking at the scraps on the ground, I felt a surge of satisfaction. That thing could dodge any visible attack¡ªbut what if the attack was completely hidden from sight?


    The answer lay in front of him.


    I didn''t linger. With a skateboard-shaped cloud beneath me, I exited through a window. Once far enough from the building, I deactivated the threads spanning the hospital.


    The journey to my next destination went smoothly. I landed at the entrance of a facility guarded by a thick steel door and a squad of armed soldiers.


    One soldier, already familiar with me, raised a hand in greeting as the door began to open.


    "How''s your day, Sunny?" he asked.


    "Doing good. Also, it''s Synnefo," I corrected.


    "That name''s a mouthful. Everyone around here calls you Sunny anyway. It suits your powers¡ªkind of poetic, right?"


    "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." I brushed him off and walked in.


    "Still not calling you Synnefo," he added casually.


    I didn''t give it another thought and continued down the hall. It was heavily guarded¡ªturrets mounted on cameras, laser grids sweeping the corridor.


    With each step, the lasers vanished just ahead of me, clearing a safe path. If someone unauthorized stepped in, though? The lasers would remain¡ªand slice them to pieces in an instant.


    Eventually, I arrived at a door requiring a password, fingerprint, keycard, and voice recognition. I completed all four on the first try. A beep sounded, and the door slid open, revealing a spacious white hall bustling with activity.


    People walked in every direction: some in lab coats, others in suits, casual wear, or combat gear. The scent of fresh air and room deodorizer hit me, and cool air from the vents chilled my skin. Behind me, the door sealed shut. I made my way to the designated meeting room.


    Fewer people today. Maybe just my imagination¡ªI don''t usually notice the little things.


    My phone buzzed.


    **Johan:** `@The World where on earth are you?!`


    **Me:** "Sorry. Something happened. I''m in the building, arriving shortly."


    **Johan:** `Then hurry. Everyone''s here. It''s urgent.`


    **Me:** "Okay."


    Just as I hit send, something stirred in my peripheral vision¡ªa shadowy hand stretching out from my own shadow.


    My instincts kicked in. I bent backward just in time to dodge its attempt to strangle me.


    **Swoosh!**


    It missed by a hair. No time to celebrate. The hand gripped the floor. A second followed.


    Two hands now planted firmly. It launched itself out of my shadow.


    "I''m sure I turned you into scraps." I dropped into a boxing stance, facing the mecha¡ªcompletely intact.


    "Only God can decide my death," it responded in a cold, metallic voice.


    "Can a machine enter heaven? Do robots even have souls?" I replied, half-serious, half-buying time.


    "Yes. He is the most benevolent, after all."


    While we exchanged words, I scanned for an opening¡ªstalling until the guards could catch up. Truthfully, I couldn''t take this thing alone without proper prep and traps.


    Inside the base, using powers is forbidden unless it''s a confirmed emergency.


    This? Not an emergency. Not yet. I knew how the higher-ups worked¡ªrules first, logic later. I''d be punished, no matter the explanation.


    *Hah... I''ve already been punished enough,* I thought bitterly.


    Sensing my stall tactic, the mecha lunged forward.


    **Here it comes!**


    It unsheathed a sword and slashed¡ªone, two, three times¡ªall aimed at vital points. I dodged each strike, stepping back until my back hit a wall.


    "Why me?! There''s plenty of ''Honor'' walking around, tin can!"


    "You''re the most dangerous. The one with the most potential." It lunged, sword aimed at my heart.


    I sidestepped at the last second. Its blade pierced the thick wall behind me. I grinned and countered with a hard punch.


    But I hit only air. It vanished, reappearing a short distance away¡ªwithout its sword.


    **"Unknown material detected. Alert! Alert! Intruder!"** sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A robotic voice blared. The lights flickered red, alarms screaming through the facility.


    A smile tugged at my lips.


    Power restrictions were now lifted.


    Without delay, I summoned Puffy, who immediately swung his sword at the bot''s neck. I rushed from the side, watching for that shockwave¡ª


    Yellow sparks danced across the mech''s body. I quickly pulled Puffy back before he disappeared.


    It turned its gaze to me.


    Knowing it could dodge almost anything, I transformed into mist and fled.


    Sometimes, retreat isn''t failure¡ªit''s strategy.


    The mech hesitated¡ªthen launched into pursuit, faster than a drifting cloud. I darted around corners, hoping to shake it. But it crashed through every wall like a wrecking ball.


    Dust filled the air. The chase raged on.


    I lost count of the turns I took. But it was catching up. Outmaneuvering it was impossible.


    My brain kicked into overdrive, frantically searching for a plan.


    Then¡ª


    **"You''re finished."**


    The voice came from my right.


    I instinctively released my mist form. Momentum carried me forward. I tumbled, rolled, bounced.


    The mech was ahead of me now, turning around, yellow sparks flaring again.


    Before I could react, a flash of light exploded, disabling my powers.


    Disoriented, I felt cold metal wrap around my throat.


    It tightened its grip.


    Air vanished. My vision dimmed.


    But I didn''t go quietly.


    I gripped its mechanical hand and squeezed with everything I had.


    Its head tilted¡ªconfused¡ªas its arm bent under my strength.


    It tried pulling back with its other hand. No use. I heard a faint creak from its joint.


    Sensing danger, it panicked¡ªslammed me into the ground, again and again¡ªthen into the wall, hard enough to leave a crater. Two meters deep.


    Finally, it flung me like a ragdoll through multiple walls.


    ---


    **Inside the meeting room**, a man with sharp, intimidating features stood at the podium. His arms were crossed. Seven youths sat at desks, lost in their own worlds.


    He stood in silence, ignored.


    "So, can anyone tell me where Sunny is? And why he''s late?" His tone trembled, barely hiding his rage.


    "Probably out doing his hobby. One only an idiot would waste time on," muttered a black-haired boy, eyes fixed on his book.


    "I envy him, honestly," said a blonde girl with a wistful smile. "Even if it''s pointless."


    "Don''t mock him. At least he uses his powers to help people," a small boy piped up.


    "My powers, my rules. I couldn''t care less about weaklings. If not for the rules, I''d make them my slaves." The black-haired boy closed his book. His aura turned dark. Eyes glowed red.


    "What''s his hobby?" the man asked.


    "You seriously don''t know? You''ve been his commander for two years!" the small boy snapped.


    "Why should I care? He could die tomorrow. No point wasting brain space."


    "You''re unbelievable," the boy muttered. Then, under his breath, "No wonder your last squad betrayed you."


    "What was that?!" the man roared.


    "Nothing," the boy lied quickly, cold sweat dripping. "Anyway, his hobby is¡ª?!"


    **CRASH!**


    The window beside them shattered.


    A figure flew through it, crashing into the wall with a thud.


    Everyone activated their powers to shield against the glass.


    ---


    My momentum stopped after I hit the wall. I looked around, then chuckled.


    "What''s funny? You''re late," said the man on the podium, still in his crossed-arm pose.


    "I found a new toy. How could I wait till after the mission?" I tossed a mechanical arm across the room. It bounced with a satisfying clank.


    A moment later, the bot stumbled into the room¡ªmissing an arm, electricity arcing from its body.


    "You forget something?" I smirked.

 Chapter 4: The Quadrant Fools

    Chapter 4 - The Quadrant FoolsWithout a word, the mech charged at me. I didn''t move an inch¡ªI already knew what was coming.


    The man on the podium turned his head, raised his hand in a pistol gesture, and fired a powerful electric shock. A spark flared at the tip of his index finger as the bolt struck the mech dead on.


    It flew back several meters, crashed to the ground, and stopped moving.


    "You need some explanations," he said, turning his gaze to me.


    "I don''t know what''s going on," I said, slowly getting to my feet and brushing off the dust. "I was just minding my own business when this thing attacked me because I''m an Honor." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''s a summoned being. It has no emotions or intellect to hate an Honor," he replied, clearly doubting me.


    "You''ll see for yourself." I walked toward the fallen mech and took a puff. A thick white cloud surrounded me before taking shape¡ªPuffy.


    I knew I couldn''t defeat it, but I could at least buy some time until backup arrived.


    "You planning to fight it alone?" the man asked from the podium.


    "If you''re not going to help, then stay quiet," I shot back.


    The mech slowly rose, a gaping hole in its chest. I frowned, puzzled. It could dodge my attacks¡ªso why couldn''t it dodge his?


    I pushed the thought aside, dropped into a fighting stance, and approached. But something felt wrong.


    The mech didn''t move. It stood still, lifeless. The intense killing intent from earlier was gone.


    I slowed down, observing closely. It wasn''t just still¡ªit was off.


    Confused, I stared as its surface darkened and its form began to dissolve into shadow. Slowly, it sank into the ground and vanished.


    Puffy faded beside me. I took another puff to steady myself, trying to piece things together.


    It didn''t take long. I''d fought Honors with summon-based powers before. One of their weaknesses...


    "It went too far from its summoner," I muttered, and the pieces clicked into place. That also explained why it couldn''t dodge the electric blast¡ªthe farther it was from its summoner, the weaker it got.


    "That''s it?" someone scoffed.


    I turned toward the voice¡ªa striking girl with long blond hair and piercing silver eyes. Beauty like hers could make anyone fall.


    "Sorry to disappoint you, Eve," I said with a hint of sarcasm as I made my way back to the room, which looked no different from a regular classroom.


    During the earlier chaos, most students had flipped their desks to form makeshift barricades¡ªexcept one in the middle of the room that remained untouched.


    I took a seat as everyone started putting their desks back in order.


    Once they finished, the man on the podium began speaking again.


    "Last night, we received intel about a strange device capable of harming Honors," he said calmly¡ªtoo calmly for something so serious.


    "If that thing ends up in the wrong hands, this city''s toast," a green-haired youth added. "So, what do we know?"


    "I''m getting there. The intel came from Sylph Squad. They were on a mission to take out rebels in the slump district, but the rebels nearly wiped them out. Only three members survived." He paused, then continued, "We believe the rebels are working with intelligent shadows to develop this device and destroy us from within."


    "Wait¡ªshadows managed to infiltrate the city?" the green-haired boy asked, concerned. "Shouldn''t that be our main concern?"


    "It is¡ªbut that''s not your assignment. Another squad''s handling it. Your job is to find out more about the device and secure it for the organization."


    "What''s the reward?" Eve asked, raising an eyebrow. "This sounds a lot harder than our usual missions."


    "Promotion. A salary bonus. Recognition from the organization. We don''t mind sharing our resources with a capable team," he replied.


    "...That''s it?" Eve asked, clearly unimpressed.


    The man locked eyes with her for a moment, then added, "And a paid two-week vacation."


    "Nice!" she beamed. Simple joys seemed to please her, even if she could''ve asked for more.


    "What''s the difficulty rating of this mission?" the green-haired youth asked.


    "A+," the man said bluntly.


    The room went silent. The atmosphere turned heavy.


    An A+ rating meant at least three deaths were expected.


    "What if I don''t want to join this mission?" a pink-haired girl asked. Her resistance wasn''t surprising.


    "Then go see Butcher," the man said with a smile that dripped menace. "He''ll be happy to help."


    "You think our lives are a joke?" the girl shot to her feet, eyes glowing. Two ethereal dragons materialized behind her, floating like guardians.


    "Or..." the man continued, "you do the mission perfectly, and no one dies."


    "You know that''s impossible. It''s an A+ mission for a reason," she argued.


    "For average Honors, sure. But you? You''re different," he said confidently.


    "Flattery won''t change anything. We''re no different than anyone else. If we were, we''d be on the surface fighting shadows, not stuck down here," she snapped.


    "Sending all our best at once would be wasteful. Like moving your knights, rooks, and bishops all at once¡ªit''s reckless," he said, scanning the room. But before he could continue, Eve cut in.


    "So we''re just backup weapons to you?" she asked, clearly disappointed.


    The man went quiet, seemingly weighing every word. One misstep, and it could all be used against him.


    "Guys, let''s calm down," the green-haired youth said. "He''s right. We''re not like everyone else."


    He looked at Eve. "Eve, when you were fifteen, you took down thirty armed robbers with just a ruler¡ªyour powers awakened that day.


    "And Dre, you fought five Honors who bullied your friend while you were seriously injured.


    "What I''m saying is¡ªwe''ve all experienced things no ordinary Honor ever would."


    "Then tell me¡ªif one of us dies, can you bring them back?" the pink-haired girl asked sharply.


    While the argument raged on...


    "This''ll never end," I muttered to the boy beside me. He had fiery red hair and carried a claymore on his back.


    "You alright with this mission?" he asked.


    "Does it matter whether I am or not?" I leaned back in my chair. The fight earlier had worn me down.


    "Think you''ll make it out alive?" he pressed.


    Before I could answer, the small guy to my left spoke up.


    "He''s done a few S-rank missions."


    I gave him a look of disappointment.


    "What?" he blinked innocently.


    I sighed. The guy couldn''t take a hint if it hit him in the face.


    "Wait, seriously? You''ve been on S missions? How come I didn''t know?"


    "Because you didn''t need to," I replied, glancing at the short youth¡ªmy close friend, Goo Han. "You okay with this?"


    "It''s my first A+ mission. I''m nervous, but hey, you''ll be there."


    "I''d be a lot happier if Eve said that," I said, glancing her way. Then I asked Goo Han, "Why''s she so active today?"


    "She''s like you," he shrugged. "Been complaining about getting C missions. Guess this is her way of lashing out at Wo."


    "What do you mean, ''she''s like me''?"


    "You''ve both taken S-rank missions before," he clarified.


    "Ah."


    "Enough!" the man¡ªWo¡ªraised his voice. The room fell silent. "If you''re not doing this mission, then stay in your rooms and let your teammates handle it. We don''t need all of you. Just Eve and the top three would be enough. But the director left me no choice, so make yourself useful¡ªor I''ll send you to Butcher."


    He stepped down from the podium and headed out. Halfway to the door, he turned back.


    "Sunny, Goo Han, Eve, and Ginto. With me."


    We stood and followed him without a word. It was silent for a while until I broke it.


    "You don''t have to be so harsh on them."

 Chapter 5: ’Tis time

    Chapter 5 - ''Tis time"Really? Is that how you see it?" he asked, more rhetorical than curious. Then he added, "Why do you care how I treat them? What are you, their dad?"


    "No, not really," I replied calmly. "I''m their comrade. We''ve done a few missions together. I just don''t want to make this place more miserable than it already is."


    "Then they should quit. This place isn''t for snowflakes. It''s for soldiers." He kept walking, and we followed behind him.


    "You''re right." I stopped defending them and changed the subject. "So, why did you call us here? If it''s about the mission, why not tell us in the meeting room?"


    "That''s not a classroom¡ªit''s a meeting room. And why did I call you all?" He smirked. "I wanted to show you something."


    We walked in silence until we reached a restricted door, only accessible with high-level clearance. Wo scanned his card, and the door opened with a sharp hiss. Inside, a table waited with four yellow pears laid neatly on it.


    "Are those...?" I narrowed my eyes at him.


    "Fruits of Advancement," he said. "They''re your reward."


    "I know what they are. But why us? Is there another mission? Something you''re not telling us?" I asked, suspicion creeping in.


    "You''re sharp, Sunny. I like that. Yes¡ªit''s an S-rank mission. I want you to take down Vie and his team."


    My brow furrowed. "What did he do? I know the guy."


    "Who''s Vie?" Goo Han chimed in. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "An Honor who manipulates gravity," I explained. "He''s strong."


    "And dangerous," Wo added. "We''ve been investigating him. Found children in his basement. We''re not sure what he did to them, but we know it wasn''t sexual abuse."


    His tone hardened. "One of the children escaped... and caused the death of a family of four. Only one survivor. The child had powers¡ªnot from the Great Tree. Artificial."


    We went quiet, taking in the weight of it.


    I asked, "Is the child okay? What about the survivor?"


    "The survivor''s in therapy. Saw his family die in front of him. It hit him hard."


    "What did the organization offer in compensation?"


    "Money. Therapy sessions. That''s all they can do. No legal action¡ªunless we find solid proof against Vie."


    "And the child?"


    "He''s in a coma. His organs ruptured after using the power, but he''s healing. He''ll need about two weeks."


    "Just another abuse of power by the Honors. Nothing new," Eve muttered. But her tone shifted, voice low and dangerous. "But doing something that vile to children... they''re dead. Wo, give me everything. I''ll bring those bastards down."


    Ginto added, "Vie isn''t just another Honor. He''s crucial in the fight to reclaim the surface. If we lose him, we lose a powerful weapon."


    "Don''t worry. That part''s covered. All you need to do is sneak in, get the evidence, and get out."


    Goo Han suddenly asked, "If you and Vie fought... who''d win?"


    I shrugged. "I might get into some trouble."


    "But would you win?"


    "Maybe." I gave a lazy answer. Then a thought struck me. "Wait... I''ve heard this before."


    Eve cut in, "Isn''t this reward a bit too much for what you''re asking? The Fruit of Advancement is worth more than our lives."


    "My life is priceless," I quipped.


    "You''re right," Wo said. "The reward is too good to be true, but whatever Vie''s doing is worse. Be careful."


    "If there''s nothing else, you''re dismissed."


    "Wait¡ªwhy am I here?" Goo Han asked, confused. "I''m not on their level."


    "You''re Sunny''s chain. To keep him grounded."


    "I''m not William Butcher," I muttered, noticing Eve and Ginto both nodding in agreement.


    "I''m not going to lose control and kill innocents."


    "It''s not them we''re worried about," Eve replied.


    ---


    The neighborhood was quiet. We sat inside a black van that smelled like nachos. No one spoke. Not from nerves¡ªbut because no one knew what to say.


    "You nervous?" I asked Goo Han. This was his first real mission¡ªnot the usual lost pets or petty thief type.


    "What if I screw it up? It''s too sudden."


    "You''ll be fine. Just guard the entrance and let us know if Vie comes back."


    "That''s simple. I''ll do my best," he nodded.


    "Good." I patted his shoulder.


    The van stopped. The driver slid open a hatch. "Ten minutes. That''s all you''ve got."


    Ginto opened the door first, the rest of us following.


    We were a few meters away from Vie''s house. I took a long drag from my vape and exhaled. The smoke spread outward, covering the area in a thick fog. Thanks to city tech that mimics weather, no one would suspect a thing.


    We snuck into the backyard. Bodyguards patrolled the area.


    "Are you sure this is the place? It looks like a mansion," I said, squinting.


    "That''s not it." Eve grabbed my head and turned it. "That''s his old house."


    There was a simple wooden house next to the massive mansion.


    "Why both?"


    "He didn''t want to tear down the old one. It has childhood memories. The mansion''s just for show."


    "I''m impressed," I said. "You really did your homework."


    "Of course. So what''s the plan?"


    "I''ll deal with the guards. You and Ginto get the evidence. Goo Han, you guard the entrance and keep watch."


    "Understood."


    "Let''s move."


    I puffed another cloud and shaped it into a staircase, floating over the electric fence. We jumped down inside. Eve and Ginto headed toward the house. I casually walked toward the guards. Goo Han stayed back, knowing he couldn''t help in a fight.


    One guard spotted me and raised an alert. Guns lifted, flashlights shining.


    "Hands on your knees! Stop walking! Private property!"


    "Easy, fellas." I raised my hands, unarmed.


    They approached, weapons still drawn. One looked closer and recognized me.


    "You''re Sunny... F***! We''ve been compromised!"


    He fired.


    The staircase of smoke snapped to life, racing back to me and forming a solid wall. It wrapped around me like a shell.


    More bullets came, but they were worthless. They hit the smoke and dropped uselessly to the ground.


    I didn''t let them reload.


    The smoky barrier morphed into jagged spikes and lashed out¡ªimpaling the guards like they were made of paper. I waited as their bodies writhed, then stilled.


    When it was done, the smoke shrank into a small cloud at my side.


    The ground was slick with blood. Ten bodies, each with gaping wounds.


    I stared at them with a blank expression, then turned back toward the wooden house.


    Goo Han quietly walked beside me.


    He didn''t say a word.


    It felt... wrong.

 Chapter 6: Completed

    Chapter 6 - Completed"Do you want to say anything?" I asked, my tone thoughtful.


    "I''m not a kid. I know what this job demands. I''ve prepared myself. So whatever you do to the ones in our way¡ªI don''t mind," he replied.


    "Then why do they call you my chain?" I asked.


    "There are times you go overboard when you shouldn''t," he said.


    "I don''t think I ever went too far without reason," I said, recalling the past.


    "Really? Two days ago, we caught those animal abusers. You were about to do to them what they did to that cat¡ªblending their limbs while they were still alive."


    "They blended kittens alive and streamed it online," I muttered, barely containing my rage.


    "I would''ve done the same. But prison took care of that. They''re test subjects now," he said. As we spoke, we reached the front door.


    "Hey, you''re not as nervous as I thought you''d be. I figured you''d be scared after what I did to those people."


    "I''ve seen worse. And no, you''re wrong. I''m just pretending to be calm. My heart''s been sprinting since the start."


    "I guess that can''t be helped. Stay safe, Goo Han. Here, press this if anything happens." I handed him a piece of smoke, pulled from the orb floating beside me.


    "Okay." He nodded. I stepped inside.


    Bodies littered the ground, but there was no blood. I checked their wrists¡ªjust unconscious.


    "They''re too soft," I thought, tapping my watch. "Where''s the path to the basement?"


    "Don''t go... into the... basement!" Eve''s voice crackled through the watch, urgent and strained.


    "Eve? What''s going on?!"


    "It''s a¨Ctrap!" The signal cut off before reconnecting briefly.


    Without hesitation, I turned into mist and scoured the house. It didn''t take long to find the basement. I reformed, took a puff, and sent smoke drifting down the stairs, flooding the room in a dense fog.


    I turned into mist again and slipped inside. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Five people. Two Honors had immobilized Eve and Ginto. Standing nearby was Vie.


    "Sunny, I know you''re here!" Vie shouted. We''d worked together before¡ªhe knew how my powers worked. "Reveal yourself, and I won''t hurt them. You remember Kazakhstan, right?"


    "Let them go." I stepped forward, reducing the smoke''s density. I made sure I was close to Vie.


    "No! Sunny! What are you doing?" Eve''s voice cracked with confusion.


    "We''ll be fine! Just capture him!" Ginto shouted.


    I said nothing.


    "What do you want from me, Vie?" I turned to him.


    "Of all the Honors I know, you''re the only one I truly respect. Chosen, Solo, RD¡ªthey''re just dogs," he sneered. "We''re better than humans. Their bones are like twigs. Soft. Weak. And yet they tell *us* what to do. They should know their place."


    "You want to rebel against the government?" I asked.


    "It''s cute that you jumped to that," he said with a smirk. "But no. We''re not terrorists. We just want a new image."


    He spread his arms wide. "Feared. Worshipped. Loved."


    "You want to be gods?" I frowned.


    Vie grinned, voice brimming with excitement. "Yes! Exactly!"


    "And turning children into lab rats helps with that?" I asked, my tone slow and deliberate.


    "What are you talking about?" He looked at us, genuinely confused.


    "Don''t play dumb. We have intel on your experiments. Denying it is just wasting time," Eve said coldly.


    Vie turned to her, gently brushing her cheek with his hand.


    "Oh, Eve. Your heart is your greatest weakness. And I don''t mean sparing monsters who''ll later kill your loved ones. No¡ªyour kindness will make others die for you, leaving you alone."


    "What the f*** do you know about me?" she spat.


    He clapped once. "Okay. How about this?"


    Suddenly, gravity vanished. Everything floated. The mist scattered. Breathing and seeing became difficult.


    "Sunny or Ginto?" he asked smugly. "I can crush either of them into a meatball." He pointed at an empty can, closed his fist¡ªand the can crumpled under invisible force, twisting into a tiny scrap.


    "All right. Playtime''s over," I said.


    He turned toward me, but it was too late. Thin threads had already wrapped around his wrists. They tightened¡ªslicing into his skin. Blood burst out. He screamed.


    Gravity returned. Everything crashed down.


    "Ah! My hands! F**k! F**k! It hurts!"


    The pain overwhelmed him. He collapsed, writhing, his face contorted in agony.


    The two Honors, realizing how easily Vie was defeated, immediately released Eve and Ginto and raised their hands.


    "Smart," I said. I walked over and stomped Vie''s face, knocking him out. Blood splattered.


    "Did you find the children?" I asked Eve and Ginto.


    "Too late. Vie moved them," Ginto said, shaking his head.


    "Any clues?" I looked to Vie''s henchmen.


    "We don''t know. He said we were tracking traitors. We had no idea about the kids," one of them said, visibly terrified.


    "Come with us. Don''t worry¡ªwe''ll release you if you''re innocent." I said calmly, grabbing Vie by the leg and dragging him along.


    Meanwhile, Eve and Ginto cuffed the two Honors with special restraints that suppressed their powers.

 Chapter 7: Limit

    Chapter 7 - Limit**Inside the car, on the way to HQ.**


    A healer sat quietly inside the vehicle ¡ª a woman in a white robe. Her hands glowed softly as she worked on Vie, reattaching his severed hands with meticulous care. Once done, we cuffed him.


    "We''ve got no evidence he has a lab using kids as test subjects," Ginto muttered, worry lacing his tone. "What should we do now?"


    I paused, sensing something off ¡ª a wrongness I couldn''t place ¡ª but shoved it to the corner of my mind.


    "Don''t do anything," I said, taking a drag from my vape. A cloud of smoke drifted out the window. "I''ll take care of it."


    "You sure?" Ginto frowned slightly.


    "You guys will only mess this up," I replied coldly. "Besides, we have another mission. Just focus on that."


    Ginto glanced at Eve, maybe hoping for backup. She merely shrugged. He looked a bit disappointed, then turned to Goo Han.


    Goo Han gave a small nod. "Don''t hesitate to call us for help."


    And that was the end of it. The rest of the ride was steeped in silence.


    ---


    **At HQ.**


    Vie and his subordinates were escorted to the interrogation wing. We placed Vie on a chair in the room, then walked into the observation area behind the glass wall.


    A few minutes later, Wo entered with a woman in her thirties. She had black hair, brown skin, and wore a crisp white suit. Her face was oval with high cheekbones ¡ª clearly from the eastern regions.


    She sat across from Vie and gently touched his arm. Her lips moved ¡ª likely casting something subtle ¡ª and Vie stirred.


    His eyes opened abruptly. He looked around, disoriented.


    "Where... where am I?" His brows furrowed. Then he caught sight of the woman. "Caili? What are you doing here? Wait¡ªam I...?"


    He glanced down at his cuffed wrists.


    "Get me out of these shackles! Now!" His voice exploded with rage as he slammed the table, splitting it clean in half.


    Even without his powers, he was still a superhuman.


    But Caili remained calm. "Why don''t you calm down?"


    A soft, translucent wave emitted from her mouth and enveloped Vie. Like magic, the fury vanished from his face.


    "I am calm," he said, quieter now. "I just... can''t believe this. I fought for humanity, and this is how they repay me?"


    "He''s an idiot," Eve muttered from behind the glass.


    Caili leaned forward, her tone softening. "Humanity is grateful, Vie. You and the other Honors have protected this city through countless battles. We all respect you. I''m sorry it had to come to this."


    "Then let me go. I''m innocent."


    "You''re under suspicion of multiple crimes ¡ª abduction, trafficking, and illegal experiments," she said firmly.


    "That''s bull. You don''t have any proof."


    "A kid escaped from your facility," she replied. "He told us everything. We even had Clara read his brain to confirm the truth."


    At that, my expression hardened. I glanced at Wo.


    Vie fell quiet for a few seconds, staring at the floor.


    "Putting aside what you did to those children," Caili continued, "we''re more interested in the organization backing you." She leaned in. "Help us, and we''ll reduce your sentence. But if you stay silent, the others won''t be so forgiving."


    "...Traitors," Vie scoffed. "All I did was follow their orders!"


    "Whose?" Caili narrowed her eyes.


    "Why don''t you ask your superiors?" he smirked.


    Synth did this? I thought to myself.


    "They told you to do this? That''s not possible." Her voice faltered.


    "Ask them yourself if you don''t believe me."


    Then the door opened.


    Two men in black suits entered. One uncuffed Vie. The other stepped forward.


    "Vie is innocent," he said, his tone mechanical.


    "What? He''s not! Clara confirmed it!" Caili jumped up in protest. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Clara is under arrest ¡ª suspected of memory manipulation and abuse of power."


    "No! That''s impossible! She would never¡ª"


    "The decision is final. I''m just the messenger."


    Caili sat back down, stunned.


    Vie walked toward the door but stopped before leaving. His gaze was sharp, filled with menace.


    "You''re lucky you''re Chosen''s favorite."


    Silence settled in the room.


    Goo Han turned to me. "What now?"


    "The mission''s over," I said. "Vie''s ''innocent.'' The real enemy is Synth. There''s nothing we can do."


    I turned and left.


    As soon as I was out of their sight, my face twisted with hatred.


    ---


    **Later, outside HQ.**


    "Hey, Sunny, wait up!" Goo Han called out, catching up to me.


    "Yeah, what''s up?"


    "You''re not gonna do anything reckless, right? I know what happened between you and Synth," he said quietly.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t get myself killed." I gave a faint smile. "Tell Eve not to worry. This kind of thing happens all the time."


    "...Is there really nothing we can do?"


    "You shouldn''t even *think* about going against them. Live quietly. Let this be *my* fight, okay?" I placed a hand on his shoulder.


    He nodded weakly.


    "See you later."


    ---


    **An alleyway near a fast food place.**


    A homeless man was half-submerged in a trash bin, searching for scraps.


    I walked toward him, carrying a food bag and an envelope.


    "Good evening, Seraph."


    He turned around, holding a half-eaten hotdog. His clothes were torn and layered, his beard and hair long and unkempt. He reeked of the streets.


    "Sunny! Good evening. What brings you here?" he said, grinning as he bit into the hotdog.


    "This is your pay from the last job." I handed him the bag.


    "Thanks!" he said with genuine joy, pulling out a box of fried noodles and digging in. The envelope full of cash sat untouched beside him ¡ª he was too hungry to care.

 Chapter 8: Tools

    Chapter 8 - ToolsI watched quietly as he ate, turning my gaze to the street. There weren''t many people out at this hour¡ªjust the ones stuck with overtime or the occasional college kid.


    Some were smiling, laughing with joy. Others had empty eyes, completely drained from work and stress.


    "How rare that this district is peaceful," I remarked.


    "The gang that controlled this territory got wiped out."


    "I see."


    A new one would just form, I thought. I''d lost count of how many times I''d eliminated gangs in this area. But every time I returned from a mission on the surface, a new one had already sprung up to take their place. It was endless.


    I had planned to eliminate the most recent gang myself, but never found the time. Still, I was grateful someone else had done it. I didn''t care who it was.


    "I have a job for you," I said without warning.


    With food still in his mouth, he looked up. "What is it?"


    "I want information about him." I showed him a photo of a boy¡ªthe one who summoned the mecha.


    "Why do I feel like I''ve seen him before?" He paused mid-bite, closed his eyes, and fell into deep thought. I waited.


    "That''s right! He''s that demonic boy! I remember him now!" he shouted in sudden realization.


    "Demonic?" I tilted my head slightly, recalling the boy''s face. I saw no sign of anything demonic.


    "Yeah, rumor is he killed everyone involved in his father''s death. Wiped out a whole gang that used to run this district. You''ve seen the difference."


    *That boy?* I thought. With that kind of power, it wasn''t impossible.


    "Could you tell me more about him?"


    I listened closely to his explanation. This is what I learned: The boy was born on the surface to a poor family. His father had once been the CEO and founder of a major company that built and maintained the city''s infrastructure. But after losing a power struggle, he was betrayed by his supporters and fell into massive debt.


    Crushed by the stress, he took his own life¡ªleaving his son to shoulder everything. The organization his father owed money to took the boy in, forcing him to do dangerous, extreme jobs.


    Rumors said the boy eventually betrayed them, killing one of their members.


    "Thanks, Seraph. Do you know where he lives?"


    "District Aegis."


    The ancient city had five districts: Excalibur, Avalon, Gram, Olympus, and Aegis.


    "Alright. I''ll visit him."


    "Make sure you come back alive. Who else is gonna bring me food?" He waved me off.


    I gave him a nod, then took off toward Aegis.


    On the way, I saw two men pinning a girl against a car, forcing her into something indecent. They had her arms locked behind her back.


    Without hesitation, I dove like an eagle and struck both men square in the face with my elbows.


    They flew back and crashed into a wall a few meters away, instantly losing consciousness. I didn''t stop¡ªjust gained altitude again and flew off.


    "Thank you!" I heard the girl yell behind me. I didn''t reply.


    After five minutes, I arrived in Aegis. The houses here were mostly wooden, cramped tightly together with barely any space between them. The planks were old and worn.


    The street was about four meters wide. Motorcycles and bicycles parked along it made it even narrower.


    I looked at the houses. Most of the porch lights were off, save for a few. I took note of the area and kept walking. The street eventually led to a small business district.


    Here, most buildings were made of concrete, and the place was bustling. Some people were just getting off work, others were college students. Muffled music leaked from nearby shops, giving the district a lively vibe.


    "Hey there, sir! Want me for an hour? Just a hundred Erk," a beautiful woman in sexy clothes with a plump chest approached me.


    "No, I''m still young¡ªbut thank you for the offer. Oh, that reminds me. Have you seen this boy?" I showed her the photo.


    "Sorry, I''ve never seen him."


    "Do you know anyone who might be able to help me?"


    "I''m not sure. I''m kind of busy, but if you..." She trailed off, giving me a meaningful look.


    "I don''t carry cash. Do you take QR?"


    She smiled, gave me her QR code, and after the payment, she led me to a hostess club. Inside, I spotted familiar faces¡ªHonors who fought on the surface.


    Enchanting women surrounded them, pouring drinks as the Honors slurred their speech. I glanced at them briefly and followed the lady upstairs.


    We stopped on the third floor in front of a pink door covered with rainbow and pony stickers, plus a pink string curtain.


    I raised a brow, clearly skeptical.


    She caught my expression and smiled. "Don''t judge by appearances."


    She knocked rhythmically on the door and shouted, "Yin Hee! You''ve got a customer!"


    "How many times do I have to tell you? I''m not doing that!" a sweet, muffled voice responded from behind the door.


    "It''s not that kind of customer!"


    Ten seconds later, the door opened. A petite girl with short blonde hair and round, striking eyes stood in front of us. She wore a long-sleeved jacket and jeans.


    She glanced at her friend, then turned to me. Her eyes widened in surprise.


    "It''s you..."


    "Yin Hee, you know this guy?" her friend asked.


    "Know him? Vena, don''t you know who he is? He''s *The Mist!* Oh my god, I''m a huge fan! I''ve always wanted to meet you!" Her eyes sparkled so brightly it almost hurt.


    "Nice meeting you," I said with a smile.


    "Sorry, Yin Hee. I don''t know who that is," Vena said awkwardly. "I''ll leave you two alone." She strutted off down the hallway.


    "Okay, thank you!" Yin Hee turned back to me, eyes gleaming. "Come in, come in!"


    Her apartment was small, but cozy. One bedroom, a compact kitchen that led to the bathroom, and a little living room with a round table, sofa, and TV.


    It was spotless. The floor looked freshly mopped, and a soft floral fragrance filled the air.


    "Take a seat. Tea or coffee?" she asked politely.


    I sat on the sofa¡ªit was so soft my body sank in.


    "Tea, please."


    "Okay, hold on a sec."


    A few minutes later, she returned with a tray and placed a steaming cup in front of me. I took a sip. It was refreshing¡ªjust the right balance of bitter and sweet. Perfect.


    "So... how''d you come up with your superhero name, *The Mist*? Is it because of your powers?"


    Since she was being polite, I answered simply. "Yes."


    She kept asking more questions, and I answered each one patiently.


    Eventually, she got to the point. "So, what do you need from me?"


    "I want to find a boy." I showed her the photo.


    "Hmm, do you have anything related to him? Hair, worn clothes, a personal item, blood, bodily fluid?"


    "No." I shook my head.


    "Then I can''t help you."


    "That''s unfortunate." I stood up. "The tea was delicious. Thank you." I was about to leave when she said¡ª


    "Now, now, don''t be hasty. I *can* help you¡ªjust not that way."


    "Oh? How?" S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''ll come with you. I can track him with my powers."


    "I can''t afford your fee," I said honestly.


    She laughed. "No need. You saved my life, remember? This is the least I can do."


    "I did?" I frowned, genuinely confused. I didn''t remember saving her.


    "For you, it might''ve been just another Tuesday. But for me? I''ll never forget it." She smiled warmly. "Now come on, let''s get going."

 Chapter 9: Some Clues

    Chapter 9 - Some Clues"Where are we going?" I asked, watching as she slipped on a black jacket over a pink hoodie.


    "You fought the boy, right? We''re going to the place where you last saw him. Maybe he left us some clues," she explained.


    "How did you know that?" I eyed her, alarmed and cautious.


    "Thanks to my powers, obviously. Come on, let''s go." She passed me, heading out the door first, leaving a stranger alone in her apartment.


    She''s awfully careless, I thought. Is this safe? The concern nagged at me for a moment, but I quickly brushed it aside, taking a slow puff from my vape.


    Before leaving, I exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. By the time I stepped outside, she was already gone. I found her crouching down, meowing to a white cat.


    The cat responded with a meow of its own, as if understanding her words. I walked over to them, but the cat noticed my presence and fled deeper into the alley, disappearing into the shadows.


    "I didn''t mean to scare it," I muttered, still watching the cat retreat.


    "It''s alright," Yin Hee said, standing up with a smile. "So, how are we getting there?"


    I took another puff and exhaled, shaping the smoke into a large hoverboard.


    "Hop on," I said, mounting the board and looking down at her.


    She hesitated, eyeing it uncertainly. "Is this safe?"


    It''s faster than an average car and lacks any safety features, not like a plane with enclosed space. Wouldn''t she just get blown off at high speed?


    "Don''t worry," I assured her. "It''s the safest and fastest transport in the city."


    She nodded and, with a little jump, climbed onto the hoverboard. It wobbled briefly before stabilizing.


    "Ready?"


    "Yes."


    With my hands in my pockets, I lifted the hoverboard into the sky. In an instant, we were five kilometers above the ground.


    "This is incredible," Yin Hee said, her eyes wide as she took in the breathtaking view of the city below.


    "Yeah," I muttered, focused on the path ahead.


    It didn''t take long to reach our destination. I hovered the board above the ground and landed on a building three stories high. Yin Hee jumped off and began scanning the area.


    I watched her, curious to see how she would track him down.


    She closed her eyes. Suddenly, an indescribable sensation washed over me, as if someone was peering into my deepest secrets.


    Her power? I stiffened, my guard instantly raised.


    The feeling lasted only a moment before it faded. She opened her eyes and walked off, picking something up from the ground. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Did you find anything?" I asked, moving closer.


    "Yeah, his hair. I can track him now."


    "How can you find him with just a strand of hair?" I frowned.


    She did something unexpected¡ªshe swallowed the hair. I stared at her, shocked.


    "Are you alright?" I asked, concerned.


    "Yes, I''m fine. Thanks for asking." She stood up and quickly added, "I''ve found him. He''s in Olympus. We need to hurry, though¡ªmy power only reveals his location for a few seconds."


    She hopped back onto the hoverboard, and I followed, taking off for Olympus.


    As we arrived, it felt like stepping back in time. The streets were lined with buildings from the Victorian to medieval era. Steam trains could be heard in the distance, their thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as they shrieked down the tracks. The people here wore elegant suits¡ªmen in black vests and top hats, women in flowing dresses.


    "There, near the bridge!" Yin Hee pointed to a bridge not far ahead.


    I flew us over, landing on the roof of a three-story building.


    "This is his last known location," she said. "He shouldn''t be far."


    It would take time to find him, but at least we had a lead. "We should ask the locals if they''ve seen him," I suggested.


    But then I noticed Yin Hee was staring at something behind me. I turned and saw two figures on top of the bridge, engaged in a fight.


    "This isn''t even the climax yet," I muttered, looking at her with a knowing glance.


    She understood immediately. Without another word, we soared to the top of the bridge.


    There, the boy stood, a mecha looming behind him, facing off against an office worker. The man was covered in blood, his shirt stained, his hair matted with it.


    "Please, spare my life," the office worker begged. "I''m a single father of two... I''m sorry for what happened to your father! Truly, I am!"


    "It''s too late for apologies," the boy replied, his voice cold. "Even if you''re sorry, you can''t erase the past. My father did so much for you¡ªwhat have you done for him in return?"


    "I was taken by beasts," the boy continued, his eyes hardening. "I cleaned their mess, did their bidding just to survive, while you lived your happy life with your family. You shared laughs while I... I suffered. So tell me, are you really sorry?"


    His killing intent was palpable, and I felt a chill run through me as he stepped closer to the man.


    Yin Hee, clearly ready to intervene, started to shout. I quickly covered her mouth, holding her back.


    She struggled, then licked my hand. The sensation was oddly ticklish, but I let go of her as she spoke, "If he kills him, he''s going to be a monster. Not even you or the whole city will be able to stop him!"


    I paused. Her words carried weight, and a strange feeling of certainty settled in my gut. I nodded.


    "Let me handle this," I said, slowly approaching the boy.


    "Hey, kid!" I called out.


    Both the boy and the office worker turned, confusion crossing their faces. The office worker''s expression shifted, his relief evident as his eyes locked on me.

 Chapter 10: The Mist! Save Me!

    Chapter 10 - The Mist! Save Me!"The Mist! Please save me! This boy is insane! He''s trying to kill me!" the man screamed.


    I looked between the man and the boy, back and forth, before settling my gaze on the latter.


    "Is that true?"


    "This has nothing to do with you, Mr. Mist. Leave before I kill you."


    He said it with confidence¡ªno arrogance, just certainty. He clearly believed in his ability.


    I studied the boy in silence. Something about him felt... different. But no, that wasn''t quite right. He hadn''t changed. I was only seeing him more clearly now.


    "I''d like to see you try." I smiled. "This time, don''t run away."


    His eyes narrowed with hate. "You''re going to regret it."


    The mech moved toward me. I took a slow drag from my vape and released a mouthful of smoke into the air. It lingered a while before fading.


    "Aren''t you going to need that?" the boy asked.


    "I don''t need it to fight a kid," I chuckled, slipping it into my pocket. I stepped off the hoverboard, landing on the steel platform with a heavy thud. The metal groaned under the weight.


    "Don''t blame me if you die."


    He raised his arm. The mech surged forward.


    "One thing you should know when fighting an Honor..." I shifted into a stance. The mech was already close.


    "...Always assume they never go all out."


    I threw a punch. The mech tried to dodge¡ªonly to realize it couldn''t. It scanned its body and detected thin streams of smoke weaving through its armor joints, clinging like glue, locking them in place.


    It could dodge any attack it saw coming¡ªbut it hadn''t noticed this one.


    Normally, a mech would recognize foreign elements like that. But thanks to the ever-present smog in Olympus, my smoke had blended in seamlessly. There was no way it could tell the difference.


    My fist slammed into its face. Metal caved in, sparks flying. The impact launched the mech several meters back. It crashed off the bridge and landed with a thunderous bang on the roof of an abandoned factory.


    The boy stared, face twisted in disbelief. Then came the fear. He opened his mouth to speak¡ªbut I was already a blur in his vision. A sharp pain struck the back of his neck. Darkness crept in. His body collapsed with a dull thud.


    "Now then," I turned to the office worker, "you''d better tell me everything¡ªand only the truth."


    "Yes, yes! Of course! What do you want to know?" he stammered.


    "We''ll get to that. But first, let''s find a better place to talk... and clean yourself up."


    "Huh?" He blinked, confused. Then glanced at himself¡ªcovered in blood, sweat, and maybe tears.


    "You''re right... but where should we go?"


    "I''m not familiar with Olympus," I said, lifting the unconscious boy onto my back and calling the hoverboard over.


    "I know a place. Want to go there?" he offered, thinking.


    "Sure. Lead the way."


    I placed the boy on the hoverboard, then turned to Yin Hee and handed her a wad of bills.


    "Find a hotel and watch the boy. The rest is your pay."


    Her eyes widened at the five 1000-Erk notes. One of those could feed a family of four for a month.


    "I thought you didn''t have money?" she asked.


    "What kind of idiot walks around announcing they''ve got cash in a high-crime district?"


    "Makes sense," she nodded. Then eyed the hoverboard.


    "How do I drive this?"


    In response, I raised my hand, gestured left and right, forming a stem and handle¡ªlike a scooter.


    "Your power really is amazing!" she said, then gripped the throttle and sped off into the distance.


    I turned back to the office worker. An awkward silence settled between us.


    "We should get going," he said, finally.


    "Yeah," I nodded. "We should."


    ---


    We ended up at a nearby public bath. The place was huge, the walls lined with a mural of a mountain I recognized from the surface.


    "Isn''t that Mount Stanserhorn?" I asked, already submerged in the warm water. The heat seeped into my muscles, washing away exhaustion. Heavenly was the only word for it.


    "You know a lot about the surface world, Mr. Mist," he said.


    "Been there for missions. Hey, we never introduced ourselves properly. Call me Sunny, if you want."


    "No, no. With all you''ve done, it''d be rude. Mr. Mist is fine. My name''s Mark Adams¡ªjust Mark." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, Mark. Tell me everything."


    "Of course."


    He spoke for a while, trying to stick to the important details¡ªthough he paused often, carefully choosing his words.


    Here''s what I gathered:


    Mark had been the most loyal supporter of the boy''s father. At first, I doubted his sincerity¡ªbut I kept listening.


    Someone approached Mark with an offer: betray his partner for a massive payout and a future opportunity. Mark turned it down without hesitation.


    He reported it to the boy''s father, who, to Mark''s surprise, told him to accept the offer.


    Confused but trusting, Mark agreed. The deal was supposed to be a secret between the two¡ªbut somehow, the entire company found out. Mark''s reputation tanked among the father''s allies.


    The opposition welcomed him with open arms.


    Not wanting to side with them, Mark returned to the boy''s father for advice. The response was simple: go with the wave.


    From that moment, the father began to fall. One by one, his supporters followed Mark to the opposition¡ªuntil no one was left. Eventually, he was fired.


    Mark tried to help, multiple times. But the fifth time he offered his hand, the father snapped.


    He threatened to kill Mark''s entire family.

 Chapter 11: Offering

    Chapter 11 - Offering"What kind of help did you offer? Money?" I asked. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yes. He fell into crippling debt after losing his job. I gave him enough to get back on his feet and even offered him a position at another company," he explained.


    "Do you know why he refused? Pride, maybe?"


    "No, he''s not that kind of person. He just said he didn''t want to be a burden and told me to stay away from him. Naturally, I was worried about why he suddenly started isolating himself, so I confronted him."


    "What did he say?"


    "He said, ''I don''t want you to be cursed like me, or anyone in the company.''"


    "Cursed? Like suffering from constant bad luck that escalated until... it killed him?" I frowned slightly and turned my head toward him.


    The entire time we spoke, neither of us made eye contact. Our gazes were fixed on the wallpaper of Mountain Stanserhorn.


    "Judging from what happened, it''s not impossible he was cursed. Damn it! Why did he have to die?! What kind of monster would do this?" Mark''s fist slammed into the bathwater, sending violent ripples across its surface.


    I pinched my chin, searching my memory for any information about Honor users tied to curses.


    "I know someone who could do that... but she disappeared ten years ago."


    "Ten years ago? That''s when Igor started acting strange. That''s right! I remember now¡ªhe used to meet with a woman occasionally. It may have been ten years ago, but I''ve got a good memory."


    Igor¡ªCalvin''s father.


    "I see. That woman might hold the answers. Do you know who she was?"


    "No, sorry. But Igor kept a diary¡ªhe said it helped him relax and focus on work. You might find it in his old house."


    "His old house?"


    "I bought it after he died. He would''ve been furious if I''d purchased it while he was still alive," he said with a chuckle, though the smile quickly faded into regret. A moment of silence passed.


    "Where is it?"


    "Excalibur," he replied shortly.


    "I see. Thank you for the information, Mr. Mark." I extended my hand.


    He took it. "No, I should be thanking you¡ªfor saving me back then." He paused, his grip lingering before he asked, "That boy... why did you help him? You''re not trying to take advantage of him, are you?"


    "No, of course not. But I''d be lying if I said I didn''t need him. You saw that mech, right?"


    "I did," he nodded.


    "I suppose there''s no harm in telling you. The boy has the power to deactivate Honor abilities."


    "You''re joking¡ªsomeone who can erase powers?" He laughed at first, but when he saw my expression, the amusement faded. "You''re serious... That''s bad. If Synth finds out, they''ll kill him!"


    Synth¡ªthe organization I work for, and the one that governs the ancient city.


    "Don''t worry. I won''t let that happen. But you seem to know a lot about Synth... and its hatred for powers that disable others."


    "How could I not? I used to oversee the entire city''s infrastructure alongside Igor. We''ve seen things regular people wouldn''t believe," he said, pride tinged with fear. "Please... take care of Calvin for me."


    "I will. One more thing¡ªwhat organization was Igor indebted to?"


    "A group called Revenant. We sometimes hired their people for jobs in the dangerous districts. They deal in drugs, prostitution, gambling, and the black market. I paid off Igor''s debt after his death."


    "That''s strange. I was told Igor still owed them money, and that Calvin''s been forced to work to repay it."


    "That''s impossible! Wait¡ªwhat Calvin said earlier... I thought he got involved with criminals after I settled Igor''s debts. I assumed he blamed me for it all¡ªbut I was wrong. Those bastards tricked him!" Mark''s anger boiled over again.


    He thought Calvin hated him. Until now.


    "Want me to handle it?" I asked, easing into a float across the vast, mostly empty bath, eyes drifting to the dome-shaped ceiling above.


    "Are you sure? Why would you?"


    "It just doesn''t sit right with me," I said simply, not thinking too hard about it.


    "...Thank you," he murmured, nearly speechless.


    "You need to explain everything to Calvin." I rose from the water, bored of the ceiling, and started walking out of the bath.


    "Yes. Thank you, again!"


    I waved silently as I left. After changing into fresh clothes, I sat in the lobby and looked out the window, letting the view soothe my mind. Then I called Goo Han. It rang three times before he answered.


    "Sunny, it''s late. We have a mission tomorrow. What is it?" His voice was groggy and annoyed.


    "Can you look into someone? The Witch of Light¡ªHansel."


    "Hansel? Sure, but why?"


    "I''ll explain later." I hung up.


    Not long after, Mark approached me with a clean set of clothes and a plastic bag.


    "This is Igor''s old house." He handed me a QR code.


    I scanned it. A map popped up with the exact route to the house.


    "Thanks." I gave him a small smile.


    We left the bathhouse and called for a carriage to the hotel where Yin Hee was staying. It took about half an hour to get there.


    Inside the room, Yin Hee was sitting on the sofa, watching over the still-unconscious Calvin. The room was spacious¡ªking-sized bed, snack bar, drinks, a box TV, a radio, and plush carpet beneath our feet.


    "What''s he doing here?" Yin Hee pointed at Mark.


    "He wants to explain everything to Calvin. He feels responsible." I sat beside her, leaning back against the sofa.


    "You''re not leaving?" I asked. "Your job''s done. I''ve already found the kid."


    "Do you want me gone?"


    "No. I just don''t want to use you. I don''t really have a reason to."


    Then, without warning, she slapped the thick wad of cash I''d given her earlier onto my lap.


    I sighed and adjusted my posture. "Too little? I''ve got more." I pulled out my wallet.


    "What? No! I don''t deserve this much. I''ve barely done anything. I want to help more. I specialize in tracking, divination, and fire magic," she said firmly.


    I studied her in silence, then returned the cash to my wallet and handed her just a single bill¡ªone thousand Erk.


    "Pleasure working with you."


    Speeding things up wouldn''t hurt. I had a mission tomorrow and wanted all this wrapped up soon.


    "I want you to track down anyone connected to Igor. See if they had a hand in his death. I''ll rest for now." I closed my eyes and drifted into sleep.

 Chapter 12: Involvement

    Chapter 12 - InvolvementA gentle shake roused me. I opened my eyes.


    "Yes, I''m awake. What is it?"


    "I''ve found people involved in Igor''s death," Yin Hee said.


    I didn''t answer right away. My eyes scanned the room¡ªMark was gone, and Calvin sat calmly at the table, eating as if nothing had happened.


    "That''s good," I said, stretching. "But tell me later. I need to head out." I checked my phone. Morning already.


    "What about the kid?" Yin Hee pointed at Calvin.


    "Watch him while I''m gone." I stood up from the couch, loosening my limbs.


    "I''m not babysitting him," she snapped.


    "You said you wanted to help me. Was that a lie?" I asked, locking eyes with her.


    She hesitated before reluctantly giving in. "Fine, I''ll watch over him."


    "Thanks. Just... don''t do anything unnecessary."


    I gave one last warning before taking a puff from my smoke, shaping it into a hoverboard, and flying off.


    After I left, Calvin finished eating and casually walked out the door.


    "Hey! Where are you going? Stay put!" Yin Hee shouted, hurrying after him. She reached to grab his shoulder¡ª


    ¡ªbut a humanoid robot emerged from the shadows and caught her hand instead. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m not sitting still after learning the truth. Those Revenant bastards... I need to kill them."


    Yin Hee stared at Calvin, puzzled. "Are you really just a kid?"


    "What? Because I''m young, I can''t kill¡ªbut adults can? When adults kill innocent kids, they don''t face retaliation just because the victims are ''too young''?" His voice burned with rage and hatred.


    Yin Hee didn''t respond. Slowly, she retracted her hand. Calvin took the silence as permission and began walking again¡ªonly to feel something approaching fast.


    Cunning fox! he thought, convinced she had tricked him.


    But instead of an attack, Yin Hee gently wrapped her arms around him. Calvin struggled briefly, but the resistance faded.


    His head rested on her shoulder. His eyes, once distant and hollow, began to close, softened by the warmth. Her embrace was firm yet gentle, a quiet promise of safety.


    His breathing slowed, falling into rhythm with the comfort of something he hadn''t felt in a long time¡ªbelonging.


    At Synth HQ, I made my way to the meeting room and spotted a familiar face.


    "Good morning, Sunny."


    "Morning, RD," I replied, shaking his hand. "Congrats on your recent mission."


    "Thanks. Wasn''t easy. Lost a lot of good friends." His voice was heavy, exhausted. "When will this war end?"


    "I''m sorry," I said quietly, withdrawing my hand.


    He shook his head. "No, it''s okay." A brief pause. "By the way, I heard something about you and Vie."


    "It''s nothing. Why?"


    "Because I like you, Sunny. You''re the only person here I respect, so I''ll be straight with you¡ªbe careful around Vie. And Synth."


    My eyes narrowed. "Did something happen?"


    "It''s Ginto... His house exploded. His sister and dog died. He''s the only one who made it out." RD''s voice dropped. "Synth claims they''re investigating, but I''m convinced they''re behind it."


    Rage surged in my chest, barely restrained.


    "What?" I said coldly, my voice trembling with contained fury. Around us, the air rippled¡ªon the verge of cracking.


    "Calm down!" RD stepped back, alarmed. "I get it, I''d be furious too. But losing control won''t help."


    "They killed someone precious to my comrade. And you want me to act like it''s nothing?" My voice was ice. RD flinched at the killing intent radiating from me.


    "I''m not saying that," he said firmly. "But if you act recklessly, it''ll only get worse. You have people to protect, right?"


    "Are you threatening me?" My eyes sharpened.


    "No," he replied. "I''m trying to protect you. You know what Synth is. We can''t take them down head-on. We have to play it smart. Do something now, and you''ll be the next target."


    His words settled in. Slowly, the air calmed. I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing.


    "Why do you think Synth''s behind it?" I asked, more composed now. "Ginto never went against them."


    "He must''ve found something in Vie''s house."


    "You''re sure?" I leaned against the wall, arms crossed.


    "What else could it be?"


    Maybe Ginto had stumbled upon something crucial¡ªsomething Synth wanted buried. So they made an example of him.


    "Or it could be someone else, using the situation with Vie as cover," I suggested.


    "Not many would dare make Synth an enemy," RD replied.


    "There''s someone," I said.


    "Them? It''s possible," he admitted. "What will you do now?"


    "Pay them a visit. I''ve got unfinished business with them." I pushed off the wall. "Why are you so sure Ginto found something in Vie''s place?"


    "Honor intuition," he said simply. I searched his face¡ªno signs of deception.


    "I see. Thanks for the heads-up. I''ll be on my way." I motioned briefly with my hand and continued walking.


    "Yeah... stay safe."


    His voice faded behind me.


    Then I heard it¡ªsoft, almost a whisper: "Stay safe, kid."


    I turned around, unsure if I''d imagined it. RD was gone.


    I stood there for a moment longer... then moved on.

 Chapter 13: Smooth, Perhaps

    Chapter 13 - Smooth, PerhapsI arrived at the classroom¡ªwell, technically a meeting room, though the setup said otherwise. Desks lined up neatly, small lockers for shoes sat by the door, and a podium stood up front like it belonged to a teacher.


    I scanned the room. Woo, Eve, and the others were already there, but one face was missing.


    "Where''s Ginto?" I asked Woo.


    "He''s taking a day off," Woo replied. Then he added, "Sit down, Sunny. We''re about to start the meeting for the upcoming mission."


    I lingered on his expression a moment longer¡ªflat and unreadable¡ªbefore heading to my desk and sitting down. A strange sense of disappointment tugged at me.


    "As you all know, this is an A+ grade mission. But you''re not just anyone¡ªyou''re exceptions," Woo began. "Based on your previous missions, I believe you''re ready. That said, I''m not forcing anyone. If you don''t feel prepared, you''re free to withdraw."


    Silence settled over the room.


    "Excellent," he continued. "Now, about the mission. As we went over yesterday, shadows have infiltrated the ancient city. They''ve created a device that''s threatening the existence of mankind."


    As he spoke, a steel sheet slid down over the window, dimming the room. A projector descended from the ceiling and cast a series of images onto the whiteboard¡ªa black, round device with a rhombus-shaped gem in the center and strange carvings etched along its surface.


    "It looks like an artifact," Len said, skeptical. "Are we sure the shadows made it and didn''t just find it?"


    "It''s confirmed," Woo replied firmly. "According to our reports, it''s currently in Gram''s black market. It''s being auctioned tonight. I want it retrieved¡ªno matter what."


    "The mission will be split into two teams: Alpha and Charlie. Eve, you''ll lead Team Charlie. Lan, you''re in charge of Alpha. Your team members are listed here."


    He handed them each a sheet of paper, then returned to the podium.


    "I expect great things. That''s all for today''s meeting." sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With that, Woo stepped down and exited the room. The steel sheet slowly lifted, letting in the daylight, and the overhead lights blinked on one by one.


    The moment Woo left, the room stirred to life. Everyone gathered around Eve and Lan to see which team they''d been assigned to. Before long, the groups settled into their places¡ªTeam Charlie on the left, Team Alpha on the right.


    We began discussing how to retrieve the device. Stealing it wasn''t an option¡ªit was being auctioned in a black market known for its security.


    The black market traded in weapons and artifacts recovered from shadow nests and corrupted zones. People came from all over¡ªeven the surface¡ªto buy and sell. Naturally, the market''s owner ensured business ran smoothly by hiring powerful Honors and their private army. Their weapons were deadly, even against an Honor.


    These weapons were illegal, but they had Synth''s approval. The market itself operated with Synth''s indirect consent¡ªotherwise, it would''ve been wiped out long ago.


    "We don''t have a choice but to buy it," Eve suggested.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me! That thing''s probably worth more than five billion Erk!" Miem, the pink-haired girl, shot back.


    "Then do you have a better idea, Miem?" Len asked.


    Miem tapped her chin, thinking, before turning to me. "Sunny, can''t you sneak into the vault with your mist form?"


    "It''d work¡ªif the vault''s not made of lern."


    Lern. A mysterious ore that emerged alongside the shadows. It rendered Honor abilities useless.


    "I''ll go in," Hakku offered. "I''ve got an artifact that lets me shapeshift. I''ll disguise myself as a guard."


    "I''ll join you," Goo Han said. "My ability could be useful."


    "Much appreciated," Hakku nodded with a small smile.


    "I''ll handle the guards and clear a path for Hakku''s exit," I volunteered.


    "No, Sunny." Eve shook her head. "Your combat ability is top-tier. I want you to stay hidden and only engage if Moose makes a move."


    I paused, then nodded. Moose was a plasma-wielding Honor, infamous in the underworld. I didn''t think I could beat him, but I wouldn''t lose either.


    "I''m fine with that," I said. "But if other Honors jump in, I can''t promise I''ll hold them off."


    "Don''t worry," Eve replied with quiet confidence. "I''ll make sure they don''t."


    I nodded again.


    "Miem, Ned, and I will investigate the artifact and the seller," Eve continued. "Dre, you''ll be backup if anything goes south."


    "I''m just one guy. What if all of you go down?"


    "I''ll help." I took a drag, then shaped the smoke into twenty-one small beads. I handed out three to each person. "Crush one, and it''ll form a clone of me¡ªfifty percent of my attributes. Or you can reshape it into anything to help you escape. Just picture it as you crush it."


    "Thank you," Hakku said, accepting the beads gratefully.


    The others reacted differently. Miem and Len gave small nods. Dre, Ned, and Goo Han expressed their thanks. Eve took hers silently, her mind elsewhere.


    "Any questions?" Len asked.


    "Yeah," Eve said. "Do we still get paid for overtime?"


    "Yes," Len confirmed.


    "Awesome," she grinned.


    "Let''s regroup here at midnight. You''re free to prepare until then."


    Some people left their seats, others stayed behind to chat. I made my way over to Eve.

 Chapter 14: Frailty of Trail

    Chapter 14 - Frailty of TrailEve noticed me and asked, "What''s up, Sunny?"


    "It''s about Ginto. Have you heard anything from him?" I asked, worry settling in.


    She sighed. "It''s Ginto we''re talking about¡ªbut still, losing someone you love... it''s painful. I wish we could be there for him."


    "Do you know where he usually goes when he wants to be alone?" I sat beside her.


    "Not really. He doesn''t talk about himself much. What about you? Any guesses where he might be?"


    "I don''t. But I know a way to find him. Do you have anything of his? Hair, a personal item?"


    She blinked, confused, but eventually dug into her bag and pulled out a green handkerchief. "I borrowed this the other day. Meant to return it."


    "Perfect. Come with me." I snatched the handkerchief and bolted out. Eve followed without question.


    We exited the building.


    "What are you planning?" she asked, trying to keep up.


    "You''ll see. Just hop on." I took a drag and exhaled, forming a hoverboard from smoke. Eve jumped on, and we soared into the sky.


    It wasn''t long before we arrived¡ªhovering just outside a hotel window. I knocked gently. Moments later, Yin Hee opened it.


    "You''re back," she said, surprised.


    "I won''t stay long. Can you locate the owner of this handkerchief?" I handed it to her. Eve glanced at Yin Hee, curious. How was she supposed to find Ginto with just that?


    "No problem." Yin Hee took the handkerchief and stepped back inside. She sat cross-legged on the bed, snapped her fingers, and summoned flames around her.


    I waited outside, eyes scanning the street. Down below, Calvin was asleep on the carpet, books about animals scattered around him.


    I glanced back toward Yin Hee. The air shifted¡ªdense and heavy. It felt like invisible eyes were staring straight through me, pulling at secrets I didn''t even know I had. Unsettling.


    "What''s she doing?" Eve asked.


    "Tracking Ginto," I replied, keeping it short.


    Just as I said that, the flames vanished. Yin Hee stood up and returned to the window.


    "He''s in Avalon," she said, handing the handkerchief back.


    "Thanks." I gave her a nod¡ªbut just as I turned to leave, she grabbed my wrist. I frowned.


    "What are you¡ª"


    A vision hit me.


    A factory by a river. A man sat on the grassy bank, staring into the distance. His expression was hollow¡ªlost. The scene vanished as suddenly as it came.


    I blinked. Yin Hee let go.


    "Why didn''t you do that when we first met?" I asked, still dazed.


    "I was nervous," she admitted. "I forgot I could do it. Sorry."


    Before I could respond, Eve cut in. "So? Where is he exactly?"


    "Somewhere in Avalon," I said slowly. "By a river, across from a factory. But the river was long¡ªno curves. Just... straight."


    "That describes most of Avalon," Eve groaned. "Anything more specific? A name? A sign?"


    Yin Hee stepped in. "Try the west side. The factory looked like one owned by a bread company."


    "Thanks, Yin Hee," I said with a smile, stepping onto the hoverboard again.


    "Wait¡ªSunny," Yin Her leaned in, whispering as she eyed Eve. "She''s beautiful. She''s not your girlfriend, right?"


    "I''m not," Eve said flatly, answering for me. That stung a little more than I''d like to admit.


    The board launched into the sky.


    ---


    Avalon. A district full of factories, supplying most of the city''s food. Farmland stretched beyond the buildings. Cows and pigs wandered near the outskirts. Smoke belched from every rooftop vent, filtered only partially before being released.


    We flew just above the factories. The air was thick and foul. My enhanced senses didn''t help¡ªI coughed, and so did Eve.


    Factory after factory. The land below was barren. Trucks came and went, hauling crates. The river¡ªtainted with waste¡ªsnaked through Avalon endlessly.


    We stayed silent, focused. Eyes scanning. Matching what we saw to the vision.


    "They all look the same," Eve muttered, frustrated. "This is like searching for a needle in a haystack. And we still need to be back soon."


    She had a point. The factories were nearly identical, with the river running alongside or behind each one.


    I closed my eyes, replaying the vision. Ginto had been facing the river. Across from him¡ªjust a factory. Nothing special. No signs, no logos. Grass... a tree.


    Wait.


    I inhaled and exhaled a massive cloud of smoke. It billowed across Avalon, spreading far and wide. This smoke wasn''t just mist¡ªit was me. I could *see* through it. Not with sight, but with sense¡ªlike a blind man reading with his fingertips.


    Then I felt it. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A red flicker. Small, trembling¡ªlike a candle in a storm.


    ---


    A man sat alone on a patch of grass. The river flowed gently, a soothing sound in the otherwise lifeless district. If birds had been singing, the scene might''ve been perfect.


    He was lost in thought. Then, a strong gust swept through.


    His hair whipped wildly. His clothes rippled. The grass bowed low. The branches of the lone tree swayed, as if reaching for something.


    He looked up¡ªtoward the source.


    Two figures floated high above, standing on a board made of smoke.


    To him, they looked like something out of a dream.

 Chapter 15: Together

    Chapter 15 - Together"Yo, Ginto," I greeted as I hopped off the hoverboard. Eve followed close behind.


    Ginto''s face was unreadable. He scanned us from head to toe before asking flatly, "What are you doing here?"


    "We''re worried about you," Eve said. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m fine. You can leave now," he replied, his voice edged with irritation.


    "Your family just got killed. There''s no way you''re fine!"


    "Just go away!"


    Silence fell. Eve and I froze, exchanging uncertain glances. Neither of us knew how to move forward.


    I studied Ginto quietly. He sat there alone, face tense with restrained anger. After a few seconds, I stepped toward him.


    "I told you to go away," he snapped, eyes sharp.


    I didn''t respond. I just sat beside him.


    He glared at me for a moment longer before sighing. "Do whatever you want."


    Eve hesitated. She wanted to follow but was afraid he''d lash out. Still, she gathered herself, deciding the worst that could happen was him walking off. She came forward and sat on his other side.


    The three of us sat in silence, the sound of the river rushing past.


    "My sister... she dreamed of making the surface livable again. So people could live under the open sky, under the scorching sun." His voice was low, fragile.


    "She always had these wild ideas. Always talking about what she wanted to create, but never actually doing it. I thought it was just more of the same."


    He paused. "I asked her once if she wanted to wipe out the shadows."


    "She said, ''That''s your job,'' and went right back to rambling about her project."


    "I didn''t believe her. But she did it. She actually completed it." His voice cracked. Tears streamed down his face as he wiped them away and pointed to a tree nearby.


    "That tree¡ªshe genetically modified it. Made it able to survive in any environment." He said the words with pride, then added quietly, "If only she''d lived a little longer."


    A beat of silence passed before his tone turned dark.


    "They killed her in cold blood. I''ll never forgive them. I swore they''d suffer a fate worse than death." His face twisted with hatred.


    I stayed quiet until he finished.


    "I''m not going to tell you revenge is bad or try to stop you. As long as you don''t hurt innocent people, I''ll help." I placed a hand on his shoulder.


    "I''m against it," Eve said firmly. "Revenge only brings more pain. If you go down that path, just be sure it''s truly what you want." She glanced at me, disappointment flickering in her eyes.


    I shrugged. I didn''t think I was in the wrong. Everyone has the right to make their own choices¡ªand Ginto had every reason to want justice.


    He fell silent, lost in thought. But our presence¡ªour concern¡ªchipped away at the weight pressing on him.


    "Thanks," he said suddenly, voice soft.


    We paused, then said together, "You''re welcome."


    His face relaxed a little.


    "So," I asked, "what are you going to do next?"


    "I don''t know," Ginto admitted. "I was angry. Still am. About my sister, my dog... I wanted to storm Fec''s office and kill him."


    "Did you?" I asked.


    "I wanted to. But not yet. I need a plan. Zeppelin''s not just some thug¡ªhe''s an Honor. A strategist. He has the power to ruin lives like a god."


    "Zeppelin is the CEO of Synth and definitely deserves to die. But why do you think he''s behind your sister''s death?" I asked casually.


    Before answering, Ginto looked at us seriously. "Are you sure you want to get involved?"


    "I''m already on their watchlist," I said with a shrug, then glanced at Eve.


    She looked conflicted.


    "You don''t have to force yourself," I told her.


    She hesitated. "Yeah... I think I''ll pass." She turned and walked away.


    Ginto and I exchanged a knowing look. Neither of us was surprised.


    "I found something in Vie''s house," Ginto said, flicking his hand to reveal a small red chip.


    "What is it?" I asked, carefully taking it.


    "Not safe to talk here. I doubt they''ve left me unsupervised," he muttered, eyes scanning our surroundings.


    I frowned, instinctively raising my guard. No one was visible, and my power didn''t pick up anything. Whoever was watching, they were good.


    "Is it safe showing me this?" I asked.


    "Of course not. Now that you''ve seen it, Zeppelin''s eyes will be on you too," Ginto replied.


    I smirked at the chip. "Then I hope he''s enjoying the show."


    I handed it back and looked toward Eve, signaling we were done. She returned.


    "Everything alright now?" she asked, eyes flicking between us.


    "Yeah. Thanks for coming all this way," Ginto said with a rare, warm smile.


    "No worries. I wouldn''t have been able to focus on the mission otherwise," she replied, arms crossed.


    Before we could say more, she added, "Whatever you''re planning¡ªpromise you''ll make it out alive."


    We blinked, caught off guard, then smiled.


    "We''ll win this. Dying''s not on the plan," I said.


    Her expression softened into a smile. "Yeah. Let''s get back."


    I took a puff from the vape and conjured the hoverboard. She climbed on, waiting.


    "Ginto, I met someone interesting. We could use his help."


    "Alright. I''ll meet him after I handle something."


    I handed him a slip of paper with an address. "Go to this hotel when you''re ready."


    He pocketed it.


    I gave him a wave, then flew off into the distance.

 Chapter 16: Prince of Scumbags

    Chapter 16 - Prince of ScumbagsWe returned to base just before the appointed time. Before that, though, I took a short stroll through the city.


    Crimes in the Ancient City were common. The city wasn''t small by any means, but after squeezing in what was left of the world''s population¡ªinto an area the size of what used to be America¡ªit felt suffocatingly cramped.


    Most crimes happened in Gram and Aegis.


    A robbery at a small shop. An attempted murder beneath a highway bridge. A tortured man tied up and left for dead by a clown.


    Wait... that clown wasn''t supposed to be here.


    Anyway, after helping out where I could, we arrived at Synth and headed toward the classroom. Only a few people were there¡ªit looked like the rest were still preparing.


    From the corner of my eye, I spotted the pink-haired girl. Yesterday''s scene played back in my head. She''d strongly refused the mission, but now she looked calm. That shift bothered me. Why the strong protest if she''s fine today?


    "Did something happen to Miem?" I asked the guy next to me. He was tall, dark-skinned, with long brown dreadlocks tied into a ponytail. He wore a black vest over a white combat suit. The Phoenix emblem on his sleeve marked him as part of the team.


    "Given her abilities, not really," he said, dodging the question.


    "She uses necromancy, right? But instead of undead, she controls mythical beasts. What''s wrong with that?"


    He shook his head. "Maybe something. I don''t know her well. She''s not exactly easy to approach."


    I pinched my chin and sank into thought. Dre spoke again, "Why not just ask her?"


    After a moment, I replied, "Nah. We''re not close. It''d be awkward. And she seems okay now, probably just had a panic attack."


    "A panic attack?" Dre scoffed. "If we all fought to the death, she''d be the last one standing. Least likely to die on an A+ mission, yet she freaked out yesterday. I''d be lying if I said I wasn''t curious."


    "Fair point." I got up and walked toward Miem, with Dre trailing just behind me.


    "Hey, Miem. How are you? Feeling okay?" I asked politely.


    She had been fiddling with her phone. At my voice, she looked up and placed it on the table.


    "Sunny and Dre. Now that''s a weird duo. I''m sorry about what happened to Ginto," she said softly.


    "It''s alright, but thanks. He''d appreciate hearing that from you. How about you? You seem better today compared to yesterday."


    "Yeah. A lot happened, but I had time to calm down at home. I''m okay now."


    I hesitated. She clearly didn''t want to revisit yesterday, and I didn''t want to pry.


    "So, what *was* up with you yesterday?" Dre asked casually, like they were longtime friends.


    No wonder you two aren''t close, I thought.


    Miem shot him a sideways glare and crossed her arms. "Nothing important. I mean, who just accepts a guaranteed-death mission with a smile? It''s my first A+ grade. I got nervous."


    That made sense. She was new to Blitz and hadn''t faced anything too dangerous yet.


    Normally, I''d chalk it up to rookie jitters and move on. But Miem wasn''t a rookie. From day one, she never acted like one.


    Hell, I''d believe it if someone told me she once led a team that destroyed a surface nest.


    "You? Nervous?" Dre said, unconvinced. "You''re the *last* person I''d expect that from. Your power''s insane, and there''s no way you''d die on this mission. So what''s really going on?"


    "Alright, Dre, that''s enough," I cut in, turning to him. "She''s fine. Drop it."


    "Sunny, we''re heading into a suicide mission. One of us might not make it back. If she''s hiding something that can get us killed, we deserve to know!"


    "Chill, man. She has no reason to betray us. This isn''t like you. Just take a breath, alright?" I stepped between him and Miem, trying to ease the tension.


    Miem watched us from a distance, her expression unreadable.


    "I don''t trust her," Dre muttered.


    "Why?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I''d seen her in lower-grade missions¡ªalways dependable, always playing her part. Never reckless or shady.


    "I saw her talking to Zeppelin the other day," Dre said quickly. "I don''t know what they talked about, but it can''t be good. Everyone knows anyone who talks to Zeppelin is bad news."


    I frowned instinctively. "Zeppelin? Did you overhear anything?"


    Zeppelin¡ªthe CEO of Synth. The reason this place is a mess.


    "They were finishing up when I saw them. I only caught a few words: ''step two'' and ''the great priest.'' Tell me that doesn''t sound sketchy."

 Chapter 17: It Goes South

    Chapter 17 - It Goes South"I get why you''re worried," I said, "but let''s set aside Miem and her ties to Zeppelin for now. What matters most is the mission."


    "I know you''re scared she might screw this up and get us all killed, but trust me."


    "You?" Dre raised an eyebrow. "Look, man, I know you''ve got the skills. I trust *you*. But her?" He motioned toward Miem. "I doubt even you can stop her."


    This conversation was going nowhere.


    Just then, Eve walked into the classroom, dressed differently. "When will they stop giving me these skimpy battle suits?" she muttered, tugging at the hem of her white tank top, her green jacket draped loosely over her shoulders. Her hair was tied in a neat ponytail.


    She noticed us. "Didn''t know you two were so close."


    "Eve, perfect timing." I approached her and filled her in.


    "Miem talked to *Zeppelin*?" Her eyes widened. "That''s... bad, right?"


    "See?" Dre said, gesturing dramatically. "Even Eve gets it."


    "So why are you telling me this?" she asked, tilting her head.


    "Because Dre''s convinced Miem''s gonna blow the mission and get us all killed. I need you to calm him down."


    "Because that''s what *is* going to happen," Dre insisted, dead serious.


    Eve looked between us, her expression unreadable. "Alright."


    "Thanks." I gave her a quick nod and headed toward Miem. "Sorry about earlier."


    "It''s expected," she said calmly. "So? What are you planning to do with me?"


    She must''ve overheard. Not surprising¡ªmost Honors had enhanced senses.


    "There''s no hard proof you''re planning anything. So we''ve got no reason to be on edge," I replied, keeping my tone neutral. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re sure?" she asked, sounding almost surprised.


    "Of course. We need this mission to go smoothly. No one dies, no one screws it up. We don''t need teammates doubting each other."


    "I didn''t think you cared so much about the mission. Or the team."


    "Why would you think that?"


    "Well, lately, you haven''t talked much. You don''t strategize or check in with anyone."


    "Not socializing doesn''t mean I don''t care. Besides, if the mission fails and the team gets disbanded, that''s bad news for me."


    "That''s fair," she murmured, voice softening. "They see us as weapons. They fear us. Out there, we''re not welcome. Only here." She gave a faint smile. "You have my word, Sunny. Wielder of the Smoke. King Phantom. I won''t harm the team. Betrayal isn''t in my plans."


    The title threw me off. *King Phantom*?


    I was about to say something but held it in. What would it change?


    Then Dre approached, his tone cold. "Miem, I''ll trust you... but if you betray us, I''ll make you pay."


    "Relax. You''re not the one I''m after," she replied, her gaze sharp.


    "What does that mean?" Dre asked, confused. Miem opened her mouth to answer, but¡ª


    "All right, is everyone here?" Len walked in with the rest of the squad. We scattered back to our seats. Dre gave Miem one last glance before joining the others.


    Len did a quick headcount, then continued. "There''s been a change. HQ just gave the word. Vie will be joining us."


    "No. Absolutely not." Eve shot up from her seat.


    "I know there''s bad blood between you two, but Vie increases our chances. He has ties to Riness."


    "Riness?" Goo Han asked. "The black market boss?"


    Len nodded. "Exactly. If things go well, Vie might get the device without us needing to lift a finger."


    "Then why not send him in from the start?" Miem asked, eyes narrowing.


    "Because it''s not guaranteed. If Riness says no, we go with plan B¡ªour original plan."


    Eve sank back into her seat, resting her cheek against her hand, visibly irritated. "I hate this plan."


    "Think of it this way," Hakku offered. "If it works, free money and vacation."


    "Yeah, I guess..." Eve replied, voice flat. Her tone said that wasn''t the real issue.


    "Vie, come on in." Len called.


    Vie stepped in from behind the door, standing beside Len. "I''ll do what I can."


    "What if you fail?" Miem asked plainly.


    "I''ll remove myself from the operation," he answered curtly.


    "Why not just be part of the plan?" Miem suggested.


    Eve turned to her in disbelief, then looked at me, silently pleading for backup.


    "I''m fine with it," Vie said. "But some of you clearly aren''t."


    "You *know* why," Eve said, her glare sharp as a knife.


    "There''s no proof I ever kidnapped children."


    "And if you disappear," Eve said darkly, "there won''t be any questions either."


    Vie floated closer and whispered, "You don''t want what happened to your friend Ginta to happen to *you*, right?"


    "It''s Ginto," Eve corrected coldly, "and if you touch my family, I''ll kill you."


    The tension hit a boiling point. Both locked eyes, ready to explode.


    Then Vie flinched. He sensed something and turned¡ªfinding me glaring at him, fury etched into every line of my face.


    "What you said... was that true?" I rose from my seat.


    He flinched again, floating backward.


    "Sunny, calm down!" Eve stepped in front of me.


    "You killed his family. Now you''re threatening hers?" I brushed past Eve, slowly, deliberately. "Who the hell do you think you are?"


    "What are you gonna do, kill me?" Vie snapped. "You know what''ll happ¡ª"


    **BOOM.**


    His body exploded.


    Blood splattered across the walls, floor, and whiteboard. His head rocketed across the room, bouncing before it stopped. His guts spilled everywhere. One arm stuck to a window and slid down with a sickening sound.


    Warm blood drenched those nearest to him. No one moved. No one spoke. Their thoughts scattered. Their minds went blank.

 Chapter 18: That’s Insane

    Chapter 18 - That''s Insane"What have you done?" Hakku asked, his voice trembling with shock.


    "Something none of you dared to," I replied, wiping Vie''s blood from my face.


    "You know what this means, right?" Len asked calmly, despite someone just blowing up.


    No. It wasn''t just him¡ªeveryone was acting oddly flat, unnaturally composed. It didn''t feel like them. I frowned and raised my arm toward Goo Han. He hadn''t reacted at all when Vie exploded.


    "What are you doing?" he asked, genuinely confused.


    I lowered my arm and turned to Dre, spotting a tiny fox tattoo glowing faintly on his neck. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close.


    "What did you do?"


    "It''s for your own good."


    "You don''t decide that." I shoved him back.


    Dre straightened his clothes, muttering, "You''re insane, Sunny."


    "Insane? I killed the bastard who treated life like trash, and *I''m* the crazy one?" I jabbed my finger at my chest.


    "Then you''re no different from him," Dre said, pointing to the remains of Vie.


    "You''d have to be a complete idiot to think that. Enough of this. Where are we? Some kind of illusion?" I scanned the room. People had stopped moving. I stepped closer to Eve and touched her arm. It was warm¡ªreal. But everything felt frozen.


    "It''s an ability I copied from Clara," Dre explained. "She calls it *False Reality*. We''re in your mind. A dream. Time moves slower here."


    "Clara? The mind-reading psychic?" I narrowed my eyes. "How did you copy her ability? Don''t you need her blood for that?"


    "Don''t look at me like that. I got her consent, alright?" he said defensively.


    "Why would she agree?"


    "In case someone lost control," he answered quickly, as if expecting the question.


    "So... did you want her power, or did she offer?"


    "She offered. Even threw in some other cool abilities," he said, clearly proud.


    "I don''t care about that. What I *do* care about is this¡ªif she prepared for something like this, does that mean she can see the future?" I rubbed my chin thoughtfully.


    "No. Her powers are all mind-based. Maybe she just predicted this. With someone as unstable as you, anyone would."


    I had more questions, but I knew I wouldn''t get answers until I saw Clara myself. I mentally added her to my to-do list, then said to Dre, "I''ll still kill Vie."


    "Look, what I said earlier was wrong. You''re right. Vie murdered innocents to reach his goal. You had every right to stop him¡ªbut think about where you are, and when. You''re smarter than this, Sunny.


    "You want to reach your goal, don''t you? Killing Vie now will only complicate things. What about your family? Do you think Synth will let them live peacefully? They don''t take betrayal lightly."


    I stayed silent for a long time, then finally let out a heavy sigh. "Fine."


    "It''s not like you to lose control like that," he said. "Did something happen?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "None of your business," I replied, masking my rage.


    "Just asking," Dre muttered, then snapped his fingers.


    The world began to blur and melt like wet paint under a downpour. My head swam, and everything grew heavy. I blinked¡ªand suddenly, I was back in the familiar classroom.


    "What are you gonna do, kill me? You know what''ll happen!" Vie shouted.


    As I regained my senses, his voice was muffled, like I was surfacing from deep water. Everything slowly became clearer. My thoughts were still tangled. Nobody seemed to notice anything. I inhaled deeply and shut my eyes, forcing the heat in my chest to cool. Then I turned around and took my seat.


    Eve looked shaken, certain she''d almost witnessed a murder. But once she saw me calm down, she eased back into her chair, trying not to dwell on it.


    "That''s it. Just be a good boy and don''t cause any trouble," Vie said with a smug grin.


    His smile vanished as he felt something trickle from his nose. He wiped it and stared at the red stain in confusion. Maybe he thought he''d wiped too hard. But then his eyes widened in terror, locking onto me.


    I frowned slightly. Something felt... off.


    I glanced at Dre. The pink fox tattoo on his wrist pulsed softly. He sat beside me, so I leaned in and whispered, "What did you do?"


    "Showed him his death¡ªand what it feels like. That should keep him quiet for a while."


    "Nice." I smiled.


    Vie said nothing, just kept staring¡ªequal parts fear and hatred.


    The meeting resumed. In short, Vie would support Eve during Plan B, distracting the enemy Honors. Eve hated it, but she agreed, albeit reluctantly.


    Once the meeting ended, we began our final preparations.


    I changed into my battle attire: a tight white shirt that outlined my muscles, a phoenix emblem on the right sleeve. A white robe draped to my ankles, over black pants. Another phoenix marked the back of the robe.


    "I already asked them to remove this damn robe," I muttered.


    "Then just don''t wear it," Eve said.


    "Stupid regulations. If I don''t wear this, I lose my power for a year and get put on a ''vacation.''"


    "Just for ditching the robe? I didn''t know that was a thing. Thank God I remembered this jacket," Eve said with relief.


    We hopped into a four-seater military jeep. Eve and I sat in the back. Goo Han took the front passenger seat while Hakku drove.

 Chapter 19: Went Horrible

    Chapter 19 - Went HorribleIt took us more than half an hour to reach the black market. Hakku parked the car and handed us a black watch.


    "Disguise your battle suits and blend in with the crowd," he instructed. "Goo Han and I will stay in position in case Vie fails."


    I slipped the watch on. My robe shifted to black, the shirt deepened to blood red, while the pants remained unchanged.


    Eve''s jacket turned blue, her tank top faded into jet black, and even her hair darkened to a soft brown.


    I pulled up my phone and flipped to the front camera. My hair was now gray¡ªoriginally black with streaks of white.


    I glanced over to Hakku and Goo Han. Goo Han wore a cream shirt with white pants; Hakku went for a gray sweater under a brown jacket, paired with gray jeans.


    We stepped out of the Jeep. Hakku and Goo Han headed off to prepare. Eve adjusted her jacket, eyes scanning the area as we moved out of the parking lot, staying alert.


    "There''s a lot of people here," Eve noted. "Is there an event?"


    "There''s a weekly night market. You should try the food¡ªit''s all really good."


    "Oh?" Her curiosity piqued. "What do you recommend?"


    "You like sweets, right? There''s this cupcake stall I''ve tried a few times. Come on, follow me."


    I took her hand¡ªgently. The crowd was thick, and I didn''t want her getting lost. She didn''t react, just followed quietly.


    We reached the stall quickly.


    "Mister, two cupcakes, please." I raised two fingers.


    The stall owner looked between us with a friendly smile. "She''s beautiful. Your girlfriend?"


    "Yes, of course," I said at the same time Eve replied, "No, we''re not."


    Our voices overlapped. Mine came out muffled under hers.


    "...Yes, we''re not," I corrected, clearing my throat.


    The man laughed. "Aren''t you a funny lad. Here¡ªone extra for the beautiful lady."


    He handed Eve two chocolate cupcakes and gave me a vanilla one.


    "Thank you," Eve said with a small nod.


    I paid, and we moved along. She took a small bite, and her eyes lit up.


    "This is good!"


    "Told you." I bit into mine as well. We walked through the night market, sharing food and enjoying the brief peace.


    * * *


    "What''s the situation?" Len asked over comms.


    "All good," Vie replied through the headset.


    He strolled through the market and stopped in front of an old, seemingly abandoned pizza shop. The place had clearly been closed for a long time.


    He knocked on the door in a rhythmic pattern. A few seconds later, it creaked open just enough to reveal a man''s face.


    "Your name?"


    "Doggy Woo." sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You may enter."


    The door opened a bit more¡ªenough for someone to slip through, but not enough to give outsiders a full view.


    Inside, the contrast was stark. Lively, warm, almost buzzing¡ªso unlike the cold quiet of the street.


    Vie made his way to the basement. A man greeted him with open arms.


    "Ey, Vie, my man! Been waiting for you!" He pulled him into a friendly hug with a few hearty pats on the back.


    "Hey, Paul. Good to see you."


    "What brings you here?" Paul grinned, hands resting on his hips.


    "I want to see Riness. I texted her, but no reply."


    "She''s here," Paul said, expression shifting. "But she doesn''t want visitors. I can relay your message."


    "Can''t you make an exception? For old time''s sake?" Vie gave him a hopeful smile.


    Paul sighed. "Sorry, man. She made it clear¡ªno visitors."


    "That''s too bad." Vie turned as if to leave. "Alright then. Thanks."


    "No problem. Take care."


    But as Vie reached the door, he hesitated. Then, slowly, he turned the lock.


    Paul''s gut twisted. Something was off. He spun around just in time to see Vie finish locking the door.


    "Vie... whatever you''re planning, it won''t work. You''re just one guy."


    Paul pulled a pistol. The others, sensing the shift, stopped what they were doing and followed suit¡ªguns raised.


    "Paul, I just want to talk to an old friend."


    "And she''s not available. Come back tomorrow."


    "Can''t do that. I need to see her. *Now.*"


    In a blink, gravity vanished.


    But they''d already pulled the triggers.


    Bullets slammed into Vie. His face twisted in disbelief as blood seeped through his clothes.


    He let go of his powers.


    Everyone crashed to the ground with a thunderous thud.


    Vie collapsed, a warm pool of blood forming beneath him.


    He thought his blood felt hot. Then his eyes slowly closed.


    * * *


    Later, Eve and I sat on a bench after exploring the night market.


    "That was fun," she said, stretching her arms over her head.


    "I''m glad you enjoyed it," I smiled.


    "Yeah... thanks. I wish the others could''ve been here too."


    "We''ll bring them once the mission''s over."


    "Right." She nodded, standing up. "Now then¡ª"


    "Back to work," I said, rising beside her.


    "I saw approximately fifteen Honors," Eve reported.


    "I spotted three. Moose is at the bar with his subordinates."


    We hadn''t just been strolling. It was recon¡ªand it paid off. The Honors weren''t even trying to hide. My powers made them easy to find, but I wasn''t foolish enough to assume that was all of them.


    "Eve, be prepared for any we didn''t detect," I warned.


    "Yeah, don''t worry." She turned to leave. "I''m off."


    "Be careful."


    She gave a quick wave before vanishing into the crowd.

 Chapter 20: Necessary

    Chapter 20 - NecessaryAfter she left, I made my way to a bar near Moose''s location. Just outside, a vending machine stood crowded with people. I pushed through the throng and grabbed a can of soya. The sweet, fatty flavor eased my nerves instantly.


    "Ahh..." I exhaled, savoring it. The taste really hit the spot.


    Just as I was getting into it, a loud explosion ripped through the air nearby. I sighed, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of smoke that hovered around me.


    Then, I turned into mist and headed straight for the source.


    ---


    Vie slowly opened his eyes. A dark, unfamiliar ceiling with a spinning fan came into view. Even through the fog of confusion, he knew this wasn''t anywhere he recognized.


    "Where... am I?" he muttered, scanning the room. A woman entered his line of sight¡ªginger hair, a curvy figure, long legs. Her beauty struck with such grace and allure it could leave you breathless.


    "Rinesse? Is that you?" Vie asked, dazed.


    She raised an eyebrow, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Quite the grand entrance, Vie."


    "Sorry about that. Your guys wouldn''t listen, so I had to get a little forceful." Vie sat up and leaned back against the couch, rubbing his aching head.


    "You haven''t changed," she said, crossing one leg over the other. Her skirt was short, and her position revealed just a hint too much.


    "Before we talk business, what the hell did you do to me? I was sure I was dead. Bullets shouldn''t work on Honors."


    "Ordinary bullets, no. But those weren''t regular rounds¡ªthey used Lern bullets. Now, even ordinary people can kill superhumans."


    "That''s insane. You''ll get yourselves killed. You know Synth won''t tolerate weapons like that."


    "They already know."


    "You mean... they *allow* it? Do they even understand what that means?"


    Rinesse tilted her head. "Afraid? For centuries, humans were harmless to Honors. But times have changed. Even a regular guy can take down a superhuman now."


    "But why? Why make weapons that dangerous?"


    "Does it matter? It''s not like someone''s going to shoot *you*. Besides, those guns are expensive. You''re not gonna die in some alley," she said, attempting to reassure him.


    Vie went quiet. His expression grew uneasy.


    "You alright?"


    "...Yeah. I''m fine," he said after a pause. "Actually, I''m here to make a deal." He looked at her intently.


    "I''m listening."


    "I want the Neurosonic Disruptor. Name your price¡ªwhatever you want, we''ll give it to you."


    "*Anything*?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.


    Vie nodded.


    Rinesse looked away, deep in thought. When she turned back, her gaze was sharp. "I want every scrap of information Synth has on Sunny."


    Vie waited for her to elaborate, but silence lingered awkwardly.


    "...That''s it?"


    Rinesse opened her mouth to respond¡ªbut the ground suddenly shook. A second later, the wall exploded inward, sending rubble and shrapnel flying.


    The blast deafened them. Rinesse dove behind a table, flipping it for cover. Vie stood, using his power to suspend debris in the air, then spun it around himself in defense.


    "You safe, Rinesse?" he called out. "You didn''t finish your request."


    "Can we do this later?!" S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No¡ªI need an answer."


    "Fine! You can have it! I want everything Synth knows about Sunny!"


    Vie''s brow furrowed, about to reply¡ªwhen people burst into the building. They wore plated armor, and their swords glowed ominously.


    "Down," Vie said.


    With a flick of his finger, gravity crushed them into the floor, shattering the ground beneath. Dust erupted in waves. He flicked his hand toward Rinesse, condensing the air around her for protection.


    Then, using his powers, he floated upward and burst through the roof.


    From above, he scanned the surroundings¡ªonly to spot a flash of light speeding toward him. He acted instantly, increasing gravity around himself a thousandfold. The light slowed, dimmed, and died, revealing an arrow.


    His eyes darted across the skyline. On a distant tower stood an old man in light armor.


    Vie formed a pistol gesture with his hand. At his fingertip, gravity condensed into a dense, swirling point, pulling the air inward and making his hair whip wildly.


    The old man immediately turned to flee.


    "Graviton Beam," Vie muttered¡ªand fired.


    The bullet tore through space itself, distorting everything in its path. When it hit, a massive gravity field erupted, crushing everything nearby. Buildings, streets¡ªdisintegrated. From above, it looked like a chunk of the world had vanished.


    ---


    By the time I arrived, I reverted from mist form and quickly scanned the area. Vie hovered above, arm raised¡ªfingers pointed.


    No. I *knew* that move.


    My eyes widened. He wasn''t seriously going to¡ªthere were civilians!


    This guy''s insane.


    I had to stop him. I spread smoke across the entire blast radius¡ªif I remembered right, it was five kilometers.


    Damn it... Can I cover that much? No. No time for doubt.


    I focused. As the smoke spread, I ''saw'' them¡ªmore than three hundred flickering blue flames. Lives.


    But then... I saw two different ones.


    One purple. One orange.


    I''d never seen anything like them before. I froze, entranced.


    Then it hit me.


    A heavy dread settled in my chest.


    Why?


    I turned toward Vie.


    He was about to fire.

 Chapter 21: Not Enough.

    Chapter 21 - Not Enough.He launched the condensed gravity, and it tore through the air, warping time and space in its wake. My body moved on instinct, racing to save as many people as I could in the short window¡ªfive seconds before impact. But I knew my limits. I couldn''t save them all.


    So I did what anyone would in those fleeting seconds.


    I zipped through the street at three times the speed of a commercial airplane, identified my targets, and rushed them to safety. It wasn''t seamless. Traveling at that speed in mist form was dangerous¡ªtoo fast, and it became harder to reassemble. But I held it together, barely.


    After getting them to safety, I reformed and collapsed, panting. Sweat beaded down my forehead. My body trembled, heavy with exhaustion. I tried to stay upright, but my legs gave out. Still, none of that compared to the crushing sense of helplessness in my chest. It tore at me, raw and aching, as if my heart were being split in two. The world around me felt distant¡ªcold, dim, broken.


    "What''s going on?" a girl''s voice asked, confused.


    Her voice pulled me out of the haze. I looked at the people I''d saved¡ªa boy and a girl.


    The boy looked around my age, maybe younger. Jet-black hair, blue eyes, school uniform... but what stood out was the blue sword at his waist. The girl seemed a few years older, maybe in her twenties, with blue-pink hair and a punk rock outfit. Both stared at the crater with dazed expressions.


    *So it''s happened,* I thought. *I didn''t expect to get involved. The location''s different, but the event played out the same.*


    The boy whispered something under his breath, his face shifting to deep thought.


    "Hey, are you okay?" the girl asked, concern in her voice.


    "Yeah, I''m okay." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then¡ªboom. My heart skipped a beat. I spun around just in time to see the condensed gravity hit a tower. In a blink, it was gone. The building, the street, everything. Obliterated. All that remained was a massive crater.


    The boy''s expression stayed calm. The girl, on the other hand, was trembling.


    "My mom... she was there..." she said, her voice cracking as she pointed at the crater.


    "Vie!" I roared, pointing a furious finger at him.


    "You don''t have to shout. I can hear you," Vie said with cool contempt.


    I was about to blow him apart when a surge of danger prickled at my senses. I froze, grabbed the girl, and jumped back. The boy had already vanished¡ªhe sensed it before I did.


    A massive sword crashed down where I''d just stood, carving a shallow crater and flinging debris everywhere.


    "I''m sorry for your loss," I said to the girl, "but you need to go. It''s not safe here."


    She blinked through her grief, realized I was right, and ran.


    I turned back. A knight approached, slow and heavy-footed, wielding a pristine white sword.


    "What''s your plan?" I asked, shifting into a fighting stance. My limbs were still shaky, my energy almost drained. I wasn''t in any shape for battle¡ªbut I wasn''t planning to win. Just stall him. Tire him. Give the others time.


    I tapped my watch. "Hey, something''s up. I don''t think I can handle Moose. Can Miem take over?"


    **[Yes, I heard. They''re from the Scarecrow¡ªa mercenary group. Someone hired them to get the device. We can''t let that happen.]**


    "I figured." I ended the call.


    "You''re weak," the knight said, leveling his blade at me.


    "Is that so? Sorry to disappoint. So, who''s paying you? Is it worth dying over?"


    "All bark, no bite."


    He charged. As he did, translucent swords materialized behind him. I took a puff, summoned Puffy, and sent the phantom lunging at the knight.


    The swords shot toward me. I barely dodged, timing it to the millisecond.


    While I danced around the blades, Puffy engaged the knight. They locked in a brutal clash of strength, the impact fracturing the ground beneath them. The knight roared and pushed forward. Puffy began to lose ground. With a final surge, the knight flung him back several meters. Puffy re-stabilized but didn''t strike¡ªalmost as if it were thinking.


    Meanwhile, the translucent swords kept coming. They wouldn''t stop until I stopped him.


    I turned to mist and relocated farther away. Another puff. A mouthful of smoke spread around the knight, clouding his vision. The swords kept flying, undeterred.


    *So he can see through the smoke,* I noted. *Just like me.*


    It didn''t matter. Blinding him wasn''t the plan.


    I blended into the smoke, watching. An odd energy pulsed from him, repelling the smoke like a shield.


    "I know all about you, Sunny. How you use your powers to make enemies inhale the smoke¡ªhow you tear them apart from the inside."


    "I''m flattered. My fame''s growing," my voice echoed around him.


    "Not for long. This is where you die!"


    He drove his blade into the ground. Energy erupted, blowing the smoke away. I was launched through the air. Puffy held firm.


    "What now?" he sneered. The swords stopped. A taunt.


    I stabilized, returned to human form.


    "Defeat you," I said. "I thought it was impossible... but I guess I was overthinking it."


    He laughed. "Defeat me? How?"

 Chapter 22: Different Views

    Chapter 22 - Different Views"What kind of idiot tells their plan to an opponent?" I couldn''t help but smile.


    "Then let''s end this," the knight growled, gripping his sword tightly. The translucent swords on his back began to take shape.


    I stood calmly, hands in my pockets, silently ordering Puffy to prepare.


    With a sudden step, the knight appeared in front of me, as if teleporting. His sword swung toward my neck.


    But just before it could reach me, he collapsed. His sword clattered to the ground, and his body convulsed violently before falling still. Blood leaked from the gaps in his armor, pooling beneath him.


    With the threat neutralized, I allowed exhaustion to overtake me and collapsed to the ground.


    "Sunny!" I heard Eve''s voice, her hurried footsteps approaching. I turned toward the sound, seeing her rush toward me.


    "Yo, what about your mission?" I asked, still catching my breath.


    "Change of plans. We need to secure the device before they do. Here, eat this." Eve pulled a candy from her pocket and tossed it to me.


    I popped it into my mouth, feeling a surge of energy. It worked faster than expected.


    "Is this from Hakku? Why didn''t I get one?"


    "I asked him before the mission, just in case," she said, a hint of mischief in her voice. "But for now, can you stand?" Her concern was palpable.


    "Yeah, that candy works wonders." I nodded, slowly pushing myself up, but lost my balance. Eve caught me.


    "Don''t force yourself."


    "Thanks." I nodded and spoke to my watch. "Len, what''s the situation?"


    [I lost contact with Hakku and Goo Han. Ned is looking for them. Miem and Dre are dealing with the Scarecrow members. I''m on my way to the vault to secure the device. What about you? Is Eve with you?]


    "Besides him killing civilians and causing collateral damage, I''m fine. Eve''s with me. Need anything from her?"


    [Not for now, stay close to her. What are you doing?]


    "You don''t need to know. Just focus on yourself." I ended the call and took a few deep puffs, releasing a thick cloud of smoke. The mist spread quickly, covering a radius of eight kilometers. Visibility dropped to a mere two meters, and the smoke disrupted Honors'' enhanced senses and intuition.


    With the area blanketed, I was able to ''see'' more clearly, preparing for my next move.


    I noticed twenty red flames, with countless blue ones fleeing to safety, and two other distinct flames¡ªorange and purple. The orange one was the boy I saved earlier. He was with the red flame, but in the next moment, the red flame flickered violently before vanishing. I frowned.


    The orange flame soon disappeared from the mist.


    I shifted my attention to the purple flame, wondering if she was someone of interest. She was with a group of civilians, running for safety. A bit disappointed she was just another civilian, I was relieved she was okay.


    Turning back to the remaining nineteen flames, I realized they all looked the same. I wouldn''t be able to tell friend from foe at a glance. But I''d spent enough time with my comrades to recognize the uniqueness of their flames.


    For example, three flames in the south. Two were clearly from Goo Han and Hakku. Goo Han''s flames flickered calmly, while Hakku''s burned brighter than the rest.


    I located the others as well. They seemed to be holding their ground.


    "Ned, I''ve sent you the locations of Hakku and Goo Han."


    [Much appreciated!] He replied before ending the call.


    "What''s the situation?" Eve asked, glancing at me.


    I explained the locations of Hakku and Goo Han and their tasks.


    "So, what''s next?" I asked. I could come up with a plan, but in this operation, Eve was the leader.


    "Len is on his way to the vault. We''ll leave the device to him. I''ll help the others neutralize the threat, and you''ll help the civilians evacuate. You''re not in any condition to fight."


    "Fair enough, sorry for the trouble." I gave her a slight nod.


    "By the way, I''ve never seen you so tired during a mission. What happened?" Eve asked, confused.


    We were used to battling the shadows, and she''d seen me fight for twenty hours straight without resting. So seeing me fatigued just thirty minutes into this mission caught her off guard.


    "You don''t need to know. See you later." I turned into mist and vanished, not wanting to deal with her teasing.


    ---


    **At the vault.**


    The door was already open when Len arrived. He stepped inside, immediately noticing five dead bodies on the ground. They were flattened, as if crushed by a massive weight.


    Len scanned the room for the device.


    His footsteps halted as he spotted it, sitting untouched on a display. It seemed strange¡ªthe device was still in place, despite numerous factions wanting it.


    He approached cautiously. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just as his hand reached out, he sensed a looming threat.


    Without hesitation, Len grabbed the device and rolled to the left. A massive hammer smashed the ground where he had been standing. If he hadn''t moved, he would''ve been reduced to pulp.


    Len frowned, studying the translucent hammer. It looked like energy, not solid metal, and he realized there was no one in the room. Whoever controlled this weapon was outside.


    Looking at the bodies, everything clicked. The vault was a trap. You could enter, but you wouldn''t leave alive. As for why the device hadn''t been taken yet, Len couldn''t make sense of it.


    But that was a problem for later. Right now, he needed to get out alive.

 Chapter 23: A+ Grade

    Chapter 23 - A+ GradeOutside the vault, I withdrew from my mist form and dropped the disguise. It would be easier to evacuate the civilians now. The public knew exactly who Phoenix Squad was. The mist had severely limited their visibility, causing them to push forward impatiently, following only the person in front of them.


    "Hey, everyone! Calm down, okay? No one needs to get hurt! No pushing!" I waved my hand, and the mist''s density lightened, allowing them to see again.


    Though their pace didn''t pick up, hopefully, the visibility helped ease their anxiety. The pushing stopped as well, possibly because they felt safer with me around¡ªwhether out of reassurance or fear, it worked either way.


    "That''s better, that''s better!" I called, but then I noticed something in the air. I looked up.


    A woman was riding a small rock, wearing a black robe and a pointed hat that curled at the tip. Round glasses perched on her nose, and her beauty outshone the average woman. With her attire, she resembled a witch from ancient times.


    "Sunny, I finally found you," she smiled.


    "Do I know you?" I frowned.


    "Relax, I''m not here to hurt you. I just want to talk."


    "Lady, look around. Is now really the time for a chat? You might as well help me evacuate. Aren''t you an Honor?" I asked, not expecting her to actually help.


    "Sure." She pulled a wand from her robe and waved it. The crowd floated off the ground, screaming in panic.


    "What''s going on?!" "I''m flying!!" "Mommy, we can fly!"


    The children, however, had excitement written all over their faces.


    "Hey, wait! What are you doing? Put them down!" I was caught off guard.


    "Relax, I won''t hurt them," she said, flicking the wand forward. The crowd floated away, and with no obstacles in their path, they quickly reached safety. They gently touched down, and within minutes, every civilian was evacuated.


    "Thank you."


    "No problem," she said, then tilted her head, her expression turning serious. "Now, what I really wanted to talk about..."


    "Withdraw your team from the mission," she ordered.


    "...Who are you?" I asked, instinctively assuming a defensive stance.


    "Who am I? It doesn''t matter. So, you truly don''t want to stop your team?" she said, cocking her head.


    "We don''t have a reason to stop. Are you underestimating us?" I replied slowly.


    She sighed. "Here I am, going through all this effort to talk to you, and no, I''m not underestimating you. But it''s obvious¡ªyou''re going to lose."


    "We''ll see. So, who hired you?"


    "That''s for you to figure out. It wouldn''t be any fun if I just told you everything." She paused, then waved her hand, and something materialized from thin air. It was a head, its face turned backward. I immediately recognized the fiery red hair.


    "You crazy bitch!" I shouted in fury. Using the mist around me, I shaped it into sharp needles and launched them at her. I also ordered Puffy to attack.


    "Aw, aren''t you cute when you''re angry?" she cooed, nonchalantly flicking her wand. A transparent wave spread out, swallowing my attacks. Time seemed to freeze¡ªeverything within the wave was halted as though someone had pressed pause.


    I recognized the technique instantly. Despite her different body, there was no mistaking it¡ªthis was her. **Fusion**, Death''s Heiress. Everyone thought she was dead. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Didn''t think I''d meet a legend, but I''m disappointed you''ve fallen so far."


    And, honestly, terrified. The fury I''d felt melted away in an instant. Right now, letting emotions control me meant certain death. In fact, I felt fortunate to still be alive. No, it was a miracle. Maybe I should praise God if I make it out of this.


    "You know me?" she said with a slight chuckle. "Well, that''s not surprising. Anyone who did is already dead."


    "Fusion, Death''s Heiress," I said, my voice calm despite the fear that dripped from every word. "Everyone thought you were dead." Sweat trickled down my forehead, but I did my best to hide the tremor in my voice.


    "Yes, I faked my death."


    "Why are you with a lowly mercenary group?" I asked, trying to steady my thoughts.


    "Everyone needs a change of pace," she replied brightly.


    "Why fake your death? Even if you retired, you''d still live comfortably."


    "I can do as I please," she said, pausing. Her eyes narrowed with a sudden realization. "So that''s what you''re planning... Smart."


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about."


    "Playing dumb won''t work." She winked at me. "You planning to kill me?"


    My heart tightened with the question. My mind raced, but I couldn''t come up with a plan to escape.


    "No," she replied, the hint of a smile in her voice. "I''m not going to kill you. I made a promise."


    "A promise?" I frowned, confused.


    "I shouldn''t have said that." She grinned, her expression oddly amused. "Well, nice talking to you. You''re even better than the rumors."


    Before I could respond, she waved her hand and disappeared, leaving behind a trail of sparkling stars.


    I exhaled sharply, my body trembling from the encounter. That felt like being stared down by a loaded gun¡ªa gun that could easily kill an Honor. I had to calm myself down and process everything.


    There were so many questions. Why had she told us to withdraw? Did she want this mission to end peacefully, despite the slim chance?


    I paused for a moment, the uncertainty weighing heavily on me.

 Chapter 24: Summoner of Undead Myth

    Chapter 24 - Summoner of Undead MythI see now! She''s the type to seek peaceful resolutions, but when that''s impossible, she won''t hesitate to resort to extreme measures. This is bad¡ªshe''ll kill everyone in the squad!


    "Attention, everyone. Ned has been killed. I repeat, Ned has been killed," I reported to the team.


    [He''s dead? That''s ridiculous! He''s strong! How do you know he''s dead? Are you with him?] Eve responded, her shock evident.


    "An enemy approached me, showed me his beheaded head, and didn''t kill me. I''m not sure why. She looks like a witch, riding on a stone. Please be careful¡ªjust run if you see her."


    [Damn it!] Eve''s voice cracked with frustration and sadness. [Okay, I understand. Focus on the mission, mourn later. There''s a reason Wo said this is a grade A+ mission. I''ve already retrieved the device, so don''t come to the vault. It''s a trap.]


    [Len! Be careful! They''re trying to lure you in to kill you! I''m sure of it! It was heavily guarded when we reached the vault, and when we tried to find another way, we were suddenly teleported!] Goo Han''s grim tone cut through.


    "Goo Han, are you okay?" I asked, worried.


    [Yeah, the opponent is strong, but we managed. We got information from our enemy. Someone from Synth hired them, but the guy''s head exploded before we could get a name.]


    "No, that''s enough. Hakku and Goo Han, regroup with Sunny and help Miem. It''s too dangerous to stay apart," Eve ordered.


    [Yeah, send your location, Sunny.]


    "No need, I''m already here."


    Goo Han and Hakku stopped, turning around in surprise.


    "Sunny, glad you''re okay. Though you look sick, are you alright?" Goo Han said, his concern growing. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m fine. Thanks for asking," I replied with a slight nod.


    Hakku reached down, grabbed a rock, and transformed it into a pear.


    "Here, Sunny. This will help your recovery," he said, tossing it to me.


    I caught it and ate it quickly.


    "Do you know where Miem might be?" Goo Han asked.


    "She''s in the west," I replied, finishing the pear. Using the mist around me, I formed three hoverboards, and we took off.


    "Why only one when there''s two of you?" I asked, glancing back.


    "What do you mean?" Goo Han responded.


    "I met a strange woman. We had a chat, and she implied that our team will be wiped out. Scarecrow seems to have assigned someone to target each of us."


    Goo Han pinched his forehead as the realization hit him. "So, you''re saying someone''s coming for me?"


    "Wait, how do you know it''s you?" I asked, my voice low.


    "When we fought, the man seemed surprised there were two of us after I detached from Hakku''s weapon." Said Goo Han.


    "I understand. We''ll need to be extra careful."


    Just then, a massive explosion rocked the area, leaving a huge hole in a building. A decaying three-headed dragon emerged, flapping its wings and unleashing a fiery breath that engulfed the building.


    We observed the dragon briefly, but didn''t spot Miem. I extended my senses through the mist and found her inside.


    "She''s in there."


    Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine as I sensed imminent danger. I acted fast, transforming the surrounding mist into a shield.


    "Goo Han!"


    He quickly turned his head, saw the shield, and understood. Hakku wasn''t sure what was coming, but he knew it was safer to hide behind the shield.


    Goo Han dissolved into a black liquid and melded with the shield. The shield grew larger, its design evolving with an energy core at its center. The core activated, and a force field began to form around us.


    A purple beam, five meters wide, shot from the building, piercing the dragon''s body. The beast roared in agony as it collapsed, its massive form crashing into nearby buildings.


    We were caught in the beam''s path. It struck us with full force, but the shield held strong.


    "It''s hot!" Goo Han groaned in pain.


    "Hold on!" I grunted, feeling my strength waning. The beam was heavy, and I had to hold the shield with everything I had. Sweat poured down my face, my arms weakening with each passing second. My vision blurred, my heart racing¡ªmy body was on the verge of collapse, yet I couldn''t let go.


    Desperation flooded my thoughts when I saw two burly arms helping me hold the shield. It felt lighter.


    I looked in shock at Puffy, who had moved without my command. The phantom had acted on its own. It was unsettling, to say the least.


    The beam''s intensity waned, eventually fading away.


    I gasped for breath, my body exhausted. I''d pushed myself past my limits, but even though I''d recovered a little, I still felt drained. If this were a game, my health would have barely returned¡ªonly about a quarter of my bar¡ªbefore dropping to just 2%.


    The black liquid that had merged with the shield reformed into a human shape. Goo Han appeared, collapsing onto a hoverboard, panting heavily.


    "Ha... Ha... I thought I was dead!" he wheezed.


    "No kidding," I muttered.


    "Good work, guys," Hakku said, offering us chocolate. We ate it, and our bodies slowly recovered. Then, we dived into the building. As we entered, the structure shook violently, and we heard a shout from below.


    "Elemental Breath!"


    A flash of light erupted beneath us, followed by a sharp, biting cold.


    "It''s useless, it''s useless! Hahaha!" A man''s laughter echoed throughout the building, followed by the unmistakable sound of an energy charge.


    "Wait here," I said, not waiting for a response as I dashed toward the danger.


    When I arrived, I found myself between Miem on the right, an undead Minotaur looming near her, and Moose on the left. He had already released his charged energy, and it was coming straight at me.


    I didn''t hesitate¡ªI transformed into mist, dodging the blast. Miem had ordered the Minotaur to block it with its axe.


    I didn''t wait for the beam to lose power. I immediately flew toward Moose. The big guy was a hulking figure, bald, with visible muscles, and dressed in plain clothes and long jeans.


    He was so focused on Miem that he didn''t notice me approaching, making it easy to close the distance.

 Chapter 25: Get Him!

    Chapter 25 - Get Him!I reverted to my human form, and by the time Moose realized someone was suddenly next to him, it was too late. I delivered a punch as hard as I could, sending him crashing into a wall a few meters away. Dust billowed around the area.


    At that moment, Goo Han and Hakku arrived. Hakku immediately moved to Miem, changing a rock into an apple. Miem ate it, and her wounds began to heal visibly.


    "Thank you," she murmured.


    "Thank Sunny. Without him, we wouldn''t have found you," Hakku insisted, trying to shift the attention to me. I ignored it.


    "Miem, can you still fight?" I asked.


    "Yeah, of course," she replied, walking toward me. She bit her thumb, letting blood trickle down, and pulled out a bone, bathing it in her blood.


    As soon as the blood touched it, the bone emitted a green glow, and decaying flesh began to regenerate. From the bone rose a grotesque, decayed four-legged creature with two heads¡ªone a goat with sharp horns, the other a lion with glowing red eyes. Its front legs were eagle talons, its back legs horse hooves. It let out a battle cry¡ªa mix of a lion''s roar, a goat''s shriek, and a snake''s hiss. The sound rattled the building.


    Impressed, I whistled. "Can''t we get him to cooperate with us?"


    "I tried, but he refused," Miem said, shaking her head.


    "Why? Isn''t his job to guard the black market? With Scarecrow messing things up, shouldn''t he focus on them instead of us?" Goo Han asked, confused.


    "True, but what if this guy is part of Scarecrow?" Miem speculated.


    "He is?" Hakku raised an eyebrow, unsure but considering the possibility.


    "What else could it be?" Miem countered.


    "Moose, is it true you''re part of Scarecrow?" I asked directly.


    Moose slowly stood up, snapping his neck left and right, the bones cracking loudly.


    "I''m not interested in such an outdated group," he grumbled.


    "Then why fight her instead of doing your job?" I pressed, narrowing my eyes.


    "Why are you guys here? If you''re trying to steal something from the vault, then you''re my enemy," Moose sneered.


    "We''re not thieves. We made a deal with Rinesse. You can confirm that," I said, throwing out a lie. Whether Vie succeeded in contacting Rinesse was still unclear, but I knew Moose had no way of verifying it.


    Vie''s silence through the comms confirmed something was off. But if anyone could handle themselves, it was Vie¡ªstill, the situation didn''t look good.


    "Do you have any proof?" Moose asked, his voice suspicious.


    This guy''s a pain in the ass, I thought, gritting my teeth.


    "Can''t you call her?" I suggested.


    "I can''t get through her. Something must''ve happened. Until she confirms it personally, you four are my enemies."


    "You don''t care about Scarecrow? They probably want to steal something, definitely, not just us." S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m not alone," Moose replied cryptically, his words hanging in the air.


    So there are others as powerful as him protecting the black market, I mused.


    "Moose, why don''t you spill it? Who''s your friend, and how many are there?" I demanded.


    "Make me," he taunted, a sly grin forming at the corners of his mouth.


    "Goo Han!" I called, and Puffy appeared at once.


    Goo Han dashed toward Puffy, jumping into the phantom''s embrace. Mid-air, his body turned into liquid, merging seamlessly with the phantom. The result was a figure clad in white and black armor with a power core at its center, a sword that crackled with deadly energy.


    While they merged, Hakku, ever resourceful, turned pebbles into raw salmon and tossed them to us.


    "Catch!" he called out.


    Miem and I exchanged looks of disgust before reluctantly catching them.


    "Do we really have to eat these?" Miem asked, her face twisted in distaste.


    "Don''t you want to win?" Hakku countered. "It''s not like it''ll give you any disease."


    "Yeah, I know, but it''s raw," Miem replied.


    Ignoring the conversation, I steeled myself and ate the salmon whole. As an Honor, my teeth were strong enough to crush its bones, but it was the internal organs that made it unbearable. My stomach churned, and my cheek bulged as I fought the urge to vomit. After a few agonizing seconds, I managed to hold it down.


    But as soon as I swallowed, I felt my strength surge.


    "Are you done?" Moose asked, not even looking at us, though his impatience was clear.


    "Underestimating us already?" I challenged, creating a thick mist around us, cutting his visibility to three meters and dulling his other senses.


    "The Mist, huh?" Moose smirked. "Fits your name. But you''ve met a bad match."


    "If you''re thinking about using your plasma energy to disperse the mist, you should think twice," I warned.


    Moose clapped his hands, releasing a pink shockwave that spread out, clearing the mist. But we had already moved, our positions completely different.


    The mist quickly crept back, enveloping the area once more.


    "See? I tried to warn you," I called out from the mist.


    "Don''t get too cocky," Moose growled.


    "I''m not," I said, sensing his focus sharpen as he tried to detect our movements.


    Suddenly, he spun around, expecting an attack. But nothing came¡ªat least not from where he expected.


    His senses were overwhelmed by something he couldn''t place, and his focus wavered. That was enough for an undead creature to launch itself at him from the mist, its attack cracking his plasma barrier, though it didn''t break it.


    Hot on its heels, Puffy, now merged with Goo Han, struck with a heavy armored phantom sword. It slashed at the barrier with such speed and force that it broke the sound barrier, creating a thunderous boom.


    The impact shattered his barrier and sent Moose hurtling into the sky. He crashed through the wall, flying out of the building in a shower of debris, and fell to the ground with a massive thud. The earth caved in beneath him, and dust obscured everything.


    Without hesitation, we pursued.


    "Is he dead?" Miem asked, riding her dragon.


    "No," I replied. "Everyone, prepare yourselves."


    I transformed into mist again, and Hakku quickly turned a nearby branch into a tentacle, handing it to us. We ate it and forced down the rising nausea. Our stamina began to recover.


    "That hurts, bastards!" Moose''s voice rang out from the dust. His shirt was torn, and when a gust of wind blew, it whipped the cloth away, leaving him shirtless, his muscles glistening under the harsh light.

 Chapter 26: Onslaught

    Chapter 26 - OnslaughtMoose raised his palm, summoning more than five orbs that detonated in a flash of white, engulfing the area in a blinding explosion. As the orbs began to form, I thickened the surrounding mist, obscuring his vision and muffling his other senses. The detonation released a wave of heat, which the heavy mist absorbed, but not enough to fully negate its intensity.


    We repositioned ourselves, remaining still. The heat surrounded Moose, but it also made it difficult for us to assess the full extent of his attack. He stood still, calm, before vanishing in an instant. Through the mist, I saw a red flame, his, creeping closer. He had gone invisible. Somehow, he moved toward us, as if he knew our positions.


    His senses were limited¡ªhe couldn''t see through the mist. Perhaps he was using an artifact to track us? I hesitated, seeing this as an opportunity. We had time to formulate a plan, as his progress was slowed by the disorienting mist.


    I gathered the group and outlined my strategy.


    "Will it work?" Miem asked, doubt clear in her voice. Given Moose''s experience and wariness, her hesitation was understandable.


    "Yeah, just trust me."


    "We only have one shot. If we fail, we die," Miem warned, making sure we understood the stakes.


    ---


    Moose''s body reacted oddly each time he inhaled the mist, as if his plasma energy sensed a foreign presence in his lungs. The mist was from Mist''s power, and he realized it could destroy him from the inside if it reached him. However, as long as it didn''t fully penetrate his body, he had nothing to fear. His vision, enhanced to detect heat, allowed him to see them gathering. They thought they were hiding, but he could see everything. He smirked, confident in his victory.


    Step by step, he moved closer. Thirty meters, twenty, then ten. He was within striking distance now, five meters away. Moose was ready to unleash his plasma and destroy them all when a voice echoed from the group.


    "This range should be enough."


    Had they spotted him? Moose furrowed his brow. Was this his imagination?


    As the mist slowly receded, it formed a small clearing around him. He looked down and noticed something translucent wrapping around his leg. Before he could react, the wire tightened, cutting deep into his skin. His plasma surged to burn the wire away, but a force yanked him forward, pulling him to the ground. The cut deepened.


    He felt more wires binding his limbs¡ªleft wrist, right wrist, legs. He was suspended, spread-eagled, barely hovering above the ground. Realizing they had used smoke to create these wires, he focused his power, attempting to burn through them, but the smoke''s power resisted. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, a figure descended from the sky on a hoverboard: The Mist.


    "Give up," Mist said coldly.


    "You think you''ve won?" Moose sneered.


    A powerful wind gusted through the area, and Moose''s eyes snapped to the source. A three-headed dragon appeared, its decaying flesh hanging in tattered strips, bones visible beneath its skin. Despite its ragged appearance, each flap of its wings generated enough force to send nearby cars skidding. It hovered above, its three heads channeling their breaths¡ªone icy, one charged with lightning, and the third preparing a stream of black flame.


    "Time''s ticking. What''s your answer?" Mist asked, his gaze focused on the dragon, indifferent to Moose''s presence.


    Moose, however, focused on the wires. If he could burn through them, he might escape. He concentrated and finally succeeded. A smile stretched across his face as he freed one limb. Mist turned to see what had happened, but before he could react, Moose pointed at the wire and shot plasma, severing it. His other hand was now free.


    Mist sighed, and the sigh seemed to signal a shift. Translucent wires shot out from the mist, attempting to restrain Moose again. He covered his arms with a plasma barrier, and the wires dissipated on contact. He smirked, confident in his ability to withstand whatever came next.


    Mist remained unfazed, calmly uttering, "Puffy."


    From the mist, a phantom in heavy armor surged toward Moose at incredible speed. Puffy leaped into the air, sword raised, aiming for Moose''s defenses. Moose''s eyes widened, body tensing in anticipation.


    ---


    Sunny''s POV:


    Just as Moose prepared to shoot at the wire, Puffy reached him. Moose quickly encased himself in a plasma barrier, hoping to absorb the impact. Puffy''s sword struck with incredible force, shattering the barrier like glass. Shards of plasma flew in all directions before fading away. Moose''s tough skin and the remnants of his plasma barrier kept him partially intact, but the force of the blow left him reeling.


    Puffy didn''t stop. He pressed on, each strike causing the ground to cave in and sending cracks splintering outward. The barrage continued, relentless, as the air vibrated with the impact of each blow.

 Chapter 27: Trickery

    Chapter 27 - TrickeryLiquid seeped from Puffy, forming into Goo Han beside me.


    "That ended well," he said.


    "Yeah. Kind of unexpected."


    I stopped Puffy and ordered it to idle.


    "What are you gonna do with him?"


    "I wanted to kill him," I admitted, looking at the unconscious Moose. "But killing someone who''s already out cold... just feels wrong."


    I let out a sigh.


    "Your way of thinking is scary, Sunny. Let''s just tie him up somewhere."


    I nodded and called the others. Told Miem to stop her dragon¡ªour last resort if Moose went berserk. She complied. The beast pulled back its breath and landed, shaking the ground.


    "Hakku."


    "Need help?"


    "Give him something that''ll keep him knocked out."


    "Got it."


    Hakku approached Moose, scanning the ground before picking a few stones. Goo Han stood beside him, curious.


    "Len, what''s your status?" I asked through the watch.


    Only silence.


    My chest tightened.


    [He''s somewhere better,] came a woman''s voice.


    "...He''s dead?" I asked, too calmly. My eyes, though, were burning.


    [Aren''t you too calm? Your friend just died.]


    "I know. I''ll make you regret that."


    [How scary~] she mocked, then cut the line.


    "What now?" Miem asked.


    "We retrieve the device ourselves."


    "You know where they are?"


    "East. We need to move before they vanish."


    I turned toward Goo Han¡ªand froze.


    Moose''s body shot upright. A plasma blast fired at point-blank.


    Hakku flinched, too close to dodge. Goo Han reacted on instinct, shoving Hakku aside¡ªand took the hit himself. The plasma pierced straight through his chest.


    "Goo Han!" I shouted.


    As if triggered by my voice, Puffy surged forward, blade raised, slashing Moose down. But before the blade landed, Moose smiled.


    "No..." I whispered. Disbelief drowned my voice. I stared at him, stunned.


    Hakku and Miem rushed to Goo Han, trying to treat him¡ªeven though they already knew it was useless.


    I called Puffy off. It couldn''t cut Moose deep enough, but it had done damage.


    Moose coughed blood. His breathing slowed. He was at his limit. Our eyes locked.


    "Aren''t you going to kill me?" he rasped.


    I crouched, leveling my gaze with his. I grabbed his thigh, tightening my grip.


    "Going to crush it? Your sword couldn''t even cut me¡ªwhat makes you think¡ª"


    "You''ll have to pay," I said. Then I squeezed harder.


    He screamed.


    Good.


    Blood splattered as I crushed his thigh, tearing it off with brute force. His screams didn''t shake me. Not anymore.


    I tossed the leg aside and reached for the other one. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Please... no more," he begged.


    "We''re just getting started."


    Blood hit the dirt, bounced onto my clothes. I crushed the other leg.


    "Kill me already," he panted, soaked in pain.


    "Too merciful."


    I moved to his arms¡ªripped them off too. Now he was just a head and a torso.


    "Sunny," Miem called, her voice tight. "Goo Han''s dead."


    "I''m sorry," Hakku added, eyes low.


    I stood still. Then walked toward Goo Han.


    We only knew each other for a year, but we clicked. In this job, you know it''s either you or them. I''d accepted that. Or thought I had.


    But when it actually happened...


    F*ck.


    A tear slid down my face, falling onto his cheek.


    I wrapped his body in smoke and solidified it.


    As for Moose? Death was too kind. I hung what was left of him under a tree, sword hovering beside him. Every few seconds, it''d stab his liver again.


    "Let''s regroup with Eve and the others," I said. No one objected.


    "Can we even finish the mission?" Hakku asked.


    Half the team was dead. And two more factions¡ªRinesse and Scarecrow¡ªstood in our way.


    I hated thinking this, but if Vie showed up saying she made a deal, I wouldn''t mind.


    Not that I''d count on anyone else.


    I ''saw'' the remaining members. Eve was alive, surrounded by three Honors. But in the next instant, they turned on each other. Two died.


    I wasn''t surprised.


    Next, I found Dre. He was alive, facing off with an orange flame.


    ...Weird. He left and came back? I frowned.


    The orange flame suddenly bolted out of the mist. Fast. Suspiciously fast. But I let it go. I''d ask Dre myself.


    I summoned hoverboards, and we picked him up. He was badly beaten.


    Hakku jumped off and shoved food into Dre''s mouth. His wounds began to heal immediately.


    "Thanks, Hakku. Wait¡ªwhere''s Goo Han? Wasn''t he with you?"


    Hakku looked away. Regret, pain, and sorrow flashed in his eyes. Dre understood.


    "Damn it. Who else?"


    "Len. Ned."


    "For real? They were top-tier... Are we *sure* this was just a Grade A+ mission? Three Honors are dead! Are we seriously going to keep going? We''re barely holding on!"

 Chapter 28: From Yesterday

    Chapter 28 - From Yesterday"We should retreat," I said, changing my mind.


    "Of course we should! Especially after some guy just walked up to me and said we''re all going to die!"


    "What do you mean?" I frowned.


    "He looked weak, so I figured he was just bluffing. But after hearing that three of our guys died, I realized he wasn''t just mouthing off."


    "Dre, calm down. Did he have a blue sword and wear a black robe?"


    "Yeah. Wait¡ªhow did you know?"


    "Did he say anything else?"


    "Yeah, but seriously, how did you know what he looked like?"


    "Just answer the question," I urged him.


    "He told me to withdraw my team or we''d be wiped out."


    The same warning as that woman gave us. Could the two of them be working together? I rubbed my chin, thinking.


    "So, what should we do?" Miem asked.


    "We ask Eve."


    I didn''t waste time and called her through the watch.


    "Eve¡ª"


    **[I''ve heard.]**


    She cut me off before I could speak. Her voice was sharp and brief, but I could hear the buried anger¡ªand sadness. I felt the same.


    "What should we do?" My voice came out weaker than I expected. It surprised me.


    **[Retreat.]** No hesitation.


    I had braced for that answer, yet doubt still crept in. Was it the right decision? Sure, we lacked manpower, but if that device ends up in the wrong hands... would retreating really be the right call? What about the ones who had already died?


    What was Goo Han''s death for? Did he die for nothing? Like hell I could accept that. And yet, deep down, I knew I had to. We couldn''t win. Not now.


    **[I understand, Sunny. I know what you''re thinking. If that device falls into the wrong hands, millions could die. But if we continue now, we''ll die for nothing. Is that what you want?]**


    Of course not. I was just testing you, I replied in my heart.


    "Then what about their deaths? Are we just going to ignore them?" Hakku raised his voice slightly.


    "Their deaths aren''t meaningless. And we''re not ignoring them. We''ll win¡ªjust not today. Retreat isn''t defeat; it''s a strategic move."


    Hakku''s shoulders dropped a little. "Yeah, you''re right."


    I checked Eve''s position. She was already moving toward the outskirts of the mist.


    "Eve''s pulled back. We need to go. Miem¡ªhey, what''s wrong?"


    She was staring into the distance, unmoving. I followed her gaze¡ªto the undead dragon. She hadn''t banished it. Why? sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Now that I thought about it, I hadn''t let Puffy rest either. He''d been on my back the whole time.


    "Miem, is something wrong with your dragon?"


    "Sunny... what should I do? I can''t dismiss it. Oh no. Not again..." Her voice trembled, panic tightening her features. She stepped back, clumsy, and fell.


    Sweat rolled down her cheeks as she buried her face in her hands.


    "Hey, calm down. What''s going on?" I rushed to her side.


    "This is why I hate dangerous missions!" she shouted. "I thought I was ready. I thought I''d grown stronger. But I haven''t changed at all!"


    She wasn''t angry at us¡ªonly herself.


    I looked at Dre for help. He just shrugged.


    Then the dragon let out a deafening roar and unleashed a storm of flame. Its tail swung wildly, leveling buildings. Debris flew. Thick dust choked the air.


    "This is bad!" Dre shouted. "If it keeps going, it''ll destroy the whole district!"


    "Miem, we need to stop it¡ªand we need you. Tell us what to do. We''ll deal with the rest later."


    She didn''t respond. She looked paralyzed, as if haunted by something old and painful.


    Just when I was about to act without her, she inhaled sharply.


    Her eyes lit up. She slapped her own cheek, hard. Something in her had reignited. Maybe she''d had a flashback, like those clich¨¦ scenes in fiction¡ªbut it worked.


    "No need¡ªI''ll explain. I lose control of my undead creatures when I''m too stressed or emotionally unstable. The deaths earlier... they took a toll on me. I''m sorry, everyone."


    "You don''t need to apologize. Are you okay?" Hakku asked gently.


    "I''m okay now. Really. I''m sorry for causing trouble."


    "It''s okay, Miem. Just tell us how to stop the dragon," Hakku said.


    "You guys..." She looked at us, her voice catching. We weren''t mad. That made her smile. "Every time I summon a mythical beast, I need an anchor¡ªa bone from the creature. I call it the Primal Bone. If we remove it, the beast disappears."


    "Where is it?" I asked.


    "Its chest. But we have to hurry. Without my control, the dragon will regain consciousness and start to heal itself."


    "Isn''t it dead?"


    "Yes¡ªbut when I summon it, a fragment of its soul descends into the body. Without that, it''s just an empty shell."


    If she lost control of the soul fragment, it would start repairing itself. I didn''t know the full mechanics, but that had to be an insanely powerful soul.


    I nodded. "How much time do we have?"


    "Five minutes."


    I grunted and turned to Dre. "Can you shoot it?"


    "I don''t know if it''s strong enough to pull the bone out."


    "Not strong enough?"


    "Yeah. It just launches a giant arrow."


    "Let me see."


    Dre summoned it. An arrow formed, crackling with unfamiliar energy.


    This energy...


    It clicked. The guy who attacked me earlier had used the same kind of energy to summon swords¡ªand those swords were *strong*. Why would Dre think this arrow was weak?

 Chapter 29: This is Fantastic!

    Chapter 29 - This is Fantastic!"Why do you think it''s weak?"


    "It couldn''t pierce your smoke."


    Dre had used one of the three smoke beads I gave him earlier. He must''ve formed a wall to shield himself when his opponent attacked with the arrow.


    "Did it crack?"


    Dre paused, thinking. "Not sure. I was focused on other things, so I might''ve missed a small detail. But the wall did shake on impact."


    "Then it''s powerful enough."


    As we spoke, Hakku turned three rocks into grapes and handed them over. We ate without hesitation, each bite sending a surge of power through our veins.


    I took a puff, waved my hand, and began shaping a bow from the smoke. I commanded Puffy to change its weapon.


    It hesitated, refusing to obey right away. I had to be stern. Eventually, it dropped the swords, which dissolved into smoke as they left its hands. Though headless, Puffy examined the bow with what seemed like curiosity.


    While I rearmed Puffy, Miem called out, "Come, Shikki, Trikki."


    The chimera, sitting quietly nearby, shimmered and shrank into a glowing dot that flew to Miem and merged with her. The same thing happened to the minotaur that had been standing beside it all along.


    "Soul Echo," she said softly. A strange, glowing symbol slowly formed on her forehead, casting green light.


    An axe materialized in her hands. One of her legs shifted into a hoof, and a snake slithered out to form her tail.


    She had explained her ability before during a meeting: she could absorb the essence of her summoned beasts and temporarily borrow their strength.


    "Are you guys ready?" I asked.


    "Yeah!" Dre and Miem replied in unison.


    "Puffy!"


    The phantom pulled the bowstring to its limit and released. A crisp snap filled the air as the arrow shot forward, whistling through the wind.


    *Swoosh!*


    Simultaneously, Dre loosed his arrow. Two massive projectiles soared through the sky, burying themselves deep into the dragon''s decaying flesh. The impact forced the flying beast to descend.


    As Dre and I fired, Miem closed the distance between her and the dragon. The moment it dropped low enough, she lunged, cracking the ground beneath her.


    When the dragon came into range, she swung her axe in a wide arc, knocking the beast several meters to the side.


    Right after, my arrow exploded into smoke, which seeped into its decaying wounds.


    At the same time, Miem''s snake tail lunged, its body elongating as it struck. Its fangs sank deep into the dragon''s hide.


    Then the snake began contracting, reeling Miem closer. She climbed the creature''s body, her hands shifting into sharp claws.


    The dragon turned one of its heads toward her.


    "Bug," it growled¡ªits voice deep, resonant, unnatural. Undead shouldn''t be able to speak... not unless soul and body had recovered enough.


    ---


    **Miem''s POV**


    One of the heads hovered near, its foul breath curling into her nose. Miem winced in disgust.


    "You should really clean your teeth!" she snapped and hurled her axe. The dragon jerked its head aside, dodging it.


    A cold blue glow began gathering in front of its mouth. The air temperature plummeted.


    Miem screamed¡ªa piercing, disorienting shriek that halted the dragon''s charge. It shook its head, trying to stay conscious.


    Spotting the opening, Miem climbed higher, then leapt. Seven meters up, she began falling, her strength waning. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She summoned an axe midair, gripping it tightly and swinging down as she descended. The impact rang out, a heavy thud that cracked bone.


    One of the dragon''s heads slammed to the ground, triggering the rest of its massive body to follow.


    *Crash.*


    Dust exploded upward. Debris rained down in every direction.


    ---


    From a distance, I heard the dull thud and saw the dragon fall. I turned to mist and surged forward, leaving Puffy behind to keep it distracted. Dre and Hakku didn''t need to come¡ªI could handle this.


    When I arrived, the beast had crashed hard. Dust rose two meters high. Chunks of debris smashed into nearby windows.


    I didn''t wait for the dust to settle. I sent out wires to bind its necks, mouths, limbs¡ªbut before they could reach, the dragon stood. The ground trembled beneath its weight.


    It exhaled fire, burning the wires before they could latch on. Then it roared and began flapping its wings.


    I couldn''t let it take off.


    "Puffy!" I commanded.


    A sharp whistle pierced the air, and a massive arrow slammed into the dragon''s left wing, sending it tumbling.


    "Why did you leave us?"


    I turned. Dre stood to my left. I didn''t know how he got here so fast¡ªprobably his power.


    "What are you doing here? Stay back!"


    "I''m here to help." Dre raised his palm toward the arrow embedded in the wing. It glowed faintly.


    He lifted his hand, and the arrow moved with it, as if tethered. Then, with a swift motion, he directed it toward the right wing¡ªpinning it to the ground.


    With both wings ruined, the dragon wouldn''t be flying again.


    "Nice job." I clapped his back.


    But the dragon wasn''t done. It rose weakly and glared at us, its many mouths gathering elemental energy.


    A chill ran down my spine. I turned to Dre, wondering what kind of expression he wore.


    No fear. Just awe¡ªand pure shock.

 Chapter 30: They Can Lose

    Chapter 30 - They Can LoseThis guy... I thought slowly but didn''t disturb him.


    "Can you handle that?" I asked Dre.


    "Yeah! I fought a guy a few days back whose whole power was shields. Talk about luck!" He sounded excited to finally use this ability.


    "Trace," he uttered. If I remembered right, whenever he said that, it meant he was using an ability he chose to keep ¡ª not just a one-time copy.


    Normally, every ability he copied was single-use.


    A shield of familiar energy took form in front of us, shaped like a flower. It floated steadily in the air.


    I didn''t stay idle either. Drawing on the mist around me, I layered a protective coating over the shield.


    Just as we were bracing ourselves¡ª


    "I''m still here!" a female voice rang out from the sky.


    We looked up and saw Miem, flapping dragon wings on her back. Axe in hand, she looked like a Valkyrie descending to battle.


    "Why didn''t she use that earlier?" I muttered.


    "Annoying monkeys!" The dragon''s grand voice shook the sky and ground.


    It shifted its attack toward Miem, breathing out a torrent of elemental energy.


    From a distance, it looked like three massive pillars of color rising into the heavens ¡ª beautiful and deadly.


    "She''s going to die," Dre said grimly.


    "Believe in her," I replied.


    Miem dived sharply, heading straight into the breaths without hesitation.


    "What is she doing?!" Dre clutched his head in panic.


    I could see it ¡ª risky, but deliberate. Raising my hand, I summoned the surrounding mist upward, forming a thin shield just before the city ceiling.


    Meanwhile, scales spread across Miem''s skin. The breath swallowed her ¡ª yet she remained untouched.


    The attack surged on and struck the ceiling, but the mist barrier dispersed its force, preventing catastrophic damage.


    Still falling, Miem raised her axe to the sky ¡ª and it grew in size.


    The dragon watched in disbelief.


    "Just what are you?!" it roared. It had never seen a human wield so many abilities at once, switching between them with ease.


    "I''m your master. I order you to return to my side!" Miem shouted.


    She swung the axe down.


    The blow crashed into the dragon''s heads with a thunderous crack, sending them slamming into the ground.


    A pillar of dust exploded upward, reaching twelve meters into the air and blanketing the surroundings for five kilometers.


    Miem landed near us, panting heavily. One by one, her axe, snake tail, hooves, wings, and claws disappeared, returning her to her human form.


    "Sunny... how did you disperse its breath?" she asked between gasps.


    "A secret," I said simply.


    Miem stared at me, doubt flickering in her eyes. A silent understanding seemed to pass between us.


    "You''re a monster, Sunny," she whispered, then closed her eyes and collapsed.


    I caught her just in time.


    "What did she mean by that?" Dre asked, bewildered.


    I said nothing and took a puff from my vape ¡ª only to find nothing entered my mouth.


    I checked it ¡ª half of it was gone.


    Before I could react, Dre pulled out two beads. He crushed one. "Hoverboard," he said.


    The bead burst into smoke, forming a hovering board.


    I placed Miem gently on it.


    "Stay here," I told Dre, and walked toward where the dragon had fallen.


    The dust thinned, finally letting me see the dragon again, lying there like some ancient statue about to crumble.


    I couldn''t make more smoke, so I ordered Puffy to protect me. It showed up without a sound, bowing like a ghost playing knight. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It wanted its weapon back.


    I touched the blade and pulled it free. Changed it into a sword ¡ª just one, since two would''ve been too small ¡ª and handed it back.


    Puffy swung it a few times, slow and testing, like it was feeling the weight of it.


    Then it gave me a thumbs-up.


    I swear, this thing''s getting more and more alive.


    I pushed those thoughts away and walked toward the dragon.


    Its breathing was shallow. Its heads barely moved.


    "I see... your powers are granted by *that* person," it said, voice cracking the air like dry branches.


    I didn''t bother answering. I was too focused.


    The smoke inside its body pulsed faintly ¡ª I linked with it, guiding it carefully toward the beast''s chest.


    Took longer than I wanted.


    The dragon kept talking anyway.


    "Tell me... are they ravaging your land?"


    "Yeah. Why? Shouldn''t be anything new to you. You''ve lived long enough. Probably seen a bunch of other worlds too."


    I didn''t even look at it when I spoke.


    It chuckled. Weakly.


    "Fascinating... how and why did you come up with such a conclusion?"


    "Honor''s intuition."


    "You call yourself ''Honor''?" it asked.


    "Yeah. Pretty arrogant, right?"


    "I''ve seen humans far more arrogant," it said. Then it went quiet for a second, like it was weighing something.


    "It fits perfectly."


    I didn''t reply. The smoke was almost there, inching into place.


    The dragon watched me work.


    "What do you call them?" it asked.


    I knew what it meant.


    "The shadows? Shadow creatures. Some people call them Dark Devils. Different names, same monsters.


    Why? You know something about them?"


    No answer at first.


    Then the dragon said it ¡ª calm, like it was commenting on the weather:


    "Let them win."


    My hands froze for a second.


    What the hell was that supposed to mean?


    The smoke reached the core. I wrapped the Primal Bone in thin wires. Tight.


    I stood there for a moment, feeling the finality of it.


    "Any last words?" I asked.


    The dragon''s mouths barely moved.


    "Don''t despair... that you are the only one left," it whispered.


    "In this universe... in this entire multiverse... only this world still clings to life. Everything else has already perished."


    It went still after that.


    Dead quiet.


    Even Puffy didn''t move.

 Chapter 31: Human Trafficker

    Chapter 31 - Human TraffickerI pulled out its Primal Bone without giving its words much thought. The dragon closed its eyes and stopped breathing. Slowly, its body crumbled into dust.


    I made my way back to Dre and the others. I spotted Eve and Hakku among them.


    "Eve? What are you doing here?" I asked, a little surprised.


    "I saw the light and came over. What happened? Is everything sorted out?" she asked quickly, a trace of worry in her voice. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah. Anyway, we should head back to HQ," I suggested.


    Their faces tightened. I understood why.


    We had failed the mission. Civilians were dead, property was destroyed, and more than three Honors had been killed. Our squad was in deep trouble.


    Worse yet, the device had ended up in Synth''s hands. The fact they went so far as to hire a mercenary group to retrieve it only confirmed they were planning something dangerous.


    "It''ll be okay. We''ll get through this," Hakku said with a forced smile.


    But the look in his eyes¡ªand the others''¡ªheld no confidence.


    His smile faded. He dropped his gaze to the ground, crushed by despair. I couldn''t blame him. After everything that happened, it was hard not to feel the same.


    Me too.


    A part of me wanted to give up, to stay silent, to do nothing. Yet deep inside, something kept urging me to move forward.


    As those thoughts weighed on me, I studied the others in silence, waiting to see if anyone would speak.


    No one did.


    I sighed, then slapped Dre and Eve on the back. They winced at the sudden sting, frowning at me.


    "Don''t be so stiff, you two. Hakku''s right¡ªwe *will* get through this. Staying stuck here won''t change anything.


    Yeah, we messed up. We lost friends. We failed. But we''re still alive. And that''s what matters."


    "We lived, but so what?!" Eve snapped. "Synth won''t let this slide! We''ll be fired, disbanded¡ªyou know what happens to wild Honors!"


    Wild Honors: superpowered individuals who weren''t under Synth''s employment. They became targets for traffickers and, worst case, human experimentation¡ªpractices Synth turned a blind eye to.


    Sure, if you stayed careful, you could live freely. Yin Hee was proof of that.


    But for Eve, it wasn''t that simple.


    I knew her situation. She couldn''t afford to lose her job. Being classified as a wild Honor would only make her life worse. Most places didn''t even hire Honors.


    She was anxious, panicking, not thinking straight.


    I didn''t blame her for lashing out.


    I wanted to say something to calm her, but the words caught in my throat. I was afraid I''d make it worse.


    "Go home, Eve. All of you, go home. I''ll handle the rest."


    It was the least I could do.


    I wasn''t a leader, but if I could act when no one else would, then I wouldn''t hesitate.


    "Sunny..." Eve looked at me for a long second, then shook her head. "No. I can''t let you do that. I''m in charge. The responsibility''s mine, not yours."


    Hearing her say that, I felt a wave of relief.


    She was back to herself.


    "Alright. Need any help?" I asked with a slight nod.


    "No. You all go home. Let''s head back."


    "What about Vie?" Dre asked.


    "I spoke with someone from Scarecrow. He left the scene half an hour ago," Eve answered.


    "He *abandoned* us?! That bastard!" Dre shouted.


    "He probably knew what was coming," Eve said, her voice bitter.


    "That doesn''t excuse it! Leaving your team behind like that¡ªit''s unforgivable!" Dre slammed his fist into his palm, seething.


    We decided to deal with Vie later. For now, we returned to the car, and I drove us back to HQ.


    After going through the usual security checks, we entered the building.


    Women in white robes approached us, healing our wounds with practiced hands. We thanked them and left Miem in their care.


    As we walked down the halls, I noticed the stares.


    Some were curious.


    Some sneered.


    Some pitied us.


    They had already heard the news.


    We ignored them and kept moving.


    At the locker room, we changed while Eve headed to report to Wo.


    After changing, Dre didn''t stick around. He left without a word, leaving me alone with Hakku.


    I noticed he was taking longer than usual, lost in thought as he fumbled with his clothes.


    "Hakku. You alright?"


    He slowly turned toward me. "Sunny," he said, his voice heavy with pain and regret.


    "Is this about Goo Han?"


    "I''m sorry!" he suddenly cried. "Because of me, he died! I know how much you cared about him¡ªand your friends! I''m sorry!


    If an apology isn''t enough, you can take my life!"


    Before I could think, my hand moved on its own.


    *Smack.*


    The sharp sound echoed through the room.


    Hakku stood there, stunned, his eyes wide.


    I didn''t know exactly what he was feeling, but I hoped the sting of the slap would snap him out of drowning in emotion.


    "I''m not taking the life my friend protected. I never blamed you for Goo Han''s death."


    I took a breath, steadying my voice.


    "Goo Han sacrificed himself for you. You owe it to him to live¡ªand to live well.


    Don''t let his death turn you into something he wouldn''t be proud of.


    Honor him by becoming better."


    I let the words hang for a moment, giving him time to absorb them.


    "Do you understand, Hakku?" I asked firmly.


    He nodded, determination sparking in his eyes. "Yeah. I understand. I''ll get stronger¡ªfor you and for Goo Han!"


    "That''s the spirit. Now finish changing and go home. Today''s been long enough."


    "Yeah."


    Hakku changed quickly and left the locker room.


    Alone now, I sighed and opened my locker, tossing my battle suit inside and slamming it shut.


    ---


    *Third Person POV*


    "Thank you for your hard work," Eve said, bowing to Wo, who sat at his desk.


    After reporting, she changed her clothes in the locker room and exited the building.


    Stepping outside, she spotted Sunny standing there, staring up at the city''s artificial sky.


    "Sunny, you''re still here."


    ---


    *Back to Sunny''s POV*


    "I was waiting for you," I said. "How''d it go?"


    "About as bad as you imagined. Wo wants to hold a meeting tomorrow. It''s going to be a long day," she sighed, exhausted.


    When I didn''t respond, she asked, "Did you need something?"


    "I know someone who can track down who hired Scarecrow. You want in?"


    She pinched her chin thoughtfully. I could already guess what was running through her mind.


    Technically, it was still part of our job. But we wouldn''t be getting paid¡ªand Eve hated unpaid work.


    Still... with the city at stake, maybe she''d make an exception.


    "Fine," she said, letting out a breath. "This will be an exception.


    But first¡ªcan we get something to eat?"

 Chapter 32: They’ll Pay

    Chapter 32 - They''ll PayWe finished eating and headed toward the hotel where Yin Hee and the child were staying. Before that, though, we stopped by a vape shop to pick up a few backups, just in case the main one broke.


    Leaving the shop, I took a deep, satisfying puff, exhaling a thick cloud of smoke that I shaped into two hoverboards. We hopped on and flew to the hotel.


    Once we arrived at the room, Eve glanced around and casually concluded, "There''s no one here." She plopped down on the bed, found it comfortable, and soon lay flat, sighing, "This feels nice."


    I scanned the room for any sign they had left a message. Nothing stood out¡ªexcept the bed. As I checked it, a small slip of paper peeking from under the pillow caught my eye.


    I pulled it out. It was a note.


    *Good job finding this note, uncle! It seems your age hasn''t dulled your observation skills at all! Anyway, I''m out with sis Yin Hee! So come find us!*


    Uncle?! You brat! I nearly screamed reading that part. As I continued, a pounding headache flared behind my eyes. I massaged my glabella to ease the growing ache.


    "What does it say?" Eve asked, curious.


    I handed her the note and slumped onto the bed beside her, pinching my chin in thought.


    "Who''s Yin Hee? Your girlfriend?" she teased.


    "No. Yin Hee''s the one I mentioned earlier¡ªthe one helping us track down the guy who hired Scarecrow."


    "So who wrote the note?"


    "An ungrateful brat."


    "Brat?"


    "No¡ªnever mind. Let''s go find them. They shouldn''t be hard to spot."


    I opened the window, took a long drag, and breathed out a misty cloud. The smoke was light but enough to track them down.


    Suddenly, the door slammed open, crashing into the wall with a loud *thud*. Eve instinctively dove for cover behind the wall, and without hesitation, I shifted into a translucent mist.


    As a mist, I turned to see Calvin standing there, clutching a bundle of balloons, with Yin Hee trailing behind him, looking completely worn out.


    The next instant, Yin Hee shoved Calvin behind her and tensed up, scanning the room like a cornered animal.


    I reverted to my human form, and her sharp gaze locked onto me. Her body tensed, ready to attack¡ªbut upon recognizing me, she relaxed.


    "Oh, Mist, you''re back."


    "Where did you go?" I asked, noticing Eve, still hidden behind the wall, clutching a table ready to smash Yin Hee with it. I shook my head slightly. She nodded, setting the table back down, and leaned casually against the wall, observing.


    Yin Hee, oblivious to Eve''s presence¡ªprobably thanks to Eve''s ability¡ªbowed her head slightly in apology.


    "Sorry, Mist. Calvin slipped away when I wasn''t paying attention. I found him playing with some kids in the park... he looked so happy, I couldn''t bring myself to interrupt," she explained, bowing her head deeply.


    "Leave sis Yin Hee alone, uncle!" Calvin shouted, stepping in front of her protectively with arms wide.


    I stared at them for a moment, then sighed. "I''m not mad. Just let me know next time, alright? Also, stop calling me *uncle*. I''m still young!" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re an uncle because you act like one!" Calvin said, jabbing his finger at me.


    "This argument''s not going anywhere," I muttered, brushing it off. I turned back to Yin Hee. "Did anyone drop by while I was gone?"


    "No," she replied.


    I frowned slightly, wondering why Ginto hadn''t shown up yet. Still, I figured he had his reasons. Just in case he arrived later, I shot him a quick message, telling him he could wait for us here.


    "By the way, Mist," Yin Hee said, her gaze shifting behind me. "Is that who I think it is?"


    "Yeah."


    Her face lit up like a festival. "This is the best day of my life! You two should know I shipped you so hard in my fanfic! Do you wanna read it?" she chirped, fishing out her phone.


    She showed it to Eve, who read a few lines and looked at Yin Hee, impressed.


    "This is actually good," Eve said with a chuckle, "but why did you ship me with *him*?"


    "Because you two have been inseparable ever since Synth recognized you both as official Honors!" Yin Hee rattled off excitedly. "You even fought in the same squad against the shadows! You''re like the main characters of an epic story¡ªthe destined duo!"


    Eve chuckled sweetly. "It''s just coincidence we got recognized at the same time, not because we were in the same squad. This guy practically begged to stay with me."


    "Shut up," I muttered. "Your powers were the only thing keeping me alive¡ªthat''s why I stayed close."


    "Aww, don''t be embarrassed," Eve teased. "It''s normal for a guy to stick close to his crush."


    "Let''s drop this," I said flatly. "We''re not here to talk about the past."


    "But *I''m* here for it!" Yin Hee exclaimed brightly.


    "Yin Hee, shut up."


    "Yes, I''m sorry," she said quickly, though her mischievous grin showed she wasn''t sorry at all.


    "I''ll tell you more later," Eve whispered to Yin Hee.


    Yin Hee beamed. "Really?! You''re the best!"


    "Of course. Unlike *someone* who''s petty about the past," Eve added, shooting me a sly look.


    "Do as you wish," I said with a shrug, my attention drifting back to Calvin.


    "Kid, you heard everything from Mark. What are you planning to do?"


    He hesitated, thinking deeply. "I wanted to kill them¡ªat least, that''s what I thought at first. But sister Yin Hee taught me something... that killing is wrong." His gaze hardened. "But I don''t plan to forgive them. They''ll pay."

 Chapter 33: Comfort In The Abyss

    Chapter 33 - Comfort In The Abyss"Before that, I want to learn more about my useless father. Why did he refuse Mark''s help? Why did he suddenly become passive, withdraw from his position, and rack up a massive debt to Revenant¡ªone of the most dangerous groups in the city¡ªonly to leave me in their hands?" Determination flashed in Calvin''s eyes.


    "I''ve been wondering that too. Alright, we''ll help you," I said.


    "Why would you help me? Do you need something from me?"


    I stayed silent, locking eyes with him. I could''ve given him some clich¨¦ like *because I''m a hero* or *I can''t leave a kid in trouble*.


    But this kid would see right through it. So I chose honesty.


    "Yeah, I need something from you."


    "And not because you helped me out of the kindness of your heart?" Calvin pressed.


    Hearing that, guilt gnawed at me. I imagined myself no better than a villain, using a kid for personal gain.


    Is this really who I am? Someone who''d exploit even a child if it served my goals?


    Probably. And if that''s what it takes, I''m prepared to be the bad guy.


    "Yeah," I admitted.


    "You''re rotten, uncle."


    "I know."


    "Doesn''t mean I hate you for it."


    I blinked at him, caught off guard.


    "You''re a good person, uncle."


    Good person? How? I''m using him for my own ends.


    "You''re not mad?" I asked cautiously.


    "Nothing is free. I learned that young, back when Revenant ''took care'' of me. I''d rather someone help me because they need me than because they want to. That way, I don''t owe anyone." His gaze never wavered.


    I was so amazed by his answer I couldn''t help but ask, "Are you really twelve years old?"


    Even as I joked, a doubt lingered inside me¡ª*Is this truly the right thing to do?*


    "What''s the next move?" Eve asked, pulling me from my thoughts.


    "Igor''s house. It''s in Excalibur."


    "Okay, let''s go," Eve said, stepping forward¡ªonly for Yin Hee to interrupt.


    "Wait, I need to tell Mist something first. You asked me to look into anyone connected to Igor''s death, right? A friend helped me. His name''s Trick. Thanks to him, I found three names."


    "A friend? That''s not important. What did you find?"


    "Hansel, Yurim, and Will. They were all Honors who went missing."


    "Finding them won''t be easy," I muttered.


    "I managed to track down Yurim," Yin Hee said, but she hesitated, glancing away.


    "But?"


    "She''s living a normal life now. Left her past behind. She''s got two kids and a husband. I don''t think she''ll want anything to do with us."


    "We won''t know until we try." I paused, thinking. "Alright, here''s the plan. Eve, Yin Hee, and Calvin will go to Igor''s house and find his diary. I''ll talk to Yurim. Any questions?"


    "Yeah. Do I have to be involved in this?" Eve raised her hand. "I''m here to find whoever hired Scarecrow, not to dig into all this other stuff."


    "Right, you did say that." I nodded slightly, then turned to Yin Hee. "Since Eve can''t join you, I''ll send my clone instead."


    Yin Hee didn''t object.


    I inhaled from my vape, exhaled a thick plume of smoke, and shaped it into a humanoid form. Gradually, the surface solidified into skin, taking on my appearance.


    "It''s got about 50% of my fighting capability." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Thank you," Yin Hee said sincerely.


    "Sorry, Yin Hee," Eve apologized, guilt on her face.


    "I don''t mind, big sis Eve. Calvin, shall we?" Yin Hee smiled down at Calvin, and he nodded. Together, they made for the entrance.


    "Big sis..." Eve''s cheeks flushed pink, her eyes glazing over in a euphoric daze. Snapping out of it, she suddenly called out, "Wait, Yin Hee! I''ll help after all!"


    Yin Hee paused, turning back.


    "Are you sure, big sis Eve? I don''t want to burden you."


    "It''s fine! Leave it to your big sis!" Eve said proudly.


    "Then I won''t hesitate. It''ll be a pleasure working with you. Though... doesn''t that mean we won''t need your clone?" Yin Hee asked, pointing at the smoky double.


    "Keep it. Even at half strength, it''s still me," I said.


    "You''re right."


    With that, Eve, Yin Hee, and Calvin headed off toward Igor''s house, disappearing from sight.


    Now then... time to meet Yurim.


    Just as I thought that, my phone buzzed¡ªYin Hee had sent me Yurim''s location.


    I took a final puff, shaping the smoke into a hoverboard, and launched myself out the window, flying toward Gram.


    A little about Gram: it''s a district where most people live just a little above minimum wage. Humble, clean, and surprisingly lively. Homelessness was rare here. The air was fresher than in Olympus or Avalon. To someone from Excalibur, the water tasted filthy, but for someone from Aegis, it was heavenly.


    Gram offered all kinds of work and a vibrant social life.


    Even though Excalibur housed the rich, they couldn''t spend freely without risking their status. So when they wanted real fun, they came to Gram.


    The skyscrapers here weren''t as grand as Excalibur''s, but at night, their lights glittered like jewels.


    Not the blinding light of Excalibur, but something softer, humbler¡ªmore human.


    Some say that as long as Excalibur stands, the light of hope will never fade, and humanity will always rise.


    But every time I looked at it, I couldn''t help thinking: *That light is just temporary comfort in a bottomless abyss.*

 Chapter 34: Frankly

    Chapter 34 - FranklyAs I was sinking deep into my thoughts, I caught sight of two familiar faces. I hesitated for a moment, considering whether to approach or not, but ultimately chose to.


    Lowering my altitude, I landed in front of them. They looked up, noticing something descending from the sky, and smiled when they realized it was me.


    "Syn!" my mother called out with a bright smile.


    "Mom." I grinned back and hopped off the hoverboard, shifting my gaze to the girl standing beside her.


    "Aren''t you going to say anything?" I asked.


    "Why should I?" the girl replied with an annoyed look.


    She was my little sister, Mira¡ªpetite, cute, dressed in a brown cloak over a white shirt and jeans. Mom wore a simple white dress, her long black hair falling over her shoulders. Though age had started to leave its mark, her beauty remained stubbornly vivid. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t you miss your bro?" I said, spreading my arms.


    "Die!" Mira punched me in the stomach.


    "Ouch!" I yelped, pretending it hurt, even though it barely did.


    "It''s so annoying that I can''t hurt you," she grumbled.


    "Why do you hate me so much?" I said, holding back fake tears.


    "Figure it out yourself, stupid idiot," she huffed, crossing her arms and looking away.


    I could only sigh at her attitude.


    "Syn, have you been eating properly?" Mom asked, her voice tinged with worry.


    "I have," I replied.


    "When will you come home?"


    "Once I''m done with my mission. Don''t worry, Mom."


    "Don''t push yourself too hard, okay?"


    "I won''t," I said with a patient smile.


    Most people would get annoyed by their mother''s endless questions, but to me, it was her way of showing love. And I was happy.


    "Where are you two headed?" I asked, curious.


    "We''re going shopping for dinner. You should join us, Syn."


    I thought for a moment and agreed. It wouldn''t take long anyway.


    "You hear that, Mira? I''m going shopping with you," I teased.


    "Hmph!" she huffed and marched ahead with exaggerated steps.


    "Don''t be mad at her," Mom said, reassuringly. "She just needs a little time."


    "I know," I replied.


    We walked to a nearby supermarket and picked out ingredients for dinner. Along the way, I made jokes and silly faces, trying to get Mira to laugh or even smile. She only responded with a flat, unimpressed look.


    A little disappointed but undeterred, I kept trying.


    At checkout, I proudly paid for the groceries¡ªfulfilling my duty as a son. Using my powers, I floated the heavy bags ahead of us, letting them hover in the air.


    On the way home, Mom and I caught up. We talked about the neighborhood: who got married, who passed away, who landed prestigious jobs or got accepted into top colleges¡ªthe usual small-town news.


    "We also have a new neighbor. Mister Saki moved away after getting transferred to Olympus," Mom said.


    "When did the new ones move in?" I asked.


    "Yesterday. They seem like nice people, Syn. They even gave us some delicious food from Excalibur."


    "Really? That''s good to hear."


    Just as we were absorbed in our conversation¡ª


    "Thief! Someone, please help!" a woman shrieked nearby.


    Scanning the crowd, I spotted a man sprinting away, a black cap pulled low over his face.


    I casually took a drag from my vape and conjured a rope of smoke. Like a living thing, it slithered through the crowd, wrapped around his left leg, and yanked.


    The man hit the ground with a loud thud. Either the impact knocked him out or the pain did. I directed the smoke to lift him up and float him over to me¡ªhead dangling near the ground, leg in the air.


    He looked unconscious, eyes tightly shut.


    "Thank you!" The woman ran up, her face bright with relief.


    I handed back her purse. She clutched it tightly.


    "I''m so thankful you caught him! If I lost this, I don''t know what I would''ve done¡ªit''s all the money I have left!"


    "It''s nothing," I said, dismissing the smoke. The thief dropped headfirst onto the pavement with a thump.


    "Wait, aren''t you my neighbor?" the woman said suddenly, glancing at Mom.


    "Miss Rin?" Mom guessed.


    "Yes! What a coincidence!"


    "Oh my, it really is!" Mom laughed warmly.


    "Is he your son?" Miss Rin asked, turning her eyes to me. Our gazes met, and for a second, I almost faltered.


    It felt too coincidental¡ªtoo convenient. I inhaled quietly, gathering my thoughts.


    No, it wasn''t pure coincidence. Yin Hee had given me an address close to home. Meeting the target by accident wasn''t impossible. I had just been caught off-guard by how soon it happened¡ªwhich, in a way, made things easier.


    Yurim had assumed the identity of "Rin." According to Yin Hee, she now worked part-time as a teacher and a waitress. Her husband was a freelance worker. Together, they earned slightly above average, living simple, modest lives.


    "Yes," Mom answered.


    "Your son''s quite handsome," Miss Rin said with a playful grin. "I have some nephews his age¡ªshould I introduce them?"


    "That''s a generous offer," Mom said, flashing me a teasing smile. "What do you think?"


    "There''s no need for that, but thank you, Miss Rin," I said politely.


    "Don''t sweat it! Oh, and why don''t you all come over for dinner? As a thank-you for helping me."


    She could have easily handled the thief herself, I thought. She was an Honor, after all.


    "Wouldn''t that be troubling you?" Mom asked, ever considerate.


    "Of course not! So, what do you say?"


    Mom glanced at Mira and me. We both nodded.


    "Then we won''t hesitate to accept," Mom said, smiling.


    We followed Miss Rin¡ªYurim¡ªto her house. Mom and Mira helped her prepare dinner while I "relaxed" on the couch, watching TV¡ªor at least, that''s what they thought.


    In truth, it was my clone on the couch.


    I was upstairs, quietly rifling through Yurim''s belongings, searching for anything useful.

 Chapter 35: Meeting

    Chapter 35 - MeetingA few minutes earlier...


    "Mira, can you get her attention? Half an hour would be ideal."


    We stood at the entrance door, where Mom and Yurim were chatting away in the kitchen, unaware of us. The only one who might hear us was Yurim. I took a quick drag from my vape and surrounded us with smoke, ensuring our voices wouldn''t escape.


    "What''s this all of a sudden?" Mira asked, clearly puzzled by my unexpected request.


    "I can''t explain it all, but our neighbor is more than she seems."


    She paused, considering my words, before asking, "Ms. Rin''s attention, or Mom''s?"


    "Both."


    "I''ll do my best."


    "Thanks!" I said, quickly creating a clone. Then, I turned into mist and slipped through the small gap under Yurim''s bedroom door.


    Several minutes passed, and I still hadn''t found anything. I moved to another room¡ªthe children''s bedroom. Toys were scattered everywhere.


    Two boys were asleep on the bed, still in their school uniforms. I tried not to disturb them as I searched through drawers and examined their wardrobe. I even checked behind the mirror, hoping for a hidden passage. But nothing. As soon as my mist touched the mirror, it scattered and dissipated when it hit the wall behind it.


    The mirror swayed dangerously before it fell, but I managed to revert to my human form and catch it just in time.


    At the same moment, my foot stepped on a building brick. The sharp pain shot up my leg, and I fell with a loud thud.


    Why was there a building brick here?


    --- Third POV ---


    "So, Mira, how''s school?" Yurim asked politely.


    "It''s alright, I guess." Mira answered lazily, but then her gaze shifted to her brother''s clone, who was staring blankly at the ceiling. Her frown deepened when a muffled thud echoed from upstairs. Both their attention snapped to the source.


    "What was that?" Yurim asked, her expression worried.


    "Maybe a lost cat?" Mira suggested.


    "That noise came from the boys'' room," Yurim said, standing up quickly. "The windows are shut¡ªthere''s no way a cat could''ve gotten in!" She hurried upstairs, followed by Mom, who was probably concerned too.


    Mira, unsure of what else to do, reluctantly followed them, bring Sunny''s clone as if to ensure it wasn''t left alone. It would be odd if he stayed behind while everyone else checked out the noise.


    --- Sunny''s POV


    I sensed them coming and turned into mist, lowering my presence to the bare minimum. I slid through the ceiling gap, which was narrow¡ªjust wide enough for a child to fit. The area was dim and filled with old items. I inspected everything but found nothing of interest.


    I stumbled upon a brown suitcase. When I opened it, I frowned, almost doubting what I had just discovered.


    --- Third POV --


    Meanwhile, Yurim and the others arrived at the boys'' room. They opened the door, seeing nothing amiss at first glance.


    "There''s no one here," Yurim said, her frown deepening. "Then what was that sound?"


    Thud!


    A loud noise echoed from the ceiling. They looked up in unison. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There''s definitely something up there," Yurim said, moving to a specific spot on the wall. She pressed a button, and the ceiling opened, revealing a hidden staircase.


    Yurim climbed up while the others watched below.


    "Be careful," Mom called out, worry in her voice.


    Yurim carefully examined the cramped space. It was filled with old items, disorganized and out of place. She scanned further, her eyes locking on a large rat. Without hesitation, a dark beam shot from her eyes, disintegrating it into nothing.


    "Only a rat," she muttered, almost disappointed. "I''ll install a trap next time." She climbed down and pressed the button again, closing the ceiling.


    --- Sunny''s POV


    I was drenched in sweat. When Yurim opened the ceiling, I made sure my mist was as translucent as possible, scattering it around the area. I controlled the mist to hide behind old items and planks as she searched.


    When her eyes landed on the rat¡ª the source of the thud¡ª the rodent startled, sensing my presence. Yurim, not satisfied with the outcome, kept scanning the area. After a while, she muttered softly, almost to herself, "I''ll meet you after dinner."


    I had been discovered. My heart raced, adrenaline coursing through my veins. My hands trembled, not from fear, but the rush.


    ---


    Several hours passed before Yurim and Mom said their goodbyes. Mira led ''Sunny'' out, both with full stomachs and bright smiles. Mom waved as she turned to head back home, with Mira and Sunny following behind.


    Yurim watched them go from a distance, her thoughts hidden. She closed the door behind her.


    ---


    Once inside, Yurim turned, speaking without facing me. "What do you want? Snooping around my house like some cockroach."


    "How did you find me?" I asked, my voice steady, but my mind racing.


    "You still need some training," she replied, her tone cool. "Though, I''ll admit, your hiding technique is commendable."


    "What do you know about Igor?" I asked, getting straight to the point.


    "You found the briefcase. Why ask again?"


    "You''re sickening me," I spat.


    "I''m just doing my job."


    "They don''t deserve this."


    "That''s not for me to decide. It''s up to those at the top."


    "Why did you go into hiding? You think Synth didn''t know?"


    "They already know. My disappearance? That was their order."

 Chapter 36: Plaything

    Chapter 36 - PlaythingShe closed the door and said without turning her back, "What do you want? Snooping around my house like some cockroach."


    "How did you find me?"


    "You still need some training, though I must admit your hiding technique is worth the praise."


    "Enough nonsense. What do you know about Igor?" I asked, going straight to the point.


    "You found that briefcase, why ask again?"


    "You''re sickening me."


    "I''m just doing my job."


    "But they don''t deserve that."


    "That''s not up to me to decide, but those at the top."


    "Why did you go into hiding? Do you think Synth didn''t know?" I changed the topic.


    "They already know. My disappearance is their orders."


    "They''re behind this? No, it''s not weird. The event isn''t being covered in any media outlets, and even if someone knows, Synth silenced them.


    "Because of that, no one knows it ever happened, until now."


    "Bravo, you found the answer yourself." She smiled.


    "Don''t you feel any kind of remorse?" Disgust evident in my voice.


    "Whether I feel that or not, it won''t bring their lives back. What? You want to teach me a lesson?" She asked casually and shift the topic as she added, "Your powers are truly unique to be able to open that briefcase. I seal it quite tight, you see. Do you mind telling me your powers?"


    "F*ck you."


    "Relax, I''m asking nicely."


    "Did Igor commit suicide because of what he done?" I asked quickly.


    "Ridden by guilt and regret? He''s not the kind of person to kill himself due to such reasons." She denied and continued, "Did you read the documents entirely?"


    The briefcase has top secret documents and the content was quite sinister and would convince you that a person can be more monstrous than a monster.


    When she asked, I thought for a moment and realized something. In the document, it was said a group of expanders (people that expand the city by drilling the ground) found a mysterious metallic machine buried underneath the earth. The document didn''t mention what it does, but it does mention that the machine was used on that specific event.


    That event caused casualties, a hefty amount in fact that it was safe to assume it has destructive capabilities that of an atomic bomb.


    "That metallic machine, is it like the old cartoon show Gu*dam?"


    "Yeah, and if I remember correctly, it has a strange obsession with Honors."


    "A strange obsession?" I frowned slightly.


    "Yeah, it vowed to kill all Honors. We use that as a deal to control it and once it finished its job, we didn''t fulfill its promise. I think that Te*gen To*pa rip off is now a scrap in someone''s junkyard." She explained slowly.


    "Those working under Synth are truly the embodiment of scum." I judged and thought something was off.


    If the metallic machine was just like she said, then what about the mecha Calvin summoned?


    As much as I want to ask her, it''d be best to hide the information. I don''t trust her and I don''t know what she would do once I reveal such an info.


    "Say whatever you like, I don''t care." She walked pass me and sat on the sofa.


    "Would you care if I kill your children?"


    Swish!


    In a blink of an eye, her eyes glowed and shot black laser beams. It hit my head directly, piercing to the other side.


    Blood flowed down and I plopped to the ground, motionless. She looked at the corpse, unimpressed.


    "If you say that one more time, I''ll kill you."


    Mist slowly manifested behind her and gathered before turning into me.


    "If you can, and you shouldn''t have the right to care about another human being, especially after what you''ve done. You''re rightfully disgusting." Hatred filled my words.


    "That''s not up to you to decide," She said in a displeased manner.


    "That is true, and the fact you start a family is the proof that you still have humanity left on you. That thing will decide your past.


    "Isn''t being a human great? You still have a compass to navigate through life even you have done terrible things in the past, and honestly, I wish you don''t have that. It''s quite unfair to those innocent lives."


    "What are you getting at?*


    "Atone your sins by revealing everything to the public." my words were solemn.


    "If I don''t?" She asked in a challenging tone.


    "I''ll do it myself."


    "You think I would allow you?" She asked.


    "If you want to stop me, we would be in a battle to the death right now, and that''s not the case now, is it?"


    "What''s next after I exposed the truth? Synth could simply say it''s a hoax as there''s no proof."


    "That document." I pointed out.


    "You know better than anyone else what Synth is capable of. They could simply state it''s a forged document and no one could say otherwise."


    "There is a way."


    "You''ll not be able to convince me." She crossed her arms. Her pointy finger tapping her shoulders.


    "And I''m particularly good at convincing people."


    She fell silent and sighed, "Fine, let''s hear it."


    "We showed your memories to the entire city."


    "That''s the dumbest thing I''ve heard. How would you show someone''s memory? And let''s not forget there are abilities that can create fake memories, how are you going to say when Synth denies my memories and state that they''re fake?"


    At that point, who will the public believe? The organization that protects them, or two slightly famous people?


    "We don''t need to make the public believe you entirely."


    "I thought that''s your goal?"


    "I''m not naive, I''m aware of their influence on the public."


    "Then what''s your goal?"


    "Making them doubt Synth."


    "Would that work?"


    "Of course, I''m pretty sure you''ve noticed. The public doesn''t show it, but they despise Synth, well, some of them." Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Silence ensued as she contemplated about something and opened her mouth, "I see, so that''s what you''re planning, but you would need a bigger spark than this."


    "No, this is enough."


    I shifted my eyes to the tv. It showed news but it didn''t talk about what happened at the night market, which was quite strange as there were innumerable witnesses, a lot of casualties and buildings were destroyed.


    She seemed to grasp my meaning and said, "Did they cover another event?"


    "Who knows."


    "... So that will be the big spark? You said I''m a monster, but you used people''s emotions like it''s your plaything."


    "I don''t care if they call me a monster once they find out, I simply do what I believe is right."


    "Quite the words."

 Chapter 37: True Power

    Chapter 37 - True Power"It''s displeasing that a war crime is judging me. Could you stop that? It''s disgusting," I said coldly.


    "... You''re right, sorry." She apologized without a warning. It bewildered me and I was stunned for a moment, not knowing what to say next.


    I cleared my throat, "Anyway, I know someone that can project one''s memory so it can be seen by others.


    "Wait for my words, and don''t do anything that makes the Synth suspicious of you." I gave her a warning.


    "You don''t have to say that, that''s my plan from the very start. However, you might need to take care of those in the shadows, watching us from outside at this very moment."


    "I''ve already prepared for that. I''ll leave your house without them noticing, and if that fails, I have plan B."


    "I see, good luck then."


    I walked to the entrance and halted my steps. I said without turning around, "That rat on the roof... is it your doing?"


    "There''s no point in hiding it after it was discovered. Yeah, it is my doing, why?"


    "Lend me one."


    "Sure, but why?"


    "It''s for a present."


    After receiving a small rat that can be snuck into a pocket, I left her house. Before that though, I used the rat and planted a cotton sized smoke. I put it on the floor and it left through the tiny gap on the bottom. Through this rat, I can ''see'' them.


    I knew how Synth works. With Yurim being involved in such a high classified mission, and its information mustn''t be known by anyone, it would be weird if Synth didn''t keep an eye on her.


    I didn''t know how many people were watching her, but I''ll find out with this rat. Once it is near them, the smoke I attached to it will pick up its ''flame'' and I''ll be able to detect their position.


    This way, I didn''t need to cover the whole neighborhood in the area and was afraid of alarming them.


    Once the rat left, I could sense it was moving somewhere. I''m not exactly sure how the rat knew their position, but it seemed to be attracted to Honor, or at least that''s what Yurim explained.


    I stood at the door for a few more seconds before my body turned into smoke and dispersed. My vision went blank, and when I came to my senses, I was somewhere else. Hum, not really somewhere else because I''m inside my bedroom. It seemed she put my clone here before doing her routine.


    How did I end up here, one might ask. I replaced the location of my clone.


    It wasn''t exactly teleportation, but transfer. I can move freely between clones or possess a smoke that comes out of my body


    Even if that smoke was the size of a sand grain, I''d be able to possess it and basically recover. Of course, the repercussions would be quite fatal.


    The more frequently I move my soul, and based on how much energy I need to recover, the more likely my body would change into mist particles. If I kept doing it without limit, I would slowly change to ordinary mist.


    To prevent that, I tested how many times I can move between clones, and the answer is five.


    Of course, it''d be different depending on the situation. If there''s Hakku¨C his power is to change anything into raw food with any buff he desired.


    For example, food that recover one''s stamina to use powers¨C I can move freely between clones for up to ten times.


    As I recalled my ability, my mind abruptly remembered the time when I''m at war. I made a grave mistake. Memories from that time flashed through my eyes.


    Dead Honors, ravaging shadows, screams of terror, shrill shriek of the shadows, the hasty steps of retreating Honors, the shout from the commander to retreat, and when all of a sudden, my mind went blank.


    A painless death...


    I''m not sure what happened. We were in a mission to secure east of Africa when the shadows came out of nowhere and ambushed us. They shouldn''t be able to set a trap, or strategize, yet we got caught in their trap.


    We had assumed the shadows has retreated. This happened if there was no source of food left in the area, and at the time, that place was quite desolate.


    Not only that, we triple check the surrounding with our senses. Honor senses were quite sensitive to shadows and we can sense them within five kilometers in range.


    Yet, that happened. They came in army and without a warning. We managed to fight back, but there were two colossal shadows.


    These creatures... Its shout disabled one''s power for a few seconds. They''re the reason we lost.


    No, perhaps we were too weak and too careless.


    I take a sharp breath after remembering such a painful memory. Sweat trickle down my forehead.


    Why did I suddenly think of that moment? I thought to myself, a bit confused.


    I looked at my palm and eased my nerves. My palm immediately became mist particles, it slowly dispersed and my palm became translucent.


    I focused myself and the mist gathered before forming into a palm. I stared at my hand absentminded, wondering about something when my ears picked up something.


    Someone opened the door and I turned my head to the source.


    "Mira." I called out her name without thinking. I observed her. She looked at me, annoyed, but maybe not. I''m not sure. She had a furrowed brow.


    "So, why did your clone turns into an idiot?" She asked quickly, demanding an explanation.


    "I guess it would be okay if I told you." I take a drag and filled the room with smoke. To outsiders, this room became extremely quiet. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yes, there were people watching us. I''m not exactly sure where they were. The rat hasn''t found anyone yet, and hopefully they didn''t found the rat.


    Anyway, with my room became quiet all of nature sudden, they''d notice it, yet there was nothing they could do. I''ve been with Synth for a few years and knew how these spies works. Their mission is to observe, not to fight.


    "I used my true power." I replied to her question.


    "Your true power?" One of her brows raised, conveying doubt.


    "Yeah, I can blue concepts with the smoke I control. I call this technique Smoke of Concept.


    " I used it when I opened a tightly sealed briefcase that is filled with information I''m looking for. I blur the concept of the seal, confusing it, if that makes sense, before opening it.


    "Each time I used Smoke of Concept. The smoke I controlled became unstable, and my clones became an idiot." I explained slowly and wait for her response.


    "That''s not all, is it? What are you hiding, Big Bro Synnefo?" She asked and call my real name. Her tone filled with hidden rage. Perhaps because I disclose the important information.


    Just when I was about to open my mouth, she threw something at me. I caught it swiftly and looked at it. It was a package with six pills. However, four was missing, leaving only two.


    "That''s your medicine, right?"


    "Where did you find this?" I''m not mad she found something I hide, but genuinely confused. I hid it good. No, that''s not the main concern here.


    I added immediately, "How did you know this is my medicine? I rarely take them and never bring them around."


    She paused for a moment, contemplating something before responding calmly,


    "...You''ll find him sooner or later anyway, so I''ll save your time. His name is Trick."

 Chapter 38: Family

    Chapter 38 - FamilyHis name is familiar, where have I heard it before? That''s right, Yin Hee. She mentioned him.


    Why would this guy have information about me? No, perhaps he has all kinds of information.


    I reached such a conclusion because he also knew about Igor.


    As I was deep in my thoughts, she spoke, "That medicine makes your body stable, right?"


    "How did you know?" I furrowed.


    "Trick told me, and he also mentioned that if you take all of that, your lifespan will only last a few months.


    "Why do you risk your life for this goal that I don''t even know," She said, disappointed and worried simultaneously.


    I''m wondering if I should tell her what my motives were, but after a second thought, it was pointless to tell her. I knew what my sister was like, she''d help me. However, this is my battle, not hers.


    "I can''t get you involved, but don''t worry, I''ll be fine." I said slowly in a reassuring manner.


    "When''s the last time you said to not worry but it happens anyway? None! You always get hurt!" Her tone became slightly high.


    "Okay, I''m sorry. I''ll try my best to not get hurt, would that calm you?" Seeing her mad I immediately back down and apologize.


    If this kept going, it wouldn''t end.


    Perhaps she sensed my genuine words that her expression softened, her furrows slowly disappearing.


    Knowing she was no longer mad, I immediately said without giving her a chance to talk, "About this person, Trick. Why did he tell you all of that thing? Did you ask him?"


    Trick knew, or rather, had information about me, but surely he didn''t just tell anyone for free or without a reason. What was his purpose in revealing my condition to Mira?


    "Yeah, I did." She replied briefly.


    "He didn''t ask you anything in return?"


    "We''re online friends. He just said he knew a lot of things." She ignored my question.


    "You aren''t worried about how he got that information?" I asked worriedly


    "Of course I am! Do you think I''m not creeped out when Trick knows a lot about you?" She responded.


    "Yet, you are still friends with him." I said suspiciously.


    "He''s not a bad person, and he didn''t ask anything in return for helping a friend."


    I looked at her silently. She mistook my silence and perhaps assumed I looked at her in suspicion.


    She immediately added, "It''s true! If you don''t believe me, here''s our chat history!"


    She showed her phone. I read its content. Just like she said, there wasn''t anything suspicious, just between online buddies talking about different topics.


    I shifted my eyes away. She took that as a sign that I finished reading, and she put her phone back into her pocket.


    "You don''t have to worry about Trick. He''s a good guy."


    "How would you know that? You two have never met."


    "We did meet a few times. He treated me to some food."


    Knowing my sister, I chose to believe her. Not like I have many options anyway. I''ll find more about him in the future. For now, I''ll put him on my to-do list.


    "Syn." Mira suddenly called out my name. I averted my eyes to meet hers. When I was about to open my mouth, she pondered, "Are you not going to quit?"


    Quit? Ah, I see, it''s about my goal. Of course not.


    It seemed we''re back to that topic, huh? I guess I need to give her a satisfying answer, even if it makes her hate me more.


    "Yeah." I nodded slightly.


    "Why?"


    "It''s for you and mom. I don''t want to get both of you in danger. It might not be now, but it might happen in the future. Before that, I need to reach my goal.


    "You have to understand, Mira. I''m doing this for my family. I love you guys."


    "I love you too, Syn, but it hurts me when you don''t rely on your family. Why do you have to fight alone?"


    "I already said it, I don''t want to drag you to danger."


    "So we are just a burden to you?" She exclaimed.


    "What? No! Of course not!" I replied quickly before she misunderstood my words.


    "Then rely on us! Is that so much to ask?"


    "Yes, it''s too much! You guys are the only ones I have! My friends are all dead! Everyone I know is dead! I can''t afford to lose you guys too!


    "Cuz... I might break..." My voice was weak and fragile when I said the last few lines.


    As I said those words, memories of my friends dying before me flashed through my eyes. It opened a wound I tried to close with force.


    "So, please understand, Mira. If you truly want to help me, please understand my wishes, and don''t do anything."


    "Will that be enough?" She pondered with doubt. Her eyes looked at me worriedly.


    "Yeah, that will be enough." I affirmed her doubt sternly.


    "... Okay." She said solemnly with a determined nod. I''m glad she accepted my words.


    "Thank you." I smiled.


    Also, I noticed some weight has been lifted from my body. I felt good for some reason.


    "Mira! Help me out doing the chores!" Mom shouted from the first floor. Her voice was muffled when we heard her, but we still understood.


    "Yes, coming!" Mira replied and waved her hands at me. She then closed the door.


    The room became awfully quiet. I went to my bed and lay down, staring at the ceiling, remembering what just happened.


    I''m not alone, I thought to myself before convincing that idea to my mind and body. When I did, a heavy sensation weighing on my chest vanished. I feel extremely light and calm. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As I was savoring this moment, I ''saw'' a red flame. It meant the rat successfully tracked one person.


    He was two hundred meters away from my house.


    I thought of my next move and decided to stay still until the rat found everyone, maybe. I''m not exactly sure how many there are, I instinctively assume there were more than one.


    I opened my phone and chatted with Eve.


    [How''s the situation over there?]


    [Not good, someone beat over us. The diary is gone, and someone just set the house on fire. We''re on our way out. Kuh! Kuh!]


    I heard her coughing a few times.I got up from my bed worriedly. But then, I calmed down when I realized it was Eve. She''ll be fine.


    [I see, do you have any clues who it might be?]


    [An assassin, probably. I didn''t notice their presence until I sensed its malicious intent.]


    [I see. Right, do you still have those three beads I gave you?]


    [I do have them, but I won''t need it for the time being. This is just fire. I''ve dealt with worse.] She said confidently and calmly.

 Chapter 39: To join

    Chapter 39 - To joinAs soon as I heard that, I remembered the situation she caught up in and miraculously survived. To mention a few, she survived falling off a cliff or survived after being stabbed on the chest, which the blade somehow missed by a centimeter to her heart!


    It was as though this girl is a heroine and has extremely thick plot armor. That said, her body is that of an ordinary human. Fire would still kill her if she isn''t quick, but I doubt she''s going to die.


    Her power made the impossible possible.


    [Do you think it''s Will, or perhaps Hansel that burns the house?]


    Both have something to do with Igor''s death, and perhaps there''s something about Igor they didn''t want us to know.


    [Possibly, I''ll talk to you later.]


    She ended the call right there and then. I pinched my chin and frowned a bit, wondering my next move. Helping Eve seemed unnecessary, she''ll be okay.


    If that''s the case, I should focus on those two, Hansel and Will. I''m not sure about Will, but I can find Hansel on my own.


    Before I went out for her though, I gotta settle those people, so I waited for a few more minutes by doing nothing.


    Then, my vision went blank and I ''saw'' a new flame.


    That''s two, I thought to myself and waited for the rat to move. However, it didn''t move and stayed still on the spot.


    This led me wondering if the rat was caught or there was no Honor nearby. It was designed to follow unfamiliar Honors, after all, and when every Honor was detected, it completed its mission and had nothing to do.


    I need to confirm its status without getting caught, but how should I do that? I thought to myself and looked at the ceiling, contemplating a plan. It didn''t take long for me to cook one.


    With a plan on mind, I immediately make a move. I took a drag and changed the smoke into small beads. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I walked out of the house. As soon as I left, I felt a pair of eyes on me. It felt a bit uncomfortable, honestly.


    I hide it perfectly as I kept my pace normal and my face flat as though I''m just strolling down the street, pretending oblivious to their position.


    At the same time, I kept checking their position, which was inside an abandoned tree house. They didn''t relocate at all.


    When I was around two hundred meters away from them. I turned my head to them and smiled. In an instant, I released my focus and became a translucent mist. I vanished from the spot.


    I covered our distance in an instant, and returned to my human form when I was behind the target. When I found him, he was sitting.


    I changed one of the beads I prepared earlier to a gun and pulled the hammer. It made a clicking sound.


    The target was male in a battle suit with a grim reaper emblem on its sleeve. As he heard the clicking sound, he raised his hands and slowly got up.


    "Who ordered you to observe Yurim?" I asked slowly


    "I don''t know. I was hired through a middle man."


    "Aren''t you from Synth?" I was referring to the emblem. It is called Grim''s Kitchen. A squad that worked in the shadows to remove traitors, or anyone that opposed Synth blatantly.


    Why would he say he''s hired through a middle man like some kind of freelance assassin, while actually the emblem speaks otherwise?


    "I don''t know. That guy just said to put this on."


    He''s not from Synth? What''s going on? I frowned slightly, a bit bewildered by the current situation.


    "Is it the same for your friend?"


    "Friend? What are you talking about? I''m alone!"


    My body tingled as I sensed danger. However, just before I could phased out as a mist. My mind blanked for a few seconds and when I came to my senses, the man slowly turns into a strange dark liquid, dripping to the ground and slowly melting.


    I looked below, and see dark, sticky liquid had sunk my feet. I couldn''t move and I couldn''t use my power too.


    The liquid slowly rise to my ankle, and the more it covered my body, the clearer the sense of death was.


    My mind went on to full gear. I tried to use one of the small beads and change its shape to a clone, but failed nevertheless.


    I couldn''t change its shape, but I can still move it around. It was like playing with a clay doll. I can still move it, but when I tried to change the clay to the shape I wanted, the clay mysteriously became stiff and hard.


    I looked for another way and realized the gun was still in its form, and there were five bullets. I shifted my attention to the smoke that floated idly near me. I averted my eyes to my hand.


    Although I lost most of my powers, my heightened physical strength still remained. My mind wandered for a bit, thinking of a plan based on those things.


    As though struck by something, I got a flash of inspiration and smiled.


    .


    .


    .


    Third POV


    "He''s too easy, he''s too easy! Here I thought he''s going to be a worthy opponent, but he fell straight into my trap!" A man, standing on a light pole, shouted enthusiastically. His shout attracted the passerby, looking at him curiously.


    [Teru, what''s the situation?] A female voice asked through his watch.


    "I caught him, I caught him!"


    [Who are you talking about? No, what''s going on?] The woman asked, puzzled. She seemed to be his partner.


    "Sunny, Sunny! The man they said to be deadly! The King Phantom who killed his enemies quietly and swiftly like phantom!Haha, hahaha!" His mouth wide open as he laughed to the sky. His eyes were wide, full of excitement.


    [What?! You killed him! Teru, explain to me what''s going on! Aren''t you just observing Yurim? Why did you kill Sunny?] She asked loudly.


    However, he only laughed loudly, as if submerging his partner questions. But then, he stopped laughing, seemingly realizing something.


    He turned his head to the side and saw Sunny, legless with blood dripping to the ground, looking at him with a devious smile.


    Behind him were translucent wings of mist, flapping up and down to make Sunny float.


    His smile slowly disappearing. A sense of danger appeared. His body and mind told him to run, yet he endured, no, ignored them.


    "Is this for real?" The man asked himself, extremely bewildered.

 Chapter 40: Almost Die

    Chapter 40 - Almost DieSunny POV


    A few minutes ago, at the wood house. The dark liquid has covered most of my lower part.


    I ignored it for a moment and tried to change the shape of the pistol to a sword.


    It took some time to change the shape. It was like bending a metallic bar and turning it into a circle with your bare hands.


    After some time, I managed to change the shape. Next, I ordered the smoke to stay near me.


    With all preparation done, I looked at my legs and took a deep breath, preparing my mind. I aimed the sword at a certain spot of my right leg and began to cut it. It slowly slid into my skin. I grit my teeth as I endured the excruciating pain.


    Blood trickled down slowly before gushing out violently as the blade cut deeper to the flesh, hitting the bone.


    As the sword hit the bone, I had a bit of trouble cutting it. The sword seemed too weak to cut a bone. Hence, without wasting time, I bite the sword with my teeth so I can use my other hand.


    I grabbed my right leg with both of my hands and snapped the bone to two pieces. Blood spewed out everywhere. I groaned in pain and almost lost my consciousness.


    I held the sword back and proceeded to cut it through the end.


    As soon as I cut it, I felt half of my powers had returned. However, I still couldn''t change my position with a clone. I thought of another way, aside from cutting my own leg, but it was fruitless. It appeared I had to cut it.


    Then, I paused. Do I need to cut it? Can''t I just? I thought to myself as I gained an idea.


    With half of my power returned, I can manipulate smoke, but there is a limit on how powerful it is or what kind of shape it took.


    Anything bigger than my head, or powerful than a shotgun was the limit, and I want to do exactly just that.


    I changed the blade to a shotgun and pressed the barrel on my leg. I pressed the trigger and its pellets burst out together, creating a powerful impact that caused my leg to pop, causing me to be legless.


    As soon as I lost my two legs, I lost balance and fell. Adding the impact from the shotgun, I was knocked back a few meters.


    I immediately ordered the smoke near me to attach themselves on my back and quickly changed its shape into two wings. There was a few seconds of transformation process.


    Just when I was about to hit the wall, which was covered in the same dark liquid that turned me powerless, the two wings formed just in time. I spread them and that caused my body to stop.


    I heaved a sigh of relief and turned my head to my legs. They were covered in thick, black liquid with maroon liquid flowing down. Creating an eerie and sinister masterpiece.


    Afterward, I aimed my hand at it and the smoke near me flew there. It attached to my leg and gathered into a puff of cloud that slowly transformed into me.


    With this, the one who trapped me would think I''m still trapped while I''m looking for his whereabouts.


    I checked the second flame and it was still there. I wondered to myself if they''re the one that trapped me.


    I thought for a moment and decided to check it. I turned myself into a mist and traveled the distance between us in an instant.


    There, I saw a man on top of a light pole, laughing maniacally while shouting about trapping me.


    I flew in his way in my mist form before releasing it, revealing myself. A human with no legs to stand but has wings to fly.


    Blood was dripping slowly from my leg, creating tiny splashes on the ground.


    He stopped laughing when I showed myself. He noticed my presence and turned his head to me.


    "Is this for real?" He asked, probably confused and bewildered.


    "Yeah, for real, for real." I responded with an unnatural, wicked smile.


    "But I''m sure I''ve got you!"


    "You should''ve killed me when you got the chance. Are you underestimating me?" I asked with a deep voice.


    He looked at me for a few seconds before turning around and ran away by leaping on the light pole, roof and trees.


    I felt my blood becoming hot when he ran away. He really thinks he''s gonna get away scot free after trying to take my life? Think again!


    I chased him with my wings. He wasn''t slow or extremely fast, so I caught up easily.


    "Where do you think you''re going?" I asked with a hint of fury. After that, I took a drag and used the smoke to release a barrage of attacks.


    I turned the smoke into long, sharp spikes and they came at him at a crazy speed. However, the man reacted by cutting himself.


    Black blood flowed out and it immediately floated to the air and hardened itself, blocking my attacks.


    That black liquid is his blood? I thought to myself and was a bit surprised by the discovery.


    "Get away from me! I''m sorry, okay! I''ll leave Yurim and you alone!" He begged as he ran, no, leap for his life.


    "You tried to kill me! I''m not kind enough to let that slide!" I shouted and tried using a different attack. I changed the smoke to innumerable swords and launched them at him from different directions.


    "A lot of people are trying to kill you too! I''m not the first!!" He responded, seemingly wanting to say something.


    At the same time, my swords came at him from different directions.


    He didn''t stop running and instead, defended himself with the black blood that floated near him. He blocked each of my swords with it. He has precise precision and an incredible agility to keep up with the onslaught of swords.


    The black blood hardened when it blocked my attack, then turned to liquid to move to another spot and became solid. This repeated in fluid motion as the onslaught continued.


    Clanging sounds echoed through the neighborhood. Sparks flew everywhere.


    "Yeah, and they''re all six feet underground! Stop running already and I''ll give you a painless death!"


    "That''s still death!" He yelled and stabbed his heart without a warning. This puzzled me and caused me to heightened my senses.


    He pulled out the blade and black liquid spurt out violently like fountain water.


    However, it didn''t fall to the ground, but rather, it floated steadily in the air. Then, it covered his skin and slowly spread to his body


    When his body is completely covered in his own blood, it became hard solid.


    sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 41: Hansel, Witch of Light

    Chapter 41 - Hansel, Witch of Light"Covering your body with your own blood. Talk about a freak show!"


    As soon as I said those words, I halted my attack and changed the swords into thin threads. Following that, I took a puff and created Puffy.


    Quickly afterward, I spread the thread around him, planning to stop him. However, he charged through the threads. My arms jolted forward as the thread was being pushed.


    I almost lost my cool as I realized he wasn''t harmed in any way. I thought of another method as I kept holding on, when my mind abruptly stopped. I felt an ominous danger.


    I shifted my attention to him and saw the black liquid attach itself to my threads. It slowly spread towards me.


    My body instinctively cuts those threads, and when I come back to my senses, he has already escaped. I clicked my tongue in annoyance.


    "Puffy!"


    Swoosh!


    Puffy passed my shoulders and chased him at an incredible speed. In an instant, it caught up and released a barrage of slashes.


    He dodged a few but got hit. However, the cut wasn''t that deep and only managed to reveal his skin, before closing instantaneously.


    Seeing this, I ordered Puffy to back down as It wouldn''t be able to injure him.


    Not only that, he might find a way to control Puffy, and most important of all, his actions bewildered me. Why didn''t he fight me ? His power was clearly more advantageous than mine. One could even say his power counter mine, yet he''s retreating and defending, making me think I got an advantage.


    If I''m an idiot, I might think I could win because he kept retreating and ended up chasing him to his trap. Fortunately, I realized it ahead of time.


    Perhaps he realized that I''ve stopped attacking and used the chance to increase his pace. He slowly get further and further before disappearing over the horizon


    I watched him fading away. It was too bad I couldn''t extract information from him or fail to achieve my objective, but at least I''m still alive and didn''t become his puppet.


    Now then, with him not my concern for the moment, I need to focus on my legs. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I looked below on the missing body parts and let out a mouthful of exhausted sigh. I averted my eyes to Puffy and observed him from top to bottom. This phantom also has no legs. I felt not alone all of a sudden and patted its back a few times before dismissing him. It turned into a cloud of smoke before dispersing slowly.


    As for me, I went to a clinic that could heal missing limbs. Such a clinic exists but is hard to find and also costly. Thankfully, I knew someone.


    I went to the clinic and let them regrow my limbs. It was such a surreal experience seeing your limbs regenerate. Well, it wasn''t my first time seeing my missing limbs being regenerated at a visible rate, but I couldn''t help but be mesmerized.


    After that, I paid the required sum. The owner was kind enough to give me a discount and I left the place with gratitude.


    Now then, I should go and meet Hansel. She was from an infamous group. It consisted of outlaws, war criminals and twisted people.


    They hide quite perfectly and each time Synth tried to remove them, they managed to get away and right now, their existence is unknown, even to Synth and me.


    Well, it doesn''t matter anyway as I want to meet one of its members, not their base.


    I created a hoverboard after taking a puff and flew to Aegis. It took me some time to reach there. Once I arrived, I went to a public library.


    The library was small and worn out. The building appeared unassuming, lost between the buildings sandwich-ing it. A faded wooden sign, barely readable. The windows were small, and layered in thick dust, giving a tiny and blur glimpse of the interior.


    The dense wild plants around it were tall and its root invaded the cement pavement, leading to cracks.


    I opened the door. When my hand pushed it open, I felt no dust. It appeared it was only the outer area that was neglected.


    As soon as I got in, I was welcomed by a warm atmosphere.


    The interior has retro style with hanging lights that produce warm light.


    A scent of pine entered my nose. Perhaps they just mopped the floor.


    The small library has four rows of shelves and a small reading area. Next to that was a drink counter with a bartender behind it, ready to serve your drinks.


    Yes, this library has a mini pub, and I saw four people sitting while reading a book. I took a seat in the reading area and observed those in the pub. They''re of different backgrounds, their minds seemed to focus on the world of the book, unaware of each other''s existence. Once in a while, I hear a flip of a page in the quiet library. It created a certain atmosphere I couldn''t put into words. If there is one, it would be comforting.


    Well, put that aside for a moment and focused on my objective, I observed the people on the pub before turning my eyes on one girl.


    The girl has silver hair in a wolf cut and blue oceanic eyes. She has long legs and slim stature. She cast out elegance in the way she''s sitting.


    Each time she flipped her page, it would drawn anyone. Except the other three around her, not sure why.


    Her beauty could make her a top model rather easily, and coupling that with her tall, slim stature, she''d rose in popularity within seconds.


    Maybe she noticed my gaze that she glanced at me from the corner of her eyes. I didn''t look away and kept staring at her, couldn''t care less if she thinks I''m a creep.


    I''m not sure what''s inside her mind, but she returned her eyes to the book as though she didn''t see anything. That kind of hurts, honestly.

 Chapter 42: What’s Real?

    Chapter 42 - What''s Real?I try to not think much about that and kept observing her from the distance. This lasted for a few minutes when someone finished their book and left after paying for his drink.


    I got up and sat on the vacant chair. It was thankfully just right next to her.


    "Something light, please." I ordered.


    "Dear customer, we have a rule that you must be reading a book if you want to make an order," The bartender explained politely.


    I heeded and got myself a random book before returning to my seat.


    "Something light, please."


    "Okay." He nodded and get to work. He mixed drinks, shook it for a few times rather rhythmically, stirred it and shook it again precisely for four times before pouring it on the glass and serving it to me. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I took a whiff and it smelled sweet and sour simultaneously, with a bit of a sharp scent of alcohol. I took a sip and it tasted amazing. I was quite surprised that my eyes widened slightly and I let out a low groan of surprise.


    Perhaps she heard me and asked, "Are you new here?"


    "Yes, and this drink tastes amazing. What''s it called?" I turned my gaze to the bartender.


    "Creepy Jewels," he replied briefly.


    I grunted in acknowledgement.


    "The bartender is amazing. Anything he creates would make those that drink it want it more. Too bad he only makes one drink for each person," Hansel said.


    "Why?" I instinctively pondered, but he didn''t say anything in response.


    "No one knows why, some said because he doesn''t want his stock to run out quickly, or it''s because it is his marketing strategy."


    As we were in Aegis, getting goods were quite hard and expensive. There were pillagers and bandits around Aegis, ready to loot whatever coming inside the district.


    Some businesses hired Honors so their goods can be delivered safely, and that''s where the expensive coming from.


    I grunted as I understood and asked, "How long have you been visiting this library, miss¨C"


    "Hansel, and you can drop the act, Synnefo, no, you go by Sunny nowadays." She said calmly, but there was a hint of annoyance.


    "The name Sunny just came all of a sudden. You can call me by Synnefo, if you want."


    "No, I''ll just call you by your nickname. Your real name is hard to remember. How do you pronounce it anyway? Sin-ne-fo, or sain-ne-fo?"


    "The former is correct." I give her a slight nod.


    "I see, so, what do you want from me? If you want to capture me, you should think twice. You''re just a grade A Honor and wouldn''t be able to hurt me."


    "I''m not here for that, I want to confirm something."


    "We have nothing to do with that attack at Gram''s night market, or we''re interested in that device."


    I looked at her for a few seconds straight and asked, puzzled, "You knew?"


    "Nothing can escape us, or capture us." She took a sip of her drink.


    "So Ginto''s house isn''t your doing?"


    "Ginto? Ah, the mercenary. No, his house and death of his family isn''t our doing. Hey, don''t you think you thought of us a bit too much evil? We wouldn''t just kill anyone." she said, clarifying something.


    I thought for a moment about their organization. Although it consists of out laws and suspicious people¨C when they start a mission, they never kill innocent lives, only people involved.


    However, their method is quite barbaric and inhumane to those that are involved.


    "You''re right, sorry." I paused and added, "Do you know Igor?"


    Maybe just my imagination, but I saw her stopping for a moment when she was about to flip the page, and continue flipping the page as though nothing just happened.


    "He''s an old friend of mine. If you want to know more about him through me, give up." She suggested.


    "I''ll pay."


    "It''s not about money." She closed her book and turned her eyes to me, "It''s about loyalty. I owe the old man a lot of things, and having someone digging up his past is the last thing I wanna do. If there''s nothing else, leave." Her words were stern.


    "I understand that you respect Igor, and don''t want a stranger to know his past, but it''s not me that wants to know, but his son."


    "His son? What are you talking about? His son died a few years ago." She looked at me with a weird look


    I almost doubted my ears when I heard it and I was loss for words.


    I paused for a moment when I get my composure back. "Surely you''ve mistaken, his son is still alive and well."


    "I don''t know what leads you to think that, but his son is dead. I see his corpse and attend his funeral."


    I frowned deeply, thought for a moment as I look for the right question before finding one, "Why did Igor commit suicide?"


    "I just told you, I won''t answer."


    Silence descended as I didn''t know what to say. No, there were many things I want to say but they''re just so many and ended up stuck in my throat. Not only that, Calvin''s life might also be in extreme danger if I reveal everything I know.


    However, at the same time, I need to learn more about Igor from Hansel or else, it''d be hard to finish the task.


    "His son is still alive," I revealed solemnly.


    "You..." She turned her head to me in annoyance, wanting to lash out, thinking I didn''t listen to her, but when she saw my solemn expression, she paused and continued, "tell me everything and I''ll determine whether or not I should believe you."


    I gave her a slight nod and told her everything. I don''t know if I''m doing the right thing or not, but whatever the consequences are, I''m prepared to fight.


    ''That damn old man...'' she said under her breath. I wouldn''t hear her words if I''m not an Honor.


    "Hansel, can you tell me what''s going on?" I asked slowly.


    "Since Yurim lead you here, it means she trusts you, so I guess it''ll be alright."


    I wanted to say I wasn''t here because of Yurim, but because I planted a marble sized smoke on her body and that''s why I was able to find Hansel.


    I met her a few months ago by accident and planted the smoke to find where her base is hiding. Unfortunately, I couldn''t ''see'' her position each time she returned to her base.


    Ever since then, the smoke has been with her, which was surprising because I thought she''d discover it in a few months or so, but those months has passed and she has yet to find it. I have a few theories why she failed to find it, but that wasn''t important right now.

 Chapter 43: Back

    Chapter 43 - BackShe told me what happened and here''s what I learned.


    The expander team found a large vault when they''re expanding the ancient city. The vault was created by some country in the past. Who created it isn''t important, what''s important is that the vault is in the way of Synth''s plan to expand the city.


    Synth sent some people to make contact with them and offer them to abandon the vault and live in the city, but they refused. Synth tried a few times to end things peacefully, but the vault sternly refused.


    Having no choice, Synth resorts to violence by sending a few Honors to destroy the vault. However, they didn''t expect the vault to also have Honors and also a mysterious technology that absorbs half of Honor''s power and weakens them.


    Synth asked Igor and his friends to participate. They agreed.


    Igor, a genius architect, is able to predict the vault''s layout just by seeing it from the outside. Igor managed to find a way in.


    This helped Honors to infiltrate the vault and kill everyone inside. Men, women, elders, children, pets. No one remain.


    However, there were a few formidable Honors from the vault that are still on their toes. They were powerful and their tricky powers made them terrifying foes.


    At the time, Synth just discovered a mech that can dodge attacks and can neutralize an Honor''s power, but it has its own will and is impossible to control.


    Luckily for them, they can control it by using a contract.


    This was the same as what Yurim told me, I thought to myself and added, except she doesn''t tell me the whole truth.


    However, Hansel didn''t go into full detail about the contract, only mentioning it briefly.


    The mech fought valiantly and eliminated its enemies. With no enemies remain and it has fulfilled its part of the contract, it was Synth''s turn to fulfill their part.


    However, Synth discovered a loophole in the contract and terminated the mech with great difficulty.


    After that, Synth destroyed the vault, looted its technology, resources, and knowledge about the shadows. One could say Synth earned a lot from this battle.


    I listened carefully when I noticed something was missing, so I asked, "I didn''t hear about Calvin''s death."


    "It was the mech that killed him. When it was in its last moments, it suddenly created a dome and trapped whoever was inside. We don''t know how it happened, but when we realized, Calvin was inside. We tried to save him, but it was too late. The mech exploded itself." She took a sip, perhaps to calm herself after telling the past.


    The air became heavy and solemn. I could feel melancholy and regret from her words.


    "Why is Calvin there in the first place?" I frowned slightly.


    "There are some groups that knew about the event and opposed it. They''d do anything to stop it, even as far as killing an innocent, so leaving Calvin alone would be dangerous.


    "We don''t know how Calvin ends up there, but we believe it has something to do with Igor. They got into an argument before it happened. It is just my guess, but perhaps Calvin wanted to prove something to Igor, but got trapped with the mecha.


    "What Calvin wanted to prove, I lack knowledge. Perhaps Will or Chosen knew." She explained calmly.


    Will and Chosen were the Honors involved in the massacre.


    Will can make a clone and create almost perfect memories from a dead person. Chosen can create any technology from his surroundings. This is the only thing I knew about them, just a glimpse of their power.


    Even though my info about them is short, I knew they mustn''t be underestimated.


    "Will and Chosen, huh?" I repeated those names, feeling a bit troubled.


    "What''s wrong?" She turned her head to me, "Are the two of you not getting along?"


    "Something like that." I nodded slightly and got up, "Thanks for telling me all of that." I fished out a coin with 500 carved on it and gave it to the bartender. He accepted it, pulled out a shelf and put the coin in.


    "Going already?"


    "Yeah, I don''t have a lot of time, you see. Why ask?"


    "Nothing peculiar, it''s just, someone has been watching us from outside," she said calmly.


    I immediately heightened my senses, and just like she said, I picked up someone not far from us.


    Perhaps he noticed that I''d discovered him, he vanished from the spot.


    "He ran away. Who do you think he is?" I shifted my eyes to her.


    "Now that you know about that massacre, perhaps someone from the Grim''s Kitchen is sent to erase you."


    "Isn''t this great? I''ve always wanted to be on the run and chased by assassins." I said sarcastically.


    "Have fun." She smiled.


    "I''m not serious saying that. By the way, do you know someone from the Grim''s Kitchen that manipulates blood?"


    "Manipulate blood," She pinched her chin, "You''re speaking of Teru. His powers aren''t powerful, but terrifying. He can manipulate his blood easily just like your smoke and its properties can change. That alone isn''t what makes him a terrifying foe, but its capability to control anything his blood covers." she explained slowly.


    "Is there a way to defeat him?"


    "Kill him before he could use his powers or neutralize his powers."


    Just before I could open my mouth to say anything, she quickly asked, "How is Calvin?"


    I was stunned for a few moments before answering, "He''s fine."


    "That''s glad to hear. I can''t help much with Igor''s son, but come to me if you need anything." She raised her palm and created an orb of light. It slowly floats towards me. I accepted it as I grabbed it.


    After which, a blue gem covered the orb, and two long chains extended from it. I stare at it for a few seconds before wearing it around my neck.


    "You can call me three times." She rose three fingers with others closed, "I''ll meet you here." She then pointed to the floor with her index.


    "Thank you." I nodded.


    "It''s the least I can do to someone that helps Igor''s son. I wanted to help the kid, but if he got involved with me, he''d be in more danger." She shook her head and explained, her tone mixed with gratitude and pain.


    "But Hansel, I¨C" I wanted to say something before stopping mid way. I shook my head.


    "What is it?"


    "No, it''s nothing."


    She looked at me for a long time, "I don''t know your reason for helping the kid, but as long as he''s fine and well, I''m not going to kill you, but if something happened to him, now that I''ll be your death." Her tone became deep and ice cold.


    "Rest easy. I won''t let anyone harm the kid."


    "I don''t trust your promises. They''re always broken."


    I smiled bitterly and said solemnly, "This time, I''ll not break it."


    She observed me silently before smiling, "I expect great news from you then."


    I gave her a slight nod and all of a sudden, I remembered, "Speaking of which, did you meet with Igor after he lost his son?"


    "Yeah, I was trying to support him. As I''m a rather famous Honor back then, I can''t meet him casually or rumors would spread between us.


    "I don''t mind rumors, but Igor is an important man. A scandal can ruin his career, but I guess I should be bold anyway if he''s going to die." There were some regrets in her tone.


    "Do you know how and why Igor brought Calvin back to life?"


    "Will''s and Chosen''s power is already an answer." She replied briefly, "At the time, I already knew they were planning to do that, but they successfully made me think they didn''t do it. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How foolish of me, easily swayed by sweet words and a few proofs." Her eyes on the table, flickering with regrets and tinge of fury. She fell silent for a few moments.


    "Sorry." I couldn''t help but to say that. I caused her to remember a painful past, after all.

 Chapter 44: Suspiciously wholesome

    Chapter 44 - Suspiciously wholesome"Yes, you''re right. I should get going now." I walked out of the door, but before that, I took one look at her before leaving. Her mouth was moving but no sound came out, but I could make out what she''s saying.


    ''It''s not the head.''


    I didn''t think much about it, but that doesn''t mean I''ll forget about it. I simply put that at the back of my mind.


    When I was outside, I stared at the ceiling of earth for a few seconds, processing the information I collected. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The truth about Calvin, the story of the massacre, an Honor with contract binding power, Grim''s Kitchen on my ass now and two new enemies.


    Aside from that, there''s the mastermind behind the night market incident, hiding within Synth, who is going use that device for something I didn''t know.


    When I thought of the possibility of what he might do with it, I couldn''t help but get a sense of urgency to get it.


    But I know I had to be calm. No need to rush. I simply have to do it one by one.


    After I eased my mind a bit by taking a drag, I pondered about my next move, to meet Will or Chosen.


    Chosen is out of the equation as he''s currently at war with the shadows, so my go to would be Will.


    The last time I heard about him is when he got into the news when he resurrected a bunch of the undead to attend a birthday party of an orphan. Perhaps I can meet Will through that orphan.


    I recalled the news and tried my best to remember what kind of orphanage the kid is from, before the memory surfaced.


    Having the location in mind, I created a hoverboard and flew straight to Gram, or at least that''s what I''m trying to do when I feel something pressing against my back. It felt cold, hence I assume it was a gun.


    At this time, I was on the hoverboard, ready to fly.


    Although I was annoyed that it didn''t go to my plan, I asked calmly, "What do you want?"


    "If you want your dear Eve, come with me," He got closer to my ears, pressing the trigger. A loud bang echoed and the bullet went through my body, making a hole. Blood flowed down slowly. I groaned in agony and the pain almost made my mind go blank.


    "What the hell... was that for?" I gritted my teeth when my words stopped midway because of the pain I failed to endure.


    I find it strange how a bullet was extremely painful and agonizing when I can handle pain well.


    Perhaps the person enhanced the bullet or lowered my pain resistance.


    "It''s my way of saying hello."


    "Then..." I put my palm on his shoulder. A spike of smoke shot out from my palm and pierced his shoulders. Blood flew everywhere. He yelped in pain and took a few steps back.


    Covered by his warm blood, I turned around with a smirk, "...This is also my way of hello."


    "Bastard..." He looked at me warily, especially at the spike on my palm that seemingly came out of the thin air.


    The spike shortened its size and became a marble made of cloud. From his eyes of realization, I already knew what''s inside his mind.


    The man is covered from top to bottom in black clothes. He had two pistol handles on his back with only one still on it.


    "Who sent you?" I asked, taking a drag.


    "Will. He wanted to meet you. He captured your friends so don''t think anything funny, or they get it."


    I fell silent, before laughing. He looked at me, dumbfounded.


    "Why are you laughing! Do you think this is just a joke?!" He pointed his gun at me.


    My laugh slowly settled down, "Man, that''s a good laugh I have for years. What''s your name?" I swipe the tears trickling down my eyes.


    "Does it matter?"


    "Yeah, it doesn''t matter." I nodded slightly. "Do you know who you just captured?"


    "Eve and a bunch of weaklings."


    "I''m surprised you''re still alive," I said sarcastically.


    "Are you making fun of me?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? My, the goddess of luck truly has her favorites."


    "Enough with the nonsense! Come with me or die!" He didn''t even give me time to answer as he pulled the trigger.


    Light flashed as the bullet flew, piercing through the air. I moved my body to the left, dodging it. My hair fluttered from the wind the bullet carried.


    "You''re quite unprofessional at making a deal."


    "Shut it!" He pulled out the second gun and pressed the trigger. In my eyes, the bullet seemed to slow down and I moved my body slightly, dodging it by a hair''s breadth.


    But that wasn''t the end of it. He kept pressing the trigger, shooting around sixteen bullets in quick succession. I step to the left and right, where each step makes me closer to him.


    After he exhausted those bullets, he leapt back and reloaded his pistols within mere seconds.


    When he reloaded his guns, I took a quick drag and summoned Puffy.


    The moment he finished reloading his pistols was also the time Puffy was completely formed. We finished our preparation simultaneously.


    Puffy went forward. It flew like a translucent mist and covered our distance in an instant. It then drew its swords and raised them, wanting to slash him down.


    The man realized he''d die before he could pull the trigger, so he rolled to the side. Puffy''s sword clash the ground, causing smoke of dust to cover the area...


    .


    .


    .


    *Third POV *


    A man wearing circular glasses with hair slicked back, heavily covered in pomade. He wore a pink flowery apron. On his left hand, shaking a wok of rice. On his right hand, a spatula, mixing the rice with the ingredients.


    He then stops what he''s doing and adds some more ingredients. The wok made a sizzling sound as a delicious aroma wafted through the air.


    The man then continued to mix the rice as he also shook the wok.


    After some time, he turned the stove off and carried the wok with one hand to the dining table.


    Three people were waiting on the table. They looked at the food eagerly.


    The man scoop a spoonful of spatula to each plate before scooping the rest to an empty plate.


    The man went to the kitchen to put his utensils back before returning to the table. When he did, the wall abruptly burst open. Its debris went everywhere, except the table and anything on it. A translucent barrier bounced them off.


    Dust covered the entire room, before fading away, revealing a silhouette of a young carrying a man in his hand.


    The dust disappeared completely, revealing the silhouette. It was Sunny carrying the ninja man in his other hand.


    .


    .


    .


    I looked around the house and wondered if I''m at the right place or if I just transmigrated to an alternate timeline.


    Eve, Calvin and Yin Hee were sitting around a table with food before them. Not far from them stood Will. I immediately noticed that he''s wearing a pink apron.


    I frowned slightly, trying to understand what''s going on and I averted my eyes to the food. Steam rose. They were just cooked.


    "What is going on?" I asked, releasing the man from my clutch. He made a light thud as he landed.


    "Sunny! We''ve been waiting for you!" The tips of Will''s lips curves up, forming a warm smile.

 Chapter 45: Dark Mysteries

    Chapter 45 - Dark MysteriesThird POV.


    Somewhere in Gram, stood a burger stall with three customers sitting on the chair, waiting for their orders.


    Behind the stall, a man was humming his favorite song as he watched the patty on the grill, patiently waiting for it to be cooked. Above the grill laid five patties and bread.


    After some time, he flipped them in mere seconds before putting the bread to the side. He then put salad and onion, spray sauce before putting the patty and put tomato and cucumber before ending it with the top, round bread.


    He wrapped it in a few seconds before giving it to the customers. They paid the required sum and he received it with a smile.


    He continued until there were no customers, while humming and using his scrapper to flip the patties in fluid motion, seemingly dancing.


    "Thank you, come again." He gave a girl her order with a smile.


    "Yeah." She nodded slightly. Eyes uninterested, stuck on her telephone. She accepted her order and gave him the money before walking away, leaving a rather rude impression to those around her.


    "People nowadays..." the burger man said slowly. He returned to the grill and lowered the heat, and then he checked if the vegetables had run out or were short.


    Just then, a man in a business suit approaches his stall. He cleared his throat to catch the burger man''s attention.


    "How''s business going?" The man read the menu.


    "It''s usual." His voice is calm.


    "I still can''t believe you continue doing this, I thought you were just bored. Right, lamb burger please."


    The man opened an orange box and pulled out a bag of patties. Cold smoke emits from it.


    He then put one to the grill, before returning the bag to the box, and close it.


    "It''s fun." The man turned the stove slightly, increasing the heat. Following that, he put butter on the grill. It melted instantaneously, creating hissing sound. Smoke rose.


    The man chuckled, "That''s a surprise, especially coming from you."


    The man gave him a sidelong glance. "Is it weird?" His voice was low, almost amused.


    "Maybe... Not for you." The man responded. A nervous flicker crossing his eyes.


    "So, what is your purpose here, Wo?"


    Wo said in realization. "I''m here to tell you about something."


    "Speak." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sunny has found out about the massacre." His words were solemn and heavy.


    The burger man paused for a moment, before smiling. "It''s about time he found it."


    "What? Aren''t you worried?" Wo paused with a frown, realization struck him, perhaps slower than a lightning. "You''re alright with this?"


    The burger man flipped the patty, creating a sizzling sound.


    "Rather, I''ve been waiting for this."


    "He''s going to destroy you if you let him do as he likes, Zeppelin. Are you okay with that?" He said in concern.


    "Rather, I let him do as he likes." Zeppelin halted whatever he''s doing and turned to his left, where his last customer had just gone.


    A few moments later, a shriek of agony and pain reverberated in the area. It slowly faded away.


    Wo turned to the side with a frown, "Is that your doing?"


    "Can you clean up that filthy corpse?"


    "What did she do?"


    "She takes advantage of her workers, blackmails them, and forces them on unpaid overtime. Making them kill themselves." He explained.


    "Why do you care again?" Wo looked at him, his brows furrowed


    "It''s a request, and it''s nice to remove a few monsters in human skin." Zeppelin flipped the patty again. It had a golden, brown-ish color from previously raw.


    "With burgers?"


    "With burgers." He nodded, and flipped the bread, letting it stay on the other side for a few moments before moving it to a tray. He then put in the necessary vegetables.


    "I never understand how your powers work." Wo sighed.


    "Which is exactly what I want." Zeppelin finished setting up the burger. He wrapped it and gave it to Wo in a plastic bag.


    "Thanks."


    "You''re welcome." He paused slightly. "About Sunny, let him do as he pleases, don''t do anything to him and complete your mission."


    "Are you certain?"


    "Yes, you should worry more about yourself than worry about me. How''s your progress?"


    "It''s going smoothly. I managed to retrieve the device and gave it to the Priest."


    "You use such a round way method to get it. Is it worth it?"


    Wo used the Phoenix squad and also Scarecrow, making them fight.


    "Yes, as long as it can end this war."


    "My power surely can kill those creatures and make humans thrive on the surface once more, but have you wondered why humanity is forced to live underground? Sure, there are some of us that live on the surface, but a single misstep meant death." Zeppelin turned the stove off and took a few cucumbers. He peeled them, cut them into a few pieces and swiped them against a flat board with a grater, turning them thin and short.


    "Isn''t it because those creatures wanted to take over the planet?" Wo replied, but his voice carried a bit of uncertainty, as though those words were repeated over and over again, that he, himself, doubted it.


    "Certainly they''re here not to take the planet. Their sheer numbers that won''t decrease and immense strength are more than enough to eliminate humanity. That aside for now, have you noticed something?" Zeppelin finished grating the cucumbers and wipe his hands.


    Wo fell silent, contemplating for answers. Eventually, he shook his head.


    "They never, not once, set foot inside this city."


    "Perhaps because the Divine Tree protects us."


    "That thing only grants us powers, nothing else. You already know that shadows can live everywhere, underground, sea, mountains and even outer space. The question arises, with their great adaptability, why haven''t they attacked this place? The nearest nest from the city is only fifteen kilometers away, isn''t it bizarre?"


    "Zeppelin, what did you just discover?" He frowned a bit.


    "Something you shouldn''t know. Sometimes I envy you, Wo. You''re not cursed with knowledge."


    "Cut the crap, Zeppelin! Tell me what you know about them!"


    "Is it important now? We''re about to eliminate all of them once and for all. Right, I forgot to tell you, but it will not be me that''s going to do it."

 Chapter 46: He Knows...

    Chapter 46 - He Knows...I sat on the dining table, staring at the food suspiciously. I glanced at Eve.


    "Are you sure this is safe?" I raised one of my brows a bit.


    "Yes, if not, Calvin would have died." Eve pointed at Calvin who was stuffing food as though he hadn''t eaten anything for three days.


    "You''re right." I nodded slightly. "So, how does it come to this?"


    They were in a burning house but then, in the next moment, they were eating on the same table as Will.


    I shifted my eyes to Will. He was on the head of the table, eating casually. Nothing suspicious from his demeanor, which made me more alarmed.


    "He met us after we escaped from the burning house, and explained that he knew something we don''t know. He then offers us dinner and here we are." She scoop a spoonful of fried rice and put it into her mouth.


    "You don''t think that suspicious at all?" My voice flickered with puzzlement. Eve was the cautious type, so the fact she agreed to Will''s offer confused me.


    "What''s to be cautious about? Don''t you remember what my powers were?" She responded after gulping.


    I fell silent for a moment and agreed internally. Her powers would dismiss any kind of danger.


    "What did you discover in Igor''s house? Did you know who burned it down?"


    "First, we found out ''he'' is an ''''it." Eve pointed at Calvin. I frowned a bit and wanted to say something, but then I chose not to and let her continue.


    "Second, it''s him that burns the house." Eve pointed at Will.


    "Him? Why?" I slowly shift my head to Will.


    "Exactly the topic we''re about to discuss. Well, after dinner." She continued eating.


    I looked at her for a few more seconds and let out a sigh. I turned my line of sight to the plate before pushing it away.


    "Are you not going to eat it, Mr. Sunny?" Yin Hee asked, eager eyes on the plate. She sat opposite me.


    "You can have it." I pushed it towards her. She accepted it with bright curved lips.


    I moved my head to Will and opened my mouth, "We don''t have time to wait until dinner is finished, so pardon me. Why did you burn the house?"


    Will act as though he didn''t hear my words and continue eating. I waited for around fifteen seconds. I almost ran out of patience and was about to throw an empty plate at him.


    "I didn''t know it was Igor''s son that was inside the house. So I burn it down to make sure anything about Igor isn''t spread to the public, or land on the wrong hands." He took a sip of a glass of wine.


    "What is it about him that the public doesn''t want to know? He''s a smart man, so knowing how risky his job is, I doubt Igor is stupid enough to put important information inside his house."


    Igor has a lot of enemies and they would definitely want information about him to put him down and defeat him.


    In this day and age where Honors with unpredictable powers exist, sneaking into a house and stealing crucial information is easy, especially if the target is an ordinary man.


    "Would his enemies still bother him if he''s dead?" Will halt eating and look at me. His gaze as though looking down on me. I didn''t take his gaze to heart and thought that his words made sense.


    His enemies would ignore him if he''s dead, and his house would be safe to store important information. The only downside is that, once discovered, the only option is to erase everything.


    What''s a better way to remove all evidence but burn them to the ground.


    "Would you be willing to tell us what you know?"


    "I can''t." Will shook his head regretfully.


    "Why?" My furrows deepened a bit.


    "Because it''ll trouble me."


    "Trouble you?" My voice filled with confusion.


    "Yeah, do you know what my position is at Synth?" He asked as he ate.


    "No clue." I responded without hesitation.


    "Kids these days..." he paused a bit. "Synth is a rather complicated organization. It is a government, a military and also a company. As a massive organization, it needs talented and brilliant people to maintain and nurture it.


    "I am one of those people, and my position at Synth cannot be risked by a bunch of curious kids."


    "What do you want?"


    "Her." Will pointed his finger at Eve.


    Eve stopped eating and pointed to herself with her finger, surprised, "Me?"


    "Yes, you are the only Honor in the city with an unranked ability. Do you know what that means?"


    "I''m the chosen one?" Eve said slowly, not sure.


    "You''re more than that. Your power will bring humanity to greater heights!"


    "What?" Eve blurted out.


    "Haven''t you noticed? Your power makes death cower in fear!" His voice was loud as he said in excitement.


    "But that doesn''t make me immortal. If I''m careless, a bullet would kill me." She waved her hands to the left and right.


    Will pulled out a gun from his apron and shot Eve. It was quite fast and I didn''t have enough time to react. Before I knew it, he had already pulled the trigger.


    I looked at Eve. She was fine. I frowned.


    "What happened?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eve pointed at a ball with a hole, "A ball suddenly came through the window and hit the bullet, changing its trajectory and only grazing me."


    "A ball?" I shifted my eyes to the ball.


    "There''s an empty field near here." Will explained and put the gun on the table, continuing, "Do you see what I meant, Eve?"


    "I get your point, but what do you want me to do?"


    "Eve?"


    "Relax, I''m not going to accept his offer. I''m curious what his purpose is." She smiled cunningly.


    "Kill every last of the shadows."


    "My power isn''t lethal." She crossed her arms and observed Will attentively.


    "Yeah, but we have a device to make it happen. With your power, we can easily wipe out the shadows." He clenched his hands in agitation.


    "Let me guess, is it the Neuro something?" I blurted, not thinking much, but then.


    ''How did you know?'' He whispered, barely audible to ordinary people, but not to us.


    Eve and I stood up.

 Chapter 47: One Step

    Chapter 47 - One StepOur gaze became sharp and dangerous. I held the vape tightly, ready to blow it out. Eve assumed a fighting stance. The atmosphere instantaneously dropped. Intense killing intent choke the air.


    "Tell us everything you know, Will!" I yelled threateningly.


    "You don''t have to shout, I can hear you just fine." He remained indifferent, as though I''m playing around.


    I took a quick puff and formed it into Puffy. Quickly afterwards, it charged forward as fast as lightning and slash his neck. The next thing that happened baffled almost everyone.


    Without standing up and still rooted on his chair, he raised his hand and caught Puffy''s sword with a pinch.


    The contact caused the power within the sword to affect the surrounding. The food flew everywhere, plates were broken, the wall behind Will got cut, leaving a deep, straight line.


    He let out a disappointing sigh, "Is this how you treat someone that gives you food?"


    "No one asked for it." I commanded Puffy to pull the sword, but it was struggling to get it out of Will''s grasp, and it wouldn''t come out any time soon. Henceforth, I chose to dismiss the sword and ordered Puffy to retreat.


    "Kids these days don''t know how to be grateful." He shook his head regretfully.


    "Enough with the talk, now tell us what you know about the device, who sent Scarecrow, and what do you want with it?"


    "And if I don''t?" His eyes half closed, taunting us. His voice became increasingly calm, alerting us more.


    "We''ll do it ourselves. Yin Hee here can crack the truth you are sealing."


    Will shifted his line of sight to Yin Hee, this reveal a slight opening. Eve quickly grabbed a nearby shard of a broken plate and ran towards Will. She stabbed him, but Will moved to the left, avoiding the impalement at the last second.


    But still, it was Eve he was fighting with. Everything that could go wrong will go wrong.


    The chair he was sitting on broke and he fell to the ground.


    This was extremely sudden that Will didn''t expect it to happen. He was surprised that his mind went blank for a moment.


    Taking the advantage of that, Eve swirled around and kicked him as powerful as she could.


    His body crashed onto a wall, leaving a crater. I didn''t waste time and made a move. I formed innumerable swords after taking a puff and sent them towards him.


    This lasted for a few moments before I halted my attack. Dust filled the room.


    We waited for any kind of response from him as the room became quiet.


    The dust settled by the seconds yet there was no reaction. We were thinking that perhaps he was already dead or maybe unconscious, but from what I see, it was likely the opposite.


    Especially so when we''re talking about Will here. I doubt he would lose easily.


    So, with that in mind, we heightened our senses even more, and prepared more powerful attacks.


    "What are your suggestions?" I asked all of a sudden and took a puff. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Nothing, just attack."


    "Alright." I nodded and submerged into the dust that has yet to settle completely, armoring myself with Puffy and the trail of smoke behind me, ready to change to any shape.


    I ordered Puffy to swing its sword at Will''s latest position. A loud bang echoed as the dust became thicker, limiting my vision even further.


    It should be a disadvantage, but to me, any kind of particles that block vision work perfectly.


    I turned into mist and blended in with the dust, searching for Will.


    When I''m in my mist form, I would still be able to see normally. Yes, that also means it didn''t change the fact that I couldn''t see sh*t.


    However, I can spread the smoke to find Will. He might notice, no.


    Putting into account on how experienced he is, he already know what I''m planning for and perhaps prepared for it. Even so, if I execute it right, I would be able to defeat him.


    I scattered the smoke and ''saw'' red flame flickering greatly, indicating a powerful ability and immense amount of vital energy, which translated he won''t die easily.


    When I saw that, my body hesitated for a moment, doubting if I could defeat him.


    No, this is no time to hesitate, I said to myself and threw away those thoughts as I recalled Eve''s words. Her words were akin to a prophecy that rarely misses.


    Her words filled me with courage and I stick with my plan.


    As soon as I ''saw'' Will, I sent Puffy to attack him from a blind sight. At least that''s what I thought when Will graciously prepared for Puffy''s attack. He deflect it with a small knife. Sparks flew everywhere. A deafening clang echoed. The impact resulted in the dust to vanish in an instant.


    "Just give up, you won''t be able to defeat me, and even if you were able to, Synth would deliver you the most comforting punishment." He smiled cunningly, showing his teeth. His eyes half closed.


    "But not if they didn''t know what happened!" With the trail of smoke I conjured, I created innumerable blades with thin wires attached on edge of its handle.


    ""You must be a fool thinking I didn''t prepare for this!" He swung his hand from the left to the right. His expression filled with joy, knlowing his preparation came to fruit.


    "If you''re talking about the hidden cameras, we already settle it." I pointed at Calvin. Behind him was the mecha, standing motionlessly with blue glow. It caused nearby cameras to shut down slowly and targeted abilities to be useless.


    It was evident on Will. I ''see'' the flame inside him flickering like candle being sprayed by water, about to disappear at any moment.


    "This is getting interesting!" Will''s smile intensified, showing his teeth entirely.


    I straightened my arms and the blades flew at him at an amazing speed. The innumerable blades pierced through the wind, whistling loudly. It was like a powerful storm occured here.

 Chapter 48: It’s getting closer

    Chapter 48 - It''s getting closerWill cloned himself without stopping, making his clones take the attack while he sneakily got closer to me. However, due to Calvin''s mecha, his clone only lasted three seconds before they melted, gradually losing their human features and becoming a puddle of wax.


    I spotted him and immediately rushed towards him. We engaged in hand in hand combat. I punched his right rib, he blocked it with his right arm and grabbed my arm.


    He pull me closer and hit my chin with his knee cap. My face flung upward. My vision blurred for a bit and I felt intense pain from my chin. I walked back a few steps as my thoughts were in disarray.


    He gets closer and punched my face from the left, but it seems he has forgotten the fact I''m as capable as he was, or a bit better.


    Even though I couldn''t think of a single thought, my instinct guided me. I quickly headbutt him. It came out unexpectedly as his pupils were shrinking.


    Thud!


    After that, I grabbed his head and kept headbutting him. Blood spilled to the floor. I cried out for each time our head hit. Then I give him one powerful headbut before letting him go from my grasp.


    He fell with a groan. He quickly cloned himself as a distraction but his clone only lasted a second before turning into wax.


    Powerless, he crawled back. His breathing was heavy. He looked up at me and slowly rose to his feet.


    "You''ll regret this."


    He took a deep breath and assumed a fighting stance. His eyes sharpened with renewed focus.


    I mirrored his stance and replied coldly, "Even if you defeat me, you won''t get through us. Where is the device?"


    "You must be delusional if you thought I''d tell you!" He lunged forward with a sharp right hook.


    I tilted my head back just in time, his fist grazing past. I grabbed his wrist and twisted, pulling him forward into a knee strike. He grunted, staggering, but twisted mid-fall and swept low, trying to take out my legs.


    I jumped, but his elbow caught my ribs as I landed. Pain bloomed, but I didn''t let it stop me. I launched a quick jab to his jaw¡ªhe blocked it, but I followed with a spinning elbow to his temple.


    He stumbled back, breathing heavier now, blood trailing from his mouth.


    "You hit harder than I expected," he muttered.


    "You''re stalling," I replied, rushing him again.


    We traded blows¡ªpunches, elbows, grapples¡ªeach move faster and more desperate than the last. He was losing ground, every step he took pushing him closer to the wall. I could tell¡ªhis movements were slowing, his defense cracking.


    He reached for something in his coat.


    Big mistake.


    I slammed my palm into his chest, pinning him back.


    "Where. Is. The. Device?"


    He coughed violently, panting between his words.


    "It''ll take more than that to make me talk." A crooked grin curled on his lips.


    "Then we''ll just kill you," I replied coldly.


    "And let my corpse do the talking? You think I''m that stupid?"


    He pulled down the collar of his shirt, revealing a green jade necklace hanging around his neck.


    "This jade absorbs my soul and memories the moment I die. Not even your telepath could dig through that."


    I sighed, already tired of his games, and turned to Eve.


    "He''s yours."


    When a mission had to be completed¡ªno room for errors¡ªEve never failed.


    Will scoffed. "Letting a woman fight your battles? What a coward."


    "Scared of a woman, are you?" I shot back, moving beside Calvin.


    I took a slow puff, letting the smoke trail forward. It swirled through the air, reshaping itself into a dozen razor-sharp daggers before reaching Eve''s open palms.


    She caught them without missing a beat¡ªand without hesitation, launched herself forward.


    The wind howled in her wake.


    "God damn it, Eve! I looked after you when you first joined Synth, and this is how you repay me?" Will''s voice cracked with anger as he ducked under her swing. The dagger missed his head by inches. He countered with an uppercut.


    "The past is the past, Will," Eve said coolly, tilting her head back, narrowly dodging the punch. "You''re not the person I used to admire."


    The dodge exposed an opening. She drove a dagger into his abdomen, then delivered a powerful kick to his chest.


    His body slammed into the wall. The entire building trembled from the impact.


    Maybe it was Eve''s ability¡ªhow she always made things go exactly her way¡ªbut the building didn''t stop shaking. Cracks spiderwebbed across the walls, and then the structure groaned.


    The whole thing collapsed.


    As debris came crashing down, I exhaled deeply and formed a dome of smoke around us. Dust and broken wood filled the air as the two-story building crumbled into a heap.


    Then... silence.


    The dust slowly began to settle, sunbeams breaking through the haze.


    "You guys good?" I asked, taking another puff and letting the dome fade.


    "We''re good," Yin Hee replied.


    "Same here." Calvin raised a hand.


    "Kinda cold, don''t you think?" Eve''s voice came from outside the dome. She looked irritated.


    "Oh, I figured you''d be fine," I shrugged. "We can do it again if you want."


    "Never mind." She rolled her eyes and dropped into a chair that somehow survived the collapse. "So, what do we do with him?"


    I turned to Yin Hee. "Can you dig into his head and find what we need?"


    "I can," she said, "but only if he consents."


    I paused, then looked at Eve. "Is he still alive? You stabbed him."


    "I avoided anything vital. Hit the paralyzed side. He''s alive."


    With that confirmation, we dug through the rubble. Will lay among the debris, blood seeping from his gut but no longer flowing. He was weak¡ªbarely conscious.


    "How do we get him to consent?" I muttered, stroking my chin. Then a smirk formed. "I''ve got an idea."


    I knelt beside him. "You look terrible¡ªlike a newborn that lost the fight to be born."


    "Kill... me..." he wheezed.


    Instead, I jammed my fingers into his wound and twisted.


    He howled in pain.


    "We''ll let you go if you let Yin Hee into your head," I said calmly.


    "Over... my... dead body."


    "Not yet," I muttered. I dug into the wound again, harder this time, then drove a kick into his abdomen.


    His whole body tensed. He let out a ragged, broken scream.


    "Sunny, you''re going to kill him," Eve warned.


    "I won''t," I said with a sigh, pulling my hand back. I glanced at Yin Hee. "Got any tricks?"


    "I''ll try." She stepped forward and touched a smear of blood near his side. Purple flames erupted from her fingers, curling around the blood.


    It bubbled. Boiled. Then evaporated, leaving only flickering violet light. And then¡ªsilence.


    "That was flashy," I said. "Learn anything?"


    Yin Hee nodded slowly. "Before I answer, you should know what I did. I searched for people or objects with strong emotional or spiritual ties to him. I found a few."


    "Yeah?" I tilted my head. "Where?"


    "One''s deep underground. The others... at Synth''s HQ." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I frowned. "Underground?"

 Chapter 49: Free Will

    Chapter 49 - Free WillI thought for a moment and decided to check the basement. Maybe there''s something important down there.


    I told the others to find a way in. A few moments later, we heard a shout that quickly faded into the distance¡ªCalvin had fallen through a weak spot in the floor.


    We rushed over and found a deep hole.


    "Calvin, are you alright, buddy?" I called down, worried.


    "Yeah, I''m fine! But... you guys might want to take a look at this," he shouted back, his voice echoing.


    I glanced at the girls. Their looks said they were ready. I took a drag, shaped the smoke into a ball, and threw it into the hole before jumping in. They immediately followed.


    As we descended, the air grew colder, and the light above faded.


    Then a glow appeared. I looked up¡ªYin Hee had conjured a fireball floating steadily above her like an anglerfish lure. I chuckled.


    "What''s so funny?" Yin Hee asked.


    "Nothing," I said, shaking my head.


    The smoke ball hit the ground and morphed into a soft cushion. I landed butt-first and rolled aside to make room.


    Yin Hee landed next, her body sinking comfortably into the cushion, followed by Eve, who quickly crawled off it.


    "Whoa, this feels comfy," Yin Hee said, wriggling deeper into the cushion.


    Eve stood and dusted herself off. "Where''s the kid?"


    "Yin Hee, can you sense him?" I asked.


    She lazily climbed out of the cushion and nodded. "Yeah. Shouldn''t be hard."


    The deeper we went, the worse the air grew¡ªthick, stale, almost like chewing rust. The walls sweated moisture. The ground felt wrong underfoot, as if the place itself didn''t want us there.


    This wasn''t just abandoned¡ªit was forgotten.


    "What is this place?" Eve whispered, touching a damp wall.


    "I feel like we shouldn''t be here," Yin Hee muttered, her voice tight.


    "Relax. There aren''t any ghosts," I said, trying to lighten the mood.


    "That''s not it." Yin Hee shook her head. "My power... it''s acting weird. I can''t control it properly."


    I frowned and tested my own smoke. There was a huge delay before it responded.


    A bad feeling gnawed at me.


    "We need to find Calvin. Now!"


    Yin Hee took off running. We followed her through twists and turns, down rotting staircases, until finally, we saw a thin sliver of light leaking from a room.


    I took the lead, staying low, wary. With my powers unreliable, I''d have to rely on brute strength.


    I peeked inside.


    Calvin stood motionless in the center of the room, a massive mecha looming beside him. It was unsettling.


    No obvious traps. No sounds except the faint hum of old machinery.


    I stepped into the room carefully.


    "Hey, kid. You alright?"


    Calvin didn''t move.


    "Unc... I know this place," he said quietly.


    "What do you mean?" I frowned. This place looked more like a tomb than a home.


    Calvin turned slightly, the light catching his face.


    "Before... when we were searching for clues about my dad," he said slowly, "Yin Hee and Eve found out something. I''m not who you think I am. I''m just... an empty vessel. I have Calvin''s memories, but..."


    I grunted. "Are you okay with that?"


    He sat down heavily on the floor, staring at nothing.


    "I don''t know," he admitted. "Everything''s happening so fast. I''m upset, confused, angry... but at the same time...


    "It still feels like me."


    His voice wavered, barely above a whisper.


    "I wonder if that''s okay.


    I feel like I shouldn''t exist... but at the same time, I don''t want to disappear either.


    I don''t know, man.


    I''m just... so lost."


    "There''s somethin'' you should know."


    I scratched my head, voice low.


    "That guy, Will... he was involved. Helped bring you back.


    He''s dead now.


    My fault."


    I paused, letting the words sit heavy.


    "You deserved the truth. Do whatever you want with it."


    Calvin didn''t say a word.


    His silence was louder than any scream.


    He turned and walked off ¡ª alone ¡ª disappearing into a dark, quiet corner.


    I could hear him muttering, not to us, just... out loud.


    "So that''s it, huh?


    You brought me back just to watch me crawl through the shit again.


    Thanks, Will. Thanks, Dad."


    He laughed ¡ª but it wasn''t happy.


    It was broken, like something inside cracked and couldn''t be glued back together.


    Then he went still.


    And then.


    "No.


    This life''s mine now.


    Yours is over."


    He stood, not looking back ¡ª a private funeral held in his chest.


    I walked over and slapped his back hard enough he nearly coughed up a lung.


    "What the hell was that?!"


    He spun around, scowling, but I just laughed.


    "Haha, nothing. Just... amazed by you, little man.


    Not everyone can crawl through hell and still walk out swingin''."


    "Shut up," he grumbled, embarrassed.


    Right then, Yin Hee burst into the room.


    "Sunny! Did you find Calvin?"


    Her eyes locked onto him, concern written all over her face. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Calvin! Are you okay?"


    "Yeah, I''m fine," he nodded, a little stiff.


    "We should get outta here," I said, glancing around.


    There was something wrong about this place ¡ª especially this room.


    While the rest of the basement was rotting and abandoned, this room was spotless. Marble walls, gleaming floors... like someone still cared.


    "If my memory''s right," Calvin said slowly, "this is where I was first... resurrected.


    Weird. That memory was sealed so tight, I couldn''t remember it ''til I walked in here."


    "Something''s off," I muttered.


    "What happened after?


    You wake up and boom, you''re in Revenant''s care?"


    "Of course not. I was¡ª"


    He froze, brows furrowing deep enough to leave scars.


    "I... don''t remember.


    The next thing I knew, my father was dead.


    And Revenant took me in. Said it was ''cause of what my father did."


    "You don''t remember?" I frowned.


    "Somebody messed with your memories."


    Calvin rubbed his temples.


    "I remember myself ¡ª who I am, what I like...


    But after that fight with my dad? Nothing. Just... blank."


    "No doubt about it," I said.


    "Someone tampered with your memories.


    Don''t worry ¡ª we''ll track it down.


    First, we meet someone. Then, we tear into those bastards who want the device."


    Eve raised her hand casually.


    "How about we split up? Me and Yin Hee will take care of those guys..."


    Yin Hee lit up like a kid meeting her favorite hero ¡ª understandable, considering how much she admired Eve.


    "...while you dig deeper into Calvin''s memories," Eve finished, grinning a little too wide.


    I nodded.


    "Alright. Sounds good."


    We left the basement on the hoverboard I conjured, slicing up into the night.


    High above the city, we split up ¡ª two paths, same mission:


    Fix what was broken.


    And smash whoever broke it.

 Chapter 50: Which One?

    Chapter 50 - Which One?"I don''t know what you''re planning," RD said as he inserted the key and twisted it with a click, unlocking the heavy door. "But be careful, Sunny."


    Calvin stepped inside first, craning his neck upward. "This place is huge."


    A towering structure stretched into the heavens, its spiral staircase wrapping around the walls like a serpent. At its peak, a soft spinning light pulsed¡ªsteady, rhythmic, like a heartbeat.


    Surrounding the tower, hundreds of prison cells stacked like a hive. Screams echoed¡ªguards being cursed, inmates arguing, garbage flying between cells.


    I crossed my arms and chuckled. "Lively. I think I could live here comfortably."


    RD gave a grunt, waving us forward. "I won''t be worried. Come on¡ªstay close."


    His boots clanged against the metal floor as we followed, the noise of the prison swirling around us.


    Prisoners reached out as we passed, hands clawing for us like predators testing their cage bars.


    We stayed just out of reach, while Calvin eyed them anxiously.


    "Who''s the boy, Sunny?" RD asked without turning.


    Calvin craned his neck to meet his gaze. RD gave him a once-over.


    Broad-shouldered. A little unkempt¡ªshirt untucked, boots scuffed.


    Sandy-brown hair, short and messy.


    Warm brown eyes¡ªtired, heavy with bags, but still friendly.


    His worn leather jacket, faded jeans, and patched military boots whispered a thousand stories.


    "I need him to find the device Synth stole," I replied.


    "This kid?" RD stopped mid-step, casting a skeptical glance at Calvin, then me. Doubt¡ªand something like disappointment¡ªflickered across his face.


    I already knew what he was thinking.


    "Save the lecture for later," I said.


    "I won''t lecture," he replied, voice firmer than expected. "But here''s advice: don''t get him killed."


    The words hit harder than I expected, guilt twisting in my gut.


    "I won''t," I said, locking eyes with him.


    Calvin shook his head.


    "You don''t have to do that. I can protect myself. I hate owing people¡ªand besides, we made a deal. I know the risks. Whatever happens, it''s on me."


    RD blinked, puzzled.


    "You''re really a child?"


    "Twelve years old. Name''s Calvin," he said, offering a handshake with one hand still in his pocket.


    RD stared a second longer, then grinned and shook his hand.


    "Richard Danish. Everyone calls me RD. Nice to meet ya, lil'' man."


    "Me too."


    RD turned and continued walking.


    "Funny, isn''t it? Your mission was to retrieve the device *from* Synth¡ªyet after all the twists, it ended up *with* Synth."


    True.


    Someone from Synth had sent Scarecrow to retrieve the device¡ªyet also deployed Phoenix squad.


    Why?


    "We failed to retrieve it... Maybe they wanted an excuse to disband us," I muttered, pinching my chin.


    Not impossible.


    My whole plan relied on Phoenix to burn the top down. Maybe they sensed it.


    They cut our wings.


    RD snapped his fingers¡ªa habit when someone''s thoughts matched his.


    "Took a roundabout way to kill the bird," he said. "But they want to make sure it never flies again."


    I grinned, excitement igniting in my chest.


    "Let them try."


    RD chuckled. "I like this part of you."


    We stopped at a reinforced door with thirteen locks.


    I touched it¡ªinstantly, my powers weakened. Lern. A material that suppressed Honor.


    "This her cell? Seems excessive. She''s not Unity."


    "They didn''t want to take chances," RD said.


    He worked the locks in five minutes.


    "Fifteen minutes," he muttered to himself. Then, walking away without looking back:


    "You don''t see me. We never met. We never talked."


    I nodded.


    The door swung open.


    Calvin and I stepped in. The door sealed behind us with a deep, echoing thud.


    The room was bare. Two chairs, thick glass between them, a single bulb overhead.


    I sat.


    Calvin climbed onto my shoulder like a parrot in a pirate movie. His small weight was oddly comforting.


    Silence.


    For a moment, I thought the room was empty.


    Then I saw her.


    Sitting across the glass, hands folded neatly, head tilted like she was listening to a song only she could hear.


    The bulb cast a soft halo around her. She looked more like a librarian than a prisoner.


    Simple clothes¡ªwhite shirt, loose pants.


    Hair draped over her shoulder, like she hadn''t touched it in days.


    Calvin fidgeted on my shoulder, frowning at the air like something about it bothered him.


    She smiled¡ªsmall, almost shy.


    "Welcome," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I''ve been waiting for you."


    "Did you wait long?" I asked politely, with a small smile.


    "No, but I must admit... you came sooner than expected."


    "I don''t have time to visit later. You know why I''m here, Clara." My tone sharpened.


    "Of course." Her voice remained calm, melodic.


    "So, what did you find in the kid''s brain?" I leaned in.


    The boy who survived Vie''s experiment¡ªClara had read his memories.


    "Sunny, you know humans can''t absorb too much at once. It overwhelms them¡ªmakes them sick."


    "So you''re saying we should pretend not to know what Vie did to those kids?" I frowned, anger creeping in.


    "Would you stop pursuing Vie if I said yes?"


    "But why, Clara? He hurt those children¡ªfor what? We have to stop him!"


    "Do you know how many children go missing each year?"


    Odd question. But I answered, "Around three thousand?"


    "I had a little sister," Clara whispered. "Younger than that boy on your shoulder. We were close¡ªinseparable."


    I stayed quiet. Her eyes glazed over.


    "She was taken during the Sweep seven years ago. Just a routine scan. She never came back."


    My breath caught. "You think Vie took her?"


    She nodded. "I gave up everything. Became a memory reader, searching for a glimpse¡ªanything."


    "And you found her?"


    "I did. But not how I imagined."


    Clara looked up, met my eyes.


    "She''s alive. Vie kept her alive. But only because she''s useful. If I help you... she dies."


    I clenched my fists.


    "Clara, you know what he''s done. To the boy. To your sister. To everyone. We can''t let that continue."


    "She doesn''t even remember me," Clara whispered. "He''s rewritten her again and again. I''m a stranger now. But I promised¡ªI''d find her. I''d protect her. And now that I have... do I let her die for justice she can''t even understand?"


    I rubbed my head, speaking without realizing, "How the heck is all this connected? Did Vie know Clara would be his biggest obstacle? Did he kidnap her sister just to leash her? But back then, Clara was nobody. Did he have someone who could see the future?"


    "It''s not possible," Clara said. I blinked¡ªsurprised she answered my thoughts¡ªthen realized I''d spoken aloud.


    "Wait... what do you mean?"


    "When I read the kid''s memories, I saw someone. A woman, maybe in her thirties. Vie kept asking her what to do¡ªevery little decision. Like he needed her to make things perfect.


    "She never looked surprised. Like she''d lived it all already."


    "Anything strange about her?"


    "A black rash on her neck."


    I leaned back and clicked my tongue. "I should''ve killed Vie when I had the chance."


    "Even if you had, I still wouldn''t have her back."


    Her hands trembled¡ªbarely¡ªbut I noticed. Composed, soft-spoken... yet unraveling.


    She wasn''t just talking about Vie.


    She was talking about her sister. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clara looked down. Voice faint.


    "She loved paper cranes. Said if she folded a thousand, one would fly her away from this city."


    She smiled bitterly.


    "The night she disappeared, she stayed up folding the last one. I told her to stop. Told her dreams like that don''t come true."


    A breath.


    "I heard the front door creak an hour later. Thought it was the wind."


    Silence.


    "She was gone by morning. Just one crane left on the table."