[Day 11 — 13 Days Remaining]
A new morning dawned.
Kael, Diego, and Estridth awoke with a dull pressure throbbing behind their eyes.
Diego: Ugh… my head…
Kael: Feels like… I got hit.
Estridth: Haa… what's up with this morning?
As their vision cleared and they properly looked at one another—
They freaked out and scream.
All: AAAAHHHH!!!
The truth settled in with brutal clarity.
Their minds had been swapped.
Kael's consciousness now resided within Estridth's body. Estridith's inhabited Diego's. And Diego's was inside Kael.
Diego (Estridth): What's going on?! Why am I in your body?!
Estridth (Kael): For real?! How could this even happen?!
Kael (Diego):(hyperventilating) Wh—What the hell is going on?! Why am I in Kael's body?! I'm going to lose it!
Estridth (Kael) moved quickly, steadying Kael (Diego) before panic fully consumed him.
Diego (Estridth): Wait… if our bodies changed… what about our powers?
The question silenced the room.
To test it, Estridth (Kael) picked up a nearby cup and attempted to erase it.
To their astonishment, the cup shimmered—
—and transformed into a sparrow.
It fluttered once, then soared out through the open window.
Diego (Estridth): How did you do that?
Estridth (Kael): I… don't know. I was trying to erase it. But mornings always remind me of the sparrows I used to feed and… it changed. I suppose.
Diego (Estridth): Wait. If our powers changed with our bodies… then that means—
Before he could finish, Diego (Estridth) vanished.
He reappeared near the window, holding a cup of coffee he definitely did not have a second ago.
Diego (Estridth): "Time-stopping, huh? That's… pretty useful.
Kael (Diego):(disapproving) Pretty useful?
Diego (Estridth): …Right. Lethally useful.
Kael (Diego): That's better.
Estridth (Kael) straightened slightly, her tone sharpening.
Estridth (Kael): This phenomenon… could it be—?
Diego (Estridth): Very likely. But whoever did this isn't here. Not in this hotel. They're operating from a distance.
Kael (Diego): How can you tell?
Diego (Estridth): One of my abilities is life-form detection. When we entered this hotel, I counted seventy-four signatures—including ours. Certain enemies require certain range to operate their abilities. And last night, we stayed up late discussing strategy. I did not detect any additional life signatures.
Estridth (Kael): So… it's reasonable to conclude this mind-swapping ability is harmless. For now.
Diego (Estridth): Perhaps. But we need to reach Sector 3. We're currently at the edge of Sector 2, and I refuse to assume we'll remain like this until it simply wears off. And Kael… don't even consider exploring my body.
Estridith (Kael): Yes, ma'am.
They began preparing to depart. Estridth (Kael) instructed Kael (Diego) to wear the nullifying gloves designed by WHA—precautionary measures to prevent accidental erasure.
After a hearty breakfast, they set out.
By high noon, they arrived at Sector 3—a congested district notorious for its dense establishments and shadowed trade.
Kael (Diego): Ugh… this place reeks of—
Estridth (Kael): Don't finish that sentence. You're making it worse.
Suddenly—
A scream tore through the air from one of the brothels.
Not merely a shout—
A scream laced with terror.
Without hesitation, they rushed inside to assess the situation. On the second floor, a crowd had gathered outside a room. When they entered the room, they found a corpse.
It belonged to a woman—her body shriveled, aged beyond reason, as though time itself had devoured her.
Diego (Estridth) questioned the women present, asking if anyone recognized her. None did.
But when one of them noticed the bangle on the corpse's wrist, she gasped.
"It's Raksha's."
They immediately asked if Raksha had been seen that day.
No one had.
The question hung in the air like a blade.
Could this be Raksha?
Diego (Estridth): The body appears old… but the clothes are still fresh.
Kael (Diego): What are you implying?
Estridth (Kael): She means the woman didn't die long ago. There are no signs of struggle either… which suggests the killer possesses an ability.
Diego (Estridth): And examine the incisions. Her organs are missing. The skin was cut with precision—methodical, controlled. Whoever did this is experienced.
They searched the room further.
Kael (Diego): Guys—look. This might help.
Kael (Diego) picked it up.
Diego (Estridth): A surgical scalpel. How convenient. The killer could be a doctor… but that's speculation. There are no fingerprints on the blade.... He left in a hurry.
They asked the brothel owner whether there was any CCTV footage.
Unfortunately, there wasn't.
The establishment had none.
The individual they were pursuing was likely the same threat WHA had dispatched them to handle. Frustration simmered—but then Kael had an idea.
He turned to Estridth and asked whether her life-giving ability obeyed direct command.
She answered yes.
Estridth (Kael): Then all I need to do is transform the scalpel… and command it to return to its origin.
Using Queen Bee's ability, Estridth (Kael) transformed the surgical scalpel into a dove and instructed it to fly back to its rightful place.
The dove took flight.
They followed.
Though the crowd made swift movement difficult, they pressed forward without hesitation, keeping the white bird in sight.
New Life Hospital, one of the many medical institutions in I City, stood within Sector 3.
Dr. Victor, a mortuary specialist, entered the building carrying his worn working bag.
For twenty years, he had served the hospital—refining his expertise in the dissection of corpses. Most of the staff regarded him as honest, composed, and compassionate.
But that perception was a lie.
In truth, he was a Superior Dark Knight—driven not by ideology, but by greed. He profited from the illegal trade of harvested organs in the black market.
He entered his office.
Without haste, he laid out his surgical instruments upon a large tray filled with enzymatic solution. The tools were submerged carefully, left to soak for ten minutes, then rinsed once more beneath running water.
Dr. Victor: Hm? That's odd. It seems I left my scalpel at the brothel. No matter. I always wear gloves during dissections. Searching several hospitals for a missing scalpel would be inconvenient… but irrelevant. No one will uncover my true identity.
The sun dipped below the horizon, staining the sky in amber and ash.
Yet they did not stop.
Exhaustion weighed on them, but the dove continued its flight without hesitation.
Kael (Diego): Oi, Kael… are you sure you gave it the correct command? We've been following that bird for hours.
Estridth (Kael): Just a little further, Diego. I checked the map earlier—there's a hospital ahead, and the dove is heading straight toward it. Our most probable destination is there.
Kael (Diego):(panting) I hope you're right.
Dr. Victor completed embalming the final corpse of the day and returned to his office.
On his way back, whispers reached him—heroes were approaching the hospital.
That unsettled him.
He immediately accessed the hidden surveillance system he had discreetly installed across Sector 3.
Three heroes.
Approaching.
They would arrive in approximately thirty minutes.
Dr. Victor studied the surveillance feed, then exhaled softly.
Dr. Victor: So unfortunate. I should have exercised greater caution. But it's irrelevant now. They may reach the hospital… but they will never reach me. They will perish before they come close.
He adjusted his gloves.
Dr. Victor: Now then… behold the power of FinalCountdown.
Our heroes quickened their pace, urgency pressing against their fatigue.
Then—
Something felt wrong.
Wrinkles began forming across their skin at an alarming rate. Their hair lost its color, strands turning pale in mere seconds.
Kael (Diego): What the hell is happening?! Why are we aging this fast?!
Diego (Estridth): That confirms it. We're on the correct path. He knows we're close—and he's activated his ability.
Kael (Diego): Then we move faster! We end this before it ends us!
Estridth (Kael): Stop right there, Diego. Do not take another step.
Kael (Diego): What now?! We need to hurry before we—
Estridth (Kael):Don't rush. Look carefully at the people ahead of us.
Diego looked ahead.
Every person in sight was affected—indiscriminately. Toddlers, adults, the elderly. None were spared.
Estridth (Kael): Now that I think about it… why are we aging at different rates? The people who are moving—running, exerting themselves—are aging rapidly. But those sitting still have barely changed. Then that means the enemy's ability is based on—
Diego (Estridth): —movement velocity. The faster we move, the faster we age. And the slower we move… the slower the effect. His range is wide. Roughly three to four hundred meters… perhaps more. And it appears to affect only living organisms.
Kael (Diego): Then th-that means—
Estridth (Kael): Yes. We approach slowly. (Sigh) What a pain in the ass.
And so, they adjusted.
Step by step.
Measured.
Controlled.
Dr. Victor observed the footage calmly.
Dr. Victor: They are persistent. But they will never overcome Final Countdown. Once activated, every living being ages the moment they move. My maximum range is five hundred meters. And the closer one approaches me… the more severe the acceleration. That is the nature… of Final Countdown.
They pressed onward despite the toll.
Their bodies had already aged beyond fifty years.
Still, they advanced.
They reached a narrow bridge spanning a shallow canal, Kael (Diego) had to lean at the edge to catch his breath, and when they look ahead, the devastation became clearer.
Vehicles had collided mid-street as drivers aged in seconds. Some pedestrians collapsed where they stood. Others simply… fell, their bodies unable to endure the acceleration of ageing.
Estridth (Kael): Damn that bastard. Hurting civilians who aren't even part of this fight… I'll crush him.
Kael (Diego):(voice weakened) Wait… Kael. It's too early to charge.
Estridth (Kael): What are you talking about?
Diego (Estridth): Hold on. I think he's showing us something. What is it, Diego?
Kael (Diego): You said…(cough) his ability works only on living beings, right?
Estridth (Kael): Yes. Why?
Kael (Diego) pointed toward the canal beneath the bridge.
Kael (Diego): Then why the hell aren't those fish dying?
The question froze them.
Kael (Diego) continued, forcing his breath steady.
Kael (Diego): I don't know much about fish, but common carp live around twenty years—far shorter than humans. And they swim at speeds between 0.6 and 1.6 meters per second. Compared to how slowly we're moving right now… they're faster than us.
Estridth (Kael): What are you implying?
Kael (Diego): "I'm saying… that bastard's ability…might have a weakness. Water could be the key.
To test the theory, Diego (Estridth) poured water over her hand.
Instantly—
The accelerated aging halted upon the wet surface. The wrinkles receded. Her skin returned to normal.
It worked.
They hurriedly checked their supplies. Only two water bottles remained.
A gunshot rang out.
One bottle shattered mid-air as a bullet tore through it.
They looked up.
Dr. Victor stood on the hospital's upper level, a sniper rifle steadied in his grip.
Without hesitation, Kael reacted. The second bullet hurtling toward them transformed mid-flight into a harmless poppy.
Recognizing the futility of long-range shots, Dr. Victor withdrew into the building.
Diego (Estridth): You two take that bottle and go after him. I'll stay here and guard this one. If I spot him again, I'll shoot. He was on the third floor—you can still reach him.
They had a plan.
Kael poured half the remaining water over himself and secured the other half inside his jacket for emergencies.
He and Diego rushed toward the hospital entrance while Estridith remained outside, maintaining overwatch.
Kael and Diego entered the hospital.
And what they saw inside—
left them stunned.
Estridth (Kael): These patients look significantly older than the ones outside. Is his ability intensifying with proximity? No time to analyze—move, Diego.
Kael (Diego): "Right behind you.
They rushed toward the elevator—
—but it was dead.
Dr. Victor had sabotaged it.
The only option left was the staircase.
They both understood it was a trap.
They climbed anyway.
Each step was deliberate. Slow. Controlled.
Their skin began to dry again. Fine lines resurfaced as the aging effect reactivated.
On the second floor—
Gunfire erupted.
Dr. Victor fired from the stairwell above with a 9mm. Two rounds tore through Kael's jacket; others were deflected at the last second by Estridth (Kael).
Victor continued retreating upward, maintaining elevation advantage.
Kael realized the obvious: if they continued ascending normally, the aging would overtake them before they reached him.
So he made a decision.
He vaulted onto the stair railing and shouted for Diego to follow.
With a sharp command, he transformed the railing into a rapidly growing tree. The trunk surged upward, carrying them toward the next level.
But the accelerated aging and the strain of rapid growth weakened the structure almost immediately.
Before it collapsed, they leapt to another railing.
Again—transformation.
Again—growth.
Again—decay.
Floor by floor, they repeated the maneuver.
Above them—
Dr. Victor reached the rooftop.
And Kael could feel it.
They were close.