Inside the closed room the air was heavy, wrapping around the senses as if pressing on the soul itself. The four walls seemed to draw closer, bringing with them a suffocating heat. Beads of sweat slid down Kyle's forehead, but he bit his lip hard, his usual devilish grin curling across his face—as if meeting danger with defiance.
Kyle (mocking, voice steady despite his tension): Trying to scare me? Or are you looking for a new game?
Moathan (voice low but sharp, features stranger than usual): Don't test his patience… He's far crazier than you think. He may seem gentle, but once someone crosses his line… he becomes something you never want to see. As for me… I have no limits at all. The moment you slip in front of me, I'll cut your throat without warning. (A faint smile widens into a quiet laugh)
Kyle (thinking to himself, eyes narrowing): Who's this lunatic talking about? Is he role-playing? … Doesn't matter.
(Suddenly, Moathan grabs Kyle's shoulder and squeezes hard—hard enough to make his bones feel like they might snap.)
Moathan (eyes locked on him): I told you… I'm not like him.
Kyle (gritting his teeth, hiding the pain): Is that all you've got?
Moathan: Wise of you not to answer. I might've used your words as an excuse… for him.
Kyle (frowning): For him? You talk as if you're not the one in charge here.
Moathan (smirking): And what's it to you?
Kyle: Why am I here? What do you want from me?
Moathan: Why did you disobey Brian's orders? And why did you kill all the enemies?
Kyle: Brian never told me not to fight. I wanted to end it before they got close to Lia. And no one told me they were just rookies… If there's a mistake, it's his.
Moathan: And the other matter?
Kyle: Killing is faster—and protecting her is my job. I'm here for her, nothing else.
Moathan (tilting his head): Then you've got two choices… be tortured in the arena before everyone… or—
Kyle (shouting, cutting him off): Death is better than humiliation!
Moathan (coldly): Then… the flower will be executed.
(Kyle freezes, images of fiery executions in Infernith flooding his mind—screams, pleas, desperate attempts to smother the flames.)
Moathan (moving toward a massive sword—two meters long, one meter wide—his fingers brushing the cold steel): Don't forget… your sister is here.
Kyle (lunging at the sword, fury blazing): Touch her, and there'll be nothing left of you but ash!
(The sword doesn't budge—Moathan holds it steady, expression unchanged.)
Moathan: Relax… I was joking. Sorry.
Kyle (glancing at the sword, giving a bitter smile): And I know you weren't joking.
Moathan (softer this time, a hint of sorrow in his tone): That depends on what you do next.
Kyle (through clenched teeth): I'll take the punishment.
Moathan (clapping lightly): Let's just hope the soldiers' hands don't break… hahaha.
(Kyle leaves, fists tight, eyes burning with rage.)
Moathan: After the punishment, you'll go with 09, Chloe, and Brian to track down a smuggler outside the plasma shield.
Kyle: A mission outside the city? And why's Brian going?
Moathan: Consider it part of your punishment… He asked for it himself.
(He finds Lia waiting, her face pale with worry.)
Lia: What happened?
Kyle: He wants to make Brian happy by humiliating me.
Lia: Don't be reckless… Moathan's strange—playing his game is dangerous.
Kyle: I know… Just standing in front of him made my skin crawl. (Looks at his burned hand)
Lia: The flames… they affect you? Since when?
Kyle: I don't know… It started after I touched his sword.
(The next day—Kyle bound, blindfolded, surrounded by soldiers. Brian watches from afar, noticing their hesitation and fear of touching him. Suddenly, a small boy with pink hair—no older than six—steps forward. His name: Syle.)
Lia (in shock): He looks like Kyle when he was little… but what's a child doing here?
Syle (calm but determined): Sorry… but it's cowardly to back down just because you're strong.
Kyle (laughing manically): What's with that tiny voice—
(A punch slams into his gut, followed by six or seven rapid hits. He grunts in pain but refuses to scream.)
Kyle (furious): You'll regret that, you little—
Syle (snapping): I'm a man, you blind fool! (Storms off)
(No one dares to approach after that. Brian descends, removes the blindfold, and unties him.)
Brian: We're late for the mission.
Kyle: Why? Did you enjoy the show?
Brian: What happened yesterday… stays yesterday. Our job doesn't allow for feelings.
(Kyle glances at Lia, signaling her to be careful, before following Brian to the teleportation gate.)
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