Hakan slowly advanced, the surrounding space eerily quiet. The Ancient Star stone gradually materialized in mid-air, emitting a blue light as if listening to his soul.
-As Now's voice was frantic: "No... You can't! You don't deserve it!"
-Hakan was cold, not stopping: "And that... is why you will never have it."
The stone trembled, glowing brightly – as if responding to a heart ready to bear everything. It... chose Hakan.
As Now roared, lunging like a wild beast. But the moment his hand touched the stone – "Thwack!" – Hakan pulled out a syringe and plunged it straight into his neck.
-Hakan calmly: "A small token of my appreciation. This will make your body suffer a backlash if it absorbs energy from the stone. The result? Both you and the stone will explode."
-As Now writhed, his voice shattered: "NO!! My ideals... cannot die!!"
His body began to swell, contort, as if something inside was tearing it apart. But instead of exploding... he absorbed the energy completely.
The purple veins expanded, skin tore, revealing blackened muscles. A monster taller than three stories, covered in gaping wounds, as if reliving all the suffering he had ever endured.
-As Now's voice was deep and inhuman: "...I... am the chosen one..."
The space shattered – everyone was pushed out. In the chaos, the monster's eyes glimpsed... Lucy's body. Dried blood, her body no longer breathing.
-As Now's voice faltered: "No... it can't be... LUCY! NOOOOOOO!!"
A roar tore through the sky. All reason shattered. From here... only instinct, hatred, and slaughter remained.
The monster charged. Every step crushed everything. It opened its mouth, accumulating a massive ball of energy.
Jinna yelled:
"EDIE! Don't!!!"
But Edie had already rushed out. Even with broken limbs and dried blood on his eyes, he forced himself, creating a Nifow aura around his hand, striking directly into the energy stream about to be unleashed.
The two sources of power collided – BOOMMMMM!!!
Edie was thrown far, his limbs broken, blood gushing in streams, but he had blocked the attack.
Just as the monster was about to accumulate energy again – "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! – Volleys of magic cannons and energy bullets fired from afar, stopping him.
TIB had arrived. Amidst the thin smoke, a figure landed lightly. They were busy eliminating SILL, so they only arrived now.
-Duun, gravely and decisively: "Everyone, evacuate immediately. This place... is about to become a real battlefield."
As everyone retreated, Hakan approached Duun, his eyes fixed on the monster – fearless, without hesitation.
-Hakan: "Let's kill it together."
-Duun nodded slightly: "Alright."
At the same time – Plaza:
Paraver had just finished killing the students. Blood dripped from his hands.
-Soan sneered: "If I die... I'll take someone with me..."
He activated the magical orb Ghighu, sucking both of them in. But Paraver managed to escape, his body stretched, walking unsteadily. Only a pool of blood remained... Soan was gone.
Ogon walked from afar, arms crossed.
-Ogon smirked: "You're worse than when we fought last time."
-Paraver yelled: "You... aren't you suffering a backlash?!"
Ogon laughed, standing firm: "It's over. The act is done."
Paraver immediately retracted his shield, opened a teleportation gate, and fled.
Ogon: "My acting truly is top-notch."
The monster that was once As Now now stood in the center of the cube – nearly three stories tall, its flesh cracked like dry lava, open wounds still spewing black smoke, as if the pain from its soul was bleeding out.
He looked up at the sky, roaring.
The scream had no language. Only hatred.
Duun stood at the forefront. No staff needed. No shouting. Just a flick of his hand, and a white smoke spread like a demonic mist, swallowing the ground.
-Duun's voice was deep: "Begin."
Behind him:
Feina activated the smoke barrier, gradually closing in on the monster – both defensive and restricting its movement.
Lori drew in blood in the air – creating a spatial reaction matrix, locking As Now's every small movement with frequency pressure.
Efill spun, unleashing a barrage of compressed wind blades like invisible knives – tearing through the monster's outer flesh, revealing its weak points.
Hakan charged from the left flank, without magic, without weapons – only his bare hands, thick as steel. Every step he took, the ground sank in patches. Hakan leapt into the air, spun 360 degrees, and delivered a powerful punch to the monster's stomach. The sound was like a bomb exploding – the monster's stomach caved in, spewing black smoke from its mouth.
As Now roared, sweeping a hand – shattering the smoke – knocking Lori far away, blood gushing like a spring.
Feina immediately cast a healing spell.
Efill fired a blocking blow, forcing him back to face Duun.
Duun raised his hand in the air – the atmosphere suddenly thickened as if suffocating. From within the smoke, something like... a giant, humanoid smoke hand appeared. The smoke hand clenched As Now's head, tendrils of smoke entering his wounds. The monster roared – its eyes burst with blood – it began to weaken, stepping back.
-Hakan whispered: "Now... it's my turn."
Hakan roared, his entire body emitting a murderous aura like a shockwave – his arm veins bulging, he launched forward like a living bullet.
At the same time, Duun formed a hand seal in mid-air – the smoke formed a high-pressure current, enveloping Hakan's fist.
Hakan roared: "LET ME PIERCE THIS FALSEHOOD!!!"
BOOMMMMM-!!!
The monster was punched through the chest. Smoke exploded from its back, like a vengeful soul forced from its body. The giant body convulsed. Skin peeled off. Muscles contracted.
As Now collapsed onto the stone floor, gasping for breath, nothing left but bone and blood.
No one attacked further.
No one spoke.
He crawled... to where Lucy lay. Gently embracing his daughter's body, trembling.
No words. No tears. No screams.
Just an embrace, and he stood up.
As Now, covered in blood, holding Lucy, walked straight into the forest behind the ruins. Every step left a bloodstain. But he did not stop. He did not retreat.
Hakan suddenly appeared in front of him – as if darkness was torn apart.
Without a word of warning. He lunged, squeezing his throat tightly, pressing him back against a decaying tree trunk.
-Hakan: "Are you trying to find... Doctor Ailon?"
-As Now's voice was hoarse, his eyes burning with pain: "He... is gone, isn't he?"
-Hakan: "Gone. And you... are still following the shadow of someone who abandoned you."
-As Now: "Tell me, Hakan... am I right?"
-Hakan: "In this world... every mistake, whether for an ideal or for pain... has a price."
Frozen in silence. A second. No one could breathe.
"CRACK!!" – The sound of a neck breaking in Hakan's hand rang out sharply.
As Now collapsed, still holding Lucy in his arms.
From the forest shadows, Duun approached. Without haste. Without expression.
Just one look was enough.
Hakan turned, raising his hands: "I'm ready. Not trying to escape."
-Duun looked at him for a long moment, then said: "I will write in the report... that it wasn't you. But a faulty clone left behind by Ailon."
-Hakan: "I've been preparing for this day... for a long time. But why haven't you... arrested me yet?"
-Duun: "It's not time yet. When you fulfill your wish – I will come. All sins must be paid for... I'm just giving you... more time."
-Hakan nodded slightly: "Thank you, Duun."
Wind whistled softly through the dry branches.
Two men – one old, one cold – stood among the dead, the ghosts of the past.
TIB
Headquarters
The battle was over. But the consequences still lingered in every gaze.
Duun stood by the glass window, cold white light shining on his unchanging face.
Behind him, Efill entered. Somber. The smell of disinfectant had not yet faded from his clothes.
-Duun quietly: "You finished before leaving, didn't you, Efill?"
-Efill nodded: "I killed Wuler. It will be recorded as a mana leak accident causing an explosion... and you will become director."
Duun: "No. It should be you. You deserve it more."
Efill: "That's absurd."
Duun: "You have nearly 30 years of experience. I only have a little over ten years. You understand the organization, I'm only familiar with the field. I will propose – not for me, but for you."
Efill: "Very well... So now, together, we rebuild TIB. The storms will be long, but if I have you, I believe we can stand firm."
Duun: "Agreed."
A few days later, Hospital, early morning.
The small room with white painted walls, dim sunlight filtering through a window covered in a thin layer of dust. The faint smell of antiseptic in the air.
Edie vaguely opened his eyes. Everything was slightly blurred. His left arm was heavy with bandages, there was a faint scratching sound of a pencil somewhere in the room.
Sitting by the window was Hakan, holding a pencil and sketching on an old piece of paper.
-Hakan: "Awake already? I told you not to leave the house, but you still tried... Well, that's called bravery. You're a hero now, Edie."
-Edie vaguely: "Hero, what hero..."
-Hakan: "Alright, now that you're awake, take the opportunity to talk to your father. I'll go out."
Hakan stood up, folded the drawing, then opened the door and walked out.
A man walked in to replace him – tall, impeccably dressed in a black suit. A sword was lightly hung at his hip, not for battle, but out of habit. That was Roock – Edie's father.
-Roock: "Awake now? Feeling alright?"
-Edie: "Always alright, since I left."
-Roock nodded slightly: "...About that... are you angry with me?"
-Edie: "Not at the moment. Because I wasn't any more right than you. Besides... we're family, we can never truly sever ties."
-Roock: "True. Now the choice is yours. Do you want to return and help the family, or live your own way... I won't force you."
-Edie: "Then... why are you here? I thought I'd never see you again."
Roock: "I always watched over you. Just like any other father – not good at saying caring words, so I only knew how to act. This time is no different... it's just... now you're famous."
-Edie paused: "Famous?"
Edie:
"Why am I famous?"
Roock (chuckling softly):
"You'll know when you go out."
He stepped out of the small hospital room.
His legs were still a bit wobbly, his steps slow as if he would fall if anyone lightly touched him. But before he could ask anything more, he suddenly stopped.
In front of Edie were dozens of people waiting. They were the people who were once in the greenhouse – the ones he risked his life to save from Ghosi, from the SILL commanders, from the monster in the form of despair. They stood in two lines, automatically parting when they saw him.
No one spoke at first. Then one person clapped.
A second clap sounded.
And then... the entire line of people applauded. Cheering. Calling his name. Smiling. Many even burst into tears.
Edie walked slowly through the crowd. His hands not raised. His eyes not looking at anyone. He just walked silently – and tears flowed unknowingly. He no longer heard the applause. He heard nothing at all. He only felt his heart heavy, then light.
A feeling he had never had in his life: being recognized. Being called "useful".
When he looked up...
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining directly onto the path he was walking. Perhaps this world still held good things... or it was just a prelude to an upcoming storm.
One year later, late summer
The old room where the two men lived together had not changed. It was still the wooden table by the window, still the rarely touched bookshelf, still the old teapot Hakan had brought with him from his fugitive days.
Hakan sat down, pouring more tea.
Edie looked at him, narrowing his eyes slightly.
-Edie: "What if we don't meet?"
-Hakan chuckled softly: "You should have faith. When I believe in something, the universe gives me that. That's the law of attraction."
-Edie: "Where did you learn all those strange theories? So after we meet and talk... what will you do? Kick me out to bring your daughter back?"
Hakan was silent.
The air slowed, as if all sound was drained. He picked up his teacup, took a sip. Gently put it down.
-Hakan's voice deepened significantly: "I will... surrender. Don't be sad, Edie. That's the law of karma. I can change the present, but not the past."
No one said anything else.
Hakan stood up and went into the next room. The door closed very softly, without a sound.
Edie looked out the window as the sunset descended very slowly.
That night, both lay in bed.
Neither slept.
Neither spoke.
But both heard each other's steady and heavy breathing. The ceiling grew darker. Not because the light was off, but because their hearts were silent.
The morning of the new school year.
The schoolyard was bustling with laughter, bewildered new students, and familiar old faces who had grown accustomed to the scars of time. Edie walked slowly through the crowd, beside him Jinna, holding a thin stack of documents.
-Jinna (looking over): "You look strange today. Is something wrong?"
-Edie shrugged, forcing a smile: "Nothing. Maybe just... a little tired."
-Jinna: "If anything's wrong, you have to tell me."
He tried to keep his voice steady, his steps even, his gaze steady. But the more he tried to act normal, the more apparent his awkwardness became.
During the new student welcoming ceremony, Edie sat in the front row. His arms crossed over his chest, a constant smile on his face.
He smiled at a few old acquaintances who recognized him.
He smiled at a child sitting behind him who waved.
He even smiled at the boring speech by the board of directors.
But... his gaze wasn't there. His mind was no longer at the ceremony.
Until... he saw her.
A blonde girl, long hair reaching her waist, distinctive green eyes...
And a plus-shaped scar on her right wrist.
"Furina"
He stood up, lightly squeezing past a few rows of chairs, approaching.
-Edie: "Excuse me, are you a new student?"
-The girl smiled softly: "Hmm, yes. My name is... Furina. You're Edie, right?"
-Edie froze, then smiled: "Yes. I guess... I'm a bit famous now, huh?"
Furina laughed, shaking her head: "No, not really. I just know you as the one who kept smiling during the ceremony."
They talked a bit more about classes, dorms, cafeteria food...
Simple, pleasant, as if they had once been friends somewhere far away.
The bell rang.
The first class began.
-Edie: "I have to go back to class now. See you later."
-Furina: "Okay. See you again... Edie."
After class, Edie found Furina in the garden corner behind the library.
-Edie: "I want to talk... about Hakan."
Furina tilted her head, her green eyes silently.
When Edie told her everything – every piece of truth, every dark part Hakan had gone through – Furina just bowed her head, clenched her hands, then whispered:
-Furina: "He's so foolish..."
Late afternoon, Edie took her to meet Hakan. The two talked for a long time.
Edie couldn't hear clearly, only saw Hakan sitting still, his hands on his lap.
Furina stood up and left, her eyes red, but she didn't say anything.
The next morning.
-Hakan: "Go hunt some wild chickens for me. Today we're cooking something special."
Edie returned at noon.
But the scene before his eyes chilled the blood in his veins. In front of the wooden house were nearly a dozen people wearing TIB's black uniforms. In the center was Hakan – handcuffed, standing silently.
Duun approached, his gaze calm but very unfamiliar.
-Duun: "Hello. Do you live with this man?"
-Edie anxiously: "Yes... Is something wrong?"
-Duun nodded slightly: "Then please come with us. We are TIB – the agency that investigates and handles threats to the nation. And this man... is a former SILL member with the alias 'Death'."
--End of Chapter—