Loki raised his hand.
His fingers snapped.
Tick.
The world stopped.
Sound vanished.
Movement froze.
Even the falling dust hung motionless in the air.
Time itself seemed to kneel.
The screen of reality turned black—
as if existence blinked.
Tick.
Time resumed.
Cris collapsed to his knees.
Blood spilled from his mouth, splashing onto the frozen floor.
His eyes glowed an unnatural blue, trembling with confusion.
"Wh—where am I…?" he whispered.
His body shook once.
Then—
He fell forward.
Unconscious.
The ice around him shattered and melted into nothing.
Panic exploded through the hall.
People screamed and rushed toward the exits, trampling seats, pushing each other in fear. The building echoed with chaos as everyone fled.
Loki clicked his tongue.
"I hate crowded places."
Within minutes—
The hall was empty.
Only three figures remained.
Wal stepped forward slowly, staring at Cris lying motionless on the ground.
"O-Okay… all the members are gone," Wal said nervously.
"So… what do we do now?"
Loki turned sharply.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Wal scratched his head awkwardly.
"Nothing. Just… trying to understand how you knocked him out."
Loki sighed.
"Ahh… whatever."
He bent down, lifting Cris effortlessly onto his shoulder.
"Carry him," Loki said coldly.
"And follow me."
Wal's eyes widened.
"Eh?! But where?"
Loki walked toward the darkness ahead without turning back.
"You'll find out."
Thunder crackled faintly in the distance.
And somewhere far beyond—