(Vena’s POV) “…I was your little sister.” Time…
Stopped.
The words echoed inside my head louder than the ancient voice beneath the Gate.
My…
Little sister?
I stared at the little girl standing before me.
The rainwater dripping from the broken ceiling landed on her silver hair, yet she didn’t move.
Her small body trembled.
Not because she was afraid.
Because she had finally said something she had kept hidden for countless years.
My lips moved before my mind could react.
“…No.” It came out as nothing more than a whisper.
“…That’s impossible.” “I never had a sister.” The little girl smiled.
It wasn’t a happy smile.
It was the smile of someone who had waited far too long to be remembered.
“You did.” The Guardian closed his eyes.
Almost as if hearing those words hurt him more than anyone else.
The Commander slowly lowered his weapon.
No one interrupted.
No one dared to.
The ancient voice from beneath the staircase remained silent…
Waiting.
My heartbeat grew louder.
“I…” I took one hesitant step toward the little girl.
“If you’re my sister…” “…then tell me.” “My name.” The little girl’s expression changed instantly.
Pain.
Regret.
Fear.
She slowly shook her head.
“I can’t.” “…Why?” “Because if I say it…” “…they’ll hear it.” The chapel became deathly quiet.
“They?” I asked.
She slowly lifted her eyes.
Not toward the Guardian.
Not toward the Commander.
Not toward Nikhil.
She looked…
Into the darkness beneath the staircase.
A cold breeze flowed out from below.
The candles flickered violently.
Then…
The ancient voice laughed.
Not loudly.
Softly.
As if amused by our conversation.
“Wise child.” “You remember the rule.” The little girl instinctively stepped in front of me.
“You can’t have her.” The voice answered almost gently.
“She belongs to no one.” “She belongs…
to the Name.” Every word caused the stone floor to vibrate.
Tiny cracks spread across the ancient symbols.
The Guardian immediately raised one hand.
Silver markings crawled across his arm like living ink.
The air around him distorted.
“Commander.” His voice became cold.
“We’re leaving.” The Commander frowned.
“We still don’t know what’s inside.” “We don’t need to.” “It already knows enough.” Outside the chapel…
Nikhil quietly watched the broken entrance.
His phone remained against his ear.
The person on the other side finally spoke.
“Status.” Nikhil didn’t answer immediately.
His eyes stayed fixed on me.
Then he quietly said, “…She’s remembered one fragment.” A pause.
Another voice came through the speaker.
Calm.
Older.
“That wasn’t supposed to happen.” “I know.” “Retrieve her.” Nikhil’s expression didn’t change.
“…Negative.” Silence.
The voice became colder.
“Repeat your answer.” “I said…” “…negative.” Even through the distance…
Something in his eyes had changed.
Not rebellion.
Not fear.
A decision.
He slowly ended the call himself.
For several seconds…
He simply stared at the black screen.
Then slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“…I’m done following orders.” Back inside the chapel…
The temperature dropped so suddenly that my breath turned white.
Every soldier instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
One of them whispered, “Commander…” “The readings…” The Commander glanced at the scanner attached to his wrist.
His expression froze.
“Impossible.” The Guardian looked toward him.
“What?” The Commander slowly turned the screen around.
The numbers were climbing.
Not slowly.
Explosively.
Energy Level: 132% 147% 161% It kept rising.
“There shouldn’t even be this much energy left after the Gate opened.” The Guardian stared at the display.
Then…
His face changed.
“…It isn’t coming from the Gate.” Everyone looked at him.
He slowly turned…
Toward me.
My chest tightened.
“What?” His voice was almost inaudible.
“…It’s coming from you.” I instinctively stepped backward.
“No…” “I can’t even control anything.” As if answering me…
The silver pendant around my neck suddenly became warm.
Then…
Hot.
Pain shot through my chest.
I grabbed it instinctively.
The moment my fingers touched its surface— A bright pulse exploded outward.
BOOM!
Every stained-glass window shattered.
The soldiers were thrown backwards.
The Commander barely remained standing.
Even the Guardian slid several steps across the stone floor.
I couldn’t breathe.
My vision blurred.
Voices…
Hundreds of them…
Filled my head again.
“Wake up…” “Don’t answer…” “Protect the Name…” “Run…” Fragments of unfamiliar memories flashed before my eyes.
A city made entirely of white towers.
A child laughing beside a lake of silver light.
A woman placing a pendant around my neck.
A man kneeling before me…
Calling me— Before I could hear the word— The vision shattered.
I fell to one knee.
My entire body was shaking.
The little girl immediately caught my arm.
“Don’t fight it.” “I…” “I don’t understand…” “You don’t have to.” Her voice softened.
“You only have to survive today.” For a brief moment…
Her words felt less like advice…
And more like a promise.
Suddenly…
THUD.
A sound echoed from beneath the staircase.
Not footsteps.
Something much heavier.
THUD.
Again.
The stone staircase cracked.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
Every soldier raised their weapons.
The Commander shouted, “Formation!” Blue barriers appeared across the chapel.
Energy rifles locked onto the darkness below.
Even the Guardian’s expression hardened.
He whispered…
“…They’re here.” The little girl’s fingers tightened around my wrist.
She looked at me with eyes filled with fear.
Not fear for herself.
Fear…
For me.
She whispered only four words.
“Don’t let it see you.” At that exact moment…
A pale hand slowly emerged from the darkness beneath the staircase.
Not human.
Not completely.
Its fingers were unnaturally long…
And wrapped in ancient silver chains that dragged across the stone floor with a chilling metallic sound.
Clink…
Clink…
Clink…
The chapel fell completely silent.
And for the first time since my rebirth…
Even the Guardian took a step back.
The metallic sound echoed through the chapel.
Clink…
Clink…
Clink…
The chained hand slowly gripped the cracked edge of the staircase.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Then another hand appeared.
This one was larger.
Covered in black markings that looked as though someone had carved ancient symbols directly into flesh.
The Commander immediately raised his hand.
“Don’t fire.” One of the soldiers swallowed hard.
“Sir…
it’s coming out.” “I said don’t fire.” His voice wasn’t calm anymore.
It was…
cautious.
The Guardian stood silently between me and the staircase.
His silver markings spread from his arm to his neck, glowing brighter with every passing second.
I stared at him.
“…You’re scared.” He didn’t deny it.
“I respect what’s behind that Gate.” Respect.
Not fear.
That answer somehow frightened me even more.
A figure slowly climbed the final step.
Its body looked human.
But only from a distance.
It was nearly seven feet tall.
Its skin resembled polished white stone with faint silver veins running beneath it.
Its face…
Had no eyes.
No nose.
Only a smooth surface with countless ancient symbols moving across it like living tattoos.
Around both wrists hung enormous silver chains.
Each chain disappeared back into the darkness below.
As if…
Something even larger still remained inside the Gate.
The creature stopped moving.
It tilted its head.
Listening.
Not seeing.
Listening.
The little girl covered my mouth before I could even breathe.
“Don’t…” “…make a sound.” The Commander slowly activated the device on his wrist.
A blue holographic screen appeared.
The creature was instantly scanned.
UNKNOWN LIFEFORM Threat Assessment: ERROR Classification: DATA NOT FOUND The Commander’s face darkened.
“…There’s no record.” One of the soldiers whispered, “How can something not exist in the Archive?” The Guardian answered without looking away from the creature.
“Because…” “…it existed before the Archive.” Silence.
No one understood what that truly meant.
Except…
Nikhil.
Outside the chapel…
Rain continued to pour.
Nikhil stood beneath the broken archway, his gaze fixed on the creature.
For the first time since I had known him…
His expression lost all confidence.
He quietly muttered, “So they woke one…” His hand unconsciously tightened around the pendant hidden beneath his shirt.
“…Earlier than expected.” Another phone began vibrating inside his coat.
Not the black phone.
A normal one.
The screen displayed only one word.
Mother He stared at it for several seconds.
Then answered.
“…Yes.” A calm woman’s voice spoke.
“Nikhil.” “Come home.” “No.” “…The ceremony failed.” “I know.” “Then your mission is over.” Nikhil looked through the chapel entrance.
His eyes stopped on me.
“…No.” “There is still one thing left to do.” “What?” His voice became almost inaudible.
“…Protect her.” The line went silent.
Several seconds later…
The call disconnected.
No goodbye.
No argument.
Only silence.
Inside the chapel…
The creature slowly raised one chained arm.
Every soldier instinctively aimed their weapons.
The Commander shouted, “Hold your fire!” The creature wasn’t attacking.
Instead…
It pointed directly at me.
A voice echoed inside every mind.
Not through the ears.
Directly into thought.
“Recognition…” The words vibrated inside my skull.
“…Incomplete.” The silver symbols across its face began rearranging themselves.
“The Name…” “…is hidden.” The Guardian stepped forward.
“Enough.” The creature ignored him.
It took one slow step toward me.
The chains dragged behind it.
CLANG…
The entire chapel trembled.
Another step.
CLANG…
Cracks spread across the floor.
The Commander finally shouted, “Barrier Team!” Four soldiers slammed glowing metal rods into the ground.
A blue energy wall rose between us and the creature.
The Commander exhaled.
“We’ve stopped it.” The Guardian’s expression remained unchanged.
“No.” The creature reached out with one finger.
It gently touched the barrier.
Nothing happened.
Then…
The blue wall dissolved into tiny particles.
Like mist.
No explosion.
No resistance.
It simply…
Stopped existing.
Every soldier froze.
One whispered, “…That’s impossible.” The creature continued walking.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Certain.
Every step echoed through the chapel.
The little girl suddenly pushed me backward.
“Run!” “I can’t leave you!” “You have to!” “I won’t!” She looked straight into my eyes.
For a split second…
Her silver eyes became exactly like mine.
Not similar.
Identical.
A strange warmth spread through my chest.
Fragments of another memory surfaced.
Two little girls…
Holding hands.
Running through endless white flowers.
One of them laughed.
“Promise me.” “If we ever get separated…” “…you’ll find me again.” The memory disappeared.
A sharp pain pierced my head.
I grabbed my temple.
“…Who were we?” The little girl smiled sadly.
“You remembered the promise.” A tear slipped down her cheek.
“…That’s enough.” Without warning— The creature stopped.
It slowly turned its faceless head…
Toward the Guardian.
Then spoke again.
“Guardian…” The Guardian’s body stiffened.
The creature continued.
“You have failed…” The Guardian lowered his eyes.
“…I know.” Everyone looked at him in shock.
The Commander frowned.
“You know this thing?” The Guardian answered quietly, “…Long ago.” The creature raised its chained arm.
The symbols covering its body suddenly glowed crimson.
The temperature inside the chapel plummeted.
Even breathing became difficult.
Then…
It spoke the words that made the Guardian’s face lose all color.
“The Seventh Seal…” “…has already been broken.” Silence.
The Commander stared at him.
“…There are seven seals?” The Guardian didn’t answer.
Because at that exact moment…
The pendant around my neck cracked.
Just a little.
A thin line appeared across its surface.
And from that tiny crack…
A single drop of silver light floated into the air.
The creature slowly reached toward it…
As though it had been searching for that light…
For thousands of years.
The tiny drop of silver light floated silently above the cracked pendant.
No bigger than a raindrop.
Yet…
Every pair of eyes inside the chapel followed it.
The chained creature slowly extended its hand.
Not with violence…
But with reverence.
Almost like a believer reaching toward something sacred.
The Guardian suddenly moved.
“Vena!” His voice echoed through the chapel.
“Don’t let it touch the Essence!” Essence?
Before I could even ask— The silver drop suddenly changed direction.
Instead of moving toward the creature…
It drifted toward me.
“…Again?” I whispered.
The little girl immediately stepped between us.
“No!” She stretched out both hands.
The silver drop stopped inches away from her fingertips.
For one terrifying second…
Time itself seemed frozen.
Then— The drop shattered.
Not into water.
Into countless glowing fragments.
Each fragment transformed into tiny silver butterflies.
Dozens…
Hundreds…
They filled the chapel, circling through the broken stained-glass windows like living stars.
The Commander stared upward in disbelief.
“…That’s impossible.” One of the soldiers whispered, “I’ve never seen Essence choose its owner…” The Guardian quietly corrected him.
“It isn’t choosing.” “It’s…” His voice became almost inaudible.
“…returning home.” The butterflies suddenly surrounded me.
None of them touched anyone else.
Only me.
As they brushed against my skin…
Fragments of memories flashed through my mind.
A silver train racing through an endless night.
A modern skyscraper with an ancient symbol hidden on its rooftop.
Children laughing in a school courtyard.
A black umbrella.
A boy…
Standing beneath it.
I couldn’t see his face.
Only his voice.
“You’re late again.” For some reason…
Hearing that single sentence made my heart ache.
Who was he?
Why did that voice feel…
Familiar?
The memory disappeared before I could see more.
“Vena!” The Commander’s shout snapped me back to reality.
One butterfly landed on my shoulder.
Another rested on the cracked pendant.
The creature stopped walking.
It tilted its faceless head.
The symbols across its body began moving rapidly.
Almost…
Like it was confused.
Then it spoke.
“Recognition denied.” Silence.
The Guardian frowned.
“…Denied?” The creature took one step backward.
For the first time…
It hesitated.
The little girl slowly smiled.
“…It can’t find her.” The Commander looked between us.
“What does that mean?” The Guardian didn’t answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the butterflies.
Finally he said, “…Someone rewrote her existence.” The words echoed through the chapel.
The Commander looked stunned.
“You mean…” “Yes.” “It isn’t only her memories.” “It’s…” “…her fate.” Outside…
The rain suddenly stopped.
Not gradually.
Instantly.
Every raindrop froze in midair.
The entire city fell silent.
Cars on the distant highway stopped moving.
Streetlights flickered.
Digital billboards turned black.
Every phone within a kilometer simultaneously lost signal.
Far above the clouds…
A massive circular symbol slowly appeared.
Invisible to ordinary people.
But everyone connected to the hidden world could see it.
The Commander’s communicator crackled.
One frightened voice came through.
“Commander!” “Multiple organizations have detected an anomaly!” Another voice interrupted.
“Ashbourne Family has mobilized.” Another.
“The Northern Sanctuary is requesting confirmation.” Another.
“Aster Biotech satellites have locked onto your location.” The Commander’s expression darkened.
“So…” “…everyone felt it.” The Guardian quietly replied, “No.” He looked toward the sky.
“They’re not reacting…” “…they’re gathering.” My heartbeat quickened.
“What does that mean?” The Guardian slowly turned toward me.
“It means…” “…your existence is no longer a secret.” The little girl lowered her head.
“They’ve finally found you.” A cold chill ran down my spine.
“They?” The Guardian nodded.
“The Seven Families.” The Commander immediately interrupted.
“Not all seven.” “Only six.” Everyone became silent.
I frowned.
“…Why six?” The Guardian’s eyes met mine.
“Because…” “…the seventh family disappeared twenty years ago.” My fingers instinctively tightened around the pendant.
Twenty years…
The same time my parents died.
Could it be— Before I could finish the thought— A sharp electronic beep echoed through the chapel.
The Commander looked at his wrist device.
A holographic map appeared.
Seven glowing points surrounded the city.
One after another…
They began moving.
Not away.
Toward us.
Fast.
The Commander’s breathing became heavier.
“They’re already here…” One soldier whispered nervously, “Sir…” “…those aren’t helicopters.” “They’re moving too fast.” The Guardian stared at the map.
His expression became colder than ever before.
“No…” “…those aren’t people.” The butterflies circling around me suddenly stopped.
Every single one of them turned toward the broken entrance of the chapel.
As if they had sensed…
Something approaching.
Far beyond the shattered doorway…
A silhouette appeared through the fog.
Only one.
Walking slowly.
An umbrella rested over its shoulder.
Its face couldn’t be seen.
Only the polished black shoes echoing against the wet stone path.
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
Nikhil, who had remained calm until now…
Looked toward the silhouette.
For the first time…
His pupils narrowed.
He whispered under his breath— “…Why is he here?” Nikhil’s voice was barely louder than a whisper.
Yet…
For the first time…
There was unmistakable tension in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not hatred.
Something much rarer.
Caution.
The silhouette continued walking through the thick mist.
Tap…
Tap…
Tap…
Each footstep echoed unnaturally across the ruined courtyard.
The strange part wasn’t the sound.
It was everything around it.
The frozen raindrops…
Began moving again.
The violent energy surrounding the Second Gate…
Calmed.
Even the chained creature slowly lowered its head.
As though acknowledging someone’s arrival.
The Commander noticed it immediately.
“…It’s bowing.” Every soldier stared in disbelief.
“What could make a Gate Sentinel bow?” The Guardian didn’t answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the approaching figure.
His breathing became heavier.
“…No…” “…This shouldn’t be happening.” The silhouette finally stopped.
Still too far away for anyone to recognize.
A long black umbrella rested on one shoulder.
The face remained hidden beneath the shadow.
Then…
A calm voice echoed across the chapel.
“Looks like…” “…I’m late.” Silence.
The voice sounded young.
Maybe twenty.
Maybe twenty-five.
There was no arrogance.
No threat.
Just quiet confidence.
The Commander immediately shouted, “Identify yourself!” No answer.
Instead…
The stranger looked toward the chained creature.
Then quietly sighed.
“…You’re awake earlier than expected.” The creature suddenly trembled.
Not from fear.
Recognition.
It slowly stepped backward.
Its silver chains rattled loudly.
For the first time…
It spoke without looking at me.
“…Observer…” The single word made everyone’s expression change.
The Guardian’s pupils contracted.
“…It remembers.” The Commander frowned.
“What is an Observer?” No one answered.
Outside the chapel…
Nikhil slowly slipped one hand into his coat.
Not reaching for a weapon.
For another phone.
A small encrypted device.
He pressed a single button.
A green light blinked once.
“…Change of plan.” He spoke quietly.
“Cancel every team.” A distorted voice answered immediately.
“Reason?” Nikhil kept watching the silhouette.
“…Someone arrived before us.” Another pause.
“Identity confirmed?” “…Negative.” “Then eliminate both.” Nikhil’s eyes turned cold.
“…I said…” “…cancel.” Without waiting for permission…
He crushed the communicator beneath his shoe.
The tiny device shattered into pieces.
He exhaled slowly.
“…I’m done.” Inside…
The little girl tightened her grip around my hand.
“…Don’t look at him.” “What?” “Please…” “Don’t.” I frowned.
“Why?” Her voice trembled.
“Because if he looks back…” “…he’ll know.” Know what?
Before she could answer…
The stranger slowly raised one hand.
He didn’t point.
He didn’t attack.
He simply snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The sound was soft.
Almost impossible to hear.
But the effect…
Was terrifying.
Every chain wrapped around the Gate Sentinel instantly froze.
Not covered in ice.
Frozen in time.
The moving symbols stopped flowing.
The silver glow disappeared.
The entire creature became perfectly still.
Like a paused video.
The Commander stared with wide eyes.
“…What did he just do?” The Guardian whispered only one sentence.
“…He stopped time.” The Commander immediately shook his head.
“No.” “Nothing can stop time.” The Guardian corrected him.
“…Not time.” “…Movement.” The stranger slowly lowered his hand.
“…Go back.” His tone remained calm.
No shouting.
No chanting.
No magical circle.
Just…
A simple order.
For several long seconds…
Nothing happened.
Then…
The enormous chained creature bent one knee.
The stone floor cracked beneath its weight.
Its faceless head lowered.
As if obeying a king.
The Commander whispered, “…Impossible.” The creature spoke one final time.
“…The Name…” “…will awaken…” Its body dissolved into silver dust.
The chains fell to the ground.
Then…
Even they disappeared.
The Second Gate suddenly became silent.
Too silent.
The crimson light surrounding the staircase faded.
The unbearable pressure vanished.
One by one…
The floating butterflies settled onto the broken floor before dissolving into tiny sparks.
I blinked.
“…It’s over?” “No.” The Guardian’s voice was firm.
“…This was only the beginning.” The mysterious stranger turned slightly.
Not enough for anyone to see his face.
Only enough for me to notice one thing.
On his right wrist…
A black bracelet.
Engraved with an unfamiliar symbol.
It looked like…
A pair of wings surrounding a single eye.
The moment I saw it…
My pendant vibrated.
A sharp pain shot through my chest.
Another memory surfaced.
A boy sitting beside me on the roof of a school building.
The wind blowing through his dark hair.
He smiled without looking at me.
“One day…” “…when everything starts falling apart…” “…don’t trust the answers.” I couldn’t see his face.
No matter how hard I tried.
Only…
That same bracelet.
The memory vanished.
I stumbled forward.
“…Who are you…?” The words escaped my lips before I realized it.
The stranger stopped walking.
For the first time…
He slightly turned his head.
Not enough to reveal his face.
Just enough that a faint smile could be heard in his voice.
“Wrong question.” He opened the umbrella.
“Ask me that…
when you remember yours.” The wind suddenly roared through the chapel.
Dust, feathers, and silver light swirled together.
Everyone instinctively shielded their eyes.
When the wind settled…
The stranger was gone.
Only the black umbrella remained lying on the cracked stone floor.
No footprints.
No presence.
Nothing.
The Guardian slowly walked toward the umbrella.
He looked at the engraved symbol on its handle…
And for the first time since Chapter 1…
His calm expression completely shattered.
“…Ashbourne…” The Commander looked up sharply.
“What did you say?” The Guardian’s hand tightened around the umbrella.
His voice was barely audible.
“The Ashbourne Family has finally made their move.
The silence felt…
unnatural.
Only a few minutes ago, the abandoned chapel had bg under the pressure of the Second Gate.
Now…
Nothing.
The crimson light had disappeared.
The ancient symbols carved into the stone floor slowly faded until they looked like ordinary cracks.
Broken glass glittered beneath the moonlight.
If someone walked inside now…
They would never believe that another world had just opened here.
I stared at the black umbrella lying on the ground.
“…Ashbourne…” The Guardian quietly picked it up.
For a brief second, something crossed his face.
Not fear.
Respect.
And perhaps…
Regret.
The Commander walked over immediately.
“You know who that was.” The Guardian remained silent.
The Commander frowned.
“You’ve known from the beginning, haven’t you?” No answer.
“…Who are the Ashbournes?” The Guardian finally looked toward him.
“The family you pray never interferes.” The Commander laughed awkwardly.
“That’s not an answer.” “No.” “It’s a warning.” The Commander stopped smiling.
The Guardian rarely joked.
Which meant…
He wasn’t joking now.
One of the soldiers cautiously approached the shattered staircase.
“Sir…” “The Gate…” He suddenly froze.
“…It’s gone.” Everyone turned.
The staircase that had led into endless darkness…
Had vanished.
Only ordinary stone remained.
As though the Gate had never existed.
The Commander immediately activated his scanner.
No energy.
No dimensional distortion.
Nothing.
He lowered the device slowly.
“Impossible…” “The records said a Gate remains unstable for at least seventy-two hours.” The Guardian looked toward me.
“Not this one.” “Why?” “Because…” His eyes stayed fixed on the pendant hanging around my neck.
“…someone closed it.” I instinctively touched the pendant.
The crack was still there.
But strangely…
It no longer felt broken.
It felt…
Alive.
Almost as though something inside it had awakened.
A sharp pain suddenly struck my temple.
Fragments of unfamiliar voices echoed again.
“Protect her…” “Don’t let the Seventh Seal break…” “She must never remember…” I squeezed my eyes shut.
“…Enough…” The voices grew louder.
Then…
Everything stopped.
A warm hand gently rested on my head.
I opened my eyes.
The little girl smiled softly.
“They can’t reach you anymore.” “…Who are ‘they’?” She looked toward the night sky.
“The ones who have been waiting.” Before I could ask another question— She staggered.
Her face instantly turned pale.
Blood slowly trickled from the corner of her lips.
I caught her before she fell.
“Hey!” “What’s wrong?” She tried to smile.
“…I’m just tired.” “Liar.” “It’s okay.” “No, it’s not!” I tightened my grip around her tiny shoulders.
“You protected me.” “You answered my questions.” “And now you’re telling me you’re just tired?” For the first time…
She looked exactly like a little sister being scolded.
She lowered her eyes.
“…Sorry.” Outside the chapel…
Nikhil stood beside his motorcycle.
He didn’t start the engine.
He simply looked at the broken building from afar.
His phone vibrated once more.
This time…
The screen showed no name.
Only a symbol.
A silver circle with seven lines crossing its center.
He answered.
“…Yes.” A cold voice spoke.
“Mission report.” “The Gate has closed.” “The heir?” “…Alive.” Silence.
Then— “Eliminate her before the next awakening.” Nikhil slowly closed his eyes.
His fingers tightened around the phone.
When he spoke…
His voice was colder than ice.
“…Find someone else.” The voice paused.
“Do you understand what refusing means?” “…Perfectly.” Without another word…
He ended the call.
He removed the SIM card.
Snapped it in half.
Then looked back toward the chapel.
“…I won’t let history repeat itself.” The Guardian suddenly turned his head.
His expression sharpened.
“We need to leave.” The Commander frowned.
“Why?” “We’re no longer alone.” The wind carried a faint sound.
Not footsteps.
Not voices.
The distant hum of helicopter blades.
Police sirens.
News vans.
The explosion at the abandoned chapel had finally attracted attention.
The hidden world would disappear.
The normal world was arriving.
The Guardian looked at me.
“When they ask…” “…tell them you remember nothing.” “And if they don’t believe me?” “They won’t.” “Why?” A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Because by tomorrow morning…” “…someone will make sure tonight officially never happened.” I frowned.
“Who has that kind of power?” The Guardian looked toward the city lights.
His answer was only one sentence.
“The people who write history…
before the world reads it.” As they left the ruined chapel, Vena couldn’t shake one feeling.
Someone…
Had been watching her even before the Gate opened.
And someone…
Was still watching.
Far above the city skyline…
Inside a glass skyscraper…
A classified file appeared on a massive digital screen.
PROJECT: TLBR-01 STATUS: ACTIVE A gloved hand turned the page.
There was no photograph.
Only one handwritten sentence in red ink— “The Last Bloodline has survived…
but why did an Ashbourne arrive before our own people?” The unknown figure slowly smiled.
Then quietly spoke to someone standing in the darkness behind him— “Find the boy.” “Because if he remembers her before we do…” “…everything we’ve built for twenty years will collapse.” The room fell silent.
But one question lingered…
Who was the “boy”…
and why was even the mastermind afraid of him ?