By evening, Kito had chained all five of them to separate chairs.
Alex.
Shina.
Sam.
Yuri.
Daniel.
The chains were thick, wrapped around wrists, waists, and ankles.
No one complained.
No one joked.
The atmosphere was too heavy for that.
There was still some time before nightfall.
So they used it.
Trying to understand.
Shina broke the silence first.
"This has to be the ability of a Soulborn."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"I think so too."
He adjusted his glasses, thinking.
"A power that controls multiple people at once..."
"...and becomes stronger during the night."
He looked toward the window.
"That means the Soulborn controlling this kingdom is using darkness or sleep as a medium."
Sam clenched his jaw.
"So every night..."
"...someone is controlling us like dolls."
Alex looked at Kito.
"For some reason..."
"You and Rin weren't affected."
Kito stayed silent.
That question had bothered him, too.
Why them?
Why not the others?
Before anyone could continue—
The final rays of sunlight disappeared.
Night arrived.
And instantly—
Everyone felt it.
A pressure.
Cold.
Invading.
Yuri gasped.
Shina gritted her teeth.
Sam's fingers twitched violently.
Alex let out a strained groan.
Daniel's breathing became uneven.
Then—
The smiles appeared.
Slowly.
Their lips stretched wider against their own will.
Eyes are becoming emptier.
Faces are becoming less human.
Kito stepped back.
Even after seeing it before—
It was horrifying.
Alex strained against the chains.
"Ghh...!"
His body shook violently.
Yuri had tears in her eyes.
"No... no..."
Shina bit down on her lip hard enough to bleed.
Sam cursed under his breath.
Daniel kept muttering numbers, trying to focus.
They were fighting.
Actually fighting.
For control of their own bodies.
The chains rattled through the entire night.
Kito didn't sleep once.
He just watched.
Helpless.
Listening to his friends battle an invisible puppeteer.
Morning came.
The pressure vanished.
The smiles disappeared.
Everyone slumped forward, drenched in sweat.
Kito quickly unchained them.
Alex coughed.
Shina wiped tears from her face angrily.
Sam leaned against the wall, breathing hard.
Yuri looked like she might collapse.
Daniel was pale.
But one thing was clear.
They had resisted.
Not fully.
But more than before.
Daniel noticed it first.
"If we train this..."
He looked up.
"...we may be able to hold control longer."
Shina nodded.
"Then that's what we do."
From that day on—
Their routine changed.
During the day, they acted normally.
Just enough research.
Just enough movement.
Nothing suspicious.
They could not let the puppeteer realise they were aware.
And every night—
They chained themselves again.
Fighting.
Resisting.
Enduring.
Little by little—
They gained more control than the night before.
Survival had become training.
Late that afternoon, Shina pushed open the dining room door.
She was breathing slightly harder than usual.
Dust covered her clothes from hours spent outside gathering information.
Everyone looked up.
Yuri spoke first.
"What did you find?"
Shina stepped closer.
Her face was serious.
"I found something."
The room went silent.
Shina placed several scribbled notes on the table.
"The population is decreasing."
Sam frowned.
"What do you mean by decreasing?"
Shina pointed to the notes.
"I checked street counts."
"Shops."
"Houses."
"Public gathering areas."
"Every day..."
"Fewer people are appearing."
Daniel's eyes widened slightly.
"They're disappearing?"
Shina nodded.
"Yes."
"And the scary part is..."
"No one seems to notice."
A cold silence spread across the room.
Sam clenched his jaw.
"Where are they going?"
Kito spoke quietly.
"That means Ronan is moving them somewhere."
Alex looked at him sharply.
"Then we need to find them."
Kito nodded.
"Yes."
"But we'll probably have to fight."
The room stiffened.
Fight.
That word made everything real.
Kito suddenly remembered something.
His eyes widened.
Without saying another word, he sprinted upstairs.
"Kito?" Yuri called.
He ignored her.
Moments later—
He returned carrying a metallic arm guard.
Dark silver.
Heavy.
Engraved with strange patterns.
Alex blinked.
"What is that?"
Kito walked straight to him and held it out.
"Rin kept this hidden."
Alex took it slowly.
Kito's voice was firm.
"Use this."
Alex stared at the weapon for a second.
Normally, she would ask a hundred questions.
But not now.
Not in this situation.
She slid the metal arm over his right arm.
The mechanism clicked into place.
A faint glow ran across the engravings.
Alex's status window opened before her.
NAME: Alex
ACTIVE WEAPON: Rodium Arm
Delivers amplified physical blowsCan release concentrated energy blasts