The world was quiet now.
No screams. No cracking bones. No laughter. Only the slow, shaky breathing of a boy trying not to fall apart.
Arin's legs trembled as he forced himself up. Blood had dried like crusted paint across his bruised skin. Every inch of his body screamed, burned, and begged him to stop.
But he didn't.
Because Vayushri was unconscious in his arms—her small frame slumped against his back, arms loosely draped around his shoulders. Her breathing was faint, almost fading. She felt weightless and heavy at the same time… like a burden he chose himself.
"Hold on," he whispered through clenched teeth. "Don't… don't you dare die now."
He didn't know if she could hear him. He didn't know if she was even aware anymore.
Was she hurt because of me? Did I… do this to her? Was I the monster she needed saving from… or the one she tried to save?
He couldn't remember everything clearly. The fight was a blur of rage and blood. But one image pierced through like a knife.
Her crying. Her hugging him. Her taking a hit meant for him.
Arin gritted his teeth.
"I… won't let your effort go to waste. I swear."
Perin, shaken and pale, trotted beside him. The little spiritual creature rubbed his head against Arin's leg as if saying, "I'm here… I'm here…"
"Yeah… thanks," Arin muttered. His voice sounded broken.
Every step was torture. His ribs shifted painfully with each breath. His knees nearly buckled. His vision blurred repeatedly.
Yet he walked.
Not fast. Not strong. Just… determined.
The forest was endless, time losing meaning. Wind rustled leaves, mocking his slow, dragging footsteps. His breath came in harsh gasps, the weight on his back somehow growing heavier despite how light she felt in the water.
But finally—
A glint of metallic shine appeared through the trees.
The Gate.
His chest tightened—not just from pain—but relief.
"I made it…" he exhaled, barely able to feel his legs anymore. "You're gonna be okay… I promise…"
Meanwhile – Outside Zone 27 Gate Hours had passed.
Actually—more than that.
"Eighty hours… He's at the limit," a soldier muttered nervously near the monitoring station.
Shivani stood near the railing, arms crossed tightly, but her eyes betrayed her worry. She didn't blink. Didn't speak. Just kept staring at the sealed entrance like she could force it to open with sheer will.
Om Sai leaned casually against the wall nearby, but for once, his usual carefree smirk was gone.
"You look tense, commander," he joked softly.
"Shut up," Shivani whispered, eyes still fixed forward.
"He's strong," Om Sai said, attempting reassurance but sounding uncertain. "That brat's not the type to die so easily."
She didn't respond.
Tick. Tock. Eighty hours… And one minute.
Just then—
A soldier inside the observation deck suddenly shouted, eyes wide.
"He's—he's coming out!"
Shivani snapped to attention. Om Sai straightened. All nearby soldiers turned toward the gate.
But no one saw him yet.
They just heard slow, dragging footsteps.
Step. Step. Step.
The sound was uneven. Weak.
Shivani's chest tightened.
"Arin…" she muttered, her expression unreadable.
Then she finally saw him.
And for a split second—she forgot how to breathe.
Arin staggered through the gate, body drenched in blood, barely conscious. His clothes were torn, chest bruised, eyes half-open and unfocused. Vayushri's limp form was tied gently to his back with his torn jacket, head resting weakly on his shoulder. Perin trotted beside him, tired but alert.
The sight was… devastating.
Shivani went still.
Om Sai's eyes narrowed sharply. That aura… he thought.
Soldiers who had been ready to celebrate were frozen in stunned silence instead.
Arin took another step.
Then another.
Then his knees buckled.
And everything blurred to white.
Arin's vision was fading, but his voice—broken and strained—kept repeating one thing.
"Save… her… save Vayushri… save her… save her… save… her…"
Not once did he ask them to help him. He didn't cry from pain. He didn't scream. He just kept whispering the same desperate plea, like a cracked record stuck on the last moment of hope he had.
His eyes… were no longer the same.
They weren't just tired— They were dark.
An endless darkness swallowed his pupils, bottomless—as if no light, no warmth, no sanity could reach inside. Anyone who looked into them felt a chill crawl up their spine, like staring into the remnants of a nightmare that was still breathing.
Even Shivani froze.
Her body moved first—instinctively stepping forward as he fell. But the moment she saw his face clearly, she stopped.
Her lips trembled.
Her breath caught.
Something in her chest twisted painfully.
This isn't the same Arin I left here…
Perin barked softly, nudging Arin's limp hand with a sad whine.
"Save her…" Arin whispered again, voice cracking.
A tear slid down Shivani's cheek before she even realized.
It was the first time anyone had seen her cry.
"…Idiot…" she whispered under her breath, wiping her face roughly—but more tears followed anyway.
Om Sai stepped forward, for once quiet—expression unreadable. His eyes narrowed not in judgment, but calculation and concern.
This… aura. It's his. No doubt. But it's… tainted. He's halfway between man and something else.
The medical team rushed in immediately.
"Commander, we need to secure both patients!"
Two medics moved to take Arin first.
The moment they touched him, Arin jolted with a weak struggle, teeth clenched.
"N-No… her… first… save her first!!"
He tried to pull away but his body gave up instantly, falling again.
"We must restrain him or he'll collapse further!" one medic said urgently.
Shivani raised a hand sharply. "No restraints. Just… take her first."
"Understood!"
Two medics gently lifted Vayushri from Arin's back, immediately checking her pulse and stabilizing her spiritual core. She was frighteningly cold.
A second pair moved toward Arin with a stretcher.
Arin's head fell forward, vision flickering. His throat was sore from whispering the same line.
"Save… Vayushri…"
"We will," a medic said firmly. "We've got her."
"…please…" his voice cracked… and finally faded.
Perin stayed close, refusing to leave his side, climbing onto the stretcher and curling beside his neck protectively.
The soldiers around them whispered—unsure, shocked, pale.
"Is that… really him?"
"He survived that long in Zone 27?"
"What happened in there…?"
Shivani walked forward slowly, watching Arin being carried away, her clenched fists shaking.
She bit her lower lip.
Her chest tightened painfully.
She swallowed her voice, forcing herself to stay composed—but tears still streamed silently.
Om Sai stood beside her now, folding his arms, expression uncharacteristically serious.
"…That's his own aura," Om Sai said quietly. "Not from any monster. Not a curse."
Shivani didn't answer.
"It… changed," he continued. "It's darker now. Deeper. Heavy enough to crush weaker minds. If he loses control again, he won't just fight…"
He paused, watching Arin being wheeled away.
"…He'll destroy."
At those words, Shivani's eyes widened slightly—then she lowered her head again, tears falling silently.
She didn't speak.
Just watched him disappear into the treatment facility.
Worried. Guilty. Angry.
And afraid.
Not of Arin.
But for him.