Kaemor kept pace behind Blythe, speaking up with a hint of urgency. "Your sister's been through hell and back, hasn't she? Shouldn't you be doing something to stop Rhaziel's plans? I mean, come on—Chiaki's no match for him. If they cross paths, she won't stand a chance."
His words weighed heavily, pressing on Blythe, who kept his expression unreadable—neither concerned nor indifferent.
"I'm not too worried about her," Blythe replied calmly. "If anything, she scares me. Chiaki's power… no one's ever really seen what she can do. She keeps it close. The thing is—she doesn't even realize how much she's capable of."
Kaemor didn't buy into Blythe's words. "Guess I'll have to see that for myself. From what I've seen, she didn't earn her reputation through power—just because she's a rare kind of human. Maybe I'll pay her a visit, find out what she's really capable of."
But before the thought could settle, Blythe's eyes narrowed, a cold intensity flickering in his gaze. "Then why don't you try it now?"
Kaemor blinked, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"
Blythe crossed his arms, taking a calm breath before meeting Kaemor's eyes with a firm, unwavering stare.
"I didn't mean anything by it. Just saying… you might run into her sooner than you expect," he said flatly, then turned away without another word—offering no hint that Chiaki was already far closer than anyone realized.
There was no doubting Blythe's claim, and Kaemor ran with it. "So, your sister really is in Lyvoria Crest, huh? If that's the case, I imagine her visit's going to be a mess—drenched in all those buried memories she tried so hard to forget. Let's just hope it doesn't break her too much."
Blythe didn't flinch at the jab. In fact, he seemed to grow calmer, his voice steady and composed. "What is it you have against my sister? Far as I know, she's never done a thing to you. But if you're so eager to see what all the talk is about… why not make that happen?"
"No, no, my dear friend, don't get me wrong—I've got nothing against her personally. But Rhaziel? Oh, he definitely will. And as for your Marine buddies… who knows what they'll do. Her bounty isn't just some clerical mistake, is it? That so-called 'gifted' strength of hers might just bring disaster down on this island."
Kaemor's tone darkened, a sly grin creeping in.
"Rhaziel would be the first to remind her what karma really looks like. If I were you, I wouldn't have brought her here. Everyone's either out for her head—or worse. She was a test subject once already, wasn't she? And there's still a whole lot she hasn't uncovered yet."
"Since you're the one who confirmed she's here, let me make something clear," Kaemor cut in, firm and unapologetic. "She came here of her own will. No one dragged her. And yeah, I've got ties to the Marines—but there's no way in hell my family would ever make me hunt her down. I'd only confront her if there was no other option... or if she used her power to cause real harm."
He let that hang for a beat before continuing, his tone sharpening.
"So what then? You think she's here to chase after the higher-tier powers of the Resonators? Maybe even mess with the ability to sever souls—or worse, resonate them? She could end up healing those who should've stayed gone… or hurting people she doesn't understand."
Kaemor leaned in slightly, a glint of challenge in his eye.
"What happens then? Is her big brother going to throw himself in the fire for her mistakes?"
"Like I said, she'll live her life on her own terms—whether that leads to ruin or redemption. From everything I've seen and heard, though, she's leaning toward the light, not the dark. She's even wished she were dead, hated that her friends rescued her. Besides, if she'd truly embraced darkness like we once did… she never would've come here."
Kaemor let out a quiet sigh, stepping ahead of Blythe and gazing toward the distant sky. "Then let me ask you this… What if I decide to tell Rhaziel about her? Or better yet—what if I hunt her down myself? What would you say to that, old friend?"
There was a heavy pause. Blythe drew in a slow breath, then exhaled, his voice calm and resolute.
"I wouldn't do a thing," he said plainly, offering no reaction to Kaemor's threat.
Then, just as flatly, he added, "In fact, I'll even tell you where she is, if that's what you want."
He spoke without a hint of urgency, making it clear he felt no obligation to intervene.
"Of course, I won't be helping you… and I'm not planning to stop you, either. She's at the mountain—just nearby."
"Where exactly...?"
Meanwhile, Chiaki and Vivia had made it to the forested slope of the mountain, where a long winding path led toward the shrine they'd heard about. It lay just beyond the statue—one they'd seen others visit in passing.
"We've gotta be close to the shrine by now, right?" Vivia asked, her voice strained. "I can't let Cassian die… or stay severed forever."
Exhausted from the uphill trek, her worry only grew heavier with every step, the fear of arriving too late gnawing at her.
"I know," Chiaki replied, keeping her pace steady. "But we're not there yet. Just hold on—for your brother. We won't let him die. I promise."
With that, she pushed forward through the thick brush, her thoughts locked on one goal.
Eventually, the forest began to thin, and the path opened up—they were closer now, much closer.
But just as hope began to rise… new trouble was already waiting ahead.
Chiaki's foot pressed down on something subtle—thin, metallic, nearly invisible in the underbrush. The instant it snapped, a hiss followed. A line of fire erupted beneath the soil like a fuse racing toward disaster.
The ground lit up. Dry leaves burst into flame. Trees shuddered as heat spread in a wave. A ring of fire began to climb upward, swallowing the forest in a heartbeat.
Vivia stumbled back, eyes wide, breath caught in her throat. "What the hell is happening?!"
Chiaki turned, scanning the rising inferno around them, heart pounding as the flames surged unnaturally fast. "It's a trap—someone set this up. We need to move—"
But the air shifted.
Suddenly, the sky above them darkened—not from clouds, but from presence. A dense, suffocating weight pressed down from above.
Then, without warning, something tore through the heavens like a blade. A figure plunged from the sky at terrifying speed, wrapped in twisting trails of smoke and pressurized gas. He slammed into the earth with force enough to crater it—splintering stone, tearing bark from trees, and sending a fiery shockwave in all directions.
The blast shredded the terrain. Trees buckled under the pressure. Dirt, ash, and sparks were launched into the air like shrapnel. A brutal gale howled outward, fire and smoke dancing violently in the aftermath.
From the heart of the destruction, a figure rose.
He emerged from the flames like a demon born from ruin—cloaked in a battle-worn parka, fur-lined hood casting deep shadows over the gas mask fused to his face. Twin circular lenses glowed with molten light, scanning through the smoke. Coiled cords wrapped around his arms and chest, hissing with compressed flammable gas. Flames licked at his boots as he stepped forward, calm, unshaken.
A low hum accompanied his movements—faint at first, like the purr of a predator's breath.
Chiaki stood firm, forcing Vivia behind her as she stared him down, her eyes narrowing with sharp clarity.
He lifted his head slightly. The tubes on his mask flexed. The wind stilled for just a second.
Then came his voice—distorted, mechanical, yet unmistakably casual in its malice.
"Been a long time coming… and now here you are. Right where I wanted you."
To be continued...