Silence clung to the Cave of Origins like a second skin.
The trio sat around the central altar, the ancient glyphs glowing faintly beneath their feet. None of them spoke; their breaths were too uneven, their minds too loud.
Finally, Aryan broke the silence.
"…did your masters say anything?"
Abhi and Ahan looked at him.
Both shook their heads.
Aryan dug his fingers into his hair.
He had never seen Master Pravak lose his composure—not once.
But today…
That fear in Pravak's voice still echoed in his mind.
"Those people who attacked us…" Aryan said slowly, "…they weren't random."
"No," Abhi agreed instantly. "They came knowing exactly where the vault entrances were. They ignored disciples. They ignored buildings. They aimed straight for the sealed halls."
Ahan exhaled deeply.
"Exactly. Zane— or whatever he is—he didn't even look at me. He was searching the courtyard for… something."
Aryan looked up.
"Then what were they after?"
Abhi hesitated.
He opened his palm, revealing a torn ribbon of parchment—burned at the edges.
Aryan's eyes widened. "What is that?"
"One of the Astral Scroll seals." Abhi's voice was tight. "Master Udayan forced it into my hand while pushing me out. He said: 'Don't let them fit the pieces together.'"
Ahan leaned forward.
"So the scroll wasn't whole?"
Abhi nodded.
"The scrolls containing ancient coordinates… they were never kept in one piece. Too dangerous."
Aryan's voice sharpened.
"You're saying those monsters attacked all three Societies—because each Society held one part?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
A low dread seeped into the cave.
If the intruders collected all the pieces…
What map would be formed?
Where would it lead?
Ahan stood and paced anxiously.
"They're after something related to the artifacts. Has to be. But why would they need the scrolls if Overlord knows the future? Why would he bother?"
Aryan shook his head.
"Maybe the artifacts aren't the goal. Maybe something else is… hidden along with them."
Abhi exhaled as if a thought struck him.
"Or maybe the scrolls don't point to artifacts but to something worse—something even the Overlord doesn't know."
The cave temperature seemed to drop.
The three sat in silence again before Aryan whispered something surprising.
"…I heard a name."
Ahan and Abhi stared.
"A name?" Ahan asked quietly.
"When Master Pravak's barrier shattered," Aryan continued, "the intruder—he muttered a name under his breath. As if talking to himself."
Abhi leaned forward. "What name?"
"Kairo."
Abhi stiffened.
Ahan shivered without knowing why.
The name felt heavy. Wrong.
Like an echo from a memory they had never lived.
Abhi swallowed. "My attacker had a name too… I think I heard Udayan shout it."
Ahan's voice was barely audible.
"What was it?"
"Hiro."
A chill swept through them.
Ahan exhaled shakily.
"…Zane."
Both Aryan and Abhi turned sharply.
"You heard a name too?"
Ahan nodded once.
Zane.
Reality-bender.
The one who bent space like clay.
Three names.
Three intruders.
The pieces finally aligned.
Aryan looked at the glowing altar.
"Kairo… Hiro… Zane…"
Ahan's throat tightened.
"They attacked at the exact same moment. Three regions. Three scroll fragments. Three masters engaged."
Abhi closed his eyes.
"That means one thing."
Aryan nodded, voice low.
"They're working together."
Ahan followed the thought.
"And if they're working together—"
Abhi finished it.
"—they're the Generals."
Silence.
Cold. Absolute. Crushing.
The Generals weren't myths anymore.
They were real.
They were here.
And they knew exactly where to strike.
A faint tremor rippled through the cave.
All three froze.
Not from fear this time—
—but instinct.
Their seals glowed faintly on their wrists.
Abhi whispered, "Did… did anyone activate anything?"
Aryan shook his head slowly. "No."
Ahan turned toward the cave entrance.
His eyes widened.
A faint silhouette stood at the mouth of the cave—
unmoving, silent, watching them.
Not attacking.
Not speaking.
Just watching.
As if confirming that all three had survived.
As if sending a message.
Aryan whispered:
"…that's not one of them… is it?"
But the silhouette faded into the shadows before any of them could move.
The cave fell silent again.
Only one thing was certain:
The Generals hadn't failed.
They were simply beginning.