Darkness swallowed them whole.
For a brief moment— there was nothing but the sound of air rushing past their ears.
Then—
BOOM!!!
They hit the ground.
Hard.
Dust exploded upward, filling the space.
Tru groaned as she pushed herself up:
— Ngh… everyone okay?!
Ki rolled onto his side:
— I think… my back just broke…
— but yeah… still alive…
The Worker Girl coughed softly, clutching her chest.
Ut 2 landed on her feet.
Perfectly balanced.
As if she had expected this.
Butterfly was already standing.
Her katana slightly lowered— but her eyes…
were sharp.
Dangerously sharp.
— Something’s here.
…
The dust slowly settled.
Revealing the space around them.
A basement.
But not a normal one.
The walls were made of rough stone.
Chains hung from the ceiling.
Dark stains covered parts of the ground.
The smell— was unmistakable.
Blood.
Tru’s expression hardened.
— This place…
— it’s not just a hideout.
No one replied.
Because they all understood.
This was a prison.
…
Then— a voice echoed.
Calm.
Almost amused.
— So…
— you actually made it here.
Everyone froze.
They turned.
And saw him.
A man.
Standing in the shadows.
His figure wasn’t particularly large.
His posture relaxed.
Almost lazy.
But— the moment their eyes met his— something inside them screamed.
Danger.
Pure danger.
Beside him— a girl.
Bound by thick chains.
Her head lowered.
Her breathing faint.
Ut 2’s eyes widened.
For the first time— emotion broke through her calm.
— Ut 7…
The girl slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes were tired.
But still alive.
— …Sis…
A single word.
Soft.
Weak.
But enough.
Ut 2 stepped forward immediately.
— I’m taking you back.
…
The man sighed.
— How touching.
— Family reunion and all that.
Mocking.
Tru raised her bow:
— Let her go.
Ki stepped forward as well:
— We don’t want trouble.
— Just release her.
The man tilted his head slightly.
— You don’t want trouble?
A small smile appeared on his lips.
— Then why come here?
Silence.
Because they had no answer.
…
Ut 2 moved.
No warning.
No hesitation.
She disappeared.
VUT!
A blur of motion— straight toward Ut 7.
Fast.
Extremely fast.
But—
The man moved too.
Almost lazily— he lifted one hand.
Then—
BOOM!!!
The air exploded.
Ut 2’s body froze mid-air.
Then— she was sent flying backward.
CRASH!!!
She slammed into the wall.
The entire basement shook.
Tru’s eyes widened:
— What the—?!
Ki froze:
— That wasn’t even an attack…
The Worker Girl trembled.
— H-he didn’t even move…
Butterfly’s grip tightened on her katana.
Her expression changed.
Slightly.
— He’s suppressing the space.
…
The man lowered his hand.
— Don’t rush.
— I hate noisy people.
Ut 2 stood up slowly.
Her breathing was heavier now.
But her eyes— burned.
— I’ll kill you.
The man smiled.
— Try.
…
The next moment— everything changed.
A pressure— descended.
Not from above.
Not from below.
From everywhere.
Like the space itself had turned against them.
Tru’s knees buckled.
— Ghh…!
Ki dropped to one knee:
— What… is this…
The Worker Girl couldn’t even stand.
She clutched Tru’s arm tightly.
Even breathing became difficult.
Heavy.
Crushing.
Butterfly— still stood.
But barely.
Her eyes narrowed.
— This isn’t normal energy…
— It’s control.
— Absolute control.
…
Slowly.
Each step echoed.
Louder than it should.
— You came all this way…
— for someone you can’t even protect.
His gaze swept across them.
Cold.
Indifferent.
— Pathetic.
Tru clenched her teeth.
Her hands shook— but she forced herself to raise her bow.
— We’re… not done yet…
She pulled the string.
A vine formed.
Energy gathered.
She fired.
WHOOSH!
The arrow shot forward—
But— before it could reach him—
It stopped.
Mid-air.
Like it had hit an invisible wall.
Then—
CRACK.
It shattered.
Tru’s eyes widened.
— Impossible…
The man didn’t even look at it.
— Weak.
…
Ki tried to move.
His legs trembled.
But he forced himself up.
— I don’t care…
— We’re not leaving her!
He grabbed a tool— and charged forward.
— AAAAA!!
The man glanced at him.
Just one glance.
BOOM!!!
Ki was slammed into the ground instantly.
— KHH!!
He coughed blood.
Couldn’t even get up.
…
The Worker Girl froze.
Fear filled her eyes.
But— she looked at Ut 7.
Then at Tru.
Then— she took a step forward.
Small.
Shaking.
But real.
— I… I won’t run…
Her voice trembled.
But didn’t break.
…
Butterfly moved.
Fast.
Like a flash of purple light.
KENG!!!
Her katana clashed— against nothing.
But sparks exploded.
The force pushed her back.
She landed lightly.
Eyes locked on the man.
— …Interesting.
The man finally looked at her properly.
— You’re different.
Butterfly raised her blade.
— Let her go.
Silence.
For a second.
Then— the man laughed softly.
— No.
…
~End~