The air changed that night.
Not emotionally.
Not spiritually.
But deliberately.
---
I felt it the moment the sun set.
A faint pressure spreading through the area—
thin, precise, artificial.
> [Warning: Spiritual Marker Detected.]
"…They marked this place."
> [Confirmation: Area-based detection array deployed.]
So the hunter from the hospital hadn't given up.
He'd simply expanded the search.
---
I stayed close to the watch.
Too close.
The anchor vibrated faintly, reacting to something outside.
> Existence Stability: 10%
Even stabilized, I was fragile.
One wrong move, and it would all end.
---
Ethan locked the store and pulled down the shutters earlier than usual.
"Power's been acting weird lately," he muttered.
Lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then stabilized.
---
Outside, I sensed them.
Three presences.
Cold.
Focused.
Human—but reinforced with tools and symbols.
Hunters.
---
> [Probability of Detection: Rising.]
"Options?" I asked quietly.
> [Available Options: Limited.]
That wasn't helpful.
---
A new window opened.
> [Emergency Option Unlocked.]
— Spirit Masking (Unstable)
Effect: Suppress presence temporarily
Cost: Existence Stability Drain
Suppressing my presence…
"…How much?"
> [Estimated Cost: 4–6%]
I stared at my stability.
> Existence Stability: 10%
So using it might drop me to zero.
Or close enough.
---
Outside, a faint chant began.
Symbols flared briefly across the pavement.
The detection net tightened.
---
Ethan froze.
"…Why does it feel cold all of a sudden?"
I had no time.
---
"Activate," I whispered.
> [Spirit Masking Activated.]
My world dimmed.
Sound dulled.
Even the ticking of the watch grew distant.
---
> Existence Stability: 6%
Pain tore through me.
Not sharp.
Hollow.
Like something essential was being scraped away.
---
Outside—
The hunters paused.
One of them frowned.
"…Signal's gone."
"Temporary," another replied. "Stay alert."
---
Minutes passed.
Each second felt like a knife.
Then—
The pressure eased.
The net loosened.
They moved on.
---
> [Spirit Masking Ended.]
I nearly collapsed against the anchor.
> Existence Stability: 5%
"…That was stupid."
> [Correction: That was necessary.]
I wasn't sure which was worse.
---
The store was silent.
Ethan hugged himself behind the counter.
"…I hate nights like this."
I wanted to tell him to leave.
To go somewhere safe.
But I couldn't.
Not without risking everything.
---
> [Beginner Task: Ongoing.]
Days Remaining: 1
One day left.
And I was barely holding on.
---