The port lights flickered again.
Bzzzz—
The sound of electricity filled the dock.
Everyone looked around.
Some of the workers stepped away from the cargo truck. Others stared toward the ship.
This had never happened before.
Zero slowly frowned.
He took the cigarette from his mouth, released the last bit of smoke, then dropped it to the ground.
Xuha looked at him.
"What is the problem?"
Zero didn’t answer immediately.
He scratched the green side of his hair.
His eyes remained fixed on the flickering lights.
Then his expression changed.
"Could this be..."
He looked toward the dark section of the port.
"The same thing that happened at the Vortex?"
Xuha’s face tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
Zero turned toward the workers.
"Start the vehicles!"
Everyone moved at once.
"Go!"
The engines started.
"Separate! Everyone move in different directions!"
The workers rushed toward the vehicles.
Xuha grabbed Zero’s arm.
"What are you planning to do?"
Before Zero could answer—
"Chii... chii..."
A strange sound came from above.
Xuha slowly turned around.
His eyes widened.
He pointed toward the sky.
"Look!"
A swarm of bats moved across the dark sky.
Zero stared at them.
"Bats."
"Maybe they were disturbed by the lights."
Zero shook his head.
"No."
He looked at the flickering lamps.
"This is abnormal."
Xuha looked at him.
"How do you know?"
"I’ve seen the Hevix records."
Zero pointed toward the sky.
"The bats and the lights going up and down..."
He stopped.
"Those things were recorded there too."
Xuha’s face changed.
Before either of them could say anything else, the men running toward the right side of the port suddenly stopped.
One of them looked ahead.
His entire body froze.
Another man was running toward the road when he suddenly saw something in front of him.
He stopped.
Then he stumbled backward.
"What..."
The man fell to the ground and crawled backward.
His eyes were fixed on something Zero couldn’t see from his position.
Then—
BOOM!
A vehicle had already moved some distance away when its windshield suddenly cracked.
The driver looked forward.
For a split second, he saw only two red eyes.
Then something struck the glass.
The driver screamed.
The vehicle swerved.
From a distance, Zero watched it come to a stop.
He understood.
Someone was here.
And the person wasn’t interested in the shipment
The sound of wings came from the direction of the ship.
Flap.
Flap.
Flap.
Zero slowly turned.
A smile appeared on his face.
"So you’re here."
Xuha stared at him.
"Brother?"
Zero stepped forward.
"I know you’re here!"
His voice echoed across the port.
"Stop hiding and come out!"
The sound of wings continued.
Zero spread his arms.
"Come on! Fight me like a real man!"
He laughed.
"I want to see how strong your fists really are."
Xuha stared at him in disbelief.
"That’s enough!"
He pointed toward the road.
"We’re wasting time!"
The patrol team was getting closer.
"We need to leave now!"
Zero looked at him.
"You’re scared already?"
Xuha stared at him.
Then he muttered under his breath,
"He’s gone crazy."
He grabbed one of the workers.
"Come on. Everyone move!"
They turned around.
Then Xuha stopped.
A figure stood behind them.
A familiar smile appeared on his face.
Red eyes.
A calm expression.
Zacula.
Xuha’s body froze.
"A-A-Ah!"
He stumbled backward.
"No!"
His hands rose defensively.
"Don’t come closer!"
His voice shook.
"What are you?"
Zacula took one step forward.
Xuha stared at his eyes.
"Those eyes..."
His face went pale.
"Red eyes..."
He swallowed.
"Devil..."
His legs gave out.
He collapsed.
Zero stared at Zacula.
Then his expression changed completely.
"So..."
He laughed nervously.
"I finally found you."
Zacula looked at him.
Zero stepped forward.
"Unknown Z..."
Zacula remained silent.
Zero moved closer.
"I’ve been waiting for this."
He pointed toward his own face.
"Come on."
He tilted his head.
"Give me a proper punch."
Zero’s knees trembled.
Still, he forced himself forward.
Instead of using his fist, he suddenly swung the object in his hand toward Zacula’s face.
Zacula didn’t move.
The attack stopped against him.
Zero stared.
His expression slowly changed.
It was like trying to move a wall.
Zacula looked at him.
"That was your attack?"
Zero swallowed.
A swarm of bats suddenly flew upward from beneath them.
The wings passed around Zero from every direction.
"Chii... chii!"
Zero stepped backward.
His face lost its confidence.
"Wait..."
Zacula moved closer.
Zero couldn’t move.
Then everything went dark.
Five minutes later, the patrol team arrived at the port.
Several officers rushed through the loading area.
They found workers scattered across the ground.
Some were unconscious, while others were sitting against containers, confused and frightened.
The cargo truck stood abandoned, and several boxes had been left open.
One officer carefully approached the cargo.
"Weapons..."
He immediately looked around.
Another officer found the familiar Z symbol.
"Sir, look at this."
The officer took a photograph of the symbol and examined the area.
He noticed the strange signs around the port the flickering lights, the unconscious men, and several unusual marks near the cargo area.
He immediately took out his phone.
"We need to report this."
He called his superior.
"Sir, we’ve found another possible Unknown Z incident at Dosha City port."
A voice came through the phone.
"Any casualties?"
"No confirmed deaths.
Several men are unconscious, and we’ve found a weapons shipment."
The officer looked toward the Z symbol.
"There’s also the same Z mark we’ve seen in the previous cases."
The voice on the other end became serious.
"Secure the area.
Photograph everything and send the report to Officer Nelson."
"Yes, sir."
The officer ended the call and looked toward the dark section of the port.
"Unknown Z... What exactly are you?"
Later That Night
Irin sat inside her room.
She held the room spray in one hand.
Her face felt warm.
"This is embarrassing."
She touched the bottle.
"I can’t believe that happened."
Then she heard the front gate open.
Irin stood up.
She listened.
Footsteps approached.
Then she heard Yemir’s voice.
"Irin!"
She turned toward the door.
"How are you doing?"
Irin nodded.
"I’m fine."
She paused.
"Well... not exactly fine."
She gave a small smile.
"But time is passing."
Yemir laughed.
"I brought something."
"What?"
"Pizza."
"Pizza?"
Irin tilted her head.
"You’re going to eat that at night?"
Yemir looked at the clock.
"You’re right."
He paused.
"It is night."
Irin smiled.
"Then why did you buy it?"
"Because I wanted it."
Irin laughed softly.
"I’ve only eaten it once in my life."
"So?"
Yemir placed the box on the table.
"Now you can eat it again."
Irin reached toward the box.
But before she could take a slice, she suddenly stopped.
Her nose moved slightly.
She sniffed the air.
Yemir looked at her.
"What?"
Irin leaned closer.
"What’s that smell?"
She followed the scent toward him.
Yemir raised his hand and gently stopped her before she came any closer.
Irin immediately stepped back.
"Sorry."
She covered her nose.
"You should probably freshen up."
Yemir looked at her.
Then he noticed her eyes.
Those eyes were beautiful.
Yet they had never seen the light around them.
The thought caught him off guard.
He picked up a towel.
"I’ll be right back."
He walked toward his room.
Irin remained beside the table.
She opened the pizza box and carefully arranged the slices on the plates.
As she did, she made a decision.
I’m not taking another risk.
I’ll taste it fast
If I don’t like it, I’ll stop.
She smiled slightly.
Yemir never forced her to eat anything.
A few minutes later, Yemir returned.
He quickly put on a T-shirt.
"Ready?"
Irin nodded.
"Yes."
They sat together.
Yemir picked up a slice.
"Is it okay?"
Irin took a small bite.
She chewed.
Yemir waited.
Irin nodded.
"It’s fine."
Yemir smiled.
"Good."
They continued eating.
Neither of them talked much.
The apartment was quiet.
The food disappeared slowly from the plates.
When they finished, Yemir stood.
"I’m going to my room."
"Okay."
Irin stayed behind.
She collected the plates and carried them to the kitchen.
She washed the dishes and placed them back where they belonged.
The night continued quietly.
Across the city, Eva received the news.
Her expression changed.
A glass slipped from her hand and shattered against the floor.
She walked into a hidden chamber inside her room.
Several glass objects were arranged inside.
Eva picked up two guns.
Her anger took over.
She fired repeatedly at the glass displays.
One after another, they shattered.
She reloaded and continued until the chamber was filled with broken glass.
Finally, she lowered the guns.
Znuma entered.
She approached Eva and began massaging the back of her neck.
"Calm down."
Eva’s voice shook with anger.
"I can’t control myself anymore."
She looked around the destroyed chamber.
"I’ll tear everything apart."
Znuma didn’t answer.
Eva’s phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
"Dongo."
She answered.
"Hello?"
Dongo’s voice came through.
"Hello, Eva Moyuri."
Eva’s expression hardened.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Don’t call me that."
Dongo laughed.
"I was only greeting you."
"I told you before."
Eva turned toward the shattered glass.
"Never call me that."
Znuma watched her silently.
Dongo continued.
"Sounds like you’re in a good mood."
Eva laughed without humor.
"You’ve heard what happened."
"I heard."
Dongo paused.
"Actually, I heard you ordered Zero to remove the jackets."
Eva’s expression changed.
"Zero was working under me."
She picked up one of the broken glass pieces and looked at it.
"So I’ll decide what he wears."
Dongo’s voice became calmer.
"You should be more careful."
Eva smiled.
"And you should mind your own business."
The call continued in silence for a few seconds.
Neither of them wanted to be the first to end it.
Then Eva spoke.
"Why did you really call me, Dongo?"
Dongo didn’t answer immediately.
"Because I have something to tell you."
Eva’s smile disappeared.
"What?"
Dongo’s voice became serious.
"About Unknown Z."