The house was quiet. Aeren slept with his small chest rising and falling, while Elyra sat against the wall, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. Kairis's fingers traced the edge of his Graviton Blade, the faint hum of the system in his mind keeping him alert.
Kaiyara remained outside, standing just beyond the doorway. She hadn't moved closer since he had released her from Gyro-Telekinesis. She was patient, precise, and waiting for him to make the first decision.
"Why are you here?" Kairis asked, voice low and steady. Not accusatory, but cold. He didn't trust her. He didn't need to.
"I already told you," she said, eyes glowing faint violet in the dim light. "The network is tracking rogue Awakeners. You… don't appear on our records. Your kills, your system—everything is off-grid. I'm here to understand what you're capable of, so we can ensure you don't become a problem… or so we can learn from you."
Kairis remained silent for a long moment. He scanned her—every movement, every pulse, every energy fluctuation. Then he let out a soft sigh, a sound almost human, almost tired.
"Fine," he said finally. "I'll hear you out. But don't think this means I trust you. One wrong move and…" He let the sentence hang.
Kaiyara nodded, unflinching. "Understood. Follow me. And no tricks."
Kairis didn't speak as they moved through the ruined city. He carried Elyra and Aeren's small packs of supplies, keeping them close, always scanning the shadows. The world beyond his temporary stronghold was dangerous—not just monsters, but other Awakened humans, and perhaps worse: people who had already aligned themselves with power.
The streets were quieter than expected, but rubble and smoke told the story. Civilization had collapsed. The network had strongholds, small fortresses and supply caches, and patrols that scoured the ruins for threats.
Kaiyara walked beside him silently. Kairis noticed her system pulses, faint but steady. She was strong. He had already felt it firsthand. And yet, she was careful. Observant. Not reckless.
Good, he thought. At least one competent human in this chaos.
Arrival at the Organization
The building was an old municipal structure, partially reinforced. Fences, barricades, and Dark Matter wards pulsed faintly around its perimeter. Guards patrolled methodically, scanning every shadow.
Kaiyara led him past checkpoints. At each one, she whispered a code, and the guards' system scans verified her identity. Kairis noticed the network's presence everywhere: subtle holographic interfaces, hidden energy wards, and strategically placed observation points.
Inside, the main hall was vast. Maps of monster incursions, energy readings, and survivor locations covered the walls. Screens pulsed with system data, showing Awakeners' statuses, current missions, and reports of monster attacks.
"Kairis Valmont," Kaiyara announced as she led him to a secure chamber. "This is where the network coordinates operations in the region. You're… new, but you've already left your mark."
Kairis surveyed the room with a faint smirk. He didn't care for hierarchy, didn't care for politics, but he understood the advantage of information. This place was a goldmine. Maps, monster stats, known strongholds, patrol routes. Everything he needed to protect his siblings and himself.
Kaiyara finally spoke as he inspected a digital display of recent monster movements.
"The network wants to know your abilities. Your system. Your class. But they also want to assess if you can contribute—or if you're a threat." She didn't flinch under his piercing gaze. "I've already reported you as an unknown Awakener. If you cooperate, they might provide resources and intelligence. If not… you stay off-grid, at your own risk."
Kairis considered her words carefully. He thought about Elyra and Aeren. They were his responsibility. Any misstep could mean death for them.
Maybe listening isn't betrayal… maybe it's strategy.
He looked at Kaiyara, his brown-black eyes faintly glowing at the edges with purple. "I'll hear you out. But make no mistake—I'm not your ally. Not yet."
Her lips quirked into a small smile. "Fair enough. That's… exactly what I expected."
The system pulsed softly in his mind. A new line appeared:
> [New Objective: Assess the Network – Optional]
[Rewards: Access to Intelligence, Possible Resources, XP for Survival Decisions]
Kairis flexed his fingers, thinking about the monsters, the Dark Matter, the system, and his siblings. He was learning, evolving, and surviving.
And if this organization could help him survive—temporarily—it was just another tool.