The air inside the hideout shifted. It wasn't a sound, not exactly. More like a feeling—like something old and heavy had just settled into the room.
Korir stiffened, his heartbeat hammering in his chest. Zero stopped mid-step, his entire body tensed like a blade about to be drawn.
And then, out of the shadows, he appeared.
A man, tall and composed, dressed in a sleek black overcoat that barely swayed as he walked. His presence wasn't loud, but it filled the room like an unspoken threat. His face was sharp, his eyes unreadable, and yet there was an almost lazy amusement in his gaze—like he had expected this moment all along.
Zero took a step forward, positioning himself between Korir and the intruder. His fingers twitched, ready to draw a weapon, but the stranger merely smiled. Not friendly. Not hostile. Just… patient.
"Korir Hiroto," he said smoothly, rolling the name over his tongue like he was testing its weight. His voice was calm, too calm. "Interesting name. Doesn't quite belong to the life you're leading, does it?"
Korir clenched his fists. His instincts screamed danger. He had to run. He had to fight. He had to do something.
But Zero was already speaking. Low. Controlled. Angry.
"Beric," he muttered. "Troop 19."
Korir's stomach twisted. He didn't know much about the Mombasa Mabas hierarchy, but even he knew the numbers mattered. The lower the number, the stronger the squad. Troop 76? Cannon fodder. Troop 30? Veterans.
Troop 19? Monsters.
Beric ignored Zero. He was still watching Korir, like a wolf watching a cub.
"You've caught the wrong kind of attention, kid," Beric continued, voice smooth as silk. "Not just from me. Not just from Mombasa Mabas. From… others."
Korir swallowed. Others? Who the hell was he talking about?
Zero narrowed his eyes. "If you think we're scared of your little troop—"
Beric chuckled. It wasn't forced. It was genuine amusement.
"Scared?" he repeated. "No, no, no. Fear is for people who still believe they have choices."
Then he turned back to Korir. And then he said it.
"You think you won?" Beric's eyes gleamed. "You think you actually took down Troop 8's leader?"
Silence.
Korir's breath hitched.
Zero's fingers twitched.
Beric's smile didn't falter. He leaned in slightly, voice just above a whisper.
"Leo wasn't even awakened."
A chill ran through Korir's spine. It felt like the whole room had just dropped ten degrees.
"What?" he whispered.
Beric tilted his head. "You killed a sleeping lion, boy. If he had awakened, you wouldn't be standing here."
Korir felt his stomach twist. Leo… hadn't even been at his full strength?
Zero's glare hardened. "You're lying."
"Am I?" Beric shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. But does it matter? You're in this now. No going back."
Korir's breath quickened. His mind screamed at him to deny it, to fight back, to say something. But then—
Beric raised one hand.
And suddenly, the world tilted.
Korir's body felt like it was being pulled down by invisible chains. His knees buckled. His breath became heavy. The flickering candlelight warped, as if gravity itself had bent to Beric's will.
Zero fought against it, his muscles tensed, veins pressing against his skin. But even he looked like he was struggling.
Beric exhaled slowly. "This?" He gestured around casually. "This isn't an attack. It's just me… existing."
Korir felt something stir inside him. His Time-Shift flickered, his Shadow Extraction pulsed—unstable, uncontrollable. It wanted out. It wanted to respond.
Zero forced himself upright, teeth gritted. "You done showing off?"
Beric smiled. And just like that—the pressure disappeared.
Korir gasped, hands shaking. Zero wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, glaring daggers.
Beric took a step back. "I didn't come here to fight. Just to talk."
"Then talk," Zero spat.
Beric sighed, as if he were mildly disappointed. "You're wasting his potential, Zero. Troop 19 is offering a seat. A chance to be on the winning side."
Korir didn't hesitate. "Not interested."
Beric smirked. "Everyone says that at first. Doesn't matter. We'll talk again soon."
And then—he was gone.
No door creak. No footsteps. Just… gone.
Korir let out a shaky breath.
Zero clenched his fists. "That was bad."
Korir turned to him, still trying to regain his balance. "I… I don't understand."
Zero's eyes darkened. "I do."
He looked toward where Beric had stood, and for the first time since Korir had met him… Zero looked afraid.